LIONSEATYOU

It must be the end of the year, because here comes the third and final release in my sketchbook series for 2010 -- LIONSEATYOU. The cover image above sums up the raw power I aimed to harness in book. C to cover, it features a slightly different style of work from me. There's a much more expressive, emotional touch to the pen and brush strokes. I hope this aesthetic will excite viewer's imaginations, dazzle their eyes, and scramble their brains!

LIONSEATYOU just became available for presale on my website. From now through December 9, the book is being offered for a discounted price. All presale orders will also come with a free rubber block print. To place your order now, visit www.hiredmeat.com/meatshop.htm

Just in time for The Holidays!
- Dave Gum.

SHAZAM!!!

I whipped up this Captain Marvel piece for a Newsarama article on the character's history. Enjoy!

"One more coffee. One more cigarette. One more morning trying to forget."
- Dave Gum.

PICK UP THE PIECES Online Art Sale

To wrap up this year and support my relocation to L.A., I'm holding an online art sale, called "PICK UP THE PIECES." The sale offers a variety of art from 2010, 2009 and 2008, with drawings and paintings from previous gallery exhibits, including my solo San Francisco exhibit, "Undefeated," and the ever popular "I AM 8-BIT" video game themed art shows.

The title and pertinent info for each piece is listed below its image. An * indicates that the work is framed. To make a purchase, please contact me at hiredmeat@gmail.com for the price list. Serious inquiries only, please. Shipping rates will be determined on a per-purchase basis, due to the variety of size and weight of the works.

“Those Things’ll Kill Ya” / 4” x 6” / mixed media on watercolor paper *

“Stone Faced” / 4” x 6” / mixed media on watercolor paper *

“Grimace and Bear It” / 4” x 6” / mixed media on watercolor paper *

“Devil Exhale” / 4” x 6” / mixed media on watercolor paper *

“Box” / 5” x 8.5” / mixed media on paper

“Experience” / 5" x 8.5" / mixed media on paper

"Caffeine McQueen” / 4" x 6" / collage & mixed media on canvas

“Blues Man Greene” / 6” x 6” / collage & mixed media on canvas SOLD

Captain America” / 9” x 12” / mixed media on bristol

“Destroy #2” / 9” x 12” / mixed media on cardboard

“Attack!” / 12” x 14” / mixed media on watercolor paper

“Morning Study Tina” / 8” x 14” / mixed media on watercolor paper *

“Bedlam & Blade” / 8” x 14” / mixed media on watercolor paper * SOLD

”Dead Bloom” / 14” x 18” / acrylics on illustration board *

“Animal Attraction / 14” x 18” / acrylics on illustration board *

“Super” / 12” x 12” / collage & mixed media on canvas

“Kong” / 12” x 12” / collage & mixed media on canvas

“Busines As Usual” / 9” x 12” / collage & mixed media on wood

“Urban Flight” / 9” x 12” / collage & mixed media on wood

“Holy Haymaker” / 16” x 20” / mixed media on wood panel *

“Brute Breath” / 16” x 20” / mixed media on wood panel *

The Unavoidable Conflict of Plus Versus Minus" / 9" x 12" / collage & mixed media on wood *

Come one and come all, o' ye collectors of art.
I look forward to hearing from you.

- Dave Crosland, aka King Gum.

Paper Bag Pugilist

One man's garbage is another man's canvas. Hence, the above drawing. I've been regularly experimenting with various paper surfaces. I'm determined to not spend a dime on paper or a new sketchbook between now and the New Year. Seems kinda frivolous, considering all the supplies I've got stacked in my studio.

"Every sidewalk I walk is like a tightrope."
- King Gum.

Gabba-Love From the Ol' Alma Mater

Well I'll be a funky monkey's uncle! My Alma Mater -- The Columbus College of Art and Design -- just posted a flattering piece about me on their blog. Check it out here:

Alumnus’s illustrations featured in Yo Gabba Gabba! anthology

Many thanks to the Alumni community folks. I'm so, SO blushing right now!

"... if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you neeeed!"
- King Gum Crosland.

Face Fifteen

This is the finish of a small painting from the past weekend, titled "Face Fifteen." It's approximately 9" x 14", on a delightfully soft paper stock. I've got a stack of different printmaking and watercolor papers that I've collected throughout my travels. Canvas is a lovely beast, but I've really gotten into painting on paper, this year. I'm starting to prefer it over my usual go-to surfaces.

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."
- David Gum.

On The Slate - 11.10.10

It's been way too long since I posted on here. I've been all over the place, since returning from Los Angeles, last week. Luckily, I've been making art the whole time! The pics above include (in this order) -

1. My woefully overdue pinup for CHOKER (by Ben Templesmith and Ben McCool, Image Comics). I've been attacking this thing off and on, for months. Painting can be such a different process for me, than drawing. But I try to learn something new with each piece. And this pinup has been a crash course in glazing techniques.

2. Warm-up paintings. Since painting is usually an adventure in layering, it helps me stay on point by painting several pieces at once. So while I'm doing the CHOKER pinup, I'm also painting random faces, and pulling strange stunts in my experimental sketchbook, Little Clouds.

3. The Love Growl, drawn in Mat From France's amazing travel journal. After seeing his, I totally endorse travel journals as a way to track your adventures abroad. Hell, I might even start taking a travel journal with me to the supermarket!

4. Yo Gabba Gabba. I'm drawing a sweet Muno mystery tale, penned by the one and only Kelly-Sue DeConnick. The pace has been a little hectic, but I'm having a blast. I've actually penciled the story twice, now. I wasn't pleased with my first take, so I redrew it at a bigger scale. With more room to move around the pages, I was able to draw with much more fluidity. One of my professors (David Groff) told me, "Don't be afraid to scrap a piece and restart it, if it means you'll get a better product in the end." And he was right. Plus, I've been out of comics for too long, just to come back with the weak sauce.

"I like my asses fat, not flat!"
- The King Gum.