2011 Wallpaper - Inked - Ohio State
[ed: bump.]
I started working on this season's Ohio State wallpaper several months ago. The concept was more fun than anything I've worked on (other than the Denard Robinson Action Figures) and soon it grew into my most ambitious project to-date. Nothing even comes close with regard to the skills required to pull it off and the number of hours I'd require to finish it.
In case it's not obvious to you already, this is not that wallpaper. Two things changed my mind about releasing it now: first, I realized that my concept had nothing to do with Ohio State and would work better as a pro-Michigan season theme; second, the memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal provided the first true opportunity to poke fun at Ohio State in nearly a decade.
As I write this explanation I'm reminded of the classic line by rock greats Tenacious D: "This is not The Greatest Song in the World, no. This is just a tribute." Next August I'll publish "The Greatest Wallpaper in the World" for the 2012 season to massive disappointment now that I've stupidly overhyped the thing to the five people who actually read these explanations. For now, I hope you'll enjoy this artwork inspired by Ohio State's fall (and Fall).
The images below are a previews only. You can get the widescreen, 4:3, iPad and mobile wallpapers at The Art. The Art. The Art!.
How it was made
The Riddell Revo Speed helmets were illustrated in Illustrator (they really nailed the naming of that product) and then superimposed on the forearm photograph in Photoshop. I used a dash of Gaussian blur, a mix of blending modes and a smidge of smudge tool action to make the color boundaries look more tattoo-ish. If you look closely you can see a little red around the edges of the tattoo that gives the skin the "I was at one time in the past punctured over and over by needles" look. I toyed with a much more elaborate tattoo that used a blackletter font (and went so far as to design an ambigram for the word "game") but in the end I decided on simplicity; I used a type treatment consistent with this season's Notre Dame and Michigan State wallpapers.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
You're a goddamned genius.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^
November 21st, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
Jerel Worthy thinks you should have just used an Oregon helmet instead.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
Contestant: "I'll take Big Ten for $600, Alex."
Alex: "Jerel Worth thinks..."
Contestant: Buzz "What are three words that don't belong together?"
November 21st, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
Love it. Excellent work as always monuMental.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
Thanks, Monumental. I've been waiting for a new wallpaper since before the Iowa game. This is great!
November 21st, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
there's no two ways about it - that's fucking unbelieveable.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
Excellent wallpaper. I also anxiously await what you refer to as "the greatest wallpaper ever" this coming August!
November 21st, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
but I'm so glad you do. amazing work, as always! will be proudly displayed on my laptop as I go from place to place here on the UW-Madison campus.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
FUCKIN' EPIC!!!
November 21st, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
Reading on my iPhone, so I couldn't see the end result as I was reading the explanation.
<br>Kept building up the suspense and I was so excited only to have my hopes crushed. August is so far away!!!!!
<br>Nevertheless you still provided another excellent wallpaper. This can replace action figure Denard for the week. Eagerly awaiting the next.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
The things you can do with Photoshop are pretty impressive
November 21st, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
Just so you know...
I always read the descriptions, so thanks for writing them. And more thanks for giving me the perfect picture to email my boss with.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^
thing since sliced bread
November 21st, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
How do I get that on my iPhone? I can't figure it out. Moron, I know.
November 21st, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^
Got it. I was trying to download it from the iPhone app. Wasn't working. Went online, saved image, beautiful wallpaper.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^
1,000% awesome. I love all of the work you have done, but this is by far my favorite.
November 21st, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
If I bring you a signed jersey, can I get this tattooed on my arm?
November 21st, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
'fess up, don't be afraid!
Nice work, as always.
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