A little while back I did a review of the new fantastic Ghostbusters Art Book, a collection of amazing artists paying tribute to the iconic movie. In my review, I listed some of my favorite pieces, the poster by the incredibly talented artist Giuseppe Balestra.
I feel that Giuseppe’s artwork deserves a more in-depth look. Born in Rome and raised in South Italy, the artist prefers using pen and inks, cross-hatching and stippling, before eventually combining digital color, drawing inspiration from literature, movies, especially horror and fantasy.
I like to create illustrations in which the darkness of the shadows stands in contrast to the light. They’ve been called “melancholic, mysterious and poetic.
I’ve always loved doing art since I was a child, always experimenting with all kinds of media. I published my first work in late 2015 in The Lovecraft eZine vol.36 and since then I’ve been doing it professionally, working on internal illustrations and covers for books, posters, and comics, both in the USA and in Europe.
I need to do art, I don’t think I’m capable of doing anything else, and I’m very grateful to see my artworks published in projects I love.” Giuseppe told us.
On how he found himself working on the Ghostbusters Art Book:
I started my collaboration with Printed in Blood in 2016, when editor Steven Hoveke discovered my art on Facebook and invited me to participate in “The Thing Artbook”, an official artbook celebrating 35 years of the cult movie by John Carpenter (one of my absolute favourites).
Since then I’ve been featured also in “NETFLIX’s Visions from the Upside Down: a Stranger Things Artbook”, “Joss Whedon’s Firefly Artbook”, “Ghostbusters Artbook”, and a couple more to come.For the GB Artbook I basically wanted to create a piece that could work both as a movie poster and as a promo flyer for the Ghostbusters as if they were a real agency trying to promote themselves.
I quoted the “Who ya gonna call?” idea from the iconic theme by Ray Parker Jr. and I referenced the distinctive green ectoplasmic hand of Slimer, all surrounded by proton streams. Never cross them!
Giuseppe has a distinct style that stands out leading to unique, interesting, and beautiful pieces. He has an amazing way of bringing his artwork to life using highting. One more reason why I’m a fan of his work.
If you like his pieces, and we think you will, you can order prints, shirts, pillows, and phone cases featuring his artwork on Posterspy, Society 6, and Redbubble.
Be sure to follow Giuseppe Balestra on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see what he’s working on and what new designs are available.
