My Four-Day Burning Man 2016 To-Do List/Plan in Water Color Paint and Sharpie

I made this wee list and planner for my last four days before leaving for Burning Man.
As it was, I was disorganized and unprepared, but this little colorful list kept me inspired and more or less on-track. All the extraneous, creative stuff (sewing new clothes) went by the wayside, leaving only the large strokes to focus on: shopping, packing, checking on basic needs like shelter and bed.

The addition of a caricaturing gig to my week-before-burning-man schedule, was both a godsend, and a monkey wrench in the gears. It ended up going for four hours, which helped me to afford my share of the rental car I drove in. But, of course, it delayed me in getting ready, and in leaving. With the looming gig, I could not run myself ragged, and had to be well-rested. When it was extended to four hours, I knew I would not likely get out that Saturday night. Sure enough, I was finally able to leave Monday, at 3 in the morning.

I will be better organized and prepared next year.  In any case, may I do it with style and some color!

GO!
Burning Man Prep List Plan 2016

Two Cartoon Abstract Paintings from awhile ago

Some art that I created a few years back.  Stream of consciousness stuff. No plan, just letting it flow.

Cartoon Lineup with Top Hat Motif
Acrylic and Marker
2012

Misshapen characters with basketball
Acrylics
2012

Caricatures: Katie, Joe, and the cats, Sudo, Tina, and Plop.

After all the political posts, I'm taking a break by posting some artwork and photos of beautiful Laguna Beach.

I completed a series of drawings in exchange for a weekend stay in Richmond, California.  They were done precisely to specifications.  The commission was completed a bit late, and one of the cats, who had been on his last leg, had since passed away.  He became the kitty ghost in the drawing below.

Katie, Joe, and the cats, Tina, Sudo, and Plop.

Sudo

Tina

Plop

Katie and 

Alice in Wonderland- Themed Mixed Media: Water Color & Ink

I accepted an art challenge to create Alice in Wonderland- themed art using abstract watercolor splotches as the base, under-painting or prompt.  These two pieces emerged from the splotches pictured below each piece, splotched by my artist friend.  I saw the characters within, and used pen, marker and paint to bring them out.

The Rabbit, from Alice in Wonderland
mixed media, watercolor, ink on WC paper
Jan. 2016

under painting for rabbit

Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
mixed media, watercolor, ink, marker
Jan. 2016

under painting for Queen of Hearts

Caricatures on the beach on a sunny May day.

Drew a slew of caricatures last weekend.  Fun times!

Cartoon: Anti-apocalyptic Warning

An old 'toon I did.  

copyright Free Radical

Occam Cartoon

If you don't get this visual gag, don't feel bad.  It's an inside joke for philosophy majors and other nerds.

If you want to get the joke, just google "Occam."

Occam Cartoon
Sharpie

Life in Laguna Beach: Caricatures, Sunsets

Been drawing caricatures on the beach again.  And snapping away at the sunset.  Checkit.

First Caricatures of the Season

First Caricatures of the Season, down on Main Beach, Laguna Beach.  Come see me any weekend when the weather is nice, by the historic lifeguard tower.  I will draw you for free, and you keep the drawing.  Tips are grudgingly accepted.  

A beautiful sunset.

Pam Frond Masks: Wood Spirits

Often, when making a palm frond mask, I look for the face that is suggested by the natural curve of the wood, rather than imposing a character or design upon the frond, from out of my own head. The entity or spirit is already there in the wood; I just bring it out with the paint and, in this case, marker.

Palm Spirit: Female

Palm Spirit: Male

Drawing: Laguna Beach in Sharpie on Coffee Cup Lid

Near where I often draw caricatures on the beach is the old curmudgeon, Berto, who runs the chess board built into a cement picnic table. He makes his money that way, by challenging the passersby, and beating them at chess, I assume.  He's Italian with a thick accent and also has considerable artistic skill.  He drew a fairly-good portrait of me without needing to look at me.  He also draws in pen on coffee cup lids which are ubiquitous, even if one doesn't drink coffee, which he does.

Aaaanyway, I took the idea and ran with it.  Here's my sketch and "bas relief" of Laguna Beach's Main Beach, between the volleyball courts and the playground.

