SHOP TALK: Rob Schamberger Newsletter 03MAR24

Hello, it's me.

Mar 03, 2024

Hi. My name's Rob Schamberger. I'm that guy who paints rasslers. And other stuff. Maybe I think too much but something’s wrong.

St Vincent, acrylic on 11x14 bristol board. Made as a warmup painting last Monday.

FIVE THINGS

The 5 best things I’ve done for my art over the past couple years:

1. Slowing down. Instead of getting something done in a few days I’m now giving myself a few weeks.

2. Figure drawing groups. Working with a live model and also watching how other artists solve the same problems is so valuable. It’s also a great opportunity to be lousy and try things out without worrying about how to monetize what I’m making. Art for art’s sake.

3. Upgrading my tools and paints. I started out as a starving artist just like everyone else and made do with what I had. As those supplies ran out I’ve made a point of getting higher end stuff. There definitely is a difference.

4. Acrylic glazing. This came about because I upgraded my paints and I saw the different acrylic mediums next to them at the art supply store. I notated them and watched tutorials on what they are and how to use them. What a game changer. The depth of colors I’m getting now by exploring ‘indirect painting’ and how it’s changing my entire approach is a thrill.

5. Personal work. This has been the biggest one overall. Rather than just ‘painting for fun’ (which I regularly do and will keep doing!) I’m also developing a body of serious and emotionally authentic work with composition and storytelling as more of an objective than my normal figurative work. What I’m learning from these is definitely informing the rest of my work.

Here’s one more progress shot for my upcoming Terry Funk painting. Debuts next Sunday!

UPCOMING WWE PAINTINGS

Terry Funk
Bayley
The Rock
Jade Cargill

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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Rob’s prints on WWE Shop!
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WHAT I LIKED THE PAST WEEK

Dune Part Two was the best moviegoing experience I’ve had since seeing a preview screening of The Matrix back in 1999. Like, I enjoyed the first part and if I’m being honest I’m not a huge fan of the book but got-damn this was something to behold. Like The Matrix, it’s one of those movies where there’s everything before it and everything after it. At least in my eyes. I think what I liked the most about it is that it’s finally a big, modern sci-fi action movie that’s made for adults. Not in the nudity/cussing way, but with nuanced storytelling for people who want something more than binary good/bad scenarios with a dose of nostalgia.

And boy, are the people coming into this story without any knowledge of the books in for a shock when they see where Paul’s story goes.

Also, please allow me to regale you with my tale of seeing David Lynch’s Dune in the theater back in 1984 when I was four years old: So, my dad took my stepbrother Ryan and I to see this, expecting it to be like Star Wars. It…was not. Ryan was 6 at the time and we had both gotten loaded up on candy and soda at the top of the film. So, we get to the part where they pull the hose out of Baron Harkonnen, who shoots whatever sort of fluid all around. This was too much for Ryan, who projectile vomited all over the back of the guy’s head sitting in front of us. Easily the worst thing to hit the back of someone’s head in a theater since April 14, 1865.

The new Shogun series on FX/Hulu is pretty much perfect. The scale and scope of Game of Thrones with the attention to detail of Mad Men. I haven’t seen the original 1980 mini-series because that was, like, when I was born and haven’t read the book so I’m coming in cold. It’s a true epic and I’m excited to watch this story unfold.

I forgot to mention it last week, but Quantum Leap season two was really wonderful. They introduced a character who the time traveler Ben runs into at various points in her life throughout the season. The reason that he does is slowly revealed episode-by-episode is a beautiful journey. I really, really hope that they get a third season, because there’s a big question asked by the season finale that could go in a way that I really, really want it to.

The N-Word of God by Mark Doox is a powerful thing. Doox made this gorgeous series of paintings and built a narrative around them that delves into the treatment and depiction of black people in America and uses this wonderfully profane way to do so that is sure to make this the most-banned book in red states. I say that as the greatest compliment possible.

MARCH SCHAMBERGER LABS DISCOUNT CODE

Through the end of February, use the promo code MARCH24 at checkout for 20% off all prints at schambergerlabs.com! This is an exclusive for subscribers, so kayfabe this one. It’s just for you because you’re amazing.

One thing he doesn’t do is monkey around.

YOU GOOD?

In the American version, King Kong wins Employee of the Month. David and I had a deep discussion earlier in the week about this, and we decided it’s this big fuzzball’s time to shine. I also feel like no one at Toho had ever seen an actual gorilla when they made the original King Kong vs Godzilla.

Love you more,
Rob