Piper Ferrari creates art for bands that pulses with the same kinetic energy as the musicians she designs for. We asked Piper to create an original design using an expansive pack of grunge and dust brushes created by Blkmarket, a Boise, Idaho-based studio with an aesthetic that tilts toward ripped edges, grainy analog textures, and artful smudges.
Grab the brush set—108 wonderfully gritty grunge brushes and 20 textural dust brushes—in the link above, and download Piper’s full, editable poster file to see how she used the brushes to create her design. Piper isolated the brushes on their own layers so you can see which ones she chose and where she used them.
STEP 1/3
Add the brush set to your library.
Add the library using the link at the top of the story. In Photoshop, open the Libraries panel (Window > Libraries). The Grunge Grush Brushes set should be at the top of the Recent list.
STEP 2/3
Get grungy.
Start experimenting with the grunge brushes. Size the flat edged brushes down to achieve a permanent marker effect. Size the same brush up and you can use it as a stamp to build up large swaths of texture. Sizing the brushes up exposes the grain of the brush as well as blank space. Try the same with the varied edge brushes—on the smaller setting you’ll get the smudged look of a grease pen.
STEP 3/3
Time to dust.
Try the same experiments with the dust brushes as you did with the grunge. Sized down you can create interesting streaks and smoky, chalk-like effects. Sized up you’ll produce spaced out shapes resembling ink splatters or the grain of a handmade paper. Now combine the grunge and dust brushes and start exploring the many looks you can get with this multifaceted set.
About the design.
Download Piper’s design to explore the versatility of this brush set. She used the brushes as a stamp to achieve the torn paper effect shown in the upper right corner, for instance, as well as to add texture to the Helvetica font. Using multiple brushes and layering them atop one another helped create the weathered look of the poster, echoing the look of a photocopied band flier.
ABOUT THE STUDIO
BLKMARKET is a multidisciplinary creative practice led by Kesey Badgett (@keseybadgett). They are known for their raw, textural style and design resources which can be seen in use worldwide by artists like Kanye West, Virgil Abloh and Billie Eilish, plus brands including Apple, Adidas, Spotify, SoundCloud, NBA, NFL, Champion and thousands more across the globe. For more information, visit blkmarket.com or @blkmarket on Instagram.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Piper Ferrari is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Las Vegas who pushes the boundaries of art and design by creating a sense of both discomfort and familiarity within her work. This has landed her amazing opportunities to work with some of her favorite musicians and brands worldwide. Follow her at @piperferrari_.
