Pen and Pixel Graphics of Houston Texas was sold in 2003 after a major struggle trying to keep afloat after 9/11 and the Napster fiasco. They went through $250,000. paying there vendors and staff, untill the money ran out.At it’s peak Pen and Pixel was doing about 6 million a year and generating about 5 covers a day.(1200 covers a year, they have 19,000 CD covers to there credit and have won 60 Gold and 20 Platinum RIAA record awards)
The company that took control was a small venture and unfortunately let the name languish and almost die. The style of artwork has never been truly duplicated in quality or concept. Many of the techniques used in photoshop were believe to be filters, but in fact we all hand done, taking hours and some times days to complete. The diamond encrusted blinged out type was their signature. Some covers represented over 150 pieces (separate photos) and could only really be appreciated when the artwork was enlarged to poster or billboard size. That is the main difference in ‘Original Pen and Pixel’ work verses copy cats. Like a real Rolex next to a knock off, you can always tell. Pen and Pixel is no longer in business but there is a huge fan base and even more people understanding that the artwork, regardless of how gaudy, sold records! About 2.4 billion dollars worth! For more info...just ask!
sbrauch@smartfacemedia.com