Rodrigo Pires (Designed by Death) fuses Ghost and comics
By Devin Shea
Sometimes art and music collide, like in the instance of Rodrigo Pires (who does his art under the name Designed by Death) and his amazing Ghost artwork.
I’ll be honest, I’m an old person when it comes to social media. I’m just terrible at these new fangled social apps. But I’m trying and that’s why lately I keep finding things on Instagram. It’s like a treasure trove of art and music, and I’m not talking about Hobby Lobby selfies or pictures of coffee cups. I’m talking about musicians (like Dance with the Dead and Twin Temple who we have covered in the past) and artists sharing their wares with the public from all over the world.
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
As you may have noticed, 1428 Elm loves Ghost in all their incarnations. Whether Cardinal or Papa, we are fans and with the new album, Prequelle, and A Pale Tour Named Death, our eyes and ears are full of the dulcet tones of casual Satanism and dark church choirs. Rodrigo Pires, from Brazil, has taken it a step further with artwork that mixes music and comic book covers by inspiration from Ghost’s song titles. Just look at these beauties blessed by the fires of Lucifer.
I absolutely love these and wouldn’t protest filling my walls and halls with the images of Hell’s window, bloody rats and Cardinal Copia with a rockin’ bod. From prints to shirts to phone cases, you can take these sleek and sexy images home from the Designed by Death store on Red Bubble. I got to pick Pires’ brain about his art and his love of Ghost and musical inspirations.
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
1428 Elm: How did you get your start into creating art?
Rodrigo Pires: Before being a wacko preacher who summons artistic manifestations from a pen, I practiced a lot. I always drew stuff since I was little. It can often be a calling, a gift, but to keep this you need to practice every day. I sketched for hours just to learn the basics, anatomy. It’s an important step before anything else. I have a degree in Graphic Design, so the transition was quite common. Professionally, I started as soon as I finished college, creating brands for local companies, shirt designs, doing some freelances too.
1428: Do you have any artistic influences?
RP: Some random stuff, 80’s music, Edgar Allan Poe, Lovecraft, Stephen King, John Carpenter, David Lynch, Angel statues, Graveyards and Black Hot Coffee.
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
1428: That’s quite the range of influences. Why the comic cover style?
RP: I’ve always liked comics. I love the old aesthetics, the traditional art, the folds, the smell. I try to keep the aging factor as a part of the concept, as if it were something lost in time. Some “What if …” sort of case. It’s fun!
1428: It really works with the metal music aesthetic in an unexpected way. Why choose Ghost songs as a big subject?
RP: Like a disease, I did not choose. It chose me and ended up spreading like the black plague…(cough, cough). I was hangin’ around waiting for the release of the album Prequelle, and the single “Rats” gave some feeling that would be something focused on a theme of terror. I confirmed this when I heard “Dance Macabre” which is a purely 80s cheesy sound, something like Alice Cooper and I loved it. And then came the spirit of creativity haunting me with this. What would it be like to mix Ghost with Tales from the Crypt horror comics?Thanks to that, some people are coming to me with commission requests, it’s crazy!
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
1428: What a story! Ghost tends to get people like that, though. They are truly becoming bigger than life. What’s your favorite Ghost art piece?
RP: “Square Hammer” I think. It’s a good pop art parody of the classic horror comics.
1428: It was “Helvetesfonster” that first caught my eye to your work. Where can fans purchase your art?
RP: Mainly on links I provide on my Instagram. Redbubble and Teepublic for now. If you see somewhere else selling it, then you should call the cops…
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
1428: What’s your favorite Ghost song?
RP: “Dance Macabre” and “Witch Image” for sure
1428: “Witch Image” is one of my favorites as well. What songs can we anticipate seeing turned into comic book covers in the future?
RP: Right now I’m doing other Ghost songs like “If You Have Ghosts” and working with commissions. I would love to do other bands too: Pink Floyd, Gorillaz, Nick Cave, and Johnny Cash…
Image courtesy of Designed by Death
I cannot WAIT to see what Rodrigo Pires (Designed by Death) has in store for “If You Have Ghosts.” If Ghost isn’t your jam (and if it isn’t…WHY NOT? Check out our favorite Ghost songs), he also makes art of horror movies and more. I highly recommend checking out his work on his store or his Instagram page. It would be a sin not to.
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While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the plague doctor masks that Ghost special ordered for their upcoming tour. You can check that out here.