drab.art

NEW WEBSITE

2010-06-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE HERE

Studio

2010-03-11T17:27:00.001-08:00

A week ago I moved into this studio space on Rathdowne St, North Carlton. Great little room above a great little cafe. A big empty room at the minute but will be filling out as the year rolls on. Exciting times.

Sneak Peak

2010-03-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

I am working on a large scale paste-up at the moment, here is a sneak peak at the image.

2010

2010-02-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

This guy is going to be the centre piece of a new street art project I am going to be working on over the next couple of weeks in preparation of getting my new website up and running. Looking to be a good start to 2010.

Prints

2010-02-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Have been re-visiting some old drawings and cleaning them up in preparation of having screen prints made up of them. These will be the first 3 with more to follow soon after.

Will be very limited runs of each and will be selling at a very affordable prices.

CALLING ALL WEB DESIGNERS

2010-02-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

Drab needs a new home.

I am looking at launching a new website as a sort of online portfolio where I can showcase more of my art work and eventually sell prints of the illustrations I have been working on.

Must have a bit experience in this type of thing with knowledge in setting up an online store.

If you or someone you know is looking for a little paid freelance web work flick me an email to drab.art@gmail.com.

Cheers

Eyes

2010-02-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

Collab with the cake lady

2010-01-29T00:23:00.000-08:00

I am currently in the process of working on a joint street art project with a fellow Brunswick Street artist due who go by the name of Urban Cake Lady. This image will be blown up to about 6 ft tall with the other two adding their spice to the mix.

Check out their stuff here

http://urbancakelady.blogspot.com/

Will keep ya posted on how this turns out.

Brunswick Mural, maybe.

2010-01-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

I am designing a mural for a new cafe that will be opening up in brunswick in the next month or so. This was my first idea that I gave to them. I think he really liked it but was hesitant as its a little different from what you normally see around. I have another couple of ideas so hopefully he likes one of them enough for me to paint the side of his building. This will be my first major move into large scale paint work as well so I am very keen to get this gig.

(click the image to see more detail)

Another quick sketch

2010-01-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

baby

2010-01-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

My awesome sister just gave birth to a baby boy. My first nephew!! This one is dedicated to him.

100th Post!!!

2010-01-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone over the past year who have supported me! I have received countless emails of encouragement not to mention all the amazing things people have said on this blog and to me in person. I feel as an illustrator and an artist I have come a long way over the past 12 months and it has been a pleasure to have you all here for the ride. I hope, moving forward, to keep you all coming back for more as I move into what is looking to be an amazing year for me creatively.

Updated image

2010-01-12T18:08:00.001-08:00

After speaking with a friend thought this image was lacking a little depth so made a few minor changes. Think this one works a lot better.

New Image

2010-01-11T17:05:00.001-08:00

On MySpace

2010-01-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

For all the Americans out there....

Street Art Journal

2010-01-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

I strongly recommend you click the link below and subscribe to this online monthly publication. Each month has an array of internationally renowned street artist interviews and work to keep ya up to date with whats going on the world of street art.

http://www.theartstreetjournal.com/

Drab type-face

2009-12-29T05:11:00.000-08:00

Click the image to enlarge

quick sketches

2009-12-27T20:08:00.000-08:00

New Zealand trip

2009-12-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

Had a fun time in Napier, New Zealand over the weekend celebrating a good friends wedding. Managed to get up a few of these around the place as well.

Meet Fattio

2009-11-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

Sex

Drabadabadoo!!

2009-11-16T13:31:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone that helped make this happen. You can check it out on Palmer St Richmond, hopefully she will be there for a while.

New mural for the new Melbourne heat wave

2009-11-08T22:09:00.000-08:00

Pasting

2009-10-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have been out of the pasting game for a while now as have been busy with a bunch of other things but am eager to get back into it. Missing the buzz of seeing my drawings up around the place. Looking for a spot now to get the image above up now, looking to hopefully go bigger than I have ever gone. Watch this space.

Beat Mag

2009-10-15T01:28:00.000-07:00

So here is the back of the lastest Beat Mag with my little illustration. Pretty stoked.

