I’ve been obsessed with the Mayan history, culture, art, prophecies, and religion since ancient history class. The Maya are an intriguingly industrious and detail oriented civilization with a central focus on astronomy. This is usually where the reference to the Mayan calendar and the year 2012 come into play. For those who think it is a doomsday prophecy, all I can say is you need to do some homework. This coming of age and end to their provincial eon cyclical calendar is simply a shift in the ‘chaosmic’ energy and it’s extended effect on current global societies mind set and states. It is this reverberation of energies spit across the galaxy and into our world that seems to feed the planets ancient ways and not allow us to get too far away from the bigger picture.

Archeologists claim that the Maya began counting time as of August 31, 3114 B.C. This is called the zero year and is likened to January 1, AD. All dates in the Long Count begin there, so the date of the beginning of this time cycle is written 13-0-0-0-0. That means 13 cycles of 400 years will have passed before the next cycle begins, which is December 27, 2012. The new cycle will begin as 1-0-0-0-0. This is my Roman Numeral reference of MMXII. The calendar itself was divided into cycles 3 million years long, subdivided into units of 20 years, 400, 8,000 and 158,000 years. There were also subunits for marking the death and rebirth of the sun and fire. Rituals punctuated the cycles and acted like the needles of a clock, marking the passage of time. This is where the Mayan games and sacrifices would typically take place.

The death god was called Yum Cimil. He also could be called Ah Puch, the god of the Underworld. His body is predominantly skeletal. I like to depict the dark lord as more of a warrior and give him scales somewhat representative of a serpent. Yum Cimil is my go to evil-guy for this piece. Solely dedicated to the chaos of which was likely the end of the Maya development. He is depicted in MMXII reigning the mouth of an odd serpent head. The maya vision serpent symbolizes the passage of ancestral spirits and the gods of Xibalba (the maya underworld) into our world. In states of ecstasy and usually following bloodletting, particularly as graphically depicted at Yaxchilan, maya mobility invoke the vision serpent. The vision serpent can be the vehicle by which ancestors or deities make themselves manifest to humanity.

MMXII ©2010 Nick Beery

Below the strange serpent head is a jaguar which is also represented at the upper right hand corner. Mayans believed that four jaguars, called bacabs, held up the sky at each corner of the earth. Every bacab had a different color. Each corner represented a cardinal direction. Each direction had a color: east-red; north-white; west-black; south-yellow. Green was the center. This is why you will find several jaguar heads at each corner of the piece.

To the left of Yum Cimil is Cizin, “Stinking One”. Cizin is the Mayan earthquake god and god of death, ruler of the subterranean land of the dead. He lives beneath the earth in a purgatory where all souls except those of soldiers killed in battle and women who died in childbirth spend some time. Cizin is often depicted holding a smoking cigarette. My Cizin is adorned with a falcon’s head and a rolled smoke.

Click any of the photos below for a full view of close ups and detail shots.

It is now ever present with the onslaught of technology in our lives that we are blinded to see what the Maya knew as constant energy around us. While your busy texting, blogging, playing video games, and talking on your cell while watching television you just missed out on the true energy that provides you with the will to keep going. It’s like stepping out into the bright sun in spring after a harsh grey winter. We need to stay tuned in to the cosmos, our galaxy, the seasons, and slow down just enough to not turn our backs on the star dust that is truly our heritage.

For an excellent reading into the Maya and educated, somewhat scientific meanings behind the culture and calendar I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Mayan Code.

King Kong Chaos ©2010 Nick Beery

Below is a gallery of detailed angles and close ups.

King Kong Chaos is available for purchase. Interested parties please contact me for pricing and display specifics. Hoo-hoo-haaa-haaa-haaa!

Cthulhu Hobo ©2010 Nick Beery

Here are some of the process photos and detail close ups…

My love for zombie themes coalesced with dead rap artists seemed like the perfect route to get these martyrs of the game out there like never before. The criteria for the zombie rappers series is that this gang of artists must be deceased. This is an ongoing series that is not fully finished. These are offered as limited edition prints (signed and numbered by BeeryMethod), one off screen prints on wood panels with ink and finish, as well as to be offered soon on apparel. Keep your eyes peeled for the additions to this bad ass street-series as well as the upcoming tee shirt line!

ZOMBIGGIE (Biggie Smalls)

ZomBiggie ©2010 BeeryMethod

2DEAD (2Pac Shakur)

2Dead ©2010 BeeryMethod

Ol Decay Bastard (Ol Dirty Bastard)

Ol Decay Bastard ©2010 BeeryMethod

ZombEAZY (Eazy E)

ZombEAZY ©2010 BeeryMethod

Jam Maggots Jay (Jam Master Jay)

Jam Maggots Jay ©2010 BeeryMethod

The wood panel screen prints exist as only 1 per rapper. They are extremely limited and on sale for $200 each. These pieces are ready to hang and are a nice size of 10×18. If interested in purchasing one or the series of these rare art pieces please contact me: nick@beerymethod.com.

