The Poster Posse has members far and wide with artists in, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Canada and the U.K. just to name a few. This time we are talking to a new Poster Posse member who came to us via a recommendation by Paul Ainsworth. Salvador Anjuiano, hails from Mexico and we are stoked to have him onboard the Poster Posse train. Like me, he enjoys to collect toys and play video games with his son but I have a feeling there is a whole lot more to this talented artist. Take a few minutes to catch up with one of the newest members of the Poster Posse because you NEVER know what you will learn.
47 Ronin by Salvador Anjuiano (Poster Posse Project)
BLURPPY – How long have you been creating art in the pop culture scene? How did you get started?
SA – I’ve been creating “art” since I was a li’l kid, five years old I guess. But art in the “pop culture scene”? not even a year 9-10 months at best. As for how I got started, there are two answers to that question, one is very personal, involves a lot of heartache and it would bore to death the one guy reading this.
Adventure Time by Salvador Anjuiano
Regular Show by Salvador Anjuiano
The simpler answer is that work was really slow and with time to spare I did a little “Adventure Time” piece for my kid, then my wife asked for a “Regular Show” piece and that was it. Then early this year some things happened that left me totally drained, just emotionally spent and I had no desire to work on my usual stuff, so I started doing some silly Hanna-Barbera badges and some Masters of the Universe posters to kind of get back in the groove and I really enjoyed working on things I liked, as dumb as that sounds. This type of work brought me closer to my kid and my wife, so I kept at it.
2 Pieces From Salvador Anjuiano’s Masters Of The Universe Series
BLURPPY – Well I’m glad your kid and wife kick-started things for you. Inspiration comes from all kinds of different places and loved ones is as good as any. Is art your full time job? If not, what else do you do?
SA – I’m not making any money right now so I don’t know if I can call this a job, but yes, I’m doing it full time. Client work has for now become a distant memory.
Illustration for a local art show called “Muerte en Cartelera” (Death on a Billboard) done completely in vector with just a few touches on photoshop. I just wanted to create something with a skull and an 80s vibe. There’s a huge nod (hell, almost a head bump) to the great James White of Signalnoise.
BLURPPY – Yes…sadly, I too “work” for free but there is that hope that SOMEDAY, maybe someday, it can become something that generates $$$ Whose work do you admire or collect?
SA – I don’t exactly collect art, because shipping costs to Mexico are almost twice the cost of the piece itself, so I don’t buy that much.
James White Star Kade Series
I admire so many artists, for starters everyone in the Poster Posse! just so much talent in there, I feel totally inadequate, like high school all over again. James White has been an inspiration. Matt Taylor, I can just spend all day looking at his work. Jonathan Edwards. Jamie McKelvie, Delicious Design League, Mark Brickey’s Hero, Tom Muller. Also that Paul Ainsworth guy is pretty good. There’s just too many to list them all!
From Mexico I admire Mr. Kone, who’s an awesome artist and a very kind guy, Quique Ollervides, Gabriel Martinez, Oscar Bazaldua, Raul Urias, Seher One, Smithe, News, Netoplasma, Robotsoda, there’s so much talent but the design community down here is pretty self-destructive.
BLURPPY – YIKES! “Self-destructive” doesn’t sound very “productive.” You gotta snap everyone into action down there. What one print, by another artist, blows your mind?
Lost In Translation by Matt Taylor
SA – The one that really blows my mind is the Lost in Translation poster by Matt Taylor, just a beautiful piece of art.
Terminator 2 by Tom Muller
Also I got the Terminator 2 poster by Tom Muller, it’s so badass! And Paul Ainsworth’s BTTF poster, I missed out on that one! damn that guy!
Back To The Future by Paul Ainsworth
BLURPPY – I have a feeling he may be able to scrounge one up for you, somehow, some way. He HATES Boba Fett and he was kind enough to do a print of him for yours truly so I’m SURE he can work some magic for you. With so much art being produced these days, how do you keep things fresh?
SA – Well, I’m a newbie so everything is kinda fresh to me. But of course I see a lot of art everyday and it’s easy to see that whatever you do has been done a million times already, so I just try to get better with every new thing I work on. Someday I’ll find my own beat and I’ll enjoy getting my stuff ripped off.
Kevin Smith by Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – With SO many artists tackling a lot of the same topics it CAN get a bit repetitive theme wise but when someone rips off else’s style, that’s just cold! Besides working on BLURPPY’s Poster Posse Project, what is your dream project?
SA – As I said I’m new at this thing, so if anything comes my way because of this kind of work, that’s awesome. On a personal note I’d like to do a Man of Steel poster, just because Superman is my favorite character and I LOVED the movie. But I’m still on the fence about this Batman vs Superman thing, I feel they needed to establish Superman first and let Batman rest for a while, this thing feels rushed, like it’s being done just to keep up with Marvel and the Avengers. So I would want to do a Man of Steel poster not a Batman vs Superman poster. Not yet.
Bruce Lee by Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – DAMN! I guess I will check that Batman VS Superman Poster Posse Project off the list! If you weren’t creating highly desirable works of art for adoring fans, what else would you do?