Squidman

2009-10-11T18:29:00.001-07:00

Squidman turned up a month or so ago, as you can see from this and the last image Im really trying to lift my game when it comes to colouring and getting the shading looking good. Let me know what ya think feedback is always appreciated.

New illustration

2009-10-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

Have been working on a few other images lately while I havent been posting on the blog. This is one of them that is a work in progress.

48 hour film festival

2009-10-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Been working on an Illustration for the 48 hour film festival thats coming up here in Melbourne in November. This is the image thats being used in The Beat mag next week which is pretty exciting as its the first time any image I have drawn will be in print.

Check out more info of the festival here if ya interested

To you....

2009-08-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

Firstly a big thanks to everyone who continues to keep coming back to check out this website time and time again. Sorry for the lack of content over the past few weeks as I have been super busy with work and a few paying side projects (boring logo design stuff). Also having this Melbourne winter sucking the life out of me day by day has not been doing much for me creatively! This is all changing however as the days are getting warmer and the stockpile of new pasties I have built up (see above) are starting to call out for new homes in and around the streets of this city I call home.

Thanks again to all the drab fans out there

Alex Pardee

2009-08-11T05:08:00.000-07:00

Alex Pardee is a US based artist/illustrator. I came across this guy through his blog on the UPPERPLAYGROUND webite and have become a huge fan ever since. His illustration work is unreal and his paintings or what you might call fine art works are even better. This guy is intensely talented and is living the kind of life I am trying to work towards. Here is a great link to a clip of him speed painting and also if your interested you can check out more of his work from his website here.

Much respect to this guy

Passing time

2009-08-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my latest sketches, half on trams half at work...

Pencil and pen

The Brunswick Bandit

2009-08-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

Casing joints on Victoria st East Brunswick.

Massive lady now on Victoria St

2009-08-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

Cheers for the help Rice and Henry

Massive lady in my living room

2009-07-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

New paste-up

Size does matter

2009-07-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so after looking at the images I uploaded on the previous post I wasnt really sure they really showed the true size of this thing so I went back later in the arvo and got a passer buy to take this for me.

Drunk shooting the tooth fairy....

2009-07-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

An old favourite of mine juiced up a bit on a larger scale.

Corner Glenlyon rd and Ewing st, East Brunswick

Now on Flickr

2009-07-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Started a photostream in Flickr for all you Flickr nuts out there.

Will be able to tag where the pictures where actually taken with this so if you are interested in knowing where to find any of my work going forward you will be able through this site.

Sketching

2009-07-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my latest tram sketches... Been playing with the japanese manga styles and adding my own spin on it.

Fatman gets a little fatter

2009-07-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just had my little brother in town for the weekend which was great as he is only 13 and still has that natural inquisitive nature that is so great in kids. He came out with me today and helped put this poster up by being my look out. This is up on Drewery Lane in the CBD

Fatman gets some ink

2009-07-10T01:20:00.000-07:00

Thought this guy could do with some toughening up

A quick 'How to' for Paste-up

2009-07-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have had a few people emailing asking some questions regarding paste-up and how it all works. Will give a quick run down of how I go about it. There are many different ways to go about it but for me this is by far the easiest.

Most of the paste-ups I have been doing are printed from files that I have drawn on photoshop. I use a plan printer that prints in A0. Call around and you may find a printer willing to print larger (mine will print up to about 6 meters). I pay about $4 a meter so that should be a good indicator of whats a good price.

Another way I have used a bit recently is to hand draw the images with markers. Right now I am using Med sized KRINK pens and Large tipped SHARPIES. These together are good enough for fine detail as well covering large areas.

Now this is a question I have been getting a lot. What paper to use for paste-up posters?

Honestly most paper works but I have found that the thinner the better. TDC3 Printers have 90 GSM on their large format printer which is perfect. If I am drawing the picture by hand I have been using a slightly thicker paper. This I have found is better as the markers tend to bleed to much when using the thinner paper. I get this paper from this ART SHOP in Richmond because they have 1.5 x 10 mtr rolls for $30.

