SHOP TALK: Rob Schamberger Newsletter 23JUN24
To and through the myth that we call space and time.
Hi. My name's Rob Schamberger. I'm that guy who paints rasslers. And other stuff. So go and try to have some fun.
WORDS
Above is a study I did of the statue ‘Perseus with the Head of Medusa’ by Benvenuto Cellini, exhibited in the Piazza del Signoria in Florence, Italy. One of my favorite things about walking around Florence was that each time you came around a corner there was something ancient and beautiful, and the statuary in the Piazza del Signoria was exactly like that. This Perseus piece is a bronze sculpture that’s taken on a gorgeous teal hue that was super fun to paint.
So. I had an experience this week.
I had done a first pass at a painting for a potential client and they replied to me with examples of someone else’s art that they considered, and I quote, “good” and asked me if I can do something more like that. I was enraged. You know that Emotion Series painting I did for Anger, where my head was exploding with a multitude of other faces of myself all raging? That’s what was happening when I got that email. The Lion, the Witch, the Audacity of This Bitch, as the saying goes. Like, if you want that other artist, just work with them in the first place. Don’t insult me. Don’t make me spend a week of my life on a painting you never actually wanted in the first place.
So, I composed myself and said that this project appeared to not be the right fit for me and that I’d be moving on, wishing them the best of luck. That’s something I learned in therapy, that it’s not a matter of subjective worth, of not being good enough or not having what it takes, but just that this situation isn’t the right fit.
But god dammit I was angry. Justifiably.
I made the mistake of checking my email and read that while I was at a plein-air figure drawing group and it completely threw me off for the session. But the poses that our models Joanna and Doug were doing, coupled with the setting of the Colonnade here in Kansas City were so gorgeous that I snapped a few photos to use as reference back in the studio when I was in a better state of mind. I was especially struck by how the light was hitting Joanna for this pose along with that shock of green from the forest behind her and how it was framed by the columns. A fun composition that’s completely different from my normal work.
We have some amazing art models here in Kansas City and I feel so fortunate to be able to work with them.
UPCOMING AEW/PWT PAINTINGS
Matt and Jeff Hardy - A rarity from the vault!
Kris Statlander
Vader - IT’S TIME!
MJF
Sting
Card subject to change.
Seven of the last nine limited edition prints have sold out. Six of them sold out in under 24 hours. Five of those under one hour. The AEW prints each week are in the top five best-selling items on all of ShopAEW. Not bad!
We’re building something beautiful together, you and I.
Rob’s Art on ShopAEW
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Rob and Jason Arnett's novella Rudow Can't Fail!
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Rob’s prints and shirts at Pro Wrestling Tees
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Instagram
Threads
Cara
YouTube
WHAT I LIKED THIS WEEK
Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey by Edel Rodriguez is one of the best and most important books I’ve ever read, no hyperbole. It’s a graphic novel memoir of Rodriguez and his family’s time in post-revolution Cuba, their harrowing escape during the 1980 Mariel boat lift, adjusting to life in America, and seeing the rise of totalitarianism echo itself in the US with Trump. Rodriguez, a master illustrator who has done covers for Time Magazine and other premier publications, uses his skills to craft a truly human experience about what all of this was like for him. Highest possible recommendation.
THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM
Yesterday Katy and I went to the Kansas City Museum for the first time. It’s a gorgeous building, formerly a home for a wealthy family that donated it to the city for this purpose. It’s a very comprehensive experience through the history of the city and all of its peoples, taking a nuanced and contextual approach that’s rare for places like this. Like, it’s not all positive. They don’t shy away from the post-segregation ‘white flight’ to the suburbs and how that ripped away funding from the urban core. Also, the history starts with the Osage Tribe and how the land was taken from them by the European settlers, rather than just saying the city started when the colonizers showed up. But it’s not only those challenging stories, it’s ultimately a celebration of the city and the people who are here and what we’re all doing as a community. I was truly impressed by the exhibits and how you flow through them.
Plus, the basement has a fully-functioning soda fountain where you can end your day with a phosphate or an ice cream float. The counter and its equipment were donated from a small town soda fountain and they keep it going now with a huge variety of delicious treats. Across the hall is a lush billiards room, the kind you’d see in an early-1900’s mansion (because that’s what it was!) where Katy and I sat for about an hour playing chess to close out the day.
What a lovely way to spend a day.
She does the actual work and I take credit for it.
LET’S TALK ABOUT COMMISSIONS
I think it’d be fun to open commissions back up in a limited way. Here’s the rules:
I’m doing 9x12 watercolors of single figures with a limited background. $250 each, money due up front.
No active AEW or WWE wrestlers, for contractual reasons. But if you want something like a painting of your partner or family member for a gift, or someone from a Marvel movie or a Scorsese film (deep cut joke for film snobs), or pretty much anything else I’ve got you covered. But always feel free to ask if you’re unsure.
These are for personal collectors and are not commercial jobs. If you want to resell the painting, sure, I guess, it’s yours, but this doesn’t grant you a copyright or license to the work for commercial purposes. If that’s something you’re interested in for your company, we can have those talks, but this is something I’m doing for personal collectors.
Sound interesting? Then just reply to this email or send one directly to robschamberger at gmail with what you’re interested in. If it’s something I feel I could do for you I’ll send you a link for payment and an estimate on how long it will take me to finish. I figure I can do about four a month between my other responsibilities. I’ll streamline this process in the coming weeks but this works for now.
And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t send me pictures of someone else’s art and ask me if I can do something ‘good’ like that instead of my own approach. But you wouldn’t do that. That’s why I’m so fond of you.
Love you more,
Rob