Heya Shamblers!
Take a look at this… we got something special this time around, here’s a brief bio taken from his MySpace:
“Amer Shihab is an illustrator from Bristol, United Kingdom, specializing in Horror/Macabre illustrations and creature designs. Previously worked on Artwork for several underground Death Metal bands, and has been featured in several Paperback Magazines (Bizarre, Girls and Corpses) and online sources.The gory and explicit imagery has ultimately led to a solid online fan base, through the use of social networking sites, such as MySpace.This has helped establish ‘DeadArms Productions’ as a strong competitor in the underground art community, with his distinctive, creative style and the shocking scenes portrayed in his work.”
Blah, blah, blah.,… You want a quote? Here is my fucking quote: ‘the Zombieking’ says: “Fuck YEAH! Cool ass art, creepy as fuck!” Print that one… I dare ya!
Enough waiting around- here he is: Amer Shihab!
ZK: Heya Amer, welcome to the site, love the work… let’s dive right in and tell the people about yourself and just what the hell is wrong with you!
AS: Thank you Zombie King, I love the site!
I am a horror illustrator, born in New York, grew up in Dubai and I have recently moved from Bristol, UK, to Los Angeles. I have relocated to chase the American dream, and promote my work relentlessly. The horror market in general over here has a much wider following, and this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work. Also there is a very close circuit in the underground art community around here, and they are so welcoming and supportive, so yes, there is more of us! But what I love is that the way we express ourselves and present our work are completely different, yet we share many of the same themes. I really feel part of a community here and it is fantastic, I don’t feel out of place! I am a very shy person in real life, and I usually create my art to express myself and let it do the talking!
ZK: You have a lot of zombie work, so I’ll get the ‘standard’ question out of the way early: Fast or Slow Zombies- which do you prefer and why?
AS: Slow Zombies! They are just so much more fun and decayed, That’s what I usually like to draw in my work. I believe the whole fast zombies idea is a cool modern twist on the genre, to some extent, but it’s only there to replace the underlying themes and social commentary that the George Romero classics always had. I think the genre has taken a U turn and relies too heavily on cheap scare tactics, instead of using the undead as some kind of statement on the society we live in. I personally think it is getting old now and something new needs to be done! I am currently working on a script for my first full length movie, it’s set in an alternative reality, and is at heart a spiritual successor to the golden age of ‘Zombie’ movies. This representation of a worldwide zombie apocalypse follows in tradition the generic codes and conventions set in stone by the creators of the genre, but also brings a modern twist to the frame. I don’t want to give too much away – but it’s going to be terribly good! So painfully low budget, but full of original ideas and subtle references to the classic zombie flicks! And it is not going to be yet another zombie movie, there is something very different about it!
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ZK: Tell us a bit about your influences, are you a movie guy? Music guy? Comic/book guy? Were you just dropped on your head ( or is that just me??? Haha!) ? What???
AS: I am definitely a movie guy! I am a big horror movie buff and it has been the biggest inspiration for my artwork. Also, I love video games, in particular – games made by id Software, 3D Realms and Epic Games.
My mother used to allow me to watch all of the 80s classics when I was younger, such as Hellraiser, The Thing, Childs Play, The Fly, Alien – And she would even buy me the violent video games of the time, such as Doom, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, Primal Rage, Splatterhouse – This certainly fucked me up as a child… Haha! So In a sense, it’s probably just as damaging as dropping me on the head as a baby!
ZK: What is your favorite medium to work in- any specific habits you get into when you create? For example- when I’m writing up an interview, I am usually pantsless with cottage cheese in my undergarments… while listening to the Dixie chicks played backwards…it helps me create… How about you?
AS: Haha! That is pure awesome! Well to be honest I find that the more positive feedback I receive, the more motivated I am to do more work, and aim higher. Jem, my fiancé, is a big motivation to me, always nagging me to get on with work, so I got to give her some credit!
I have recently stopped drinking and smoking, and have been the most clear headed I have been in years. I have been focusing on my artwork, and I think this change in lifestyle is showing in my newest work. It’s definitely the best thing I have done, as I am now a lot more proffessional when I approach my art.
I wish I had my own studio to work in, but unfortunately I don’t right now, and I just make do with anywhere when I get on with my work! At the moment I am renting an unfurnished room, so I pretty much lay on the floor and draw!
ZK: You did some work for a couple of my favorite magazines: Girls and Corpses, and Bizarre- how did that come about?
AS: You know what, it’s a strange story. I sent my work into Bizarre and they featured my artwork in their magazine, but Girls and Corpses magazine had a big feature the page before mine… I think this must have had something to do with it! They must have turned the page and saw my work. Robert ‘Corpsy’ Rhine (great guy!) contacted me on MySpace and asked if I wanted to be featured in their mag, It was awesome!
The following year he invited me to L.A to represent myself as one of the top 20 horror artists in the world for Girls and Corpses magazine at Hyaena Gallery – So I flew out here and actually met him and many of these artists in person, whom I had previously only spoken to on the internet and never thought I would meet! This ultimately led to my decision to move out to L.A and carry on some ‘unfinished business’!
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ZK: What is on the horizon for you ?
AS: I am always open to new challenges and pushing myself artistically. Currently my main project is a major collaboration I have organized, which involves around 15 artists each illustrating their own horror themed stories, and putting it together to form the ultimate collaboration in the history of underground horror art! I have gathered some of the top underground horror artists such as Lou Rusconi, Reuben Splatterbeast, Jose Gabriel Angles, Taco Comics, Shane Ryan, Jason Covelli, Jack Burgin, Bianca Olsen and many more! My story is called ‘Cry Baby, Die Baby!’ and is about cannibal twin sisters giving birth, so that they sacrifice each others child to each other. Ultimately, The second one to give birth becomes attached to her child and tries to hide it from her sister… It’s turning out great so far, and is some of the most goriest work I have produced!Also, I am working with Mike Schneider from ‘Night Of The Living Dead – Reanimated’ on a short holiday-themed zombie comic for the anthology ‘The Undead That Saved Christmas’ organized by Lyle Perez-Tinics (UndeadintheHead.com). This is a for-charity book (www.hugsffa.org) with proceeds going toward buying x-mas gifts for foster kids. Our story is called ‘Gold, Frankincense and Murder’, it is about the nativity of Jesus and the 3 wise men turn out to be zombies, and rip up and eat everyone in site, including the virgin Mary and baby Jesus… It’s going to immense and very violent I assure you! Lastly, I will be exhibiting my work at the ‘Slum Circus’ Art and Comic Expo in L.A on 28th August! I am really excited about this one, and really look forward to meeting many like minded people! (more info @ www.SlumCircus.org)
ZK: The most important question: How can people get your stuff???
AS: You can view a wide portfolio of my work on MySpace, and I can also be found on Facebook. My contact details are as follows!
Email: Amer_Shihab@Hotmail.co.uk
MySpace: www.MySpace.com/DeadArms1
FaceBook: www.FaceBook.com/AmerShihab
For commissions or to purchase any original artwork and prints, feel free to contact me, I am a very easy going guy and I love meeting new people.
ZK: Amer- thanks for putting up with me- I need to get this cottage cheese out of my gitch… it’s making me irritable… Maybe I need a new interview muse…
Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!
AS: No problem sir, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to ramble on about myself and my work! It is much appreciated and If ever you need any artwork done, let me know! Wishing you all the best and keep in contact Zombie King!
AS A BONUS: Amer did up this EXCLUSIVE pic for us here at Zombieinfo.com of yours truly, enjoy!!!
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I’m the Zombieking…and this topic is now DEAD to me…
-ZK.