Next is cutting the image out. The best tool to use for cutting out is an artist scalpel. You will also need a good cutting board as the scalpel will destroy any table surface and then go blunt.

Next step now is making glue. I have posted a glue recipe previously which you can view here. I have had some good feedback from this recipe and it works everytime for me.

The best tools for pasting the posters up is different depending on the size of the poster. A wide painters Brush is great for smaller posters and for the larger a house broom. Best broom to use is one of the ones with the plastic fiber bristles as it makes it easier to clean.

So yeah thats basically it.

Hope it helps.

Talking Wall

2009-07-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

Project Time

2009-07-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have just locked down a new street art project that I will be collaborating on with the help of two other melbourne based artists Oppy and Ben Zen. Watch this space as this is going to be BIG!!

Will start to post up some sneak peaks in the coming weeks.

Twit Twit Tweet

2009-07-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

Now on Twitter

Tram sketch

2009-07-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

This is my favourite so far.

Skully goodness

2009-06-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

Skulls around fitzroy

Boxing Egg

2009-06-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

Drab comes to Fitzroy

More to come...

Hi Ho Hi Ho

2009-06-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

Prep work

2009-06-26T03:49:00.000-07:00

Now on Facebook

2009-06-26T03:42:00.001-07:00

moose-dog

2009-06-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

moose-dog moose-dog moose-dog

Powers of ten

2009-06-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ok so I just ripped this off Wooster and think you all need to watch it. Made in 1977 This short film named 'Powers of ten' by Charles and Ray Eames is great!

Dribble face

2009-06-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Doodle

2009-06-10T04:03:00.000-07:00

A friend just told me about a cool competition to get ya face on the next KITSUNE MAISON compilation album. Details are here for all the illustrators out there interested. Has to be in by the 12th of june. Thinking this might be my entry. Not sure yet though.

frankie

2009-06-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

Louise Bannister from over at frankie a few weeks ago was nice enough to give me some nice words and some new traffic through the blog which is always a good thing. If you havent visited their website you should give it a look. A gold mine of all things creative.

Drawing Big

2009-06-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Dribble face

2009-06-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

Drawing Big

2009-05-28T02:04:00.000-07:00

Idea

Tools

Drawing big

Talitha Bobitha

2009-05-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

OPPY

2009-05-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

New link in side bar: Oppy

I used to follow her previous blog and will continue to follow her new.

Check it out

Up High

2009-05-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Had some fun last night climbing like a ninja

Tram sketching

2009-05-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

More tram sketching.

Blockbusters

2009-05-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

Coming to a city wall near you

Some new characters in the mix

2009-05-05T03:21:00.000-07:00

New Featured Artist

2009-05-04T03:28:00.000-07:00

David Choe

First saw this guy on VBS.TV where he has a show called thumbs up. Basically the show is David and his cousin or nephew or something and they travel across the US by hitching rides and jumping trains. He also happens to be a really amazing street/studio artist. Check out his work by clicking the link above. Also his show on VBS is worth a look

ART SHOP

2009-05-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

Found this place the other day. Its ya basic art supply store but the best thing is they sell rolls of paper 120 gsm 1.5 x 10 mtrs for 30 bucks. Check it out.

The store is on 1 Maples Lane which runs behind Chapel Street. Its the 1st Grey door and on the 1st floor.

The ph# for the store if ya need it or need better directions is 03 95104042

Learning new things...

2009-05-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

Drab Fridge

2009-04-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Dreamtime

2009-04-20T03:45:00.000-07:00

Drew this little guy the other day so though I'd share him with you all.

Also just wanted to apologize for the lack of new street art on the blog. I am working on some new things right now. Big new things :) Will post some sneak peaks soon

Over the top anyone?

2009-04-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have no reason for posting this. It is a pretty sweet movie though.

muse

2009-04-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Ok so since this blog is pretty much my arty wank I thought I should probably start to show case some of my favourite drawings...

This drawing was done for a good friend of mine who has always been there to support my art and make sure I keep at it and never give up. So Thank you,

Click the image to get a much bigger version of.

