Glenn Danzig: The Story Behind Revolver's Insane New Tribute Artwork | Page 2 | Revolver

Glenn Danzig: The Story Behind Revolver's Insane New Tribute Artwork

Artist VBERKVLT/Justin Bartlett explains how piece represents Danzig's "vivid and pioneering music career"
danzigartfeatured.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett

If you have the new "Explorers Issue" of Revolver — which features Glenn Danzig, Behemoth, High on Fire and Turnstile across its four covers — then you've seen the incredible black India ink illustration by VBERKVLT/Justin Bartlett on the last page of the magazine. According to Bartlett, the original, commissioned piece was inspired by the artwork from Glenn Danzig's "vivid and pioneering music career" with the Misfits, Samhain and Danzig.

The heralded artist is known throughout the heavy-music community for his incredible illustration and design work for bands including Kvelertak, Sunn O))), Trap Them and the Secret, in addition to a stunning VHS cover poster for The Thing and drawings for Assassin's Creed 3.

His Danzig piece is available in Revolver's shop as a gorgeous collectible 11.9 x 14.18" silkscreen, printed by Burlesque of North America on French Pop-Tone Black Licorice paper with super opaque white ink. Limited to 250, each one is hand numbered and signed by the artist.

The artwork also appears as the cover of Revolver's limited-edition Glenn Danzig box set available exclusively on our webstore. This box set includes: the Glenn Danzig subscriber/newsstand cover of the magazine, three bonus webstore-only covers all photographed by the renowned L.A.-based Frank Ockenfels 3 and a one-year subscription to Revolver starting with the next issue.

Below, Bartlett explains the meaning behind his stunning piece and shares work-in-progress sketches from the process.

"Initially, I wanted to avoid the obviousness of 'the Danzig skull' and go for something out of left field. However, as I reviewed the artwork from his solo career, the Misfits and Samhain, I realized that focusing on just one era would not represent the extent of his vivid and pioneering music career. 

"Could I distill the eras into something simple, iconic, and avoid the usual 'collage' of scenery that so many artists produce? 

"Ignoring the iconic nature of the skull seemed like an unwise decision, as well, since it is such an intrinsic part of his public persona. Instead of ignoring it, I embraced and rendered it with my Voivod-inspired distortion and characterization.

"Diehards will be able to spot all of the references. It was an interesting challenge to combine references from several albums. Obvious or not. Are you diehard enough to spot them all?"

For more behind-the-scenes, check out Bartlett's "visual vault" on his website.

ORDER THE DANZIG-INSPIRED ART PRINT

ORDER THE OCT/NOV 2018 "EXPLORERS ISSUE" GLENN DANZIG BOX SET

img_1.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
developed, comparative sketch
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_2.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
digital layout and outline "to avoid any erasing or late modifications that can result from poor planning"
photograph by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_3.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
tracing image
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_4.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
tracing outline
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_5.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
pencil outline
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_6.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
inking
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_7.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_8.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_9.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_10.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
img_11.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
danzigartfinal.jpg, VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett
final image printed in the magazine
illustration by VBERKVLT / Justin Bartlett