Hi Shawn. How do you start doing a piece? Where does the inspiration stem from?
All of my paintings and comics originally start out as sketches on crappy sketch paper. Usually my ideas are inspired by old cartoons from the 1930s, as well as 1960s car culture, surf culture, 60s rock 'n' roll, outlaw bikers, vintage monster movies, 50s/60s B-movies, and sexy go-go babes. If I get a good drawing sketched out, then I'll transfer it onto board or watercolour paper, then ink & paint it!
How much does where you live play a part in your work?
Where I live plays a HUGE part in my work. I was born and raised in southern California, the land of hot rods, surfing, and the Golden Age of Hollywood Cartoons! This is the the place where a lot of artistic minds migrate, and there's always been a feeling of casual, innovative creativity here. So the vibe of southern Californian culture thrives in my work - it's in my blood, man!
Is it a clear vision from the start or do you freestyle?
I'll suddenly have a weird cartoon idea snap into my brain, then I'll mentally work out a rough composition for it in my head before my pencil even hits the page... the rest is all freestyle! I like to have clear, readable compositions in my work, but I also dig a strong feeling of spontaneity.
What links every one of your pieces?
All of my art and comics are influenced by my two favorite eras of all time: cartoons from the 1930s (what I feel is the craziest, most innovative era for cartoons) and 1960s car culture, surf culture, rock n' roll, etc. (what I feel was the craziest, most innovative era for all of those things). So a running theme in all of my work started with mixing the 30's with the 60's, and that has eventually evolved into my own personal style.
What’s your most popular sketch?
So far, my most popular piece is "Bad Neighborhood". It's an Illustration I did of two of my comic characters, Hilde & Yseult (two sexy cartoon go-go girls), as they ride their chopper through a haunted graveyard, finding themselves face to face with cartoon ghosts and outlaw biker skeletons.
Where does most of your stuff appear?
My work has appeared in comic books and various custom culture magazines, rock n' roll, surf and punk album covers, t-shirts, stickers, logos etc. My main outlet for showing my own personal art can be seen at my art blog: http://shawn-dickinson.blogspot.com/
What’s your personal favourite?
One of my favorite projects was a limited edition comic book I drew for the spooky surf band The Ghastly Ones (www.ghastlyones.com). My other very favourite current project is my own comic series called Schitzles Der Cat. Schitzles is a German rock n' roll cat who lives in a trash can by an ocean-side cemetery. Schitzles and his creepy friends like to indulge in all life's finest experiences: Bier, kraut, rock n' roll, fast cars, dangerous women, love, lust, jealousy, hate, cartoon violence, ratwursts and puke! ...Plus a lot of other surprises! Schitzles Der Cat comics can be seen at: http://schitzlesdercat.blogspot.com/
Who are your favorite cartoonists and artists?
My favorite cartoonists include the Fleischers (who created Betty Boop and many other great cartoons from the 30s), also Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, as well as Basil Wolverton, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis and most of the cartoonists from the early days of MAD Magazine. Other favorite artists include Ed "Big Daddy" Roth (creator of Rat Fink), and surfer artist Rick Griffin.
Cheers Shawn. Lastly, where can our readers buy your stuff.
I sell some of my merch and signed Shawn Dickinson art prints at my online art shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/shawndickinson?ref=seller_info
Nice one Shawn!
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
MORE FEATURES
Bookmark this post with: