King Gum Comic!

I'm ecstatic to say that, after years of toiling on work-for-hire jobs, I've found myself in a position to focus more on creator-owned projects. The first one I've completed is an 8-page comic titled, "In The Clutches of The Derby Queen!" This short story features my alter ego, King Gum, in the days before he won his crown. On this adventure, he's been taken prisoner by a race of deadly Derby Girls. The only way for Young Gum to win his freedom is by defeating their brutally beautiful Queen in all-out combat!

This comic will appear in the next volume of Titmouse Inc's MOOK comics anthology (release date TBD), so I can't show too much online. But finishing this piece has rekindled my love for making comics. I've already begun work on a handful of other sequential stories, so there'll be lots to look forward to in 2013. This is just the tip of the iceberg!

"Let's take a drive, love... so we can make up our minds, love...
to commit the crimes of passion that sets us free."
- Dave C., aka King Gum

"Horned Beast"

"Horned Beast"

18 x 24" / watercolor, acrylic & ink on paper

I was just playing around with watercolors on large sheets of paper, when this image began to take shape. More or less, it's a warm-up sketch gone wild.

Don't let that dazed look in her eyes fool you. This lady's a born killer. And whatever horn-headed creature used to own that skull she's sporting as a hat, the poor beast clearly never stood a chance.

"No escaping the explosion. Those who are dozin', I close in.

Set the thermostat at sub-zero, they're frozen."

- King Gum Crosland

COMBO ATTACK: 25 Years of Street Fighter

Martial arts video game fans... are you ready to get your guts kicked out!?

I was fortunate to have the culture connoisseurs at I AM 8 BIT invite me to create a new piece for Combo Attack: 25 Years of Street Fighter. This jaw-socking group exhibition collects the work of over 50 artists from around the world, each giving their unique take on this epic, international video game franchise.

My contribution is the drawing above, "Last Night a 'Hadouken!' Saved My Life."

The opening reception kicks off tonight at 7pm, at the I AM 8 BIT Gallery / 2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. For more info, visit: www.iam8bt.com/the-gallery/combo-attack

"Dare you face the kick? Dare you face the biggest karate kung-fu blockbuster of them all?!?"

- King Gum Crosland

"Tony Stark, Iron Man"

This was a small color sketch I worked up this morning. Who doesn't love a little Tony Stark, casually wearing his armor sans helmet?


"She said 'sign your name on the dotted line.' The lights went out, and Nikki started to griiiind!"
- King Gum Crosland

"The Phantom Shithouse"

I never would have guessed that, one day, I'd be illustrating an evil, sentient outhouse. And I've been in an actual outhouse, so I realize how truly horrifying a walking & sloshing version of one would be.


This piece was created for the designer of The Phantom Shithouse, Kyle Thye. You can learn more about the odiferous oddity above on Kyle's blog.


"So you should pump this shit, like they do in the future."
- David C.

"Hither"

"Hither" is one of many pieces I started about a year or longer ago. In going back and finishing up art commitments from my days in Oakland up to now, I've really been clearing out the creative sinuses.


It helps that, as I work through this incredible pile, I'll come across old sketches like this one. They make a great foundation for a quick warm-up piece. Late at night or early in the morning, a blank sheet of paper can be pretty daunting. But a scrap of board with a sketch already in play can be just the spark my imagination needs.


In addition, with the drawing already roughed out, I'm able to move on to paint, ink, etc. So I can get even more of my creative muscles going at full throttle. RAW!


"I like to swim, into the mosh! Kickin' & stompin', so I don't get squashed!"
- King Gum Crosland

"Explorer 1"

I was just messing around in my sketchbook before work, this morning. I've been on a real space & underwater exploration kick, lately.


"Two outta the five of these fuses are wired live. If I wanna survive I gotta FIND THOSE DETONATORS!"
- Dave C.