One sheet poster concept for an upcoming Clint Eastwood movie "INVICTUS" - starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Based on a book "Playing the Enemy" by author John Carlin the story tells how Nelson Mandela used the 1995 Rugby World Cup competition to win over apartheid white South Africa - and secure a peaceful transition to the new political order.

Although the writing is political, I kept the political depiction to a minimum by concentrating on the victory of Mandela's strategy rather than the trauma. I used a subtle reference of barbed wire in the background and aside from the hero depiction of Mandela, I also transformed Freeman (who will play Mandela) into the iconic image of the former prisoner saluting as he left prison.

This artwork was quite a challenge because there is no material to work from as yet. I used available portraits of Freeman and Matt Damon who will be playing the South African rugby team captain - Francois Pienaar. Other elements in the composition were either compiled from low-res images or pieces I made it up from scratch...

This was NOT a studio commissioned piece, I did it simply because I felt compelled to investigate what such a poster might look like.

25 x 34 inches - Acrylic Paint and Colored Pencil on heavy MDF board

Download for a 1871 pixel x 3000 pixel image