THE SLOANSONS 1997/2022
During the early days of dial-up internet, I ran a fan website devoted to my obsession for Canadian band Sloan.
Original marker drawing of Sloansons with young fan (omitted for final postcard prints)
I posted a silly mash-up drawing of the band with my other obsession, a long-running beloved cartoon series.
“You mean the Simpso-SHH! You wanna get sued?”
Created before the days of Google image search, any reference images were sourced from home VHS recordings I would freeze-frame and draw from the television 😮💨
(BELOW: Some clothing references for Chris and Andrew from Much Music interviews - shout-out Sloancast Podcast YouTube channel! )
Chris and fan at 1996’s Edenfest (ew, feet!)
Baby Sloan hosting a 1997 episode of “The Wedge”
My wobbly drawing subsequently appeared in music magazines, local papers, and band merch (postcards, mugs, and the box set release of 1998’s Navy Blues!)
In late 2022, I impulsively created an update, 25 years later.
Pencil roughs of Chris, Jay (with a remote) and Captain Gregory!
Chris monitoring how many likes he has
Some process videos while creating the final image:
01: Testing background couch sizing (drawn in a vector program on a screen tablet) with pencil roughs of Chris and Jay (who is patiently waiting for Antiques Roadshow to start)
02: Taking Patrick’s pencil sketch, dropping it into the vector program, then tracing with clean lines
03: Filling in colours behind Andrew’s digital outlines
A reference image I used to draw their clothing (Steady LP promo photo by Calm Elliott-Armstrong)
I referenced Patrick’s Jesus & Mary Chain shirt, Chris’s black jeans, Jay’s double-denim and hat, Andrew’s white shirt and cargos, and all of their adorable shoes
The band - and fans! - were supportive of the new update ❤ Coinciding with their 2023 tour for the Steady LP, the band featured my design on shirts, totes, and mugs sold at their shows.
Put me on a postcard, mail me back home ♫
“OOh so handsome! LIKE”
Arr me chest hairs be blowin’