ISO50

mega yum.

love it! im voting yes.

It’s cool to see two people I admire come together like this. Absolutely gorgeous poster. Will be purchasing it for my new apartment as soon as I move in :)

This is amazing! All the excitement about this piece was well worth it. I’ve been a long time fan of your work, would probably say you’re the reason I’m in the digital arts myself- and to see you working with history now is, as I said before, amazing. I already put in my order for one!

PS I just ordered mine, so glad I didn’t miss out.

It is a very beautiful and happy image that expresses the spirit of lifting hope for a better future. I hope that you can make this image as prevalent and Shepard has made his, so that this image gets seen in the background of all his rallies and events, just like Shepard’s do.

i think that making a “political” poster would be a tough thing to do, but you did a great job putting your own special feel into it and making a beautiful and effective piece of art.

I’m looking forward to hearing about the process!

Is this for sale outside of America?..

The print looks great. I ordered mine earlier today! I can’t wait to see the details and the beautiful color in person! A great contribution to the campaign. Happy to know I’ve got one coming my way. Thanks Scott!

woah.

Outstanding! Layered with a textured depth, detailed and individual…you must have some weight now lifted from you that’s now rising to cloud nine! An amazing feat to produce a visual context to one of the most important historical electoral campaigns in the world…as all countries watch with anticipation. For you to be part of this must bring you great pride. I am always interested and inspired by your perspective on visual aesthetics. I hope to purchase one of these posters in the future. I congratulate you for your tremendous contribution to inspiring and discussing visual creativity with us all…certainly I cannot speak on behalf of us all as shown above…yet I cannot help but laugh at the one negative comment that stands out from all the other positive remarks, so it’s true you are always bound to get one! out of the many…life can be simply amazing! :) cheers to you Scott :)

finaly:D but it was worth the wait! awesome job scott!

The wait is over :)

Somehow I had to get used to it when I first saw it, but after having looked at it for a while now, I’m in love with it and the symbolics you’re using (especially HOW you’re using them!).

First thoughts: Obama is the center from which new things root and grow. A solid foundation. I get a sensation of omnipotence as if Obama is everywhere here, and you haven’t even depicted him… Nice. You’ve got a lot of things going on here: circle of life, tree of life (knowledge, family etc), ripples in the water, roots = solid foundation, nature in general and finally (but I think there’s more) some sort of duality in the way the tree divides but at the same time brings together the left and right side of the poster.

It can be debated weather or not the use of symbolics in this piece are way over the top, but I think you’ve managed a good balance here. Surely this is something you must have given a lot of thought yourself, and maybe also part of the reason why you’ve chosen not to depict Obama bu settle with the logo alone (or maybe he IS somewhere in the background greyscale with multiply and 30 pct. transparency, hehe).

He’s got a nice logo – you must’ve liked to play around with it :)

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to order the print via the campaign site – what to do?

Hey scott this is amazing work . Sadly i’m canadian as well as an avid obama supporter and you supporter . There is no option for me to get this thing shipped to canada .

What are international buyers options here will you be selling them on your site ?

cheers

If art can determine the election, then Obama will be the winner. Wonderful imagery and execution. Also love the synergy between the unity message and preservation of earth. I’ll be purchasing one!

just wanted to let you know that i wrote a post comparing this poster to shepard fairey’s obama poster: http://markforscher.com/blog/2008/05/iso50s-obama

Awsome…

Wow man, you never disappoint. The detail on this poster is mind-blowing. Every time I look at this poster, ‘Here comes the Sun’ plays in my head. Seriously.

Beautiful work. I love the amount of detail and the symbolic sense it shouts out.

Just one thing, it seems I can’t order the poster as I am not located in America, is there any way around this? I’m currently residing in Netherlands, Europe. As we in Europe are immense Obama fans (90% of us, for sure), there should be a way for us to contribute to the campaign and this would be a great way for us to do it.

-Speets

Isn’t a bit pathetic to put trees, people holding hands and birds? Especially in president campaign, it looks very dishonest. I think the message (about brighter future) could be interpreted visually a little bit deeper.

I keep going back to look at the artwork – most of your site hits are probably just me. I cannot wait to see all of the detail and color closely – I know you wrote that the online images don’t do the print justice, but it looks wonderful to me. The subtle “graph” texture and the texture on the logo are striking. I think I could go on and on about everything I love about the image :) What you have done is very different from what other artists have done with political imagery – it’s not in that Stalin vein that so many are commenting about. I’m glad that you applied your own aesthetic to the campaign. Your image cohesively expresses the progressive, hopeful, and peaceful sentiments that Obama embodies and that many Americans are searching for in a leader. You’ve accomplished something great, Scott.

