“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” Goethe
When your artwork or style is copied by another, do you get angry? Or do you view it as influencing the world with your art?
I’m going to tell a story about the circle of influence and irony, and how this post was sparked by an angry e-mail from a Rick Griffin art fan!
KNOCK OFF OR INFLUENCE?
Drew Brophy’s artwork and style has been copied by thousands of people. You could say he asked for it. He’s given a lot of his time showing others how to paint using his techniques and he makes it easy for others to use his art as a guide for their own creativity.
Friends will ask “Doesn’t it make you mad to when someone copies your art?” Drew’s answer is this: “I’m glad to influence the work of others. I’m just passing it on.”
After all, Drew himself was inspired by artists before him. Any Rick Griffin fan will tell you that you can see some of his influence in Drew’s work.
THE TRAGIC ENDING TO RICK GRIFFIN AND THE GLORIOUS INFLUENCE HE LEFT BEHIND:
Rick Griffin Photo (c) Bob Seidemann
Sadly, Griffin’s life ended in a tragic motorcycle accident in 1991, but he left behind his vision and talent for the world to enjoy.
He was a surfer who became very well known for his surf and music inspired artworks.
He designed album covers for many famous bands in the 60’s and 70’s, such as The Cult and Grateful Dead. His accomplishments were so vast, I can’t list them all, but you can read the well written The Rick Griffin Biography.
Griffin’s art lives on through the influence he has had on thousands of artists who have come after him.
Unfortunately, that seems to piss some people off!
INFLUENCE PISSES SOME FANS OFF:
Here’s an e-mail that Drew got this morning. It’s what got me to jump out of bed (yes, I was reading e-mails while snuggled under the covers!) and write this post:
Hi, this is my first time at www.drewbrophy.com. I’m doing research on Rick Griffin. No offense, but your art is in his signature style, symbolism, composition and color palette. Rick Griffin isn’t mentioned anywhere on Drew’s website. From my research so far I think Rick would not have thought kindly of being copied like this. Libby
Well, first of all, Libby, if you actually read Drew’s website, you’ll see he mentions Rick Griffin, along with other artists, as influences in his work.
Art by Rick Griffin
Secondly, I can’t find ONE painting of Drew’s that uses Rick Griffin’s style. The picture to the left is the closest I could find, based on the subject matter. Drew has his own unique style which incorporates bright colors. The colors and subject matter (surfing & waves) are the one similarity that they share.
All artists find influence through other artists and subject matter. There must be millions who claim to have been inspired by Salvador Dali, and probably thousands who have been by Rick Griffin.
Dew’s art is “knocked off” by more people than I can count. Drew doesn’t see it as “stealing” but rather that he’s passing the influence onto the next generation of artists. If you go to Drew’s Facebook page, there are scores of artists who post their Drew Brophy influenced art. Some of it looks just like Drew’s paintings!
EARLY INFLUENCE:
Griffin's MURPHY CARTOON for Surfer Magazine
When Drew was just a young artist in his early teens, he had already developed his own unique style of painting. But reading Surfer Magazine he would see cartoon artwork that influenced him further. He didn’t know until years later, when he moved to California, the name of the artist that influenced him greatly: Rick Griffin.
And the irony is that at the age of 25, Drew moved into a house a block over from where the famed surf artist Rick Griffin lived in San Clemente, California. And this town is where Drew’s art career flourished. Must have been the Griffin mojo!
A STRANGE VISITOR FROM THE PAST BEARING MOJO IN A BRUSH:
A few years ago a shy older man walked slowly into Drew’s studio. I’ll never forget it – he was strangely uncomfortable around people. The more I moved closer to talk to him, the faster he backed up! But he found the courage to come into Drew’s studio and say this:
“I was a good friend of Rick Griffin’s. I’ve been watching your art career and I know if he was alive today he’d be proud of what you’ve done.”
Then he handed Drew the best gift he’s ever received. “When Rick died, I got to keep some of his things. Here’s one his brushes. He would have wanted you to have it.”
He handed Drew an old, fat red paint brush. One that Rick Griffin actually used to paint with! Drew’s eyes teared up. As a huge Griffin fan, there was no greater honor than this.
And then just as quickly as this guy came into our office, he was gone.
