Joe Strummer: Rock Art & Style.

 [Chris Shary]

It's not east memorializing the immediacy of rock n' roll in pen, ink or paint but fortunately artists aren't dissuaded by challenges.

Yesterday, the famous Strummer memorial in NYC was blasted off. I can't deny my first reaction to that image was not a warm one, however, seeing how it moves so many of my fellow Strummer-ites has raised my esteem of the image greatly.

[Bobby Williams]

Interestingly, the day the mural went Straight To Hell (though it is soon to return), punk artist and portraitist Chris Shary (more HERE) decided to do one of his quick Sharpie portraits of Strummer. It's a strong image that goes for immediacy without much worrying too much about the fidly bits

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Punk Portraits: Chris Shary

As soon as I found the bootleg of FLAG (see HERE), I asked design-man Ian to make some artwork, maybe using a (Raymond) Pettibon image. Ian responded immediately,  "How about a Chris Shary?" 

The resulting cover (or at least the insert!) were perfect because Chris Shary is one the defining visual artists in American punk rock.

While Chris is primarily know for his work with All and The Descendants, a quick Google image search reveals the shitload of albums covers, logos, stickers and T-shirts he's designed.

Chris' love of brightly coloured cartoon graphics with a playful malevolence lurking beneath them mark him as a genuine original.

Sure it's occasionally tempting to curse the man when yet another lackluster pop-punk band slaps a Shary-esque cartoon band portrait on their album, but the price of great art is often mediocre imitation.

Over at his always entertaining Facebook page, Chris is revealing his sketching skills and is racing towards the 200 mark in his Punk Portraits series.

Chris notes, "The rules are I only used Sharpie markers, and did no planning in pencil at all. These are all quick sketches. Enjoy!"

While I did need the labels to ascertain the identity of some of the lesser-known figure in punk history that he's portraying, most these ones I chose for you are pretty much instantly recognizable. 

Say goodnight, Phil.

Let us know what you think of these sketches in the COMMENTS SECTION!

For ~150 more portraits go HERE!