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Hi. My name's Rob Schamberger. I'm that guy who paints rasslers. And other stuff. The real thing don’t do the trick, no, you better make up something quick.
WORDS
This is my first ‘Big Time Becks’ painting of Becky Lynch, especially since she changed up her hair. Gotta stay on top of these things! I did this with a color palette inspired by the colors I use for a fireball: A combination of oranges, red, and violet. I realize I’ve used oranges a lot in past paintings of Becky, likely inspired by her hair, but I really leaned into it this time around to dramatic results.
I also used the masking fluid for the highlights, keeping it the white of the paper. I like using masking fluid now because it gives me a lot more freedom as far as my brushstrokes go. There can be almost a ‘halo’ effect when you work up to an edge, as much as you try to not do it, and the masking fluid allows me to go a little further with each movement of the brush resulting in a more organic look I feel.
ICYMI, here's last week's Canvas 2 Canvas episode. Tomorrow's will go up on WWE's YouTube channel at 11AM CST!
UPCOMING VIDEOS
AJ Styles
Drew McIntyre
The Bloodline
Card subject to change.
Hundreds of prints and paintings at Schamberger Labs!
Rob and Jason Arnett's novella Rudow Can't Fail!
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Shirts and prints at WWE Shop.
Signed prints at WWE Auction.
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WHAT I LIKED LAST WEEK
Karmen by Guillem March was a very pleasant surprise. I bought it on the strengths of March’s artwork, but he exceeded my very high expectations on the art and showed himself to be a powerful writer as well. The high concept is that a woman is near death and a spirit guides her through the world and how her passing will affect those in her life. It’s a mature take on the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ type of story with heart and lush visual storytelling.
Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak was another surprise. Sort of a modern ‘A Modest Proposal’-style satire in the vein of Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ where a college-aged woman summers with her boyfriend with his ultra-wealthy family at their beach house and she quickly discovers that they’re cannibals who eat their workers. It’s commentary on the billionaire class and their exploitation of the working class but leans more into being a thriller around this young woman deciding if she goes along with it all or tries to escape. Bak’s art is reminiscent of a young Tony Harris in a very good way and the coloring by Roman Titov is especially nice.
The first two seasons of The Plot Thickens podcast from TCM went up on HBO Max and I loved them. The first season was a retrospective on the life and career of director Peter Bogdanovich and the second is all around the making and disastrous reception for The Bonfire of the Vanities. Great stuff to have on while working. I see there’s a third season around Lucille Ball, which I expect I’ll be listening to this coming week.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What was your first favorite cartoon? The first one you remember being your favorite, no necessarily the one that’s still your favorite. I’ll randomly pick one of these answers and send them this original 9x12 Samoa Joe painting I did back in 2015! Can’t leave a comment? That’s because you’re not in our ultra-rad paid tier yet, silly!
I vividly remember my mom sitting me down in front of the TV in our living room, turning it on and seeing this barbarian with a sword getting hit by lightning and yelling out in this big, booming voice, “BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!” and at 3 years old or so I was instantly hooked on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. I’m sure she showed me cartoons before but this was my first memory of one and my first favorite.
These were just giant toy commercials and friend, it worked on young Rob. Mom got me the action figures, both Greyskull and Snake Mountain and I loved playing along with the show. I think my first answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was “He-Man.”
I failed at that.
What cartoon/animated series was your first favorite?
SCHAMBERGER LABS: THE SERIES!
This is a fun one as I’m joined by my good friend Jake Black, author of books about WWE, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek and he was a staffer for all ten seasons of Smallville. We talk about working as a writer and quickly just get into talking about how much we love Star Trek!
Paid tier members can see each episode a week early!
YOU GOOD?
Like everyone, I’m struggling to process everything around the tragedy in Uvalde, TX from this past week. Emotions have run harder than logical thoughts and it’s been difficult to focus for a lot of us. That’s completely normal for a shock like this. Empathy is a good thing, although sometimes it can be overpowering.Same thing with being angry. In addition to finding meaningful action to take based on your level of passion, find small moments to ground and center yourself.
Last Sunday Katy and I planted our vegetables and flowers for the season. As I’m sure you know by now, I friggin’ love gardening. I’ve definitely used it as a refuge several times over the past days, watering, weeding, pruning, all of those little tactile things that put me in the moment. Even if it’s just for that moment.
Remember, put on your oxygen mask before helping others with theirs. We’re going to need each other more and more going forward, I feel.
Love you more,
Rob
EXCLUSIVE PAID SUBSCRIBER CONTENT
Paid subscribers this week will get an exclusive 25% off discount code for prints, a list of the coming week’s signed prints at WWE Auction, and 24 hour advance access for the original Becky Lynch painting. AND the new episode of our new weekly show where you get to see the process for an exclusive major Charlotte Flair painting! WE ARE GO FOR PAYWALL.
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