THE FULL CIRCLE OF ART INFLUENCE:
It’s strange how many connections we have to Rick Griffin.
I’ve become friends with Rick Griffin’s son-in-law, Todd. He has taken on the job of licensing Griffin’s art. He called me one day for licensing advice, and we’ve kept in touch ever since.
The art and influence has come full circle – Rick Griffin influenced Drew, Drew has influenced others after him, I’ve helped Griffin’s family with licensing, and so on.
This is the beauty of the forces of the human race giving and sharing. We help each other and we pass information and beauty and art around the circle.
It’s what life, love and art is all about.
That’s why they call it “inspiration.”
I hope this has inspired you to share your talent with the world. And when someone is influenced by it, embrace that. Feel good about it. Know that you’ve passed on your life force to those after you.
Maria xxoo
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Right on… I love it Maria!
This article is a good read. I love all the background info about Rick. I can’t believe Libby would send a strange/mean e-mail like that. It is important to put these issues out in the public. If it was not for Drew’s success I would not be painting. The other day I posted an image of my art on facebook. Someone commented that it had “shades of Rick Griffin”. I was so amazingly happy to her this comment, it made my whole day. Haters suck!
When i was starting out my artwork was greatly influenced by Robb Havassy. His seascapes of perfect pointbreaks fueled my desire to paint them as well. Since he had taken me under his wing and was mentoring me to help me start my art career, I viewed his work a lot. Naturally my style developed from this. A few years later as my style has continued to evolve, it has begun to influence others, such as Robb himself.
We had a chuckle over a digital composition of waves I created. It was of a scene of the Na Pali coast in Hawaii but I added some perfect waves. He asked me if I was gonna plan on painting it, I said someday I would get around to it. A few months later Robb had his own Na Pali scene using a similar composition and the same color palette, but it was in his Havassy Style.
I wasn’t mad, I was ecstatic… one of my art idols was influenced by my art! We joke back and forth about things like that, but in the end the artists you are in contact with and whose work you see the most will ultimately have an impact on your style.
It is a compliment to have someone emulate your style or use a composition of yours, I have had it happen to me a few times and ain’t mad at all.
Happy painting. (:
Of course there’s a strong Griffin influence in all of Drew’s work. It’s what hit’s you first. I’m only one voice here but, what is more important, is how Drew used Rick’s visual language and took it even farther. I say Bravo!!!!! Rick Griffin has to be grinning ear to ear from his heavenly wavescapes.
Maria:
What a lovely post. You have music in your soul. Fabulous ideas here.
I still can’t believe an artist like Rick Griffin is no more with us. In fact, a part of me refuses to believe it. I think I am in denial over the untimely death. Rick Griffin reminded me of Mark Twain. The resemblance is quite striking. Long lost brothers? Soul mates?
We have lost so many fabulous artists to drugs, accidents, mishaps, alcohol, abuse, suicide, homicide, you name it. I think too many artists tend to live on the edge–which may be necessary sometimes to create art. The problem is, they fall over the edge. How sad.
And so many artists died at a really young age too. Look at the list of rock and roll stars, and you’ll get this point. A part of me still cannot believe so many of these wonderfully creative people are no longer around. However, deep inside my heart I know their art is still with us. It is their creativity which has made these worthies immortal. That’s why, even today, Rick Griffin is remembered with so much love.
Maria,
By the way, sorry to hear about such accusations from your critics.
I know it can really be hard on you. Try not to take it personally. There are some people out there who have a tendency to criticize just because. No matter what you do; no matter how hard you try…
For every kind and gentle soul out there, you will also find plenty who can be mean-spirited. We have all, me thinks, experienced such people. It ain’t nothing new.
This is especially hard for artists like you and Drew, who have so much emotional investment in your creative work. Don’t let the critics get you down. Cheer up and chin up. We are going to root for you any which way. Just keep on creating art. We can’t please all the people all the time. That’s impossible. Barking dogs seldom bit anyway.
