[rob123rob]

Two new prints on Obey/Giant right now:
Operation Oil Freedom (regular and gold edition).

Worth a look

[finsburyparkranger]

rob123rob said:

Two new prints on Obey/Giant right now:
Operation Oil Freedom (regular and gold edition).

Worth a look

The obey stuff always looks like its a photshop image with a little garnish, always done in the same design and the concept always very similar. I really don't dig it. Also I can't help but feel if he was in a coma the prints would keep coming out, just like always.

[rob123rob]

Yeah, I kinda agree, but at $35 U.S., it's not a bad choice even if you only like it a bit. Im not sold on it, but I wont miss the $35

[brainthedog]

I can't stand shepard/obey...sorry

[lrworld]

brainthedog said:

I can't stand shepard/obey...sorry

The last few weeks have been weak releases, but I love a handful of his stuff! Sunsets, Peace Fatal, War by Numbers, etc. I enjoy hanging some of his stuff as much as I enjoy hanging Banksy.

[bobbymeachamjr]

rob123rob said:

Yeah, I kinda agree, but at $35 U.S., it's not a bad choice even if you only like it a bit. Im not sold on it, but I wont miss the $35

So buy something because of the name even though it sucks... Nice!

[Dead Elvis]

lrworld said:

The last few weeks have been weak releases, but I love a handful of his stuff! Sunsets, Peace Fatal, War by Numbers, etc. I enjoy hanging some of his stuff as much as I enjoy hanging Banksy.

I agree...it's been a pretty lame year for Obey, but as a whole, his portfolio is top-notch. When he's on, he's on. Every aspect of his work, from stencil to color palatte, is far superior to Banksy. It's incredible that someone can conceptualize so much work in one year, taken into account fine art pieces and all, even though there might only be 4-5 really strong prints for any given year.

[brainthedog]

he would be a lot better off if he released a few kick ass prints a year rather than a ton of crappy ones weekly

[stradled]

Still havent got any Obey prints, the ones I have liked sold out in seconds, but going to give this one a miss!

fully agree with the post above, the ones that have been good have been brill, but there has been some lame ones in between.

[pezlow]

brainthedog said:

I can't stand shepard/obey...sorry

Fair enough mate. But before you write him off have a read of his book - Supply and Demand. It is a fascinating read.

A lot of his stuff doesn't do much for me either but when he gets it right it is great. His gallery pieces are where the real quality is - the canvases and hmp's.

[dave313perry]

brainthedog said:

I can't stand shepard/obey...sorry

No need to be sorry! Each to their own and all that..

I personally cant believe how prolific he is! and his latest book release ir really really good value and full of high res. images that give you a real insite into his work without buying every print!!!

My Tip is Buy the Book, you can pick it up off amazon for 20-30 quid if i remember right and its class!!

Peace

[insite]

rob123rob said:

Yeah, I kinda agree, but at $35 U.S., it's not a bad choice even if you only like it a bit. Im not sold on it, but I wont miss the $35

Yeah but add on postage to the U.K and charges and you're looking at more like £35, or the cost of an unsigned LV or many other prints. I've got some of the prints from the past few years the quality and production are top notch but I do feel the designs are getting much weaker lately.

[pezlow]

I agree insite. Some of the recent releases have been poor and more unforgiveably, just plain lazy. There are some notable exceptions though. Sunsets was a classic (had to pick that up on the secondary market for $130) and I also like Toxicity Inspector.

[insite]

Do you think the designs are 100% down to him now ? With the shows, travel and running his business I don't see where he gets the time for a design a week unless he just gives a design brief to an associate and lets them get on with it.

Anyway we're not alone on this one I just had a look and silvers are still up, unheard of for Obey recently.

[pezlow]

I understand he employs around 20 people. Some of them are bound to have an involvement in the design of the prints. This doesn't really bother me as I am sure lots of artists do it and, after all, he does sign and date all his prints and keeps them very reasonable.

[kairbag]

The book is really amazing, and it's signed when you buy it on Obey Giant website... A really must have for any street art collector !!!

[bobbymeachamjr]

IMO blatantly compromising your art (if thats what you want to call it?) for the dollar is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong Art is also a business but when you're cranking out crap in a factory type setting and then putting your signature on it I rather not get into name calling...

