Over the past month, we’ve been working with 5 members of the PosterSpy community to create scroll-stopping, bespoke artwork to promote the new ATARI 2600+ console. Initially, our public call out garnered over 120 applications for this paid commission and Kevin Tiernan was one of the chosen artists based on his fantastic portfolio.
Kevin’s poster is the third of five to be revealed, with others being shared across November in the lead up the console’s release.
Here it is!
We also asked Kevin a few questions about his poster:
What made you apply for the ATARI commission via PosterSpy?
I felt like my style could lend itself to the whimsy of the ATARI games, and I have some experience designing old school gaming posters for Gallery1988. I also knew that this would be a fun project to work on (can confirm it was!)
How did you find the experience working on a PosterSpy commission?
Excellent, efficient, and easy, as expected! Jack was readily available for any questions, and the lines of communication were always open. As an artist, when you collaborate with PosterSpy, you know they have your best interests at heart. There’s a definite sense of trust and support with PosterSpy; you can tell that Jack loves working with the poster community.
What was the biggest challenge when creating your piece?
The composition was the biggest challenge. The characters are all placed so that your eye is guided downwards towards the Atari logo at the bottom. But I had to play around with the layout a lot to make that happen. It was a puzzle to make everything fit and be readable from a distance. I needed the right ratio of black TV screens to characters in the center columns. And the background colors had to be balanced within those two columns. Another challenge was picking what characters would have the best translation to my style.
Did the final piece turn out how you initially planned?
Originally, I had some extra bells and whistles – callouts, a tagline, etc. The client very wisely had the idea of keeping things clean and simple, focusing on the artwork. I think I was trying to over-communicate, rather than keeping the concept clear. Conceptually, the final poster makes more sense than my initial sketch, which featured fewer games, and didn’t follow a consistent grid.
How does it feel to be part of the ATARI legacy?
I’m honored to be a part of the legacy in some way! I wanted to pay homage to the iconic ATARI 2600 box art illustrations. ATARI is an important part of so many childhoods! It’s especially cool to be involved in the launch of the 2600+, since the system is a way to revisit your favorite retro games. Thank you to ATARI, PLAION, and PosterSpy for including me!
What inspired your design?
I liked the idea of nostalgia and the concept of “reliving the classics”. My poster was influenced by the original ATARI cover artists, like Susan Jaekel, who did the illustration for the Adventure game when it was first released. Artists like George Opperman were able to visualize the stories of the games.