Below are the limited edition prints of the Zombie Rappers series look like:

Zombie Rapper Prints ©2010 BeeryMethod

If your interested in purchasing either the wood panel art or any of the limited edition prints please contact me. These prints are extremely limited and will sell out quickly. Print sizes are 15×20 / numbered & signed / $50/print. Please check back regarding the Zombie Rapper clothing line planned to launch 2010!

Hobo Eaters Flyer

Artist statement (dirt on the show):

Hobo Eaters: Agents of Chaos

The term hobo-eater refers to an entity who, through ritual means, would take on by means garbage and liquor the sins of a deceased bum, thus absolving his or her soul and allowing that person of the street to rest in peace.

What was once a ritual performed by beggars and vagabonds in certain villages of bygone years is now performed in a reverse of roles by animated entities who take on the form of the hobo whose diabolical lifestyle is reflected upon the appearance of the hobo-eater. The hobo-eater would be brought to the dying vagrant’s curbside or stoop, where a neighborhood drifter would place a crust of dumpster pizza on the chest of the dying and pass a 40 oz. of malt liquor to him over the corpse. After reciting the ritual, he would then drink and remove the crust from the derelict tramp and eat it, the act of which would remove the sins and deadbeat-scars from the dying transient and take it into himself.

Often times hobo-eaters are not only filled with the sins and scars of the deceased but take on a ghostly appearance, ragged with the lines of deceit and chemical abuse of the former vessel. The result is a vaporous apparition whose tattered clothes and grungy attitude is forever portrayed among the urban environment. Thus the ethereal term Agents of Chaos has come as a contemporary descriptor for these aeon old hobo-eaters who are destined to drift the streets perpetually consuming fiendish souls.

Hobo Eaters 2010 Poster

Below are a few of the Hobo Eaters character pieces that are included in the show:

Vapor Trails:

Vapor Trails Ink & Wood Stain

Vapor Trails Detail

Vapor Trails / Bummin & Runnin

Below are some updated photos of some of the work included in the show. To avoid rambling on too much about all the pieces I am simply posting the pics including the detailed shots of the artwork. Enjoy!

GURU: Inspired by ancient sages of forgotten lore. The word bubble is Chinese for “Knowledge”.

Guru

Guru detail I

Guru detail II

Guru detail III

VAPOR TRAILS: Inspired by all the shredding skateboard bad-asses…you know who you are.

Vapor Trails Ink & Wood Stain

Vapor Trails detail I

Vapor Trails detail II

BUMMIN & RUNNIN: Inspired by old 50′s animations, bums, and liquor.

Bummin & Runnin Ink & Wood Stain

Bummin & Runnin detail I

Bummin & Runnin detail II

RUBIX DUDE:  Inspired by particle theory and physicists worldwide.

Rubix Dude Ink & Wood Stain

Rubix Dude detail I

Rubix Dude detail II

THE SHAMBLER:  Inspired by Scrooge McDuck, Robert Crumb, and A X-Mas Carol.

The Shambler Ink on Wood

The Shambler detail I

The Shambler detail II

CODED: Inspired by zen buddhism and hidden meanings.

Coded Ink on WoodCoded detail I

Coded detail IICoded detail III

ROCKET ROCKER: Inspired by the Rocketeer and dark rockers everywhere.

Rocket Rocker Ink on Wood

Rocket Rocker detail I

Rocket Rocker detail II

AGENT OF CHAOS: Inspired by Hells Angels debauchery.

Agent of Chaos Ink on Wood

Agent of Chaos detail I

Agent of Chaos detail II

Agent of Chaos detail III

LET THE WHEELS BURN: Inspired by Mars Volta album Octahedron

Let The Wheels Burn Ink on Wood

Let The Wheels Burn detail I

Let The Wheels Burn detail II

Let The Wheels Burn detail III

THE MANNIKIN: Inspired by Robert Bloch’s short story The Mannikin from his collection Mysteries of the Worm

The Mannikin Ink on Wood

The Mannikin detail I

The Mannikin detail II

The Mannikin detail III

The Mannikin detail V

LUMBERING JACK: Inspired by chainsaws and the Pacific Northwest.

Lumbering Jack detail I

Lumbering Jack detail II

Lumbering Jack detail IV

BLOOD LIFE: Inspired by gangsta females everywhere.

Blood Life Vector Print Poster

Blood Life detail I

Blood Life detail II

Blood Life detail III

Blood Life detail IV

RUBIX DUDE: 3 versions of all characters. 1. Ink on wood 2. Vector digital design 3. Oil painting.

Rubix Dude Oils

Rubix Dude detail I

Rubix Dude detail II

Rubix Dude detail III

Rubix Dude detail IV

Rubix Dude detail V

Rubix Dude detail VI

MICKSTER MCGEE: Inspired by unicycle chimps, hipsters, scenesters, 80′s cartoons, and underground comics.

