Dave Van Patten

I am heavily inspired by the 1960s surrealist children’s book authors, indy weirdo comics, 1990s SNL humor, and psychedelic album art. I do my best to fuse these influences into what I create. Although most of my drawings begin small and simple, aimed at dark humor comics or illustrative designs, often times I’ve been commissioned to blow up these drawings onto huge buildings. I paint my murals with the same approach as my illustrations- clean lines, bright colors, and a cohesive color scheme that ultimately feels good on the eyes. I enjoy themes ranging from absurdity, to Socio-political satire, to philosophy and spirituality, to macabre humor. The unifying factor of all the genres is the attempt at humor and underlying conscience. Art for art sake can still be great, but when it’s blended with humor and conscience, it’s a great recipe