Joe Simko

Joe Simko is an American illustrator who has contributed to Topps’ Garbage Pail Kids[1] and Wacky Packages trading cards. He is the illustrator/author of the book series, The Sweet Rot,[2] and he designs artwork for bands, creating album covers, tour posters and concert shirts.[3] His recent project Cereal Killers Trading Cards, 1st Series was released May 2, 2011. The Cereal Killers cards spoof breakfast cereals with popular horror films. Joe wrote and painted all 55 cards for the first set and launched the series through his new company, Wax Eye.[4]

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Contents

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, Simko was raised in Southampton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cartooning. He was the recipient of the Joe Orlando scholarship award from his graduating department that year. Among Simko’s instructors at the School of Visual Arts were Joe Orlando (VP of DC Comics and associate editor of Mad), Klaus Jansen, Sal Almendola, Carmine Infantino and many other professionals working in the field of comics and graphic storytelling.

Career

After graduating from the School of Visual Arts, Simko held a full-time position as an artist for men’s neckwear, creating design pieces for ties. In 2000 Simko was hired as a full-time, in-house storyboard artist for television commercials at GEM Studios in NYC. At this time he also did freelance jobs designing show posters for local bands. This freelance work gained some notice, and he began working for higher profile groups. In 2006, he designed all of the artwork for the large traveling rock tour, The Vans Warped Tour. In 2007, the Japanese rock festival MAGMA commissioned him to design all the artwork for their tour and oversee all the art direction as the managing artist. Two 20 feet (6.1 m) tall inflatable monsters based on Simko's character designs were also created for the Japan Rock concerts.

Simko currently freelances full time from his studio in NYC and continues production as author and illustrator of his book series The Sweet Rot. An original story showcasing a group of wildly eccentric little kids also known as "little rotters" in the make-believe town of Pollilop Drop, The Sweet Rot is published by Schiffer Books.

Simko has created artwork for clients and organizations including Ride Snowboards, Sims Snowboards, Outlook Skateboards, The Gotham Girls Roller Derby League, Fangoria Magazine, New York Hardcore Tattoos, Spooky Empire's Ultimate Horror Weekend, Monster Mania, JLO Hangtag for Andy Hilfiger, and the NYC clothing boutinque Live Fast.

Simko was penciller and co-creator for actor Stephen Baldwin's graphic novel series Spirit Warriors, and designer of bottle artwork for Manglaze, a nail polishe line.

His list of musical clients includes The Misfits, GWAR, Trivium, Murphy's Law, Dwarves, Insane Clown Posse, Sonic Youth, Good Riddance, The Undead, Peelander Z, and others.

In 2006, a Simko designed shirt was used in the film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. The shirt was designed for the store Live Fast in NYC.

Artwork for rock music festivals

Published artwork

Art shows

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2000

1999

References

  1. ^ GPK artist bios
  2. ^ sweetrot.com Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  3. ^ sweetrot.com Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  4. ^ Wax Eye
  5. ^ Simko, Joe. "It's Called the Music Business", Alternative Press Magazine, May 2009, page 37.
  6. ^ Magma website)
  7. ^ Magma website
  8. ^ Simko, Joe. Schiffer website, Spring 2010. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  9. ^ Publisher: Ferndale Press February 2, 2009. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  10. ^ Miret, Roger. Revolver Magazine, New York,2009.
  11. ^ Pfouts, Sherri Schiffer website, Spring 2008. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  12. ^ Doll Magazine, Tokyo, Japan. June 2007. Issue 238, back cover artwork
  13. ^ Burgess, Aaron. "Built To Last", Revolver Magazine, NY, New York. March 2007. page 101
  14. ^ King, Dennis. The Art of Modern Rock site 2007. page 61, page 167. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  15. ^ Jones, Howard. "Kill Switch Engage", Skinnie Magazine, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. November 2006. page 44.
  16. ^ Baldwin, Stephen. Rosato, Bruno. Amazon purchase site "Spirit Warriors (Volumes 1,2&3)", 2006-2007. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  17. ^ Rio, Dale. "Derby's Image Makers", Blood and Thunder Magazine Winter 2006, page 44
  18. ^ Spin Magazine, Spring 2006. page 35
  19. ^ Swank Magazine, April 2004.
  20. ^ King, Dennis., Grushkin, Paul. The Art of Modern Rock site 2004. page 483. Retrieved on July 11 2010.
  21. ^ Canconieri, Sal. amazon purchase site, "Dark Horse Books", February 2004. page 10, page 50.

Further reading

External links

List of all press and reviews for Joe Simko's Cereal Killers trading cards & Wax Eye company