Artist Interview: Branden Otto

I want to take the time to introduce an artist that will be at the Mile High Poster Expo this year, Branden Otto. I recently came across his posters, and really wanted to learn more about him, so I looked him up!  
Thank you again Branden for your time, maybe we can get an Elway poster for Broomfield? You know that guy rules this town.
Brandon has some amazing talent, coming up with some very original designs for Phish's Summer Tours.He really knows how to lay down some inks, and I cannot see what he comes up with next. If you see Branden out there this fall, say hello and get a print! You can also support him by following his blog - Branden Otto Art
To read more, click "Read More" below.

I'll let Branden take over from here-




Without any further adieu:

I have been a poster collector since high school and over the past 15 years I have accumulated over 100 posters and prints from various artists and concerts. I was always envious of the artists who were able to create such amazing artwork for the bands I was going to see. I was attracted to the colorful imagery and the captivating subject matter that rock and movie posters convey. In the jamband music scene the posters are always changing for show specific dates and new artists are always able to have an opportunity to create outstanding posters for the fans. I love the way the bands and their organizations lend the hand to the artists and get there work out to the masses. 

It seems like you have just come onto the poster artist scene, how did you get started?

In February of 2010 I was laid off from my job as a manager of a skateboard store. With an entire plate full auto finance bills, credit card payments and mounting student loans, I needed to find a way to keep myself busy and possibly afford to stay alive. I had noticed, around that time, the popularity of the Lost poster series at DamonCarltonandaPolarBear.com. People were freaking out over the posters and amazing artists were selling out in minutes. I was also a fan of the show, and started to think of ideas for my own print. I created a 2 panel set and sold them on a blogspot I set up in early March. 

The prints were hand drawn with graphite and colored pencils and featured over 30 characters from the show. I strayed from using any copyrights, logos, and/or name of the show. The prints first panel sold out in less than 15 hours. It was an outstanding success and it opened my eyes to this art world in front of me.

Who was your inspiration in starting up your gig posters? Do you have a favorite artist?

The gig posters came a little bit later on. I have always been a huge Phish phan and have seen lot art and phan art throughout my years of touring and following Phish. I often admired the work of phan artists like Tripp, Isadora Bullock and Ryan Kerrigan. I decided to put my 2 cents into the phan art world this past summer. My first unofficial gig poster was a 6 color screen print for the Portsmouth show on the first leg of this summer tour.

 I have been inspired by a lot of the official Phish poster artists. I dont think I have a favorite artist but I  love the work of Nate Duval, Scott A Campbell, Tyler Stout, Marq Spusta and David Welker. I also have been inspired by the works of Daniel Danger, Joshua Budich, Shepard Fairey, R.Black. and Chuck Sperry

I really dig your sports-themed posters, are you a big sports guy?

I have made a lot of sports related prints so far. The Gordo Howe Hartford Print, and The Larry Birds of a Feather Mansfield Print are the first two prints in my "baseball card" series. 

I was always a card collector as a kid, and I wanted to pay tribute to some of the vintage card series. The way the cards were framed out, they looked like mini posters to me, so why not make them into just that. I look forward to re-visiting the hand drawn baseball card series soon. The Camden Phlyers screen print was widely accepted and one of my first prints to immediately sell out on lot. I think I have another Hockey related, "Slapshot" Movie inspired print coming out for the upcoming Utica 10/20 show. I am a big hockey fan, and my love for the Islanders goes back further than I can recall. I will one of these days pay homage to the Stanley Cup winning New York Islander teams in an art print.

What bands do you dream of being commisioned by?

I am amazed at what I have accomplished so far. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be creating artwork for people to display in their homes across the globe. Being commissioned by any band will always be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. I would love to create a Widespread Panic print, or to work with the guys from Moe., I would like to see RAQ play more shows and get the opportunity to design for those guys. The list of bands would go on and on. Outside of the Jamband scene I would like to work for Phoenix, Portugal the Man, Minus the Bear, or MGMT. Those ands are always changing and have such an amazing youth following.  I also would love to have the opportunity to work with an organization like the conscious alliance to create posters for festivals and raise an awareness while giving back by producing the artwork at the same time.

Talk about your future, where you are going, next projects, etc. 

I just completed my first official gig poster and I have a few more personal projects I have been putting off for a while that I would like to start working on. I am getting a few more opportunities for official gig posters coming in. I am going to have a table at my first poster show  in October at the Mile High Rock Poster and Art Expo. I am working on a Print for the Poster Expo itself which I am very excited about completing. 
























Coloradoans Agree - Branden kills it!   See you in Broomfield my good sir.