Steve Parke's (ex-illustrator/artist/designer to Prince) latest work is out, it's a graphic novel about Edgar Allan Poe. More info at http://dccomics.com/featu...intro.html

Why does almost everything Parke has done for others look better than a lot of the stuff he did for Prince?

Doozer said:

your question answers itself.

If Steve is anything like the other people that worked at PP, then he did exactly as Prince asked. Prince isn't good at using others creativity to make him look better, he wants people to do as he says. Prince isn't an ARTIST. Mr. Parke is a very talented guy who's funk is multilayered!

2 bad Prince didn't use him properly, or is he still at PP?

madhouseman said:

Couldn't have said that better myself. Except specifically, Prince really is NOT a DESIGNER or ART DIRECTOR.

Creative Director, YES. He's really got vision, Prince just needs a designer(s) who can really tell Prince to trust him/her/them and leave them alone with the inspiration, ideas and creative direction.

But these new designers, they MUST be seasoned PRO's with serious Typography skills and design skills. Computer skills is not the only thing important as a designer. And I would seek people who actually know and appreciate his previous album art work. The designers would have to have an idea who the designers were, the photographers, the ideas of then. Like a history lesson in Prince style, creative thought.

That way it would still feel in a sense - Princeley.

On the other hand...Parke did an album for Sheila E. I think it was the E Train album...it was bad. Very amatuerish in design, photography and typography. Not a favorite of mine.

Personally and professionally, I think design overall, matters very much in the perception of a musical piece and at enriching the experience of the music.

Steve is a COOL guy.

Gets a lot of flack for what he did for Prince n others touched base on the reasons why.

Now if only I could find a way to get a copy of that photo of Prince in the Paisley hallway with the red New Power shirt for that is a classic photo.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

dangit, the brotha needs me. phuc a computer, he needs some good ol' handcrafted art done 4 him, forget all this photoshop crap. looks nice, but damn near anyone can compose sumfin on photoshop.

heck, since ricco lives out there in channie now.....


[This message was edited Fri Sep 13 8:16:44 PDT 2002 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

Doozer said:

That's what I was trying to say...that Prince's hand in Parke's work is likely the reason that Parke's work away from Prince, for the most part, looks better.

As for Parke's other work with Sheila E. -- I'm a senior designer and I can tell you that your finished work, even if it's your own without the tainted crap direction of someone who thinks they know what's up, might not reflect what you *could* have done. Time and budget can screw you if your client doesn't do it first with crummy demands.

I think Parke is cool.

Bah... I think Parke is a pile of shit.

If that's what Steve Parke's work looks like away from Prince, then Parke, all is forgiven.

If we could get a Prince album with a GENUINE Parke design that's something I would be very interested in.

I wonder if he came up with his own (unused) designs for Crystal Ball, NPS and Rave...

booyah said:

That Poe project looks great. He's a great painter and illustrator. I respect that.

You know Parke painted the Graffiti Bridge album artwork, BUT Margo Chase designed the logotype and I think with LiPuma who did the overall design and art direction.

I'LL DO THE JOB FOR PRINCE, STEVE WAS GREAT ,I ALWAYS ADMIRED HIS WORK, BUT NOW HE'S GONE...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

THANK YOU

designers who work for other people always have that stamp of "the client". If a client says "you know, I really love rainbow unicorns. can we use those!!??" and they are paying you something nice, not many would walk away. some would, but these are trying economic times. And we know Prince is a heavy-handed producer in the recording studio. it would make sense that his graphic designers would reflect his tastes more than theirs. Which is fine, it's his project. He should have final say. Just don't shoot the messenger, or in this case, the designer. I would guess Poe is more Parke's style.

I've seen Parkes work on another graphic novel about Paparatzi and it was pretty cool. He is just another in a line of talented people that Prince held down until they had to sprint away.

God speed Mr. Parke, God speed.

Steve is a big Prince fan and I'm sure he put everything he had into the work he did at Paisley. I was always impressed by the fact that not only was Steve a talented artist/painter, but that he broadened his skills even further to move into photography and design. Just the fact that Prince used him so long shows that Prince dug his stuff.

RiccotheArtist said:

DAYUM Ricco that site is slammin!!!
so what did ya do today???

Is this the same guy who did a comic book with Prince in it?
I'm not sure of the Title/name of the comic but it sure looked good.

Does anyone know where I may be able to purchase this item?

ronnie said:

Just look on ebay regularly and one will pop up before you know it.

jseven said:

I wanna c it I wanna c it!

Good luck to Mr Parke...he is a talented designer...maybe he was forced to design what Prince told him to do, and that´s why it looked cheesy sometimes.
I am curious about Prince´s new directions after the live album set.
New band, new designer...maybe it´s promising!