Arnold Pander - Visual Artist/Media Content Producer & Director
Award winning visual artist, writer and producer, Arnold Pander has had a career in the popular arts that covers a wide range of creative genres from his background growing up with fine artist parents and coming-of-age in the 80's underground music and art scene of Portland, Oregon creating posters for post-punk bands and experimental films for live events, Pander's self-made explorations would eventually lead him to writing and drawing indie and franchise comics like Batman, producing and directing music videos that have appeared on MTV, writing and producing indy films, storyboarding for Hollywood movies, appearing as on-camera artist for CBS reality show AMNTM, to directing brand spots for adidas Originals, Panasonic and LG and DJing on the LA Standard Hotel rooftop, Arnold has navigated nearly every creative space in his 30 year career in the creative media arts.
With a current focus on fine art and public art, over the years Pander's subversive satire, pop extrapolations, and dark reflections on traditional themes have shown in galleries, boutiques and public venues on both coasts. His oils depicting celebrity icons on velvet as contemporary folk heroes were described by art critic, Richard Speer as "... an implicitly ironic medium, black-velvet painting, to deconstruct the illusionism endemic to the film and music industries."
Pander's latest series titled "MonArchy" - works in oil and watercolors pays homage to the late great Vivienne Westwood and the Punk Couture revolution of the late seventees and also returns Pander to his own counter culture roots where his career began in the edgy streets of post punk downtown Portland, Oregon where he, along with his older brother Jacob, would start their small graphic arts business out of a small art studio above a punk rock nightclub. In the winter of 1985 the bothers landed the gig to pencil an indie comic book series "Grendel" for East coast indie comics publisher, Comico Comics suddenly catapulting the sibling art duo to unexpected heights with the overnight hit comic series that tapped into the Panders' love of fashion, cinema, graphic design , and the avant garde'. For the next decade Arnold and Jacob would continue to push the boundaries of the comics medium in new ways with every new project and would solidify The Pander Brothers as legendary indie comics creators.
Visit: http://www.panderbros.com
Arnold's other passion for screenwriting and film producing and directing has led to a diverse portfolio of media projects including the award-winning indie feature, "Selfless" and the short film, "SUBTEXT" told only via texts, as well as numerous music videos that have appeared on MTV, and directing brand spots for adidas Originals, Panasonic, LG and others.
Pander has recently found the sweet spot in providing storyboards and narrative consultation for entertainment, commercial brands and internal communication for film, digital video, comics, brands, UX, design, and content development which can be explored at his other website: www.the storyboardist.com
Below is a comprehensive overview of Arnold's creative services in the media arts. Please reach out for inquiries for orinal artwork, commissioned visual art projects, media content development or directing assignments.
Storyboard Artist - Film/Brand/UX
Arnold Pander has served as one of the top storyboard and narrative consultation for the film, advertising and UX industries in the Northwest for over a decade, bringing practical creative solutions with extensive experience in live-action narrative, animation, graphic novels, & concept illustration.
Pander is highly skilled in translating raw ideas into realized visualization of characters and story experiences for motion pictures requiring story pacing, stunt coordination, SFX, VFX, AR VR, and animation as well as commercial and brand campaigns for broadcast, web, and print, servicing agencies with custom storyboards for various stages including, creative decks and on site real-time white boarding. Pander’s pre-visualization expertise also extends to UX, trailers, titles, web narrative and animated content for internal B to B use or Public Facing content.
Clients include, Coca Cola, Target, Samsung, Xbox and more.
Illustration - Editorial/Fashion
Arnold’s Illustrations have appeared in Details and Paper Magazine Magazine, HBO’s “Bored to Death”, and as featured artist on the CBS TV hit, “America’s Next Top Model”. Pander’s visual art has shown at the Hollywood & Downtown Standard Hotels in Los Angeles.
Graphic Novels - Writer/ Artist
Arnold Pander is an Internationally published, award winning writer & artist for top comics publishers for both franchise titles including, Batman and creator owned-works including, Grendel. Pander’s work as writer and artist in graphic novels has been tapped for Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse Comics.
Pander’s award-winning artwork in the comics industry has led to writing and Illustrating “Batman” for DC Comics, art for Marvel Comics’ “Exiles” and the Eisner award-winning “Grendel: Devil’s Legacy”. His creator-owned work in comics includes, “GirlFIEND”, “Dissident X” and “Exquisite Corpse” for Dark Horse Comics and “Tasty Bullet” and “Accelerate” for Image Comics. His original works in comics has been displayed at the Comics Art Museum in San Francisco, CA.
