Spray Rocket Ape, Graffiti and Other Things …

Hello all,

So according to a quick run through my WordPress stats I have 66 living and breathing beings following my blog.

I wish to thank you all for your interest in my words and false wisdom.

It has been a while since I posted anything worthwhile. In the past two years I took an oath not to partake in any political discourse or social critique.

Why? I am too busy drawing lines and chasing after my livelihood.

There are many things in life that you cannot shake off: You being a writer and a radio person.

It has been a good year – minus the French scenery in France and Marion Cotillard – if you know your cinema you will get the reference.

However, I am blessed with a woman who is as lovely as Marion. I don’t talk much about my personal life as I try to let my work talk about myself as much as I can.

So yes it has been a good year. I am now a news reader and editor at Bliss 104.3, where I find myself surrounded by creative decent people. I’ve been working on expanding my art studio F.A.D.A. 317 and a couple of other projects.

I also haven’t stopped doing graffiti. There is something liberating about spraying your lines on a wall in Amman – it cuts the middleman and places your work for observation by thousands of people.

Following an artistic cultural trip to the U.K., compliments of the British Council, I started a blog dedicated to graffiti.

I called  it Spray Rocket Ape: Graffiti JO + and even designed the banner – since my side career is now all about illustration.

I have a thing for apes;-})

Anyway … time for me to get back to designing album art for a client.

So here is the link to Spray Rocket Ape and I hope I can get to blog a little more.

https://sprayrocketape.wordpress.com/

Stay sound and sane …

Mike V. Derderian, a.k.a. Sardine.

My Sardine Society6 Store

 

So I finally got around to launching my Society6 store a few days ago. Hurray!

Recently I launched my 12th t-shirt with Mlabbas, the Tah Smiley tee, that you can see on the lower right of the above snapshot from Society6, so I realized it was time to go online; and hopefully beyond Amman, Jordan.

No, I am not swimming in money like Scrooge McDuck ;-})

With each new line I draw I learn more about myself as an illustrator. The illustrations that I’ve uploaded are the pieces that I think are good in terms of themes and execution.

Society6 allows anyone to purchase my posters/prints/tshirts with the push of a botton – okay, now I am bordering on shameless self-promotion, which is in a way the objective of this blog.

I will soon get back to fighting crime; I promise ;-})

Until then … to visit my Society6 store just click on this blue … I mean red … magical link: http://www.society6.com/SardineArt

Good day all …

Sardine a.k.a Mike V. Derderian a.k.a A Brick in The Head 

2014

 

Post Battle Graffbot

 

Post Battle Graffbot by Sardine

Hey all!

Hope you are well: Sane, safe and sound in this crazy world.

A while ago I reworked an old sketch into a poster that was deemed a little too foreign for Amman’s local art scene. Here it is.

It is inspired by my foray into graffiti thanks to my friend and mentor Wize One Wesam Shadid, as a couple of months ago I was sent to the UK part of a seven day art exchange program with Wesam.

You can read chapter one of our adventure on this blog that I’ve created for the British Council, Amman, who have sent us there.

http://sprayrocketape.wordpress.com/

Since I have returned I’ve been drawing more, and doing some street art with Wesam around Amman.

Now back to the above poster! Bottom line: You don’t always get the job but that does not mean I am going to stop trying!  I really enjoyed producing this poster :-})

I love how it only sets the mood without any direct statements.

One’s thoughts are focused into what happened to her and what she is planning to do next.

Lately I’ve been illustrating a lot.

My career as a journalist is on a self-imposed hiatus along with some other factors, however, the writer within continues to write, whether on my Thoughts from Within a Sardine Can Facebook page or here on my blog.

The above poster will soon be available for purchase on my Society 6 store:

http://society6.com/mikevderderian

As for my other illustrations you can find those on my www.facebook.com/SardineArt page

Good day all and thank you for taking the time to read my words and see my work :-})

Mike V. Derderian,

4, 9, 2014

Opeth’s The Devil’s Orchard Poster by Sardine

If I have never stopped playing guitar in 2003 I would have most probably ended up adopting the style of music that inspired this evening’s poster.