Main Beach, in Sharpie on coffee cup lid. Laguna Beach, California 2014

My cartooning activities at Burning Man

I have drawn cartoons at every Burning Man I've attended, for nine consecutive years, and will again this year, for my tenth.  Whenever I can, I'll scrawl my characters on a graffiti wall or "snipe" someone with a caricature from across the room, to gift to them.

In 2004, I brought a portable easel and made caricatures of all my camp-mates, and guests that were in our camp at the time.  My first attempt at a playa gift, the drawings were on paper, not ideal for the rugged camp living.  Now I do them on small cards which are a bit more durable and portable.

In 2005, I spearheaded the creation of an artful cover for our dome.  It was intended to be a brain pattern portrayed in mazy runes painted in black on an off-white drop cloth.

In 2006, I submitted my original ink drawings to an art project which was using the drawings of many artists in a wall-sized collage in the Man Pavillion, underneath the Man itself.  Also, I drew a self-portrait in a scrapbook left on a craft table in the Center Camp. 

In 2007, my camp-mates and I launched Cartoon Commune, and I held my first Cartooning workshop with a dozen attendees.  The workshop is now on its seventh year running.

In 2008, I finger-painted a large caricature of "W,"on a board with a hole for the mouth.  This was a carnival game, where participants had to throw dildos into bush's mouth.  This was for a neighbor camp's adult carnival.

In 2009, I created a shrine, the Shrine of the Cartoon Playa, a repurposed medicine cabinet with cartoon scenes of the playa.  Also that year, I claimed a two-dimensional art kiosk in the Center Camp Cafe, and made an impromptu artwork incorporating cartoons, collage and runes.

In 2010, I pre-registered for the Center Camp Cafe art gallery and hung my abstract/cartoon/visionary paintings.  And I drew caricatures as a rally point in the Kinetic Sculptures Race and Scavenger Hunt, drawing quick-sketch group portraits (five minutes or less) of the participants and their awesome muscle-powered art vehicles as a souvenir for them.

In 2011, I tried to maintain the habit of drawing caricatures as gifts for people, whenever I was waiting in line for something, like ice or coffee.  It's a great ice-breaker, and takes little effort.  In previous years, I had drawn them for people here and there, but this year I drew and gifted more than usual, maybe because I was often standing in line for crepes and artisanal coffee.

In 2012, I drew caricatures of staff and patrons at the French Quarter's Cafe Fin du Monde, and I painted an exit sign on an art car.  I also brought out my cartoony palm frond masks to decorate our camp.


This year, I am bringing out a brand new shrine decorated with cartoon scenes of my favorite camps, artworks, and experiences from my nine years of attending Burning Man.  I am also hanging my vision watercolor paintings in the center camp.  In addition to the masks I brought last year, I'm bringing a painting I made of Stimpy from an original drawing by Vincent Waller, one of the main artists who produced Ren and Stimpy, who had visited Cartoon Commune in 2007.  Finally, I'm involved in Matt Melnicki's Get Lit(erary) Project, which aims to expand the medium of the written word at Burning Man.  I submitted my recent cartoon artwork to appear as part of self-published 'zines, which will reside in a pair of artful book cabinets on the playa. 

Free Caricatures drawn in Public

I draw people for free on Main Beach, Laguna Beach, CA using just a Super-Sharpie.  Here are some of the results:

I draw and give away caricatures of people on the beach!

Look for me at Main Beach, Laguna Beach on the weekends, along the boardwalk around the lifeguard tower and the playground.
In the Summer, I will be going out to draw almost every day.
Tips are grudgingly accepted!

I'm a Professional Caricature Artist!

 I have worked as a professional caricature artist for some 16 years.  I am available for hire for all your parties, events, social gatherings, etc.
The base price is $60 per hour, with a minimum of two hours for an event.  It may be more if it's long distance, or a peak time like weekends and holidays.
You can contact me at 949 436 3689 or email me at dookieholder@gmail.com
Here's me drawing caricatures for my friends at my last year's birthday party and art show at the studio.

Add caption

Angry Comic Strip

I was angry at my TV's digital recording service when I wrote this one.  Glad I now live without a television.

2 Single Panel Cartoons

Burning Man Comic

This didn't happen to me, just something I came up with.

Generic Comic Strip: Book I

 

 

copyright 2007 David Fleischmann