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artwork by David McClyment
2026, When I Was God
My bow to Hieronymus Bosch. The middle panel, the confusion of life on earth. The left panel maybe heaven? The right panel, maybe hell?
In any case, Above, Below and In Between
About 18 ft long x 5 ft tall. Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil, digitally processed imagery and text.
In any case, Above, Below and In Between
About 18 ft long x 5 ft tall. Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil, digitally processed imagery and text.
2026, When I Was God, project description.
2026, When I Was God, middle panel
"I Want To Make This Perfectly Clear" - the repeated mantra of so many politicians. And nothing really is.
2026, When I Was God, middle panel, detail 1
As I started, I knew the words that I wanted to use. But the first insistent image in my head was of a flying disembodied head, with a conical hat, and a heavy duty ruffed collar. Who knows where this came from. Terry Gilliam would have had a role. see the Adventures of Baron Munchhausen.
Having established this character then it was full on playing. What do I need here? or here? Borrowing, in my mind, from the visual universe of Hieronymous Bosch
Having established this character then it was full on playing. What do I need here? or here? Borrowing, in my mind, from the visual universe of Hieronymous Bosch
2026, When I Was God, middle panel, detail 2
Can't just have one flying head.
2026, When I Was God, middle panel, detail 1
All these collaged images are drawings that I have done over the years and captured photographically. Truly I have amassed a visual lexicon of thousands and thousands of images that I have drawn.
Much fun in rediscovering them, digitally processing them (mostly scale) and repurposing them.
Much fun in rediscovering them, digitally processing them (mostly scale) and repurposing them.
2026, When I Was God, middle panel, detail 3
Another image that just happened when I was watching a video of a flock of flamingos walking.
Somehow their bulky bodies remined me of brains, and well...you see the end results.
I love the idea of the horns playing "soggy" notes
Somehow their bulky bodies remined me of brains, and well...you see the end results.
I love the idea of the horns playing "soggy" notes
2026, When I Was God, left panel
Is this Heaven? Not if you are playing God. Everything seems to be going wrong.
2026, When I Was God, left panel, detail 1
The crown is particularly heavy.
2026, When I Was God, left panel, detail 3
How could it all go SO wrong??
2026, When I Was God, left panel, detail 3
That really is the question.
2026, When I Was God, left panel, detail 4
My partner Sue depicted as a news anchor. I mean somebody has to try to cover this mess
2026, When I Was God, right panel
Bosch would have this panel as a Hellscape. After a noisy earth bound existence, would feeling abandoned in a underground hole be considered hellish?
2026, When I Was God, right panel, detail 1
2026, When I Was God, right panel, detail 2
Is there anybody there? Is anybody listening?
2026, When I Was God, right panel, detail 3
Hoping for a response? Not likely. Even the echoes are faked!
2026, When I Was God, right panel, detail 4
Here's Sue keeping the infinite news cycle rolling!
All in the same boat. No, we're not!! 2025
This time, the approach is similar to signs listing stores in a mall. Each has its own "shingle". But in this case, the words have largely been replaced by abstracted natural scenes from my earlier work.
digitally processed, re-purposed drawings of mine
Irregular, about 36" wide with explosion, about 60 " tall.
digitally processed, re-purposed drawings of mine
Irregular, about 36" wide with explosion, about 60 " tall.
2026, Puff
This drawing started off with a doodle I had done some years ago depicting robot/zombie hands smoking a cigar.
Once I had established that image on a larger scale I needed a slogan. Thus, "We do the smoking, so that you don't have to". And the rest just grew around that.
Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil, spray paint, digitally processed and printed imagery on abused paper.
About 5 feet tall x 12 feet long.
Once I had established that image on a larger scale I needed a slogan. Thus, "We do the smoking, so that you don't have to". And the rest just grew around that.
Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil, spray paint, digitally processed and printed imagery on abused paper.
About 5 feet tall x 12 feet long.
Puff, central panel 2025/26
This central panel was completed in 2025. But when I was looking at digital capture in a workshop I was hosting. I decided that it definitely needed the left and right panels to bring in line with the rest of this body of work.
Something here maybe about an extension of AI thinking?
I like the "badges" interrupting the image. Almost like graffiti.
Something here maybe about an extension of AI thinking?
I like the "badges" interrupting the image. Almost like graffiti.
Slogan, detail eyes
Had fun messing around with this groomed guys eyes. What is he really thinking?
Slogan, detail, adoring couple
These two adoring, air brushed people - just living the life. Shouldn't we all be them?
Puff, detail, Mercury 1956, 1958, 1963
I had fun going back through my previous work and stealing imagery. Turned them into badges or stickers. Might seem random to you but all these stickers have real meaning to me in terms of my own personal past and creative history
Puff, detail, Lips
From a drawing I from a Snow White garden gnome that weather was definitely moving over to the dark side.
One of my favourties
One of my favourties
Puff, detail, dreaming centipede
Based on a drawing I did for a proposed cover for one of Sue's books of poetry, "When Centipedes Dream".
A drawing of mine of a fly eventually won out. (you can find him on other drawings in this series)> But I still really like this transformation from a multi-legged creature into something with feathers.
A drawing of mine of a fly eventually won out. (you can find him on other drawings in this series)> But I still really like this transformation from a multi-legged creature into something with feathers.
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