Rick Griffin - Jimi Hendrix Experience Winterland Poster, 1968
Why did you choose this as your illustration example?
I chose this as my example because of the choice of color and the highly interesting psychedelic / surreal style.
What kind of Illustration is this?
This is a poster that was printed for the Jimi Hendrix Experience Winterland show in San Francisco, California.
What is the purpose of the illustration?
This print was primarily used as an advertisement to amp people up about the show and it's line up.
What was the context in which the illustration appeared?
This illustration most likely appeared before the show, during the show, and was placed all over the venue, and the city of San Francisco as promotional material. It most likely appeared in music magazines of all sorts as well. It was later put up for sale several years later.
What is the message of the illustration?
I believe the overall message is to make this show appear psychedelic, or unique in an era where it was very popular to experiment with those kinds of things.
Who is the sender of the illustrated message?
The person who contracted the piece was either Hendrix himself or people that affiliate / manage his brand. The man behind this piece is named Rick Griffin. (June 18, 1944 – August 18, 1991)
Who is the intended audience of the illustrated message?
This piece was primarily intended for those that were into and of the artists listed on the poster, as well as those that were into experimentation with recreational drugs. Most likely young adults, to full fledged adults.
What is the communication objective of the illustration?
I believe the artist is trying to communicate an essence of surrealism alongside being unique and using references from other cultures to represent some sort of unity. There was a lot of violence during and before the time of this show. People who often listened to this music during this era were into world peace. I believe the use of Khepri the Egyptian sun god, and the Chinese Yin and Yang symbols represent something along those lines while still promoting a show for a group of artists.
What medium was the illustration created in?
Rick used digital media, ink and brush, and some print making tools to create his pieces. He was a comic book artist in addition to being one of the most successful album artists during his lifetime.
Who is the illustrator? Where do they live, where do they work?
Born in Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, and lived in San Francisco during the peak of his career. He worked for Zap Comics, however was a free-lance artist as well. He gained his popularity mainly through his surf drawings in the 60's.
