"Crouch"

I actually started this piece during a symposium at Tr!ckster, back in July. Then I worked on it bit by bit, over a month or so. I finally put the kibosh on her today, after fidgeting with the blade a bunch. It's funny... I didn't realize back when I started this, but her pose is totally a study for the "Original Energy" drawing I posted recently. Guess I've got a real thing for crouching female warrior creatures!


The piece measures 9" x 12" and is made of watercolors, gouache & ink on paper. Whoo-paint!


"The brains talk, but the will to live is dead. And prayer can't travel so far, these days."
- Dave

The Pulp Fiction Continues

Here go two more drawings from the Pulp Fiction sketch card series I'm working on. Today's characters are the spindly Mrs. Mia Wallace, and a man who needs no introduction, Mr. Wolf.

Both pieces measure 4" x 6", and consist of watercolors & ink on watercolor paper.

"Practice what I preach, preach what I practice. Violence is the equalizer, no tax brackets."

- Mr. Gum

"Original Energy"

This here's a preliminary drawing for a new painting I'm working on. It's based on a brief passage from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself." The piece is watercolors, gouache and ink on paper, approx 9" x 12". The finished painting will be 18" x 24" on canvas.

"Oo-oo-oh! French Fries... with pepper!"
- King Gum

NFL Week Two: Cowboys vs. 49ers

I churned out these drawings while watching the Dallas Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers, this past Sunday. They're each 11x12", watercolor & ink on paper.

Joined by my pal Mitch & his Fantasy League buddies, we took over a long table at South in Santa Monica, and soaked up the wall-to-wall gridiron action. The place had something like 20 TVs, each one playing a football game. It was also packed to the gills with screaming fans, beer lovers & chicken-wing devourers! This being my first full-tilt sports bar experience in a long while, I couldn't resist the opportunity to draw some of the local wildlife, along with the action on the screen.

"#45"

"Kickoff"

"Romooooo!"

"Femme Football 1"

"Femme Football 2"

"Beset Back"

"2-for-1 Incompletion"

"Gator Wing Love"

I've also got some killer drawings from the Bills vs. Raiders game. They're larger and take a bit longer to scan. But I'm hoping to have them posted by the end of this week.

"I got ta love ya, Olga! You got to help me, pleeeeeeas-uh!"
- Dave

NFL Week One - Steelers vs. Ravens

These are some of the drawings I churned out while watching the Pittsburgh Steelers get stomped out by the Baltimore Ravens, this past Sunday. Damn, it feels good to have football season back in full swing!

"They're wearing steel that's bright and true. They carry news that must get through."
- Dave

"Sexy Time" Custom Door Art

During the SUPER IAM8BIT reception, a young woman was so impressed with the custom piece I did on the 8BIT ladies room door, that she hired me to customize the bedroom door in her home. Above, you can see my process in creating the piece for her, from start to finish. Bon appetit!

Many thanks to said young woman for choosing me to create her very first piece of original art. And thanks to the delivery men who dropped off & picked up the door from my studio. That thing was heavier than it looked!

"Dance your cares away! Worry's for another day! Let the music play, down at Fraggle Rock!"
- Dave

Drawings from NFL Season Opener - Saints v. Packers

These are drawings I created last night, while enjoying the NFL's season opener -- The New Orleans Saints at The Green Bay Packers.

It was a spectacular game, with seemingly impossible catches, lightening-quick kickoff returns, one human barrel roll and one vicious uppercut to an unexpecting lineman's jaw! Definitely the high impact face-off one would expect to see from the last two seasons' Super Bowl Champions. Of course, Green Bay -- being the current title-holders -- came out like bulldozers, building a healthy lead from the very start of the game. But the Saints were no slouches, as Drew Brees lead them on several comeback drives. In the end, they nearly tied it up. But a 00 second goal line stand plucked the last petal on that daisy. The final score was 42 - 34. Packers win.

Many thanks to Madman Mitch for recommending The Cozy Inn in Culver City, for our venue. It's a fine drinking establishment, loaded with down-to-earth barflies and sports fans. Honestly, the gruff (yet friendly) atmosphere of the joint was a grounding & welcome change from my usual haunts.

I'm hoping to catch at least one more Week One game this weekend. So look forward to more next week!

"You and me... that's a history... of liiiiiies!"
- King Gum

The Letter B is Done. The Letter C has begun!

Alphabet Attack! Series 3 is thundering right along! This week, I wrapped up "Bigot Brutality" and started working on "Coral Carnivore." Visit the blog too see these works in their entirety! www.alphabetattack.blogspot.com


"It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind. Started makin' plans to kill my own kind."
- Dave

"When Will Peyton Play?"

Here's the finished painting of an illustration I showed the drawing for, a couple weeks ago. It's based on the continuing mystery of when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will return to active duty. Neck surgeries and rehabilitation abound... Click here to read more about the topic.

The piece is 9 x 12", and was completed using an acrylic, collage & pastel technique I've mashed together in my laboratory. Now that the NFL & college ball seasons are kicking into full swing, I'm hoping these next few months will see me churning out works like this, en masse. Oh yeah!

"Too little too late, as the last man goosh! Took no prisoners -- Moosh! Rap ambush!"
King Gum

"8-Bit Champions" Paris Art Show

The Autumn Society recently invited me to participate in their first exhibition in Paris, France -- 8-Bit Champions! I submitted my collage & acrylic piece "Super," inspired by the original Super Mario Bros arcade game.


You may remember this painting from IAM8BIT in Los Angeles circa 2008, as well as the recently released SUPER IAM8BIT art book. Long story short, "Super" just happened to be the required size for the show (12" x 12"). It seemed demanded by kismet that I pack up my little Fire Mario, and ship him off to join the fracas in France.

The Autumn Society presents:
8-Bit Champions
La Flaq Gallery
36 rue Quincampoix / 75004 Paris, France
*opening reception Thurs, Sept 15 @ 7pm*
More info online

If you live in the Paris area, stop by the opening reception and show some European love!

"We got the mother & the kids. We got the guy & his date. We all gettin' mad. We all gettin' late."
- Dave Crosland, aka King Gum

SUPER IAM8BIT Book Signing & Closing Event

This is the final week of the monster group exhibit, SUPER IAM8BIT. To celebrate the successful closing of the show, IAM8BIT is holding a book signing event this Saturday, September 10th, from noon to 3pm. Many of the artists represented in the sparkling new SUPER IAM8BIT book will be on hand during the signing, including myself. It's sure to be a rousing afternoon or raw nerddom!

In the meantime, you've got from now until Saturday evening to check out 80's gaming-themed exhibition, with works by over 100 artists from around the world. That includes my work for the show -- a Tecmo Bowl inspired piece called "Running The Gridiron Gauntlet," and my two customized Galaga arcade cabinets. Also on display are the finished live art panels that I rocked with wunderkind Jose Garibaldi, during the opening reception.

SUPER IAM8BIT book signing
@ The IAM8BIT Gallery
2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, Sept 10, noon - 3pm
www.iam8bit.com

"Rap snitches! Tellin' all they bidness! Sit in the court & be they own star witness!"
- King Gum