Life isn’t fair, we all know that. But that simple truth was driven home recently when we learned of the passing of Brian Ewing on June 29 from colon cancer. Equally popular as a tattoo artist, illustrator, and gallery artist, Brian is probably best known for his promotional posters for rock bands like Metallica, The Strokes, Billy Idol, Blink-182, and many others. Dark Horse published a monograph of his work, Don’t Hold Your Breath: The Art of Brian Ewing, in 2010 and he appears in the insightful documentary, Making It (a promo for which is included at the end of this post).

It was incredibly easy to like Brian: warm, funny, self-effacing, and genuinely kind-hearted, he was always thinking about others and always a pleasure to be around. His fiancé, Andria, suggested a way we can all remember him: “In memory of Brian, we invite you to join us in making a life-saving difference. By donating blood, you can honor his legacy and contribute to a cause that truly impacts lives. Your generosity will reflect Brian’s dedication to nurturing others. Together, let’s extend his spirit of compassion and make a positive difference for those in need.”

Cathy and I are on our way to donate blood this morning. Rest in peace, Brian.

Below, some of Brian’s work, a video interview, and the previously mentioned trailer for Making It (if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it).