Of Pain and Paint

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After Subtle’s tour van was broken into in Spain, Adam "Doseone" Drucker had a dream in which he painted portraits of fans to make back the money they’d lost. Here are a few more stories about the experience that didn’t get printed in our June/July issue.

To read the full feature on Subtle, download a pdf of XLR8R 118.

FearBoy
The perspective and moment captured in his photo were perfect. He became one of the portraits that actually makes eye contact with you. He is the Chicken Little of the Good Ghosts.

Airbud
Pets were a blast to render. This poor dog… In the photo, he was rolling on his back on a hardwood floor; now he’s in mid-flight. I later realized: I hope all these pets and people that I “angel-fied” never die. I’d hate to go all awful-omen-artist.

MyMummy
I recognized this gentleman from a merch booth conversation somewhere. Since our wonderful soundman and un-official seventh member Patrick Scott has a mummy obsession, and this young man had his arms crossed, I made him our lucky mummy.

Poet’s Wife
This woman was so stunning, I could not paint her for weeks. She even looked good on my out-of-ink printout. For me, fine woman beauty is far more complex than other types, a bit beyond my pen, so to speak.

Hour Hero Yes
Yes is dressed to kill in his honest armor and thin skin, prepared to protect the cave of his chest with a wildest guess, wearing his perpetual motifs like medals, staring resolute with age and all fairness at what ever steps in front of him.