Opeth’s The Devil’s Orchard has a classical timeless feel to it, especially when it comes to the guitar play. This is a song that you will continue to listen to for years to come.

The guitar echoes of despair, a human emotion that a lot of us experience every now and then; some more than others.

It reminded me of Chris Rea’s Nothing to Fear!

 

This is one reason why we often find solace in the despair of others – it makes us realize and without a doubt that we are all the same in the end.

This poster is a reflection of the official video. It comes part of my Cinerama, minimal series that I started producing a couple of years ago. Here is the link to the entire collection on Behance, Vol. I http://bit.ly/1ojcafX

By the way if you find my work interesting you can examine my artwork and updates on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SardineArt

 

From within the darkest corners of despair man found his gods and demons.

Hope you find yours!

I am finding mine with every line I write; and every line I draw.

If you know anyone who wants something different pass on my e-mail to them: mikevderderian@yahoo.com ;-})

This journalist, writer and illustrator is done fulfilling the dreams of ass wipes. Alas, this year I wasted two months on one major ass wipe. Never again! It is time for me to Catch The Rainbow as the song goes; my own rainbow.

A good day to all those who are following my lines, written and drawn. Thank you for your “Likes” and “Comments!” It means a lot to me.

Sardine, a.k.a. Mike V. Derderian, 2014

P.S: I am usually hush hush when it comes to business dealings and work experiences, especially bad ones, but this ass wipe deserved an honorable mention ;-})

Rock Arabica Vol. I by Sardine Studio

“It never rains but it pours!”

So they say …

But I know … better!

Life in the past few months threw some rather interesting challenges in my face.

I am not going to talk about these challenges as this is not a rant blog. However, I am going to talk about my latest project Rock Arabical, part of my work as an illustrator.

My background in radio, love of music and my work as a Disc Jockey, I’ve been working at Radio Jordan 96.3 FM since 2003, were the main reasons that I started this design series.

I am not a type designer but I am a t-shirt designer. I now have over 20 t-shirt designs and merchandise with Mlabbas, a t-shirt company based in Amman, Jordan.

Rock Arabica is a typography and logo design series through which I turned renowned rock band logos into Arabic ones.

The best part about producing these rock band logos was the challenge I faced in maintaining the spirit of the original design by using the geometry and angles of the original logos. 

My project on Behance:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/Rock-Arabica-Vol-I-by-Sardine/14251713

The designs that you are about to see were all created using Adobe Illustrator CS5 (the construct of the type) and finished with Adobe Photoshop CS5 (the distress layer).

Remember: Never go full distress on a design as it is an overkill!

Hope you love them enough to buy the t-shirt ;-})

Mike V. Derderian,
Writer, Illustrator & Designer,
Sardine

I Did Not Ask For Change Yet Someone Handed me Some Today!

So between waking up at 6:30 a.m. to host a radio show that I’ve been presenting for eight years, contemplating life; the passing away of an aunt I only knew through photographs and via telephone; drawing a heavily armed geisha; taking my lovely girl to her first day at kindergarten; submitting new t-shirt designs to Threadless; and work I find myself gazing at this screen that reflects my cyber existence and thinking of what to do next!

A lot of lessons learned today. This should be a blog entry. Maybe it is time to write my open letter to Shepard Fairey with the following title:

“Don’t You Think It Is Time For You To Renounce Your Obama ‘Hope’ Poster Mr. Fairey? He Tricked Everyone So No One Really Blames You!” Will keep you posted on this one.

On a different note dear Arabian friends who post V for Vendetta images as their profile header and banner. Do you have a clue what V stands for? V most certainly does not represent your backward thinking.

V stands for freedom. Freedom of thought, freedom of soul, freedom of sexuality and freedom of existence and since a lot of Arabs, especially the backward ones, do not believe in any of these refrain from using him as your header and banner.

If you read the comic book than you will understand the above comment. So read the comic book, understand who V is and then use his image. If you got offended by my comment than maybe you should not be following me. Piss off!