Film - Writer/Producer
Pander co-wrote and produced the independent motion Picture, “Selfless” that won top festival honors and was picked up by Entertainment One for domestic distribution in 2010. Arnold also co wrote, produced and directed the short film Subtext that was the flagship film for his Brand Content Production Company, Collaborator Studios.
While under the management of L.A. based Gotham Group, Arnold developed creative decks, concept art, animatics, and trailers while shopping original and franchise properties in Hollywood to major studios which have led to movie development deals with Anonymous Content and Legendary Pictures.
Commercial Director
Pander has directed commercial spots for national brands, Panasonic, adidas Originals, LG Electronics and others for broadcast, B to B trade shows and in-store media content.
Music Videos - Producer / Director
Pander has produced and directed music videos for the Dandy Warhols and Jamal-Ski that have appeared on MTV and featured in Billboard Magazine. Pander has provided art direction for music videos for recording artists, Jon Mayer (Columbia Records and Howie B. (Palm Pictures) and music video story concept for Deee-Lite (Elektra Records)
Arnold Pander - Story of a Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Born In Amsterdam, Netherlands, Arnold Pander is a self-taught visual artist and digital media creator who writes and illustrates graphic novels, produces and directs films, music videos and animated content.
Growing up with fine art and avant garde’ theater influences Pander became fascinated with comics at a young age, mimicking his favorite Marvel comics artists and accelling quickly to drawing the comics for his high school newspaper with elder brother Jacob. Arnold soon discovered graphic arts and fashion illustration, as well as filmmaking projects with his brother. In 1985, fresh out of high school, the collaborative siblings began to undertake art and design projects as the Pander Brothers, forming their own graphic arts business in downtown Portland, Oregon where they created album covers, logos, and editorial art, leading to a stint doing T-Shirt designs for Nike.
In 1986 The brothers were hired to draw indy comic book series “Grendel” for Philadelphia base, Comico Comics. With the cinematic and fashion forward style, Grendel was an overnight hit and became the biggest selling indy comic of its day and launched a 25 year long career in comics for the Pander Brothers, working for most the major comics companies including DC, Marvel, Image and Dark Horse Comics. After the successful release of Grendel, the Panders’ creative voices were discovered by writer & director Gus Van Sant who invited the siblings to collaborate on story ideas with him, which culminated in a joint feature treatment collaboration. This early mentorship gave Arnold a boost of confidence to develop as a writer for print and the screen.
Throughout the remainder if the 80's Arnold and his brother illustrated indy comic book titles, Ginger Fox and the innovative and controversial mini series Exquisite Corpse that could be read in any order. These projects allowed Arnold to return with his brother to Amsterdam where the two wrote and illustrated the ambitious graphic novel, “XXX” for Dark Horse Comics. Living abroad, Arnold was awoken to a wide array of new influences from the traditions of fine art to political activism and the new sounds of House and techno that was broadcasting over the pirate radio airwaves.
In the early 90's, Pander brought these influences back home and into new projects that broke away from traditional comics. Pander was soon published in the pages of Details magazine, illustrating Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins’ spoken word satire on the back page of the long running Men's lifestyle magazine. Arnold’s shift to music related ventures continued when mentor Gus Van Sant, used one of the Panders’ ideas as the concept for the Deee-Lite Music video, “Runaway”. Arnold went on to co-produce music videos for rock bands that appeared on MTV 120 Minutes. Arnold was then hired as production designer for Palm Pictures’ music video movie, “Suck It & See” for British dance music producer, Howie B.
In 1994 "XXX" was published my Dark Horse Comics and was lauded as a 'Comix Masterpiece' by Mondo 2000 and led to the brothers getting noticed by DC Comics alternative line DC/Vertigo Comics doing guest artwork in comics titles like House of Secrets, The Invisibles and Doom Patrol.
Arnold's interest in electronic music continued to grow and In 97’ and 98’ Arnold lived in NYC where he developed relationships with dance record labels Liquid Sky and Axiom Records, seeking new producers for his own electronic music projects. This culminated in the release of Secret Broadcast - a Pirate radio urban adventure graphic novel, published by Oni Press with an accompanying soundtrack of electronic music. Secret Broadcast CD / Comics Companion was gowned a a thumbs up in Spin Magazine and featured on MTV Music News and two self-produced music videos that found rotation on MTV AMP.
