Exploitation

Normally, this is the sort of non-political post I save for the weekends, when readership is light. But in the comments section a couple of articles back, one reader coming to my defense made a presumption that demands correction.

The presumption: That, in the course of earning an alleged living via the evil practice of $ales Illu$tration, I've somehow managed to keep free of "exploitation."

Sadly, friends, 'tis not true.

The wolf has been at my door so long he gets his mail there. Despite his constant threat, I have vowed to provide my lady and pooch with a roof and porridge until she (the lady, not the pooch) acquires her PhD. And that means by any means necessary.

After exiting school, I quickly learned that the galleries of California had little interest in my canvasses, which, at that time, presented deliberately garish expressionist views of the meaninglessness of all human endeavor. On the other hand, I learned that one could earn the rent money overnight by airbrushing "chromed" letters for the video epic Hershee Highway -- a film I cannot recommend as I have not seen it.

In the days before Photoshop, airbrushed title design was a great way to earn one's bread and cheese. You really, really do not want to know who some of my clients were.

Recent advertising assignments may seem more prestigious, but I'm still very much an Art Whore. The last "real" movie I worked on was a horror film which bears an agonizingly close resemblance to a classic from days of yore. Wish I could tell you the premise; suffice it to say that my hitch on this project was nothing to crow about. Despite endless conferences ("Maybe you should show only the adult corpses with their eyes gouged out...?"), the client hated everything he saw. Another designer saved the day at the last moment, and a blessing on her name.

A humbling experience -- but the profession is humbling by nature. Recently, I've been invited to explore the deepest dregs of exploitation.

While the full nature of the project must remain a secret, I can say that it involves illustrating the life of Christ.

Does this subject matter offend me? Nope. Actually, the physical subjects of these illustrations -- people in robes, desert landscapes, dramatic sunsets -- should be a great deal of fun to paint.

Does the religious content annoy me? Nope. Much of the art I like best -- the paintings of Leonardo, the symphonies of Bruckner -- is religious.

But.

While most forms of Christianity do not bother me, all forms of fundamentalism scare the hell out of me. And there is a very good chance that these illustrations might see use in the fundie brainwashing system, which forces young minds to believe in Creationism and the Republican party.

Will I do the project anyways? Yep! It's time that bloody wolf inspected someone else's door.

But after completing this assignment, I may drive into Chatsworth to see if any of the porn companies need video cover design.

You know -- just so I can feel clean again.