SHOP TALK: Rob Schamberger Newsletter 08DEC24
I have become comfortably numb.
Hi. My name's Rob Schamberger. I'm that guy who paints rasslers. And other stuff. Now I’ve got that feeling once again, I can’t explain, you would not understand.
WORDS
NEEDS: COMFORT
Watercolor on 12” x 16” watercolor paper
This is the first in a new series of paintings I’m making exploring the basic human needs, those things we require both emotionally or externally to exist as our best selves. It’s something I’ve learned about in therapy and am still trying to fully understand. Instead of simply reading and trying to internalize these concepts I’m actively making paintings to fully explore them. If doing this helps others to understand these ideas and how they fit into their lives that’s beautiful, too.
To visualize these ideas, I’m combining the human figure with fabric in different ways instead of being too representational. The integration of fabric not only comes from my time in Florence, Italy studying classical European art but also because it can be used in different ways to invite the viewer to participate in why and how this represents these abstract concepts. Sounds all fancy but it’ll make more sense as you see each one.
After spending half a year visually developing everything I learned in Florence I started working up sketches and studies (examples above) to prepare myself for how I want these paintings to look.
Doing those sketches and studies not only helps me out a ton with painting them, but I can show those to my photographer Paul Anderews and our model Zelda Calderon to give them the base idea and vibe I’m shooting for and then they can add their own high levels of expertise to take those ideas to an even more elevated level. Being a painter is a very solitary existence but it can also be highly collaborative and I’m so lucky to have collaborators like Paul and Zelda.
As you can see, I also had my study for this piece up on my drawing board as visual reference for the colors and flow of the piece, even though we ended up flipping the direction Zelda is facing.
This is a far more methodical way than I’ve worked in the past, but that was kind of the point in going on that Florence trip in the first place: To push myself out of my comfort zone and to grow as an artist. This project is not only something that’s helping me to learn about myself and to grow as a person, but also to grow as an artist capable of bringing that to life. I flew over an ocean to another continent and spent six months after that trip working to find myself. I’d lost that guy somewhere along the way and it’s interesting getting to know him again.
Here’s a preview of Thursday’s new Adam Page painting. To quote the immortal bard, “FIRE!”
UPCOMING AEW/PWT PAINTINGS
Hangman Adam Page - SIGNED
Adam Cole
Jay White
Jon Moxley
The Outrunners
Ricochet
Private Party
Card subject to change.
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
Bluesky
Cara
YouTube
WHAT I LIKED THIS YEAR IN MUSIC
Passage du Desir by Sturgill Simpson aka Johnny Blue Eyes was my favorite new album of the year. I’m a longtime fan of Sturgill Simpson’s music and this is my favorite album of his since A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. It’s got a smooth blend of outlaw country and 70’s singer/songwriter ballads akin to James Taylor that makes it a perfect soundtrack while I’m reading.
I talked just last week about Mahashamashana by Father John Misty and don’t have anything new to add other than I’m enjoying it and listening to it a lot.
Songs of a Lost World by The Cure is a pure joy of a new release by the band, hitting perfectly on their signature sound while not feeling like a retread. Being one of those kids who was at the exact right age for The Crow and more notably its soundtrack, The Cure has a very sentimental spot in my heart and the songs Warsong and All I Ever Am fit snugly right next to Burn. Another very good album to have on while I’m reading.
And naturally, the most fun I’ve had with music this year has been The Midnight Special channel on YouTube. It’s an unbelievable treasure trove of live performances and I don’t understand why it’s not the biggest thing in the universe. But while I don’t have control over the universe, I certainly have control over my own corner of it and in that corner we get a light shone on us by The Midnight Special!
Oh, and also that time Tom Jones and David Gilmour covered Prince’s Purple Rain.
The Elusive Artist in His Natural Environment (Photograph by Paul Andrews)
YOU GOOD?
A relatively quiet week for me personally, which is refreshing. A week of metaphorical forty degree days. I finished up AEW paintings for The Outrunners and Private Party, which gets me through January with the rasslin art. I made a pretty tasty baked ziti for the first time. Katy and I did a sampling of my homemade red wine vinegar which is about a month away from being ready. It’s close, though! Has a rich body of flavor to it already, just needs to develop some more acidity. We did our weekly Thursday date night doing pub trivia and came in sixth place, which was a lot better than I’d anticipated. Our favorite part of doing that is coming up with the funniest answers possible when we don’t know the real one. Getting the host to break is the best.
The later part of the week has been focused on these Human Needs paintings, finishing one and starting another. So, yeah, pretty quiet. Hopefully next week is the same. I like to joke that I’m looking for about six months of just coasting by, y’know? Not doing fabulously great, but also nothing bad. Just being a dude that abides, looking for a few months of forty degree days.
Love you more,
Rob