In 1999 the Pander Brothers returned to comics and got their first chance to write and draw a Batman story for Batman Chronicles #21 and were also hired to draw the comics mini-series “Carvers” for Image Comics. The brothers were then enlisted to illustrate the four-issue mini series “Accelerate” written by Cyber novelist Richard Kadrey for DC/ Vertigo Comics.
in 2001 Arnold relocated to Los Angeles and and became the resident DJ for the Downtown and Hollywood Standard Hotels where he also featured his works in oil in their now infamous glass box.
Arnold soon forged a new collaboration with writer and conspiracy theory historian, Jon Vankin to create the graphic novel, Tasty Bullet. The property was picked up by Anonymous Content for motion picture development and Arnold was featured in Variety for his extensive background in comics. Arnold retained management with LA based Gotham Group and shopped projects with a host of LA based production companies including Disney, WB and 20th Century Fox. Arnold with his brother Jacob returned to their comics collaboration to write and illustrate a Batman Series, Batman: City of Light for DC Comics.
In 2005 Arnold was hired by Marvel Comics to draw the Marvel New Universe title, “Nightmask” along with illustrating the comic book classic reboot, “Famous Monsters”.
In 2005 Arnold returned to Portland to produce and direct their debut independent feature film, “Selfless”. Co-written and produced by Arnold and directed by Jacob, the chilling identity theft thriller starring Mo Gallini (End of Days, 2 Fast 2 Furious) won Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the 2008 BendFilmFestival and was picked up by E1 Entertainment for domestic release.
In 2009 Brothers were soon hired by California based Steelhead advertising agency to direct commercial spots for Panasonic and LG Home Electronics. Arnold also provided production design for Jon Mayer’s music video “Who did you think I was”, directed by Gus Van Sant and continued to to DJ opening for major acts like Janelle Monet, Fantastic Plastic Machine and Doc Martin among others.
In 2010 Pander and Vankin’s graphic novel Tasty Bullet was published by Image Comics and premiered at ComiCon International.
in 2011 Pander returned to Los Angeles with new management Conspiracy Media developing TV pitches for HBO and Sony while developing spec story treatments for the comics development wing of Legendary Pictures. Arnold’s fashion illustration work was noticed by CBS producers which led to Arnold being featured artist on season 3 of ‘Americas Next Top Model’. Pander’s comics were also featured in the hit HBO show “Bored To Death”.
in 2012 the he Pander brothers launched their digital comics imprint, FuseComics.Com where the creator owned works in comics can be purchased in digital form.
That same year, Arnold went on to Executive Produce two more Electronic music compilations; the exclusive EDM compilation, “Beat Logic” for EMusic .Com - the first online music streaming platform, and Secret Broadcast Redux where Pander enlisted recording artists Meat Beat Manifesto, Howie B, Dub Gabriel and 8 Frozen Modules among others and is available on iTunes.
In 2013 the Pander Brothers launched their new production company, Collaborator Studios with their flagship short film “Subtext” starring C.C. Sheffield (True Blood, Somewhere) which had its premiere at the prestigious Palm International Film festival where it was given four out of five stars by Rotten Tomato contributor James Wegg. The brothers were then hired by Roundhouse Digital Agency to concept and direct the 2013 pre-line commercial spots for Adidas Originals. The Panders also explored new media narratives with their many original comics projects and launched their digital comics imprint FuseComics.Com where the brothers’ digital comics are integrated with video and music to enhance the entertainment experience.
In 2015 The Pander Brothers released their next major graphic Novel “GirlFIEND” with Dark Horse Comics which garnered critical and fan response.
in 2016 the he Pander brothers launched their digital comics imprint, FuseComics.Com where the creator owned works in comics can be purchased in digital form.
In 2017 Arnold returned to music projects directing the music video “Honesty” for hip hop recording artist 3rd Twin which garnered festival accolades in LA, NYC and Nigeria and was screened at the Hip Hop Film Festival in Harlem NY. In 2018, Arnold directed the second music video for 3rd Twin, “Rebel” in the streets and bridges of NYC shot entirely with the iPhone 7.
In 2018 Arnold directed the music video “Forever” for rock band ‘The Dandy Warhols’ first release off their album, ”Why You So Crazy” on Dine Alone Records, and was featured in Billboard Magazine.
In 2019 the Pander Brothers released of the expanded graphic Novel “Dissident X”, (formerly XXX) with Dark Horse Comics.
In 2022, Arnold launched his website dedicated to storyboarding and narrative consultation, TheStoryboardist.Com
Arnold's new graphic novel "GirlFIEND in Paris: A bloodthirsty Bedtime story" as released in October 2022 by Dark Horse Comics.