Another tram sketch

2009-04-15T01:11:00.000-07:00

Bubble Project

2009-04-11T19:38:00.001-07:00

Baby Hitler

2009-04-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

Tram sketch

2009-04-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today I left my ipod at home which normally keeps me sane for the tram ride to and from work. Got my note pad and pen out and ended up with this guy so was'nt all bad.

Oooh fashion!

2009-04-07T14:26:00.001-07:00

New idea (sorta)

2009-04-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Ok so I got the idea for this guy from another idea I saw on Wooster a few months ago. Basically the original idea was to put speech bubbles on advertisements and other print media in cities around the world and leave them to see what kind of things ended up being written in them. To better understand the concept and see some examples check out the website here. Its a pretty cool idea so I thought I would make an adaptation of it myself.

Meet this guy with the sweet mo.

I will be to put this guy up all around the place with a nice big empty speech bubble in the hope that people with something interesting (or not) to say will write in them. I will then photograph them and post them up on the blog.

Hope you enjoy

Tram love

2009-04-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

A face

2009-04-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

new old

2009-04-02T00:58:00.000-07:00

All sydney road

stairs

2009-03-30T02:22:00.000-07:00

!BAM

2009-03-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Where the wild things are...

2009-03-26T16:47:00.001-07:00

I just had to post this. This book was such an amazing influence on my drawing when I was really young and this movie looks like its going to really hit the nail on the head in terms of making a good transition onto the screen. Cant wait.

Little things

2009-03-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

upper playground

2009-03-25T02:06:00.000-07:00

new link in side bar, check it out

--KR--

2009-03-24T03:31:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a shout out to a sic artist who is coming to melbourne for his latest show. Craig “KR” Costello New Work Exhibition is at the

'don't come' gallery from the 27th of March and is sure to be a must see.

Find out more about KR and his line of KRINK products here

Flyer for exhibition here

dont come gallery, lvl 2, royal arcade 314 ltl collins st

Introducing.....

2009-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Lygon st

Behind Lygon

Props to my boy Broke from A Cheap Trim who came and helped me get these two up and another one which I will show ya later, looking forward to working with ya again.

on the way

2009-03-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

lady bits follow up

2009-03-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

Found some cool places for the sexy collages to go

the way out

2009-03-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

I live in a beautiful house. This is the way out

lady bits

2009-03-16T04:18:00.000-07:00

Lady bits. Sexy collage.

MOOMBA

2009-03-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

These were taken at the Moomba festival 03/09

Melbourne

Defeat...

2009-03-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

Had a bit of a disaster last night when putting up the sexy hitler paste-up. Ran out of glue half way through and then when I returned with a fresh batch it had half fallen down. I tried to pull it together and get it done but it was like making origami with soggy tissue paper. I had to in the end admit defeat and pull it down. It w

as by far my most ambitious paste-up on scale and placement so I definitely learnt a lot for when I go back to do it again.

Keeping with the hitler theme I have this drawing that I did a few years ago. Will be making a Paste-up of this creepy hitler baby soon.

SUCCESS!!!

2009-03-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, so today I managed to find a crack that worked for photoshop on my mac. It has been 2 weeks I have been without this program which sux as it is a key part of the way I draw. Sorry adobe for cracking your software but you products are just way to expensive.

PS. If i ever do start trying to make money from my artwork, adobe I promise I will actually buy your products.

More skulls...

2009-03-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some more skulls

thinking now of some way to use these...

boredom

2009-03-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

ms.paint sketch using a mouse.

This is inspiring me to do a series of creepy skull paste ups

tick

2009-03-01T02:28:00.000-08:00

I used to do lots of things....

2009-02-26T17:55:00.001-08:00

Photography

NOTR boys - 1

interior decorating

2009-02-26T05:01:00.000-08:00

My room

All done with ya basic electrical tape.

Update on sexy hitler...

2009-02-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

Almost done. Still need to add colour tho. Looking sick.

some new shit :)

2009-02-23T03:50:00.000-08:00

Sydney Rd

Alley behind Lygon st

Sydney Rd

Corner of Glenlyon Rd and Charles St