JAN  MEININGHAUS  ILLUSTRATION

Born in the early ‘70s, I spent my youth reading comic books, riding BMX-bikes, playing arcade-games, and watching TV-shows like "The Dukes of Hazzard" and movies like “Cannonball Run" and ”Star Wars.” I began my illustration career with the age of 16, designing rock posters and album artwork for the bands in myhometown. Several years before iMacs and Photoshop revolutionized the industry, I was one of the last illustrators that learned to create their art by hand, using airbrush, Letraset letters and Copic markers. From that beginning I quickly gained clients from youth culture related labels to blue chip brands aiming to reach a stylish and trendy audience. My illustrative style is influenced by urban subculture, fashion, music and movies.I work in various techniques – from painting to digital to mixing it all up – but always focus on transferring the energy of my favorite car-chase movies and loads of rock ’n’ roll to my work. Let's get in touch.

You're found of pin up and kustom art. Why these topics? What do you like about it and how do you live your passion everyday (do you have an old car)?

"Growing up in the 70s/80s I was fascinated by American Pop-culture: Comics, movies, crimestories and outlaws, cars and machines, strong women (from Tank Girl to Alien's Ripley) and Rockmusic.

I guess if you mash up everything in a big pot and boil it with some 60s/70s-spices you will get my creative output. Bon appetit!
Right now I own a '67 Mustang (my Getaway-Musclecar), a '64 Ford Country Sedan (kind of a Surfwagon that's perfect for carrying large paintings) and a '68 Ford F25 Pick Up Truck (my workhorse since I live on the countryside). I do a little wrenching sometimes and try my best to keep the stack'o'Fords running.
The worlds I paint are inspired by my real life and vice versa. I cannot imagine to draw a '68 Charger, dressed in a neat suit after a 9 to 5 job where I drove to with a "Prius"...
I proudly consider my life as a dream come true. Being a professional illustrator and living in my own little kustom-made pop-culture-world."
 

Where do you find your inspiration? Who are your favorites artists? Today, which artist do you follow and why? 

"I love illustration and art! I can't get enough of artbooks, new artists and styles, exhibitions and galleries. My head is filled with the weird art of Simon Bisley, Gottfried Helnwein and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. I like Jasper Jons as much as Frank Frazetta and the characters of a movie can be as inspiring as some song's lyrics or a picture found on Pinterest. That open-minded approach to art can also be found in the Low-brow art movement, which I like a lot. Glenn Barr, Tara McPherson, Dan Quintana, etc. There's so much interesting stuff going on in the art world today and it'll be a shame to focus on a single aspect. Rock Poster Art, Vinyl Toys, Kustom Kulture, Street art, Signpainters and Letterers, Alternative Movie Posters, Apparel Design, commercial illustration, concept design... to name just a few..."

You're very versatile and you use different techniques. Except pin up and kustom imagery what do you do? What kind of mediums do you use and why do you like them? How do you work to achieve your designs, through which steps do you go? 

"I have just opened my Solo Show in Bochum "Punk, Rock & Rebels". Displayed are large format paintings on canvas that show portraits of Rock and Punk icons. But that's a strictly personal project. When I work for clients I choose whatever technique and style works best for the project. That may be mixed media, pencil on paper or a completely digital painting. Usually I combine my reference materials in Photoshop to see if a composition clicks and work from there in different techniques."

Do you have some interesting projects for the future? Tell us more about them. Where can we follow your work? 

"Most of the illustrations and layouts for RUMBLE59 are my job and since the label is growing steadily, there'll be a lot of Rockabilly-themed art to be done. Maybe I will be painting more in the future, enhance the techniques I used for "Punk, Rock & Rebels" and create a new series in that same mood. And I have set up a 4C-silkscreen printer that'll be used later this year for some T-Shirts and limited posters. Let's see where this will lead to."

Corporate:

Ford

Audi

Opel

Kia

Mercedes Benz

smart

Snap-On Tools

Sony walkman

BASF

ebay

Nivea

Campari

Pernod

Beck's

Jever

müller

Louis

Polo

Braun

Engl

Ad Agencies:

BBDO

ogilvy & mather

heimat berlin

pixelpark

Aimaq & Stolle

Serviceplan

heye

Jung von Matt

Mc Cann Erickson

Springer & Jacobi

Kochstrasse