We All Have One

"Ultimate Bonehead" Skull Submission. (Click to see larger image)

An illustrator by the name of Ryan August started a collaborative art project a few years ago called "IWantYourSkull.com."

He has published a total of five books already and I've participated in three of them. This submission is for book number six.

So once again I find myself working on a project centered around one of the top ten favorite themes of artists, that is "Skulls." If you want to know more about the top ten themes you can read another blog post I did on it called "The Themes We Love."

I repurposed this skull art from another project I had done. You can see the tutorial about that entire project at "IllustrationClass.com."

The Themes We Love

'Alien Biker Skull Art - Click to view larger image.'

I was asked to write an article for "Computer Arts Magazine" out of the UK. Now that it's been published I can post it on my blog. I did notice they edited my text a bit so this version below is my article in it's original form.

The Themes We Love

Based on my observations within the creative community, and my own personal passions when it comes to creating artwork, I have compiled a top ten list of themes that artists adore illustrating.

Recently a friend of mine asked me to create some artwork for his sons engineering team that builds robots so they could get some t-shirts printed. Like most artists I jumped at the excuse to create some new robot art. This caused me once again to think about popular visual themes artists* enjoy creating for and tend to gravitate towards when given an opportunity or are just driven by their own passion to create.

The list I have compiled wasn't something I set out to discover but rather something I have observed with curiosity over the past decade or so. Artists* are most certainly a unique group of creative minded folk and I've noticed a handful of themes that tend to be common favorites they choose to design and or illustrate on. Mind you this is by no means an iron clad list but just the most obvious ones I've noticed and have participated in creating myself through my own artwork.

The order in which I have listed them below is not according to popularity but rather just what came to mind as I wrote this. I am sure I'll miss a few obvious ones but I am also sure you'll let me know which ones those are. ;-)

Top Ten Favorite Themes of Artists

1. Robots: Evil, Benevolent or Humanoid
it's all mechanically fun to draw.

2. Monkeys: Ape, Chimp or Gorilla variety
is fine. Or go ape and do a 'Robot Monkey'.

3. Female Figure: Whether naked women or just
your garden variety hotties it's all about capturing
the essence and beauty of the female form.

4. Skulls/Skeletons: Ironically we all have a skull and it
protects our ideas. What ever bones you decide to
draw It's all Bona-fide fun.

5. Monsters/Mutants: Home grown or universal the
scarier the better.

6. Paranormal: Aliens, Angels, Demons, Ethereal forms
or any other X File favorites.

7. Surrealism: Popularized by Dali, captured by most
artists within their doodles.

8. Dogs: Flea bitten art inspired by mans best friend.

9. Human Head/Face: Floating, or attached all matter
of zany things have been done with them.

10: Birds: One of the animal kingdoms most
symmetrically wonderful creatures.

It goes without saying that if an artist can mix and match a combination of several of the above themes or parts of several themes into one artistic composition or project then it's a dream job. That said we never need an excuse to create whether we are being paid for it or not.

Artists are very opinionated so I'd be remiss if I didn't list other themes I considered for the list but chose not to include. Many of these are what I'd consider elements used by artists which are not themes but rather tend to be integrated into the work of a given theme more then a theme in and of themselves.

These included: Brains, Cars, Cats, Clouds, Crowns, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Eyeballs, Fish, Flames, Flowers, Hands, Mechanical Devices, Mouths, Political, Pirates, Tiki, War and many more which I don't have room to list here. These are without doubt most enjoyable themes and elements to work with but they are not as popular as the ones in the list.

Whether our art is driven by a clients project or just our own artistic passion inspiring us we can still enjoy the creative process and continually seek opportunities to utilize our favorite themes into our artwork. Since I was asked to write this article I used that opportunity to create the skull art you now see. It's as easy as that. Now go forth and create!


*When I use the term 'Artists' I am referring to graphic designers and illustrators specifically, not fine artists.

Alien Biker Skull

'Alien Biker Skull Art - Click to view larger image.'

After I posted my BMX skull art I received a few emails in regards to my opinion as it relates to the 'Top Ten Favorite Themes' of illustrators. (And designers for that matter)

One of the people to contact me was the editor of 'Computer Arts Magazine' out of the UK. He enjoyed what I had to say and invited me to write an opinion piece for their magazine on the subject. Which I am currently working on and once published will post it here. In the mean time I was inspired to create a new piece of art that could be used with the article in the magazine.

I started off wanting to do an alien skull or what I'd imagine your garden variety alien grey would have under their dermis that is. After working out a sketch I decided to add some horns at the last minute. Yeah I know aliens never have horns, but then again how do you know that? Ever been abducted by them? And whose to say Spielberg is correct in his portrayal. After all maybe bikers in other solar systems grow horns so they look more intimidating then the normal greys?

Or better yet maybe the aliens have now integrated their dna with cows since they've been abducting and messing with those too? In any regard the artistic prerogative wins out and thus horns were added so stop whining.

If you'd like to download a pdf file of this design so you can print it out and hang it up click here.

BMX Bike Graphics 2

'Click Image to See Complete Design '

I think this project tapped out my skull art quota for the rest of the year. I really like how the two designs came out though.

I have documented my entire creative process which includes an interesting way I went about shooting my own reference pictures to draw from. I'll be posting a tutorial about this project at www.IllustrationClass.com so you'll be able to see each step on my creative process in creating this art.

