Danger Mouse Strikes At Iam8bit!

"You Can't Hide Forever" / 14x18" / watercolor, acrylic & ink on paper

When the gang at Iam8bit asked contributors to their Nickelodeon Studios-themed art show "It's The ShizNICK!" to dig deep for their inspiration, I had no idea just how deep I would go. But in the 11th hour, I mined some creative ore from my early, EARLY childhood -- Danger Mouse!

I'll never forget the exhilaration I felt when the theme song kicked in. I was enthralled, watching DM & Penfold race from their pillar box hideout, flipping, fighting & outsmarting the evil Baron Silas Greenback at every turn! As soon as I began drawing the image, my aim was to bring my love of adventure illustration to this cartoon. Strange to say, but Danger Mouse is as deeply rooted in my well of inspiration as Star Wars, Transformers & Conan The Barbarian. So that's the level of respect I chose to show it, with my piece.

"It's The ShizNICK!" opens at Iam8bit in Los Angeles, next Friday, April 19th. For all the reception & gallery info, visit: www.iam8bit.com/the-gallery/its-the-shiznick. Many of the contributing artists, including myself, will be in attendance. Hope to see you there!

"For all of the time in the world, to spend it wild and unwise. I wanna be mesmerizing, too..."

- Dave "King Gum"Crosland

Tecmo Bowl-Inspired, for SUPER IAM8BIT

This is my entry in SUPER IAM8BIT, titled "Running The Gridiron Gauntlet." It's inspired by the raw brutality of one of my all-time favorite NES games, Tecmo Bowl. To inquire about purchasing, please contact the fine folks at www.iam8bit.com.

My work will be debuting at tonight's opening reception, alongside works from over 100 artists, reimagining their 80's gaming fantasies. Prepare for some visual thunder, people!

SUPER IAM8BIT
2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
*Opening Night Extravaganza: August 11, 7-11pm*
www.iam8bit.com

"You thought it was gunshots, the way my boombox knocks. Before you see me, you hear me comin' down the block."
- Dave, aka King Gum

Submerged in IAM8BIT

photo by Jonathan Drake

As some of you may know, I illustrated the poster for this week's SUPER IAM8BIT exhibition. And I'll have an exciting piece of art hanging on the walls. But the fantastic crew at IAM8BIT also asked me to come in and art-bomb the bejeezus out of their lovely new space. So between Sunday and Tuesday, I got to rock on two immaculate Galaga arcade cabinets, two doors and an entire flight of steps. SO much fun!

If you're in the Los Angeles area, please join us for the SUPER IAM8BIT opening reception, tomorrow night from 7-11pm (info below). And if you don't live here, fret not. I'll be posting photos online for all to enjoy.

SUPER IAM8BIT
2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
*Opening Night Extravaganza: August 11, 7-11pm*
www.iam8bit.com

"I don't care, pretty baby. Just take me with you."
- Dave

"Mary Mary, Quite Contrary"

Behold, above is my contribution to Eat Your Art Out IV. This one-night gallery show -- thrown by those badass Angel City Derby Girls -- blasts off this Saturday night at Meltdown Comics, in Hollywood, CA! The artist roster is monstrous, including Jim Mahfood/Food One, Jason Shawn Alexander, Jose Garibaldi, Love Ablan and many more! For more info on the show, check the Meltdown Comics website.

My piece is titled "Mary Mary, Quite Contrary." Measuring at 18" x 24", it's a portrait of Mary Tudor, the notorious "Bloody Mary" of Old England. As Queen, she got the moniker from the outright glut of executions she employed against Protestant dissenters, while restoring England to Roman Catholicism. Ya gotta love the creepy origins of these old nursery rhymes and fairy tales. So many of these simple poems intended to entertain children are, in fact, cautionary reminders of how brutal the world can be.

I took a heap of process photos of this painting, and will post them ASAP. For now, it's back to work!

"Timing and tiger strength. Strategy will put you past."
- King Gum.