Rick Griffen, was an American Artist

Born 1944 was and one of the leading designers of psychedelic posters; psychedelic Art is informed by the notion that altered states of consciousness produced by psychedelic drugs are a source of artistic inspiration That is to say by those artists who have sought to record the visions derived from the psychedelic drug experience into works of art.. Griffin met a group of artists and musicians known as the Jook Savage and participated in the Watts Acid Test held by Ken Kesey. Kesey’s role as a medical guinea inspired him to write the famous novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1962..

Griffin was closely identified with the Gratful Dead, having designed some of their best known posters and record jackets.

Griffin was born near Palos Verdes in southwestern Los Angeles County in California amidst the surfing culture of southern California. . Soon after leaving Palos Verdes High School, Rick became staff artist at Surfer Magazine. During his time at Surfer, Rick created the character of Murphy, whose impact on the surf scene at the time should not be underestimated. soon became integral to the Californian surf scene. Rick parted company with Surfer in 1964.

Planning to immigrate to Australia, Rick hitched a lift toward San Francisco. After falling asleep, he awoke to find the car swerving from side to side with the driver laughing maniacally. The vehicle went out of control and Rick later recalled that the last thing he remembered was flying through the air watching his cheap suitcase hitting the ground and splintering into a thousand pieces. The first thing he heard when he finally regained consciousness was someone reading Psalm 23 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...". This proved to be a major factor in Rick's later conversion to Christianity.

Rick's left eye was dislocated in the accident (perhaps the inspiration behind the disembodied eye in his subsequent work), and he sustained lasting facial scarring. Subsequently Rick changed not only his appearance, (he grew a beard and sported an eye-patch), his art also became more sophisticated and the characteristic fluid lettering style emerged. The famous 'Flying Eyeball' poster ranks as one of the most important of the time and is sought after by fans and modern art museums alike

Rick became known as one of the "Big Five" of psychedelia. He was one of five artist who founded the Berkeley-Bonaparte distribution agency to produce and sell psychedelic poster art. He oversaw the lithography, ensuring a flow of quality artwork.

In the 70's Rick became a Christian and his work took a radical change of direction. He later created work for the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. The Chapel was affiliated with Maranatha! Music and hired Rick as art director to produce album covers, posters and flyers for the growing Christian music scene.

At noon on 15th August 1991 Rick On his way back to his house on Stadler Lane in Petaluma, Rick's Harley Heritage Softail was forced off the road by a van he was attempting to pass. Rick died three days later from his injuries.

Rick Griffin's last published work was printed in the San Francisco magazine, The City, shortly before his death; a self portrait of the man at Heaven's Gate, pen and ink in hand...

www.myraltis.co.uk/rickgriffin/bio.htm

www.myraltis.co.uk/.../galleries_music.htm

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