BMX Bike Graphics

'Winged Skull Bike Graphic'

I've always enjoyed designing for the action sports industry. So when Dave Mirra's company contacted me to create a few bike graphics for them I was honored. Dave Mirra is to BMX what Tony Hawk is to Skate. That and I'll use any excuse to draw a skull and with wings no less. After all it is one of the 'Top Ten Favorite Themes.' for illustrators.


'Skulls-O-Plenty. I'll be using the other three in my second design.'

Why are skulls so much fun to illustrate? Why do they look so cool with wings, flames and crowns? Of all the things an artist can draw or create the skull is somewhat iconic, simple shapes and form that captures and relays complex ideas and subject matter in a very graphic way. Is it a representation of death? Or is it a visual contradiction to live a bold and full life in the face of death? After all the death rate is still one per person.


'Skull Art In Context'

I have to create another design using three other skulls for them and I'll post that art soon as well.

Create or Die!

'Latin for: Create or Die'

In June I'll be attending the HOW Design Conference in Atlanta. While there I'll also be doing a book signing for my soon to be published 'Crumble. Crackle. Burn'. I wanted to have a cool freebie give away I could hand out to those who purchase my book so I created this sticker design.

Creative types tend to be very passionate about creating, so I wanted to tap into that core commonality in all of us and design a sticker that most if not all would like. And since this design was geared for my fellow artist I knew I should work into my art a common theme most creative types love to work with. That being a 'skull' and 'flames'.

After asking about '60' designers what they'd like to see as a message I setted on 'Create or Die'. But it didn't fit the banner too well so I decided to translate it into Latin instead. I liked this a lot more because it makes people ask what it means. More interactive that way.


'Stickers Galore'

If you'd like one of these stickers for FREE just mail me a self addressed stamped envelope to: (5x7 Envelopes Preferred)

Gimme a Sticker!
Glitschka Studios
1976 Fitzpatrick Ave SE
Salem, OR 97306

Last Daze - Propaganda III Poster

'Last Daze - Start Soma Propaganda III Poster'

Recently I was invited to submit a poster design for the 'Start Soma Propaganda III Art Show.' I haven't done a lot of politically motivated art before. Don't get me wrong I have strong convictions, I just haven't had much of an opportunity to create for that type of theme. So when this invite was offered up I decided to participate.

One thing about propaganda art is that it seemingly never celebrates that which is good. As far as I can tell (and I may be wrong in this assumption) all the art done under the umbrella of propaganda tends to be highlighting the negative in regards to politics, social issues and the like.

Personally I view the world and our role in it from a bigger point of view, I try to understand how various aspects of different subjects relate and facilitate each other and from that type of observation I tend to draw conclusions that some may label as conspiracy. That's fine, its a fun topic to design for so I just decided to put together a garden variety poster that reflected a broad range of subjects I've been thinking of lately and weave them together in a compelling way.

- The Love of Money / Greed
- Power from Wealth
- Military Industrial Complex
- Microsoft Windoze Global Infestation
- Wars and Rumors of War
- Pop Culture
- Pornography
- Big Pharma
- Invasion of Privacy
- Driven by Consumerism
- Entertainment Mindset
- Drug Abuse
- Nuclear Threat
- Mark of the Beast
- Death & Destruction

If you'd like to download a pdf to print out a copy of this for yourself just click here to download.

Weenies Don't Get Tattoos.

'Skull Tattoo Art'

A few months ago I participated in a collaborative art zine called 'I Want Your Skull!' The developer of that project has decided to do a second installment called 'I Want Your Skull 2' and I created this art for my contribution. The zine is in glorious black and white which I've created a version for that publication, but for this post I had fun with some color.


'Color Explorations'

Skulls remember are number '4' on my 'Top Ten Favorite Themes' list from a previous post I made, so as always it was a no-brainer topic to have fun with.

I like creating art I can use for multiple purposes so this dove tailed perfect with the digital illustration class I teach. This past week I assigned a 'Tattoo Illustration' to my students so I documented my process on this project and will share that with them and post the tutorial at www.IllustrationClass.com


'In Context Mockup'

People have asked me why I don't get a tattoo myself. Well I am kind of a weenie and don't like pain for one thing. Another reason is I can't commit to the art for a lifetime. I'd get sick of it after a month and then regret permanently applying it to my body for the rest of my life. Temporary tattoo's however have come along way and I might give that a try. But then I'd feel like a total poser so I may just stick with drawing them and call it good. ;-P

Partum Professio = Create Art

'Insolitus' Collage Illustrative Design - Click to View Larger Image.

Since doing my Swat design I've wanted to experiment more with this whole collage method for design. Actually a better description for this whole style is 'Compost Modernism'. (Thank you Scott Hull for that name.)

When I started brainstorming an idea this image instantly formed in my mind. The process was all about experimenting. I'd try something and it didn't work well so I'd try something else. Originally I had a gas mask instead of a skull and it looked cool but like I've said before a skull is one of the top ten themes artists like so I had to go that route.

I decided to work text into this but didn't want it to distract from the overall feel so I used a dead language, Latin. This allows me to get nice type all the while making it more of a graphic element then informational. That said they do translate to what I was after.


Detail of Design.

It's hard to appreciate the subtle textures and overlapping that makes this style appealing so this image shows a more detailed shot of how the images relate. I designed this as a t-shirt design so it needed to be silk screenable.

I Want Your Skull!

'Skully' Click art to view larger image.

I enjoy participating in collaborative art projects. So when my fellow art buddy 'Rob Schwager' emailed me about a project called 'I Want Your Skull!' I knew I had to submit something.

Skulls remember are number '4' on my 'Top Ten Favorite Themes' list from a previous post I made, so it was a no-brainer.