Rock & Metal Artwork by Jan Meininghaus

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ROCK & METAL ARTWORK

BY JAN MEININGHAUS TRADITIONALLY HANDPAINTED, CREATED DIGITALLY & EVERYTHING BETWEEN

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INFO@JAN-MEININGHAUS.DE

„Dying Alive“ KREATOR, acrylic on canvas

„Phantom Antichrist“ KREATOR, acrylic on canvas

2012

„Rock World“ RIOT, digital illustration

2020

2013

„Jan Meininghaus possesses the gift of giving the viewer a glimpse into the souls of his heroes, making them shine timelessly without glorifying them too much. It doesn‘t matter whether the protagonists are still among the living or are already deceased.

During our collaboration for my band „Kreator“ he portrayed the musicians on the cover as undead zombies“ (Mille Petrozza from KREATOR)

„Doomsday Euphoria“ DEATH OF A DEMON, acrylic on canvas

2010

„Rob Halford“ Cover, ROCK HARD MAGAZINE, digital illustration

2018

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2007

„Killing legends“ FREE WORK, acrylics & mixed media on MDF

„Fuckin‘ up big time“ Singlecover THE TURBO A.C.‘s / V8 WANKERS, digital illustration

2019

„Dying alive“ KREATOR, digital illustration

„Demon Prince“ KREATOR

2013

2014 work in progress

„Ruhrpott Thrashmetal“ KREATOR, silkscreen print

2017

2015

„Gods of violence“ KREATOR, acrylic on canvas

2015

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„Ares Rising“, digital illustration 2018

2019

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„Tal der Skorpione“ Movieposter, digital illustration

„Marjorie“ FREE WORK, acrylic on canvas

2018 „Skate Deck“, digital illustration

2015

„Trailer Park Witch“, SAINT SERPENT, digital illustration

2019

1st row, left to right: 2nd row, left to right: 3rd row, left to right: 4th row, left to right:

Sacred Steel, Eidolon, Falconer, Brainstorm Orphaned Land, Eidolon, Zonata, Sacred Steel Mystic Prophecy, Stormwitch, NOISE Rec., Dream Evil Eidolon, Burning Point, Seven Witches, Mighty D.

2000-2011

„Volbeat“, acrylic on canvas

„ZZ Top“, pencil

„Angus Young“, digital

„Bone Breakin‘ Kittens“, digital illustration

2017

„Skylight“ ATOMA, acrylic on cardboard

2012 „Monsters of Metal“ NUCLEAR BLAST REC. SAMPLER, pencil & digital color

2015

„Honor Valour Pride“ BOLT THROWER, acrylic on cardboard

2001

„Punk Rock & Rebels“ PRIVATE WORK, acrylic on canvas

2014

„Punk Rock & Rebels“ PRIVATE WORK, acrylic on canvas

2014

ROCK & METAL ARTWORK

BY JAN MEININGHAUS TRADITIONALLY HANDPAINTED, CREATED DIGITALLY AND EVERYTHING BETWEEN

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Back in 1989, the young Jan Meininghaus was paid 50,- DM to create the logo for a band, and he hasn’t looked back. Since then, it’s been rock posters, covers, flyers, t-shirts, skate decks, comics, advertising illustrations and storyboards all the way. He’s worked with a whole range of clients from underground bands to blue chip brands.

Growing up in the 80s, he developed a passion for American pop culture and alongside his love of Star Wars and Back to the Future, he’s influenced by the lowbrow movement, graffiti, concept and fantasy art.

His all-time favourites include Frank Frazetta, HR Giger, Robert McGinnis, Drew Struzan and Frank Miller. It’s easy to see both their larger than life imaginations and deft art skills reflected in Jan’s portfolio.

Now living in the German countryside, he’s got the room he needs for his silkscreen press. He’s got a classic 67 Mustang, and a classic Les Paul guitar, which he plays in his band. You’ll spot them in his artworks now and again too, because Jan’s passions run deep. If he finds something interesting outside of his art, you’ll soon see it represented in the images he creates.

His work includes artwork for Kreator, Bolt Thrower, Overkill, Accept, Volbeat and many more,

M

eeting new people is the best part of everything.

Discovering things in common, sharing memories, or just having a good laugh. It’s all absolutely great. When I rode into the sunrise to meet Jan I realized I’d totally forgotten to prepare anything. No ideas for photos and no set-up for an interview. Sometimes the week prior to an interview is just too busy, or in this case too wild to even think about the future. After a little less than a two hour ride I drive up Jan’s driveway, where I’m welcomed by Jan Meininghaus himself. We walk through his cozy little garden beach and go inside.

And yes, that’s where the fun begins!

studying was to gain acceptance for himself and his work, and when he fulfilled this he was done with the course – and dropped out. From that moment he’s been doing just one thing: drawing!

As Jan says, “I never had a real job in my whole life! When you’re open minded, into new things and influences, and not getting stuck with one style or one thing, you’ll always make progress. Something they won’t teach you at school.”