Well worth the wait and anticipation. This is truly a great piece of work.

Gorgeous work.. I love everything about it, and some insight to your process would be very welcome.

Great work, Scott! I just ordered mine. Who would of thought I could support a presidential candidate and a great artist at the same time?

Congratulations on what will surely be a great way for you to get the word out about your other work… I just bought 3 prints that I would have likely not seen otherwise. I’m interested to know why you kept Shep’s font and ‘Progress’ at the bottom and didn’t change that up at all since you seem to be quite an expert in typography?

@Justin S. Meyers

You were even “influenced” by his line “the visual work of…”

lol

Think about the defintion of influence

This is asolutely stunning.

A+++ WOULD VOTE AGAIN.

Jillian, very right on.

Scott! BRILLIANT!

One question, did the campaign people object to the absence of Obama’s face in the poster?

Not that it matters, Did you and Shepard Fairey agree to the Progress thing?

Great poster!

International shipping?

Why oh why do they not ship to Australia!! Supreme amounts of GRRR happening right about now.

Nice work. Looking forward to getting this thing down under some how, soon.

Great work – it would be nice if you can expand this to wallpapers and print outs — there are younger people who cannot vote, but support Obama. Love the poster nonetheless…

It’s a great piece Scott, well done. Do you plan to offer it in any other format? The great thing about elections of late (though, not yet in the UK) is that one a piece hits the web it can multiply miraculously – if you’re allowed to, get it out there …

Will be interesting to hear more about the process you went through with the ‘client’ – did they have any feedback? Did the ‘reject’ any ideas?!

Thanks, Ed

Hmmm, I like it except for the humongous “progress” at the bottom. To me at least, “progress” in the current parlance of the political climate sort of symbolizes the empty-promise kind of bush rhetoric we hear every time that dimwit shuffles up to the lectern and gives us [the public] an update on how the war is going.

I think it would be much more strong had you chosen one of the adjectives more associated with Obama’s brand promise (ie. Hope, etc), you know what I mean?

Great picture! Pretty intense discussion. I am looking foreward to “the making of…” :)

VERY nice! I’m so getting one (if ordering outside the states is possible that is).

Can the print really only be purchased if you live in the U.S.?

I find the print to be beautiful, and regardless of my living in Canada, I would have liked to have it. Think you will end up being allowed to release it on your own, further down the line?

Love the design, shapes and colours are grand. So many tasty messages that could be read in this.

Congratulations Scott. It’s great to see you lending your hand for an important cause. It’s a real honor to be selected by the campaign for something like this.

GUTTED !!! No international shipping :(

OH MY GOSH SCOTT!!!!!!!!!!

I am a SUBURBAN SOCCER MOM and I’ve been tracking your blog while in anticipation of the final product and I was not disappointed!

This back and forth reminds me of the banter between my kids and their friends!

Here is the bottom line. YOU ARE A PART OF HISTORY! For generations, people read about you and study your art. They will listen to your music and debate about what you were thinking and feeling when you created this piece. They will wonder what kind of man you were. They will study your techniques. What exactly was it about this man that the first black president chose HIM as only the second artist in the world to represent his historic candidacy? They will look for symbolism in every inch of this piece and write essays on their interpretations. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!?!?

No face of a candidate. This campaign is about us – the people. Our country is growing and continuously changing like the foliage on the trees. This grassroots campaign is infused and nurtured by a campaign that seeks to understand and meet the needs of everyone. We all deserve to be protected and covered by our government – in plenty and in want. This changed way of thinking will extend to every branch and every leaf of American life. We are divided, but this campaign seeks to unite us. Remember the story of the Giving Tree? That’s what I think of when I see this picture. What a visionary you are.

The average American doesn’t care anything about the technical criticisms – they are looking for the message. Unfortunately, many of the detractors here seem to be “drinking hater-ade” (as my kids would say) because they are not one of the chosen ones. That’s EXACTLY what it is. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Go forth in positivity, creativity and love. Soooo super excited to receive my piece, have it framed and hang it in my home. Thank you for your efforts.

I think this is amazing! I have 3 other pieces by you. Don’t understand the critics here. I want to hear if you’ve heard from Obama himself and what he thinks of it!

