San Francisco, United States
Joel Elrod was born with a paintbrush in his hand in 1967. At age two, he began creating masterpiece...
About the artist
Joined In 2010
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About the artist
Joined In 2010
(0 Followers)
Joel Elrod was born with a paintbrush in his hand in 1967. At age two, he began creating masterpieces in his Montessori classroom in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout elementary and high school, his style became more defined with private lessons from well-known artists in Omaha. Joel attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and studied with such notables as Joe Sorren and Scott Laumann. In 1993 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in illustration from NAU.
His evolving style blends unique color palettes and detailed line work with a personal iconography that serves as a fulcrum for emotion, mind and spirit. Infinity, birds and cats, the number 13, and a menagerie of genetically modified creatures with halos all play a role in describing Joel's world of pain, hope, and spiritual dynamics. Sometimes however, Joel dispenses with symbolism and cuts right to the chase. It is not uncommon to find hidden word messages in his pieces.
Politics, environmentalism, social satire, and spirituality have been strong influences in his work. Joel lives in San Francisco with his cat, Max.
In 1996, he began creating concert posters for Bill Graham Presents. His BGP posters for Korn, Weezer, Jane's Addiction, Willie Nelson, David Byrne, and Ryan Adams were accepted into Print's Regional Design annuals, and his Korn, David Byrne, Willie Nelson, and Ryan Adams posters were printed in the American Illustration annuals. Joel also does editorial illustration for magazines and newspapers such as Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Men's Journal, Smart Money, The Dallas Morning News, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Bike. He also has published work in The Art Of Modern Rock.,