No off to do some drawing after a rather interesting life changing day. I really hate those days when they happen but then I try to do what a cat that was flung head first from the roof of a tall building would do – try to land on my fuckin’ feet. Me-ouch!

Sorry for not posting much in the past few months but it has been a crazy year. A rather good year. I will most definitely get back to blogging more. Will tell you more in another blog post; maybe when I land on my feet and dust off my clothes.

A good evening to all the bat out there!

Mike V. Derderian a.k.a Sardine

August 29, 2013

Illustration: Anna Cosmonauta by Mike V. Derderan, ink on paper

Waynak? Where Are You?

Na na na na na na na na na na na na … Batman!

To those of you who don’t read Arabic here is a translation of the above illustration.

Word Bubble:

Where are you?

Batman:

My city calls …

Waynak?/Where Are You? is my submission to the Ikimuk, a wonderful t-shirt company based in Beirut, Lebanon, competition. This month’s theme was Arabian – or Arabized – superheroes.

In order for this to get printed it has to reach a certain number of orders … hmm … around 25. What am I saying?

I am saying that is available for order and if it is to be printed you have to order it before May 22nd. You can order it by pressing on this magical blue sentence http://ikimuk.com/design/78/Waynak-?

Why Batman?

At first I wanted to do a Geisha riding a toy Godzilla, don’t get any dirty thoughts now, but than I remembered I was supposed to draw a superhero theme.

The design that you are now looking at is the one I ended up drawing. If it weren’t for The Long Halloween comic book that was written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale I would have never dared to draw Batman in my own style.

I originally wanted to have the Bat sign to say “Waynak Ya *Khara?” or “Waynak Ya *KharaMan?” but I wasn’t sure I was allowed to.

Anyway …

I think I said enough!

Don’t forget to check out Ikimuk’s wicked designs that were made by some really awesome Arab illustrators and comic artists. Thank you Ikimuk for accepting it :-})

Lately, and part of my work as art director at Mlabbas, I have been focusing a lot on designing t-shirts and illustration. I’ve been submitting to Threadless and Design by Humans, where I now have a submission up for voting.

Yep, I am talking about Nachos of the Living Dead that I blogged about earlier. The voting process for this one is about the likes, comments and shares on Twitter and Facebook.

http://www.designbyhumans.com/vote/detail/225735

So why am I going through all this trouble? Well, for starters my agent got held up in a Mexican prison. He was trying to smuggle some historic luchador, wrestling masks, back to Jordan when he got detained. I think he got five years in a maximum security prison.

It is time to burn the afternoon candle from both ends!

P.S: Will post the Geisha riding on Godzilla soon.

And yeah, don’t forget to “order” my t-shirt as Facebook LIKES won’t get it printed ;-})

*Shit

*ShitMan

Godzilla: Big in Amman / غودزيلا: كبير في عمان

ظهر غودزيلا من سقف السيل. الصراحة العقبة بعيدة والبحر الميت حر كتير. ذهل الجميع! صرخ صاحب كشك موبايلات، “يما! سحلية!” تجاهله غودزيلا و مشى باتجاه الرويال. عالطريق لقط غودزيلا باص كوستر خبط باصبع رجله. شل بخت السواق و المحصل. بصريح العبارة أكلهم! “شوفلك هالبدعة الامريكية التافهة؟” صرخ مثقف واقف عند زاوية في شارع بسمان بيقرأ جريدة صفراء عفنة! سمعه غودزيلا و قال، “يا بهيم أنا ياباني! ياباني! أنا شو ضربني و زرت عمان. خليني ارجع لطوكيو! تكسي!” رفض التكسي يطلع غودزيلا. “يا حبيبي شارع الرينبو بيخرب بلاطات السيارة؟” قال السواق المتباكي. دعس غودزيلا عليه و كملها مشي. يتبع

The above shorter than short story is part of a collection of short stories that I write for my Facebook page Thoughts from Within A Sardine Can (خواطر من داخل علبة سردين) that I started writing a few years ago.