Scott, great work. I just bought mine and put up a post on my blog. Thanks for the art and inspiration.
http://www.bigbadmedium.com/limited_edition_iso50_obama_poster

On an emotional level:
This is pretty scary. It sort of big brotherish. Almost as if Obama was the all seeing eye – his glowy vision imposing on everything. The trees roots seem more like tentacles sucking the life from everything around it. The people remind me of the brainwashed Eloi from The Time Machine – happy to bask in the glow of ignorance.

On a pure design level:
It’s way over done.

Proportionally the piece flows well. But that’s where the accolades stop.

Scott in an illustrator. It’ obvious from this latest piece that his strength is NOT in creating meaning, but in creating pretty pictures. The message is childish at best. It looks like something a first grader would draw when the teacher says “draw me a picture of your favorite day” and the child responds by coloring his mom and dad standing under a rainbow.

Technically, a poster is supposed to POP, and this one will get muddy from a short distance. The excessive use of texture and the reuse of old imagery make this poster scream, “This was made by Scott!” I doubt that was the intention, but it goes to show that more Photoshop layers doesn’t add more meaning.

Perhaps now some of you are grasping the difference between a graphic designer working for a client and an artist working for himself.

Scott-

I just kinda laughed it off. Art and Design is not infallible, especially mine. So, no offense taken.

It’s a major faux paux to not side with Obama much like using a PC over a MAC. You’re just begging to be bashed.

Regardless if someone plans on voting for Obama or anyone else, involvement in the direction of our country lacks with individuals.

Anyway… moving forward… it’s an awesome print and I am proud of yours and others involvement in Americas direction, even something as seemingly insignificant as art or design, it still provokes change.

You should name this piece “THE REMIX”, Scott!

great print, to bad it’s for Obama, who is nowhere qualified to be the commander in chief.

Can somebody call boards of canada and let them know they are getting ripped off?

Brilliant as as allways

art=excellent obama=blows ass. is this who you believe in? or is this just a money thing. i dunno. i love your art, but putiing any political affiliation on your art just deppreciates it. but that’s the beauty of America. people are free to speak their voice, and that’s the most important thing.

so, we’ll all be nude and holding hands in the Obama era?

Scott,

You could have added a nuclear reactor or 2 below “PROGRESS” or really could have replaced it with “BUSINESS AS USUAL”.
I feel really let down by your decision to mix your “progress” as an artist, with politics. It’s not really politics per se, but rather supporting a presidential campaign/platform that doesn’t reflect AT ALL my relation, perception, and freedom of your work. For me, on an emotional level, the two don’t mix, they don’t relate. For others, they have responded with their disappointment on a technical/artistic/design level.
Do you think Mr Obama gives a shit about your work? Well, Scott I sure did, but I don’t anymore.

Dan

Wow – amazing work. I think you have inspired me my whole life and I didn’t even know it. I discovered you from the OBAMA release. Amazing. The OBAMA piece is provoking and beholds the spirit of him – enlightening. Glad I have my print reserved. Much Love from Iowa. Deidre

this print is awesome =]

Scott-

You shouldn’t have to respond to the pretentious on this post. But you’ve got class, thanks for being “bigger.” That’s the difference between indie efforts towards art and those that are of the traditional ilk, advertising agencies, etc. You’re Si Scott video was spot on, two different attitudes, one of appreciation and one of pretentiousness.

Off subject…

I mentioned CS “next” or stonehenge to a couple of Adobe reps at a conference and they were livid and wouldn’t answer any questions about it. Maybe that post about stonehenge was not intended to be released. If the feds bust your door down anytime soon, I gave them nothing!

When I first saw your creation I felt anxious. And now I’m considering your creation dangerous. Why? First forget the fact that you are a talented visual/graphic/musical artist (the positive responses from the blog are overwhelming) and I respect the artistic talent involved in this piece and your other work that I’ve seen (and purchased).

However, if you are completely informed and convinced about Obama’s political platform and proposed future direction for America, then the visual content, symbols, metaphors, and whatever else you’ve created for this piece in relation to Obama’s political vision are openly rendered into logical fallacies, nothing more than propaganda.

“Progress”, “Hope”, or “Change”, they all sound positive no matter what political candidate uses them. But they’re used because they are simple, straightforward, and influential. The idea is to attract the masses to form a thick shiny top-coat that conveniently masks underlying political issues, which is the core of democracy.

In another perspective I see this particular piece in a way that, you know – we’ve spent enough time in a soma-induced state merrily holding hands and running around the peace tree – Progress, is digging down past the topsoil and flowers into the shit and garbage that we’ve been burying for the last 40 years and begin solving the real problems.

