Back in 2013 Rockstar delivered the sprawling open world video game masterpiece that is Grand Theft Auto V. To date the game has sold in excess of 80 Million copies.
The single-player mode lets players control three characters: Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton—criminals whose stories interconnect as they complete missions. Some missions are completed with only one character and others feature two or three. The games killer visuals and incredible narrative single player define it's place in video game culture as one of the most beautifully crafted video game experiences you could possibly get. Add to that a robust multiplayer game and sublime soundtrack featuring artists from all walks of music genres from Hip Hop to Country you have a game that sets an almost impossible benchmark to beat.
No video game is complete it seems without the visual branding that defines the design and identity of the game. GTA V delivered a worldwide marketing campaign with some truly spectacular art that appeared across print and online adverts, magazine front covers as well as in the games various loading screens.
The games developer,Rockstar has a team of dedicated artists that work on defining the look of its games very carefully, stylistically the game art delivers an insight into the games characters and locations, it helps people embrace the brand and visual identity of the game.
Two particular artists of the Rockstar team deserve particular credit for defining the core style of GTAV's branding, Stephen Bliss and Anthony Mcbain. Bliss was a Senior Artist at Rockstar from 2001 through to 2016 helping to establish the highly recognizable illustrative style that defined the GTA franchise. Bliss was also responsible for the art you may have seen on titles such as L.A Noire and Red Dead Redemption.
Anthony McBain is an artist and musician who lives in Brooklyn NY, He is the Director of Illustration at Rockstar Games leading a team of artists and illustrators to create and explore the visual development of the art that appears in game and across its marketing.
Bliss left Rockstar Games in 2016 to rediscover his roots as a commercial and fine artist. He also launched a solo art show at Monorex gallery in Los Angeles. British born, he's lived in Brooklyn for the last 20 years and honed his creative skill in illustration and design at Brighton University. Much of his work is inspired by the marvel and DC comics he grew up with as well as Manga and the music he grew up to." Punk rock hit the UK and was a huge influence on me, life changing, with the DIY aesthetic of political cut and paste flyers and the brilliance of Jamie Reid I became passionate about art and graphic design. Being in a band was obligatory and I designed posters for our gigs and imaginary album covers. I became aware of expressing myself through design."
His work is dark, edgy but distinctive with its broad and heavy line work that gives it a cartoon almost cell shaded look.His style combines pop, graphic and retro influences which collectively establish his distinctive style.
Stephen Bliss' large Debbie Harry Mural painted as part of the Space 52 Mural Project, Miami Art Basel 2015.
In September 2016 Stephen launched his first solo art show titled 'I, Frankenstein', the show featured 25 of Bliss’ dynamic paintings on posters torn from New York walls.
Describing his exhibition and his attraction to the ripped poster style he says " Initially the art was purely abstract, I wanted to reflect the beauty that I saw everyday in the streets of NYC: there was so much accidental abstract art being formed on the walls created by people ripping down strips of advertising posters and leaving exposed layers of graphics and colors underneath. There were also tons of outsider art paste ups, insane scribbled messages, sprayed tags and stickers plastered over each other, layer on layer, ripped and decaying, the sun bleaching colors, the rain softening the wheat paste so parts of the posters would fall off. It was like a random unconscious artistic eco-system of illegal posting, art and vandalism."
Read Stephens awesome interview on Unrated here
My Top 5 GTA V Art picks
1. 'Pest Control'
I love the composition and storytelling nature of this piece, in the game you rob a jewelry store disguised as Pest Control workers. The technical accuracy on the AK weapon as well as the detail in the folds on the coveralls is amazing and so lifelike. Even the nature of the detail on the van door with the cutaway shapes demonstrates that Rockstar absolutely nails the detailing in its artwork.
2. 'Stop & Frisk'
The female cop has a Michelle Rodriguez look about her but I love the totally unphased look of the blonde girl peeking over her sunglasses as she's arrested. The background tells you all you need to know about the high flying nature of the locale and the two stripe cop isn't afraid to engage the local criminals.
3. 'Vinewood'
Michael armed with an AR15 assault rifle against the backdrop of Vinewood, the fictional 'Hollywood' of GTAV. It speaks volumes, in the game he isn't afraid to go head to head with anybody as long as he gets paid and the job gets done, a great piece, again the technical detail on the weapon and clothing as well as the smaller things like trigger awareness are superb.
4. 'Tracey & Jimmy'
This one I like simply from the laughs, the hey 'get lost, i'm busy". A total wastoid human being with absolutely no moral compass or manners Jimmy gives the finger.
5. 'Preparation'
This I like from the story aspect, it's two guys prepping for a heist, the planning board in the background, the weapons, overall the composition is superb and tells the viewer everything they need to know.I love the way two light sources help frame the characters and create the shapes on Michael's Jacket and Franklin's shirt.
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