By "montage," I do
not mean collage or mosaic or anything involving photography or video. I mean carefully constructed 2D designs made by hand, by real illustrators. If it's not a montage, then I don't know, but it's tough to describe what I'm looking for, though
when I'm not looking, they seem to be everywhere.
In
function, something like a title page or movie poster, or possibly a comic cover, or illustrated song lyrics. Common elements are a bold, calligraphic title, a central subject, abstractions or miniatures of various scenes/features, and an elegant layout (whether sparse or decorative). But in
style, mostly like comic art or bookplates (Ex Libris art) or book illustrations. Some art nouveau posters have the kind of lines and rhythms that I am thinking of. But maybe even woodcuts/block prints.
The best example I can find to give you is
Peter Pontiac (but dang if I can find a site with lots of his work). Also like works by Bill Sienkiewicz, Hal Foster,
Bernie Wrightson, and Arthur Rackham. IIRC, Tolkien did stuff similar to what I am thinking of. But I can't seem to find great examples (by them) of what I mean. Maybe I am looking at the wrong sites. More likely I am confusing one artist's style with another's. It feels like there is a single artist whose work is exemplary of this but my brain has dumped the info.
Again, I don't mean a collage. Maybe there is a better word than montage for something as specific as I describe, and if so, please please enlighten me. And is there a word for illustrating lyrics, as Peter Pontiac does? I used to try my hand at that but don't know what to call it.
Thank you in advance.
Otherwise, you might try something like this...
posted by circular at 11:28 AM on March 9, 2010