Rookies

Inspiration - Fuel for the Hate Game by Hot Water Music.

*Process

I do not recall the origin story of the original Fuel cover. I do however know that I was trying to depict an argument. My only regret with this new painting is that I failed to find a spot for the original’s briefcase. I thought about drawing a tiny briefcase in the corner just to represent.

The color gradients across the snake bits were a real breakthrough for me. I just scumbled color over the drawing and wiped it away. This process of tinting appears throughout this series.

As far as some of the symbolism goes - “points flying” are the arrows, point is a synonym for position, off target/shots not reaching the other gladiator, weeds are growing as this gets old, the gloves represent soft blows, however, things have escalated to “Join us or Die” levels of stupid - hence the Ben Franklin homage. Their tattoos represent a surface level personality. The characters faces were supposed to be a little less forward than other paintings. I really wanted a couple of grey nobodies in the ring.

I always loved the title of this record. So bad ass and provocative.

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