[bonesy]

when you're cranking out crap in a factory type setting and then putting your signature on it

Warhol?

Im a big fan of Shepard's body of work but have only tried to purchase a few prints this year. Shepard is dedicated to keeping his print prices very low, he could obviously get more. He has decided to take the route where the prints are inexpensive so he cranks out a bunch so everyone that wants something of his can get something. I would personally prefer he raise the prices (alot) and put out much less work, but its not the path he's chosen.
Overall, I guess Id rather have an artist that is affordable and accessible than someone you wait 6+ months to have a 1 in XXX chance to hopefully spend $$$($) on...... and even then you probably dont even end up with something the artist signed.

[dave313perry]

bobbymeachamjr said:

IMO blatantly compromising your art (if thats what you want to call it?) for the dollar is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong Art is also a business but when you're cranking out crap in a factory type setting and then putting your signature on it I rather not get into name calling...

If hes cranking out crap why do all his releases sell out, and most of them in quick time???

You cant argue with the majority because someone keeps buying all his prints, its not like hes a newbie/fad/ or built on the back of hype as weve seen recently with a few un-named artists! He continues to please the masses, whats wrong with that???

Atleast their executed proffesionaly, have a vivid style and consistancy and arnt going to result in your bank manager chasing you down the street!

[stradled]

kairbag said:

The book is really amazing, and it's signed when you buy it on Obey Giant website... A really must have for any street art collector !!!

Seems to be sold out, bummer!

[dave313perry]

Stop hitting the respect you idiot, its all about point of view, and general concencious means obey sells out!?!?!? dont like dont buy

[rolyateel]

his book is excellent, and contains some great images & i recommend the book to everyone

however the last few months releases that i've seen seem fucking awful

it's almost like he has to churn out 1 image per week in order to keep up his sales, and the quality has dipped drastically

[rolyateel]

check out this post

omgposters.com/2007/08/06/this-weeks-obey-print-operation-oil-freedom/

[dave313perry]

no doubting his recent releases have dipped in quality, and his older images are much more to my taste but that surely doesnt detract from his artistic/graphic ability. As for the comments on the omg Forum the majority of them are from half whit idiots who just follow a few opinions, and with a name like wanksta!?!?!?

Sureley you should judge an artist on his body of work, and on a whole its quality, and not to mention inspirational to other up and coming artists.

People need to realise though that as graphic images these are rather impressive executions even if the subject matter is weak in the recent releases

Basically get his book and look at the body of his work, look at the detail for screenprints, and the oversized bank note detail in the background, they really are ace!

[finsburyparkranger]

If hes cranking out crap why do all his releases sell out, and most of them in quick time???

*cough* Mcdonalds ain't exactly the be all and end all of culinary cuisine though, so not sure that argument stands.

[dave313perry]

finsburyparkranger said:

If hes cranking out crap why do all his releases sell out, and most of them in quick time???

*cough* Mcdonalds ain't exactly the be all and end all of culinary cuisine though, so not sure that argument stands.

Supply and demand, finding that demand is an art in itself

[dave313perry]

Long live the Big Mac!

[bobbymeachamjr]

no banksy = no obey as we know selling out every week

banksy has created a flipper environment. Just a year ago many of his "impressive" prints were sitting on his site for $25 and hardly anybody buying. And its not like he was a yet to be discovered artist. Its just that people didnt think the print was worth $25.

[dave313perry]

bobbymeachamjr said:

no banksy = no obey as we know selling out every week

banksy has created a flipper environment. Just a year ago many of his "impressive" prints were sitting on his site for $25 and hardly anybody buying. And its not like he was a yet to be discovered artist. Its just that people didnt think the print was worth $25.

Not sure i agree with that comment, "Banksy had prints sitting on a web-site for $25"- did he??, " its not like he was a yet to be discovered artist"??, -it wasnt like was on TV adverts!?! and as for Banksy creating the flipping environment??? i would say it was more ebay that created that but off the mark never the less IMO!

Peace

[bobbymeachamjr]

Yes a year ago obey had many prints on his site for $25 with not many biting...