I got so mad at them, I forgot to say how awesome your poster is, and how awesome it is that you believe in something, and you went for it! Thanks man.

On another note it’s just sad the politicos have stormed your site.

Scott,

Can you please comment on the decision to use the same exact font for ‘PROGRESS’ at the bottom? Seems like that is a pretty obvious copy from the Fairey print and with so much typography in your background, why didn’t you choose or develop a new/different font?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the print, but I really am interested in that process, so perhaps if you don’t comment here you will put it in your case study.

Also, will these be signed by you since you were in such close proximity to the print at time of printing?

JM

Scott-

I’m DYING to read your process post…any idea when you’ll have time to post it all? Awesome work, this poster is absolutely stunning!

Andy

It would have been more fitting if it were a Ron Paul or Aaron Russo poster. Not so sure Obama reps progress. ; )

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/HA0293/images/Pereira_fig2.jpg
http://www.brown.edu/Courses/HA0293/racializedbodies.html

From Kennedy to Obama: Liberalism’s last fling

Writing in the New Statesman, John Pilger refers back to his travels with Robert Kennedy to describe the false hopes offered by those, like Barack Obama, who exploit the appeal of liberalism then present a very different reality.

“The objects of these uncontrollable passions are as one in their support for America’s true deity, its corporate oligarchs. Despite claiming that his campaign wealth comes from small individual donors, Obama is backed by the biggest Wall Street firms: Goldman Sachs, UBS AG, Lehman Brothers, J P Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, as well as the huge hedge fund Citadel Investment Group. “Seven of the Obama campaign’s top 14 donors,” wrote the investigator Pam Martens, “consisted of officers and employees of the same Wall Street firms charged time and again with looting the public and newly implicated in originating and/or bundling fraudulently made mortgages.” A report by United for a Fair Economy, a non-profit group, estimates the total loss to poor Americans of colour who took out sub-prime loans as being between $164bn and $213bn: the greatest loss of wealth ever recorded for people of colour in the United States. “Washington lobbyists haven’t funded my campaign,” said Obama in January, “they won’t run my White House and they will not drown out the voices of working Americans when I am president.” According to files held by the Centre for Responsive Politics, the top five contributors to the Obama campaign are registered corporate lobbyists.”

http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=489

Oh, and Noel, you bring about all this info saying that he’s not the answer, but you’re not offering any of your own solutions. Obama isn’t the second coming of HOPE, but he’s the best we got. There are two candidates going on that November ballot and if Obama isn’t about change, then McCain is Really, REALLY not about change.

But I digress, this post is about a really kick ass poster, not partisan politics.

Hi Scott,

Great Progress poster, the detail is incredible!!

I wanted to make a suggestion for a possible follow-on as you mentioned you might do something for those who cannot buy a poster through the Obama Store. For example, those outside the county (e.g. Canada and Europe) and those that have maxed out their US contribution limit, and those who don’t like buying from aftermarkets like eBay.

Reporting on Barack’s capture of the Democratic Nomination in Montana, the San Francisco Chronicle (06/04/08) ran a fabulous picture of Barack with a US flag centered behind his head and his arms spread out like an eagle’s wings with his finger spread out like feather tips. There is also the “CHANGE” poster in front of the podium.

(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15&entry_id=27018) .

After calming down from the power of the image, two thoughts crossed my mind. First, Barack does look like an eagle in the picture. Second, who could capture this change or metamorphosis in an image? I thought surely the superb artist Scott Hansen could!

Other interesting symbolism is that Barack was honored with the Native American Indian Crow surname of “Black Eagle.”

The image from the Chronicle has three main components: the American Flag, Obama himself, and the Change poster on the podium. You may wish to create an image that replaces these three powerful images with symbols. For example, the flag could be replaced with the Obama logo. Obama himself could be replaced with a silhouette of a bald eagle wings outstretched. The change poster could be replaced with a nature scene (perhaps things in bloom).

Just an idea to consider. I have a better picture of the event, if you would like me to send it to you, just send an email.

Great Work!
Innovation Apprentice

Only the HOPE and CHANGE posters are using Gotham… the original PROGRESS (http://obeygiant.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/obama.jpg) is using a font almost identical to Comprime if not exactly that. I know it sounds like I’m harping on this, I don’t mean to. It’s just that Fairey did his print on his own originally, and you’re indicating this was a campaign preference… so maybe they just wanted the same look as Fairey’s first PROGRESS version.