This is the link to my page that is dedicated to writing in Arabic.

http://on.fb.me/16dRjaa

I am quite fond of the Arabic language. I started reading in Arabic before I switched to English during high school. However, I do still read Arabic books that I pick up from Al Jaheth Bookshop (مكتبة الجاحظ) and the Friends Bookshop (مكتبة الاصدقاء), that sells used books; and elsewhere in Down Town Amman (البلد), where I spend a lot of time walking.

I hope you enjoy my humble absurdist writings through which I try to explore the psyche of man and existence.

So why the title Godzilla: Big in Amman?

In addition to the obvious homage to Alphaville’s Big in Japan my Big in Amman is an idea for a t-shirt design that I am working on, and that pays homage to Godzilla and the black and white horror B-Movies.

As for the above photo/illustration collage it is from a quick draw that I did when my friend Cartoonist Ibraheem Alawamleh was paying me a visit. Click on his name and you will find yourself at his Facebook page.

We were discussing creating a photo/cartoon collage and this was a quick practice.

Translation:

Can someone tell me where the Luzmila Hospital is? That son of a bitch Mothra bit me … 

By the way if you don’t know your Godzilla you won’t get it ;-})

Thank you for following my blog and for visiting my head in spite of all the mental vomit :-})

Respects and appreciation …

Mike V. Derderian,
A Homo sapien, a writer, a comic artist and a fierce windmill slayer trying to get a hold of a banana in a world governed by apes …

Nachos of the Living Dead

From the depths of the guacamole dip they rise and they have one thing on their worm filled dead minds:

Your brainzzzzz!

No! This blog post is not sponsored by Doritos ;-})

Consider this an absurdist blog post in an ever increasing absurd world.

Thank you for following and reading my blog  :-})

Mike V. Derderian,
A Homo sapien, a writer, a comic artist and a fierce windmill slayer trying to get a hold of a banana in a world governed by apes ..
Also known as Sardine

Illustration by Sardine

Amitabh Bachchan: A Childhood Hero

Like many of you I grew up watching Bollywood movies. Amitabh Bachchan was in a way my hero. Actually he was my hero :-})

I always admired his ability to dodge, jump and beat up a few funny looking cliched henchmen while he was still up there … somewhere … in the air. Rotating like a sinewy cat flung by wicked kids and gyrating like a celestial body that defies the laws of gravity.

The man can jump, fight, sing, love and woe women – even though he never kisses them on screen. In Bollywood on screen kissing is a taboo and you can ask Richard Gere about that.

How did Amitabh get away with all of the above, jump, fight, sing, love and woe women; and yeah beat the baddie to a pulp as the video tape neared its end?

Because he is fuckin’ Amitabh Bachchan that’s why; and I still admire him after all these years!

So the above illustration is  a node to the influence of the hundreds of VHS Bollywood tapes that I grew up watching with my family back in the 80s. What I remember most is how my grandmother Georgette used to break out in tears whenever the lost children, who are all grown, reunited with their mother; blind father; or lost siblings.

It was such a cathartic experience. Good triumphing over evil. It always made me wish if life was more like a Hindi movie. At least in a Hindi movie you get to meet, dance and sing with Ali Larter. Don’t ask – just rent out the 2007 Willard Caroll’s Marigold.

For this design I went with the Pop Art solid look.

Thank you Imad Shawa, my boss at Mlabbas, where I have been working as an Art Director for the past year, for okaying this :-}) Expect more Bollywood t-shirts!

On the sidelines of this blog post, and to explain why I haven’t been writing more, I’ve added the following images of t-shirt designs that I’ve submitted to Threadless. At the moment I am focused on improving my lines as an illustrator and comic artist, and to be honest t-shirt design has become a personal passion.

http://www.threadless.com/TMNT/turtle-minimalism/

http://www.threadless.com/threadless/chickens-dont-fly-they-bungee-jump/

So feel free to High 5 my designs, leave a comment and share – provided that you like them enough to do so.

P.S: Will blog more … promise!