Mickster Mcgee Ink on Wood

Mickster McGee detail I

Mickster McGee detail II

Mickster McGee detail III

Mickster McGee detail IV

OL TIMER: Inspired by father time, ferrets, chicken suits, tar & feathers, and explicit street vagrants.

Ol Timer Ink on Wood

Ol Timer detail I

Ol Timer detail II

Ol Timer detail III

PHANTOM BEARD & DOOB: Inspired by Norwegians, black death metal, k-9′s, rebels, counterculture, loud loud loud music.

Phantom Beard & Doob Ink on Wood (unfinished)

Phantom Beard & Doob detail (unfinished)

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished I

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished II

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished III

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished IV

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished V

Phantom Beard & Doob detail finished VI

Where's the bird?

Doob detail

Phantom Beard & Doob detail III

Phantom Beard & Doob detail IV

LYCOSA MASTER: Inspired by wizards, tattoos, medieval sorcerers, devils, demons, warlocks, giant spiders, and reckless gladiators.

Lycosa Master Ink on Wood

Lycosa Master detail I

Lycosa Master detail II

Lycosa Master detail III

Lycosa Master detail IV

Lycosa Master detail V

For the intro to my process I am going to breakdown how I created Cascade Vagabond which was one of the first characters created from the theme. Cascade Vagabond not only was created as an original piece of art but also ended up as the winter 2009 shop deck for Snowboard Connection.

All designs begin with a light pencil sketch to define the linework that will eventually be the parameters for inking and coloring digitally:

Beery Method : Hobo Eaters

Sketch

After a sketch that defines the characters details I move on to hank inking the characters with Pigma Micron pens on vellum:

Inked

Here is a side by side view:

Inked Detail

After inking I scan the image and vectorize it in Adobe Illustrator. Once all the character is vectorized I move on to adding colors and gradients:

Cascade Vagabond Digital Version

Below is the final image put to product. In this case it is a pro line skateboard. See the blog archive for more close up details:

Cascade Vagabond Skateboard

Here is a breakdown of how I created Rubix Dude who is another character from the Hobo Eaters series:

Sketch / Ink / Original

Sketch / Ink / Original

Here are some close up shots of the materials and process:

Blue Line Sketch

Inked Drawing on Vellum

Ink & Wood Stain

The original piece was done utilizing the sketch by projecting on wood, tracing, hand inking with brush, and painting with wood stain and finish:

Rubix Dude: Ink & Wood Stain

Details

The fact that the above piece is hand inked makes it the “original” and one and only. I can create variations on this design by utilizing the sketch and inked drawing, but every new edition will be different. No one version is alike since I ink by hand using brush and pen. Some versions sit on finished wood, while others are absorbed directly into the grain of the wood piece.

Below is the digital version with added hues, gradients, and tones that make it very different from the original:

Rubix Dude Digital Version

Last but not least I printed up limited edition tees of Rubix Dude by printing transparencies from the vector output and screen printing to garments:

Rubix Dude Tee Shirts

I still have a few of these limited edition tee shirts available. Printed on silver AA fashion fit tees. Please contact me if interested in purchasing!

To continue this thread the following will be most of the characters from the Hobo Eaters: Agents of Chaos series. As to not be redundant I am simply posting the details of the sketches, inked versions, originals on wood, digital versions, and any products created with the designs. Enjoy!

The Shambler:

Sketch

Inked

Sketch / Inked / Original

Sketch Detail

Inked Detail

Original Detail

The Shambler Original

45 Mack:

Sketch / Inked

Inked Detail I

Inked Detail II

Original Detail I

Original Detail II

45 Mack Original

45 Mack Digital Version

Blood Life:

Sketch

Inking

Blue Line & Ink on Vellum I

Blue Line & Ink on Vellum II

Unfinished Inking Detail

Ink Detail II

Blood Life Digital Version

Coded:

Sketch & Ink

Sketch Detail

Ink Detail I

Ink Detail II

Coded Digital Version

Ol Timer:

Ink Beginnings on Wood

Final Inks on Wood

Ol Timer Tee

Ol Timer Digital Version

Rocket Rocker:

This design actually started in reverse. I did a digital rendering in Corel Painter which I then vectorized in Adobe Illustrator and added halftones. This design was eventually picked up by a Seattle skateboard company Nomadic.

Rocket Rocker Ink on Wood

Rocket Rocker Skateboard

Bummin & Runnin:

This design started as a pencil rendering which I then scanned and added a couple layers of highlights and midtones. It was originally created for soft goods production and ended up on tee shirts which are available from Portland OR based Tilteed.

Bum & Run Original

Bum & Run Detail I

Bum & Run Detail II

Bum & Run Detail III

Bum & Run Ink & Wood Stain

Bummin & Runnin Digital Version

Bum & Run Tee Shirts

As this post has become lengthy with photos of my process from concept to finals and even products I am going to put the rest of this series of characters in the following post regarding the Hobo Eaters show and series…

Beery Method Design Studio