Fantastic any way you slice it, again, just very interested in the process. Will be looking forward to your analysis.

Whew! Got mine just in time. Makes me wish I bought a few extras…

Please please release more. Don’t let the ebay folks steal Obama’s money.

don’t put out another version, I bought this as a collectible and would like it to appreciate in value as part of history.

What is happening with Obama’s “Artists for Obama” posters is a phenomenon called the network effect. The posters are more desirable, the more supporters Obama gets. The current rate of Obama supporter growth (those who want Obama posters) is greater than the supply of posters available. Therefore, the more success Obama has the more valuable all the posters will be. By the way, 5000 is a huge run. I cannot believe they sold out so fast. The buyers are either supporters or collectors of Obama Art and add in the sheer impressiveness of Hansen’s work equals SOLD OUT.

Most importantly, these first two posters, Hansen’s “PROGRESS” and Fairey’s “CHANGE,” are made with Love. Yes, Love. Both artist donated there work to help a movement that is challenging us all to pursue our better angles for the good of the USA and World.

Scott and Barack inspire me! They are doing what is right, not for personal ambition, but for a better World. Thank you.

Finally, these limited-edition posters are worth $200 to $380 anyway. Therefore, those who bought at $70 are getting a bargain to start. Are they worth more than that? Ask again after November.

any idea when the prints will be arriving?

thank you

Hi Scott,

I bought 2 prints as soon as I saw them on the store. I went to get another and saw that it’s sold out!! There was something so powerful and refreshing about it that I just loved. I did not know your work before, but once I visited your site, I found that I do like your style. Congratulations and thank your for your contribution!

Are they really going into the O Green and coming out Brown?

As much as I love the design, it reminds me vaguely of Communist propaganda art. The party symbol, the idealized background … reality is not this pretty or easy.

You have to get more prints to the website…..congradulations high demand!!!

hello I would love to purchase the progress portrait on Obama.com but its sold out when are you getting more

I am also wondering when I would be able to get a print of this! I find it bizarre that people are selling the posters on ebay for $150 at the cheapest…this seems like it is going against the whole purpose of the funds going to the Obama campaign!

Please, more! I would love to buy this.

Scott, I am a huge fan of your work. I need this poster. Please print more.

How can i get this inspiring beautiful poster? Seem to be sold out everywhere.
thanks…ct

Please make more of these posters. I love this one. I know it’s late in the campaign – but would love to purchase it.

Progress!? Obama is pro-war and part of the upper lodge families. He’s also an agent of the Rothschilds and the exact same corportae sponsors are backing him as they are backing Mc Cain. Both parties are bought and paid for scum, who represent nothing for the grassroots people. How people can be fooled endlessessly into following PCism astounds me.

And just because Obama has the novelity of being a mullato, hardly counts as “progress”( that term orginating as a catch word for invading countries on the pretext of the industrial revolution). Get rid of the totalitarian two party ballot of Democrats and Republicans– then we shall see “progress”.

Fantastic work!

Simply beautiful. Is there a way I can still get this in poster form?

Won’t you PLEASE print more of these? This is of such an historical momment in time!. PLEASE!

Not even a week after the president election the blond topblogger from Sweden, Linda Ekholm speaks out loud about Obama!
And I really believe this is truly written by heart. Scary!

http://www.finest.se/userBlog/?uid=30701&beid=1040511

nd what do you think about energetic crisis in Ukraine?

Good night, bloggers =

Yes, it’s true, I know!

such a real story..

I just received my beautiful piece of art TODAY, thank you for your contribution first to the Obama campaign and secondly to the rest of the world. All the artwork from this campaign is so beautiful (artists from all over the place – a great representation from different backgrounds etc.)…but your evolutionary piece struck me out of nowhere I spotted it on ebay from an original owner. Scott it’s “FIERCE” I saw it on ebay and just had to have it, its sad that I had to spend $265 for it but could not let this go to someone else.

I also noticed 3 other wonderful artist on ebay and didn’t see their work elsewhere except their site. I guess, I’m investing in there future too so I ordered several of there’s so by the time the rest of the world catches up with people like yourself the rest of us will be smiling at our early forward thinking.

Looking forward to more of your artwork…Thank you for a job well done!!!

Я думаю, что Вы допускаете ошибку. Могу отстоять свою позицию. Пишите мне в PM.

For the love of Pete, please make this again! I’d much rather the money go to you (or Obama or OFA) than to some schmuck on eBay!