High On Fire “Drowning Dog” Poster

• 18x24”
• 9 color screenprint on French whitewash paper
• Edition of 50 Artist Proofs
• Printed by Ben LaFond

This is 1 of 2 posters I made for @highonfireband US-tour, that unfortunately had to be canceled twice due to Matt’s medical problems. 
Hope that Grammy they’ve won has some healing power & HOF will be back killing it at every show around the globe.

This poster was based on the song Drowning Dog:

THE WORSHIP OF INFERAE TOMBS
A COMMUNION OF SYCOPHANTS
HOW LONG IS THE LINE TO OUR DOOM
DECEIVERS AND LYING CHANTS 
CHORUS;
AND GOD DAMN YOU
YOU’RE THE SHADOWS OF MAN
AND GOD DAMN YOU
FOR IT’S KILL OR BE KILLED IN THE END 
THE NUMBERS CROSSED LINES IN THE SAND
THE POOLS OF HUMAN RATS
THEIR TAILS ARE TWISTED AND TIED
EAT OF THY POISON DIVINE 
CHORUS;
THE TORTURER SLOWLY BROUGHT DOOM
IRREVERANT THE INGRATE LAUGHED
MENDACIOUS AND FULL OF BLACK RANTS
DARK GRINS AND KNIVES IN BACKS 
CHORUS; 
END CHORUS;
TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN TO YOU—DEATH SURROUNDS YOU
STUCK LOW WITH SOULS FOR THE MOON-DEATH SURROUNDS YOU
BLACK GARBS THE HOSTING OF TWO—DEATH SURROUNDS YOU!

Having recently lost my own dog, I wanted to somehow work that wound in the art. Initially i wanted to stay away from a literal approach & asked Des if there was a deeper meaning behind the lyrics. This was his response: “Drowning dog was actually one of my stories.  An old roommate of mine had a friend who had a dog.  The dog bit someone and he knew it had to be put down.  So instead of taking it to the vet and having them give it a shot he decided to take the dog to the beach, walk out into the water and drown the dog.  He felt the dogs life should be taken by his own hands.  Pretty trippy huh?  He said he wrapped his arm around the dogs neck and submerged his head watching him squirm.  Once he stopped squirming he looked him in the eyes and waited for his soul to leave his body”