Richey Beckett

Beckett finds pen and paper comforting because the tradition has barely changed in centuries, unlike digital tools.

“just the historic tradition of it having not really changed in hundreds of years. there's something that feels incredibly dependable about it”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 32:50

Beckett argues that artists can be tricked into making art for competition, sales, or likes rather than for exploration.

“you can get tricked into making art to try and be better than someone else or to try and sell it or please people or get likes”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 25:07

Beckett says he draws without corrective lenses, using his severe short-sightedness to block out distractions.

“when I draw I take my lenses out and I don't wear glasses so I'm just engaged with the page”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 16:58

Beckett says self-imposed rules and the binary of pen and ink help him focus and complete work, whereas painting's possibilities intimidate him.

“The binary of pen and ink has always worked really well for me, just knowing I'm just thinking about that one thing at one time”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 16:45

Beckett says he coped because drawing is not his only creative pursuit; he also loves music and film.

“drawing is not the only thing to me in my world in my life my artistic creative pursuits”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 50:51

Beckett describes recovery requiring two weeks face down so an injected gas bubble could press the retina to heal evenly.

“you have to be leaning forward face down for two weeks so that the gas bubble can rise up and put pressure on the retina”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 47:15

Beckett says his retinal detachment was hereditary and occurred in his forties, surprising him since his father had it in his seventies.

“my father had dealt with it, but he'd had it when he was in his seventies”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 46:01

Beckett recommends mailing lists over social media for reaching collectors, having released his Pearl Jam poster that way.

“we all know you can't trust social media and the algorithms and all this nonsense anymore”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 1:55:33

Beckett says gig poster commissions typically have nearly open briefs, allowing artists to explore their own work.

“the cool thing is the brief is almost completely open most of the time. It's just like, make something that looks cool, do your thing”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 27:39

Beckett explains his Pearl Jam poster depicts the California brown pelican, which recovered after chemical contamination caused brittle eggs.

“the California brown pelican is native to that area, but it had been through this period of being on the endangered species list”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 1:34:49

Beckett says the skulls and decay in his work came from rural life and seeing nature's cycles, not just metal imagery.

“you're gonna stumble upon skulls and bones and things as much as you are flowers and fruits”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 1:06:47

Beckett stresses that a positive mindset does not come naturally to him and requires daily maintenance.

“it's a day-to-day day-to-day maintenance of keeping a positive mindset with all of those things”

Seekers of the Eternal: #54 ~ Richey Beckett ~ Album Art & Rock Poster Illustrator (Oct 31, 2024) · Listen from 55:47