For years Jan drew album covers, T-shirt designs, and event posters until he and some friends realized it was better to do these things for We enter the house and step into his studio. Next to the coolest props, their own brand. This was the beginning of Rumle59. For the last ten which he uses as reference for drawing, there’s quite a bit of movie meyears most of Jan’s work has been for this brand. They were aiming for morabilia. The coolest thing in this room must be the huge De Lorean the rockabilly and ’50s-style scene, which was really gaining popularity model from Back to the Future, and before we know it we’re talking abthen – and their company became a success. Jan says it’s absolutely out movies and toy brands. When Jan takes me to another part of his great doing this, but since this is a brand for the rockabilly scene studio I’m completely blown away by a wall of vintage ghetto it’s very much restricted to the ’30s to ’50s style. So when he blasters, and next to that a wall of the coolest Star Wars wants to do something like ’70s psychedelics, or some „Jan Meistuff! Man, this is the dopest place I’ve been lately! ’80s style, he has to do this for other projects. This is ninghaus is a kid sometimes personal work or commissions for bands from the ’80s. He was While we’re talking more toy stuff, my eye catches or maybe other labels. a glimpse of what I actually came for. A huge pile raised in a time without the of old drawings, sketches, and screen prints, But it’s been getting harder to do this over the last time-consuming internet, but half-hidden under some blank paper. Wow, wait few years. There’s always a guy in some far away with hyped movies, pop magaa minute, that’s cool stuff too! Back to business! country who does great work for next to nothing: zines, and plastic toys. Still a it’s a fair price for him, but nothing compared to kid every now and then, he’s He was an illustrator from the start. In 1988, whithe prices here. The band’s happy, the illustrator’s le still in school, Jan began drawing for bands in happy, so it’s a system that works; but it makes rooted in that subculture of the hardcore metal scene. Mostly band logos and it hard for illustrators in Europe to find work doing comics, skateboarding, T-shirt designs. Sometimes he made something like band stuff. science fiction, and 15 marks per illustration, sometimes nothing at all, and magazines.“ Jan’s not sure if he’d manage if he was a newbie illustrahe was even drawing in class during school hours. tor today. It’s getting really hard to make a living out of it. But After high-school Jan decided to study visual communication, but he’s got his own brand and still works for some loyal customers this wasn’t what he expected. He found out the only reason he had for from back in the day, and he feels very lucky that this is the case.

„MY ILLUSTRATIVE STYLE IS INFLUENCED BY URBAN SUBCULTURE AND FASHION, MUSIC AND MOVIES. I WORK IN VARIOUS TECHNIQUES BUT ALWAYS FOCUS ON TRANSFERRING THE ENERGETIC STYLE OF CAR CHASE MOVIES AND ROCK´N ROLL IN MY WORK.” …

One thing that strikes me right away is the number of different styles that Jan works in, from comical stuff to realistic drawings and paintings. One returning subject is hero posed men and women – always with a stance as if they come right out of an action movie: Unusual angles and brave looks. Together with the Quentin Tarantino-like compositions and some ’70s muscle cars they’d make great film posters.

For Jan the ’80s are still an inspirational era. The comics, skateboarding, and movies are still among the best and they make up a large part of his thinking. But even today, new movies, new visual styles, and new typography are part of Jan’s inspiration. He buys new magazines and travels to different cities; and yes, the internet is a big playground for him too. But there’s nothing as cool as going somewhere and finding something you weren’t looking for. That’s worth a lot! And cities such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, Rome, or Berlin… There are so many great places so close. It’s pretty easy to get on a plane and visit them for a big helping of new ideas.

As you might expect after seeing Jan’s work, he’s a real car lover. There are a lot of motorcycles too, but when it comes down to it he’s a car guy.

Jan: “I always had a passion for cars, because of movies like Bullitt and Mad Max. In 2003 I got my first Mustang, a 1967 coupe, which I still have. Now I’ve also got a 1930 hot-rod, a 1964 Galaxie Country Sedan, and an F250 truck from 1968. The latest addition is our motorhome. It’s a Winnebago from 1979. It was crappy and cheap, but my girlfriend took care of the interior, and a friend and I took care of the exterior. We hope to travel a lot this summer through Europe.”

Even though Jan found himself a house with a pretty big backyard, he seems to be running out of space. But then again, he can always give up his little garden beach.

Interview by Sik Bloemsma for 13 and a Half Magazine #10, 2019

JAN MEININGHAUS WWW.JAN-MEININGHAUS.DE INFO@JAN-MEININGHAUS.DE FACEBOOK.COM/JANMEININGHAUSILLUSTRATION BEHANCE.NET/JAN-MEININGHAUS __________________________________ PHONE. +49.177.7269640 SKYPE: JANMEININGHAUS JAN MEININGHAUS TURMALLEE 4 46459 REES GERMANY