SA – I’d be running a classic 50′s diner and just devouring chocolate-mint milkshakes all day, I’d be 300 lbs overweight and enjoying it!
Batman by Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – And I would be your #1 customer, I LOVE milkshakes! What movies are you excited to see this year/ next year?
SA – Captain America! Robocop too, just because it looks really cool but I feel that’s gonna be a watered down version of the original movie but still fun. I also want to see Mad Max, Amazing Spiderman even if I think they’re going for a campier tone. I’m trying to restrain myself from going on rants about all of these movies so I’ll stop now.
BLURPPY – What is your favorite print from your portfolio and why?
SA – I don’t like any of them, as soon as I’m done I start seeing flaws in everyone, ugh!
Teela (Regular Edition) Salvador Anjuiano
I do like my Teela poster because that one was born from my childhood crush on her and I also like the He-Man poster because it reminds me of a little thing with my mom.
(Read more about this poster HERE.)
Teela (Variant Edition) Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – What’s your biggest pet peeve about the pop culture art scene?
SA – Maybe that everybody seems to jump on whatever thing is new and popular. I’d love to see more attention given to classics such as Point Break, Cobra, The Last Dragon, Gymkata, Blue Thunder, Revenge of the Ninja, American Ninja, Lionheart, Marked for Death, you know, the fine cinema of the 80s and 90s.
John Lawrence: True Hero By Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – What has been your best experience to date, in the pop culture art scene?
SA – Of course being invited to the Poster Posse has been the high point so far! Maybe also getting in touch with William Zabka because of one poster I did for fun, that was cool. (See above.)
Right now I’m having a lot of fun and as much as I think I suck at this, I’ve found some people that seem to like my stuff and that’s amazing. I’ve also met a lot of cool guys, like that weirdo Paul Ainsworth, who’s become a real good friend even if half the time I don’t understand what he’s saying.
Ghostbusters by Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – One thing you need to keep in mind about Ainsworth is that he is Canadian! That means lots of bacon, beer, and jelly donuts. That kind of diet can do strange things to a person after years and years of intake. What was your most embarrassing moment as an artist?
SA – Every time I post new work. Can’t help it.
BLURPPY – We really gotta work on this self confidence issue. What is the best interview question you’ve ever been asked and what was your answer?
SA - I haven’t done interviews that much, so… this one was cool “Is art your full time job?” it works on so many levels :-)
Stratos (Part of the Masters Of The Universe Series) by Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – Hey, I’m a deep guy. I ask the hard hitting questions. I don’t pull any punches. What do you have on tap for the rest of 2013 and don’t give us that line, “Lots of stuff , just can’t talk about it yet”
SA – Just more work done for the fun of doing it! Also some client work but nobody wants to talk about that!
47 Ronin - I did this piece for my first project as part of the Poster Posse, I decided to pay a dumb homage to the awesome Patrick Nagel who’s been an influence for me and I just love his work. Salvador Anjuiano
BLURPPY – Ok, ok, none of you art guys ever really let the cat out of the bag with that last one. I’m gonna have to rethink my approach on it and try to start tricking you guys into telling me what you have coming up. Time for some Jedi mind-tricks! Here we go, a few quick questions and all you have to do is say the first thing that comes to mind.
- DC or Marvel?
DC, I hate Marvel Comics ever since that One More Day crap!
- Most Desired Super Power?
Your basic super powers pack, fly, strength, speed, invulnerability. Just one? man, maybe super strength because I’m kind of a wimp.
- Who is your favorite Star Wars Character and why?
Damn I have to go with Luke, both our fathers are dicks so we’re part of a group.
- Best movie snack?
Popcorn!
- What is your favorite gadget?
My iPhone.
- Growing up, what was your favorite TV show?
Robotech.
- What’s the best way for fans to keep up with all you have going on?
- Instagram is where I post all my process and the newest stuff.
- Behance is the most complete portfolio I have online. (http://be.net/salvador <http://be.net/salvador> )
- Cargo is my serious portfolio
- Facebook is where I do most of my rants and I also post a lot in spanish since I have some of my college and high school friends over there.
- Twitter but I still don’t know how to use that, I mean every other social outlet has a very specific use, so I’m still trying to decide how to use it.
- What’s your favorite video game?
Ninja Gaiden NES trilogy
- Who is your favorite fictional character of all time and why? (Can be comic books, movies, literature, etc)
Superman, because he can destroy each and everyone of us and CHOOSES not to do it because he cares about everyone, he’s not doing it for revenge, guilt or tragedy, he’s doing it because he really wants to.
- Would you rather design the poster for an upcoming Star Wars movie or the upcoming Blade Runner prequel?
Star Wars!
POPCORN ?! Come ON! Everyone knows that popcorn smells like feet! That’s it, I hate to do this but Salvador….we are NEVER going to the movies together! Huge thanks to Salvador for taking the time to help us get to know him just a bit better. I can’t wait to see what he does on the upcoming Poster Posse Projects in 2014!
Tagged: 47 Ronin, exclusive interview, James White, Mexico, Paul Ainsworth, Poster Posse, Salvador Anjuiano
