Only Josh Agle aka Shag could make house painting look so hip — so fun — and he’s done just that with this poster created for Dunn-Edwards Paints at the recent Palm Springs Modernism Week 2019. I saw the poster on Shag’s instagram last week and asked the company if I could get permission to feature it on the blog. And howdy hudee, they and the Shag team conferred and reported back, “Yes!” Thank you! I’m so excited: We got Shag! Meow! Many thanks and with credit to: Dunn-Edwards and SHAG!
I know Josh from my tiki travels, so I emailed to ask about his inspiration for the commission. He wrote right back:
“More orangey” is the new Orange (and, watch that cat!)
Hi Pam,
Glad you’re coming to Desert Tiki Oasis!
A few comments about the Dunn-Edwards poster:
Dunn-Edwards gave me carte blanche to do whatever I wanted. I love old magazine ads from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and paint ads from then usually featured couples or entire families painting their interior walls. That inspired this image. Orange is my favorite color, so naturally, the couple are painting their orange wall even more “orangey.” I often try to sneak in a secondary narrative into my work, just to engage the viewer a little longer. In this case, it’s the kitten dipping its paw into the paint can. The continuation of the story is open-ended: will the cat dip his paw back into the paint to get more? Will he walk around and spread paw marks all over the house? Will he knock the can off the table?
When I showed my concept to Dunn-Edwards they loved it. They only had one request: that I add the book of paint swatches next to the paint can.
That’s about it!
Cheers,
Josh
Thanks, Josh! What a great poster, and I like the addition of the paint swatches too — anyone planning on painting a room knows all about collecting and laboring over of those in order to make those nerve-wracking paint-color decisions!
Since Shag’s painting style can be evocative of midcentury advertising illustration, it’s great that what goes around comes around, and now companies are commissioning illustrations from him. Way to go, Josh! Hey, Shag’s Palm Springs pad also was on the Palm Springs Modernism WEek home tour, and as you would expect it’s Everything. Get peeks here and here and here. Oh my!
And of course, it’s also wonderful that companies like Dunn-Edwards are recognizing the substantial market for paint colors for people renovating their midcentury homes and working to connect with that market. Way to go, Dunn-Edwards! Hey, also check out Dunn-Edwards’ door tour from the event — fun!