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I Paint Portraits Of Popular Figures On Vinyl Records, Here Are 29 Of Them (New Pics)
When streaming came to the forefront, music fans flocked to vinyl records as a throwback to when the act of buying music was an event. Vinyl Art is my interpretation of bringing back the tangible feeling of collecting music.
Having started painting my portraits on vinyl records for sale in 2006, before the renewed interest, it's been cool to be involved as newcomers to collecting get excited. As a collector first, I remember digging through the record store bins and how fun it was to find grails and to discover new music.
When I came up with the idea in the '90s, I used beat second or third copies of my favorite albums donated to the local library, used sales or independent record stores. Now I do my best to find similarly worn ones online from small sellers. The best is when customers send me a damaged copy to paint.
Check out my previous article here.
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The Beatles
My journey as an artist probably started when I was 6 years old. By that age, I began taking art classes. As a teenager, I came up with the idea for my vinyl art and the rest is history.
I like the tangibility of vinyl, the memories. I remember what the cabinet smelled like with my dad’s records, the sound of the shrink-wrap crinkling, the feel of the record in your hand as you flip it from one side to the other. I care about the tangible, about our culture, so my work serves to pay homage, to say thank you to those musicians and photographers from which I draw inspiration.
Audrey Hepburn
John Lennon
The actual painting takes several hours, but I ask for a month for custom pieces because of the whole process. Starting is always difficult for me. Looking at that beat-up record and deciding to start putting paint on it. The most enjoyable part of the creative process is the meditative flow of the painting, losing myself in the work.
Prince
David Bowie
For me, painting sort of turns into meditation. I don't think about each dab of the brush. I don't think about each moment of the music playing. It's very peaceful. While words are dear to me, I think that means that my passion lies in music and art. Funny how what I ended up doing every day combines both. It makes me feel really lucky.
Chris Cornell
Jim Morrison
I also feel lucky to have gotten to work on some cool installations more recently. The TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 1 and the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin projects are very cool. I'd love to see them in person someday. Selling custom pieces worldwide continues to be very satisfying as I love working directly with customers to come up with pieces they'll love to hang or give as a gift to a music lover in their family.
Billie Eilish
Johnny Cash
Eddie Van Halen
David Gilmour
Bob Marley
Willie Nelson
Leonard Cohen
Tupac Shakur
Ozzy Osbourne
Eddie Vedder
Mick Jagger
Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan
Michael Jackson
Bono
Phil Lynott
Thanks! This one is hanging up in the Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin.
Load More Replies...Bob Dylan
Dave Gahan
John Lee Hooker
Robert Plant
Britt Daniel
Spoon
Holey $***...!!! These dont look painted at all. It looks like a photo has been somehow applied. OP, you have an awesome talent. The paintings look, at least to my eyes, dead on like the subject. Makes me wish I could afford to have one made to hang next my old bass guitars. You do insanely beautiful and skillful work.
These are great - what I like best is that they convey the 'something' that was unique about each artist - their individual vibe and flavor. Yes, it had to be captured in the original picture, but you totally portrayed it in your artwork. Well done.
Second comment on this post,but I was curious and wondering if the artist takes requests or commissions. I think it would be awesome to have a picture of Cliff Burton ( the picture shown on the youtube video for "Orion bass only cliff burton" where he is looking with both fists aimed at the camera ) yeah, that picture painted on a Master of Puppets album. That would be honest to god inspiring.
I definitely do custom work. Email me at vinylart@danieledlen.com and we can figure out one for Cliff.
Load More Replies...Ok that is beyond amazing ! I found an Etsy shop that does laser cut outs of the bands with their vinyl . I think these paintings are even cooler !
Those are incredible, amazing art!! I'm gutted I had to dispose of my old vinyls now
I guess they're ok, (except Bowie) but we still listen to our vinyl. We have over 500 albums, and two working turntables. It's upsetting to me, that these albums can no longer be played.
I was a collector first. I try to use beat copies that would be trashed or uncollectable reissues.
Load More Replies...Holey $***...!!! These dont look painted at all. It looks like a photo has been somehow applied. OP, you have an awesome talent. The paintings look, at least to my eyes, dead on like the subject. Makes me wish I could afford to have one made to hang next my old bass guitars. You do insanely beautiful and skillful work.
These are great - what I like best is that they convey the 'something' that was unique about each artist - their individual vibe and flavor. Yes, it had to be captured in the original picture, but you totally portrayed it in your artwork. Well done.
Second comment on this post,but I was curious and wondering if the artist takes requests or commissions. I think it would be awesome to have a picture of Cliff Burton ( the picture shown on the youtube video for "Orion bass only cliff burton" where he is looking with both fists aimed at the camera ) yeah, that picture painted on a Master of Puppets album. That would be honest to god inspiring.
I definitely do custom work. Email me at vinylart@danieledlen.com and we can figure out one for Cliff.
Load More Replies...Ok that is beyond amazing ! I found an Etsy shop that does laser cut outs of the bands with their vinyl . I think these paintings are even cooler !
Those are incredible, amazing art!! I'm gutted I had to dispose of my old vinyls now
I guess they're ok, (except Bowie) but we still listen to our vinyl. We have over 500 albums, and two working turntables. It's upsetting to me, that these albums can no longer be played.
I was a collector first. I try to use beat copies that would be trashed or uncollectable reissues.
Load More Replies...