ILJA DRAGUNOV: Rob Schamberger Newsletter 23OCT22

Oh, take this veil from off my eyes.

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Hi. My name's Rob Schamberger. I'm that guy who paints rasslers. And other stuff. Show them, now, we’ve come off the shelf.

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WORDS  

Ever since he showed up in NXT UK I’ve wanted to do a painting of Ilja Dragunov. But the way he’s come into NXT recently and the intensity and aggression he’s shown told me that the time is right, and that time is right NOW to make this piece. I personally love the way he maniacally waves his arm like a conductor for a symphony of destruction during his entrance and used that as my starting point.

Taking inspiration from classic comic book art and animation, I used liquid acrylic in flat areas first for the different planes of the composition, and then used black ink for the deep shadows and to also give definition. I think it makes for a rather intense look, to match Dragunov’s own intensity.

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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  

• Mankind - Halloween Acrylic!

• Candice LeRae

• Sami Zayn

• Veer Mahaan

Card subject to change.

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Hundreds of prints and paintings at Schamberger Labs!
Rob and Jason Arnett's novella Rudow Can't Fail!
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Signed prints at WWE Auction.
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Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

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SCHAMBERGER LABS: THE SERIES!

This week, I began working on the people inside the barricade including Corey Graves, Jey Uso, Referee Chad Patton and, you guessed it, Paul Heyman's butt! This Roman Reigns Wrestling Landscape painting is starting to feel a little more real.

Here’s how it looks so far:

Plus a closer look at the referee, as I’m super happy with how he turned out! Paul Heyman’s butt, too.

QUICK NOTE: My plate suddenly got very full and I may have to take occasional breaks from working on this in-between. I hope not, but maybe.

I’m one guy doing his best out here.

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Me and my girl, we got a relationship.

YOU GOOD? 

This week was a blur.

As noted recently I had a massive project land in my lap and I’ve been working nonstop on it, while also trying to stay on top of my WWE commitments as well as keeping my own business moving forward. It’s hard, friend. On top of that, in a week Katy and I are taking a much-needed vacation but that means I need to bank up new paintings to keep the machine rolling.

It’s a perfect storm of Very Good Things that all need to happen at the same time. It’s going to be a sprint to the finish line, but I think I’ve got it fairly under control. That said, I’m back on the road with WWE a week after I get back from vacation so the marathon continues. But, like, this is what I want at the end of the day I guess.

I’m weighing out some long term solutions for the future, though. Next year will be 10 years with WWE if you can believe that and more and more I’m leaning towards quality over quantity. Towards doing the best work I can instead of just meeting self-imposed deadlines.

I don’t know. We’ll see. We’re doing this together, you and I.

Love you more,
Rob

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EXCLUSIVE PAID SUBSCRIBER CONTENT

Paid subscribers this week will get an exclusive 25% off discount code for prints, upcoming signed print releases at WWE Auction, and 24 hour advance access for the original Ilja Dragunov painting. WE ARE GO FOR PAYWALL.