Location is a powerful determiner of style…Subject matter makes that even more specific…I painted some wild lilacs in a vase…One day, while surfing Ebay, I found a Mary Pratt print of lilacs handled in the same manner as my work…I realised that lilacs just need to be painted in a certain style, that it was beyond the artist’s control…Waves want to be painted in a certain way…Surfboards too…If you live in the same location as another who painted surfboards & waves, it is almost impossible to paint them differently, if you are being true to the subject & location…One way that artists get around this is to be nomadic about painting on location…(travel & paint on the go)…
Another is to change subject matter focus…Go underwater to the fish, or in the air to the birds & clouds…
Switching up mediums is also liberating…Or moving into 3-D like sculpture…
Sometimes the universe uses annoying people to tell us things…Maybe there is a message in Miss annoying that is useable…Artists get bored alot- change is often a welcome respite…
I agree, Sari. It’s a part of the growth process to try different things and go different places. We make it a point to travel overseas every year so we can experience different cultures, language and food. It’s an eye-opener and a great inspiration. Some of the best paintings Drew ever created were painted right after a trip to South Africa.
I was greatly inspired to write about new topics after attending a tattoo convention – which is not a world I would normally find myself in! But boy did I learn a lot being there.
As far as the e-mail from Libby: I didn’t find it annoying so much as I don’t like hearing accusations that come from ignorance. A simple Google search would have made her realize that what she wrote was incorrect. But I’m glad she wrote it, because it inspired me to write this article!
I’m so glad you posted this. I needed to read this today. I got a text message on May 5th from the guy who commissioned the Bob Waldmire tribute mural. It said “I saw the mural on Saturday. It looks good. I’m going to pay you $500. That’s all I can afford right now.” …funny,I don’t recall ever saying, “Just pay me what you can afford right now.” Well, I’m still waiting for that check (not!). I haven’t come full circle yet, still struggling to reach the other side…BUT, I’m working on making this a positive. It has occurred to me that maybe my whole involvement in this to ‘carry the torch’ and to continue Bob’s legacy. I was approached just the other day by someone I know (who knows nothing about Bob Waldmire) with an idea for creating a map of the area. We could sell advertising space to the local tourist based businesses. No map like this currently exists here. I immediately thought of Bob. That’s how he made a living! He traveled from town to town selling advertising space to local area businesses on the maps he created of their towns. So, I’ve started work on this map…we’ll see. His style of drawing, inspired by R. Crumb now inspires me.
Thanks Maria!
One word: Excellent. Danny
Too late at night to write the comment this really deserves.
But… surfing… painting… San Clemente…
In 5 minutes you made a fan for life.
Really nice post, Maria, thank you. Something I needed to hear right now. And I just started reading your Tuesday Success Principles–also timely & inspirational.
Thank you 🙂
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In late May 1991 when my late father Verriel Beerbohm first walked into the art gallery called Best Comics and Rock Art Gallery in The Cannery inside world famous Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco I had opened for Rick Griffin and myself, upon gazing at Rick’s powerful work hanging on four walls in the gallery room, the first words out of his mouth were, “Von Dutch”
Rick smiled, and proceeded to pay homage to the “original” eye ball artist. Both of us were surprised Pop could talk von Dutch with us that day.
Rick was quick to point out where his inspirations came from on each piece hanging in the gallery, both original art and the near complete collection of Rick’s poster work. He art expressed how he was feeling at any given moment in time.
Rick was fascinated that my father knew Von Dutch.
In fact, some where around here there is an old black and white photo of me all of a couple years old circa 1954 when we lived along Bellflower Blvd in Lakewood in the saddle of my father’s motorcycle with a signature Von Dutch eye ball motif blazing all over the gas tank
Rick insisted I maintain a comics and art book section in the front of the gallery where people initially walked in as he wanted to be able show people the stuff which turned him on to inspire his own work
His favorite artist during the last couple years of his oh too short life was Simon Bisely.
I know this because he came thru many a time in my Haight Ashbury comics & poster store I opened up Nov 1976 at 1707 Haight across the street from Straight Theater .
Several times a week, starting early 1989 when he moved onto Page Street some two blocks away, he was a regular coming to check out the constant flow of recent acquisitions of vintage and new comics and posters which served to charge up his creative juices.
He had come up for the 20th anniversary Zap Comics party Ron Turner threw in San Francisco, the latter having picked up the mantle of keeping the Zaps in print after Print Mint published their last book circa 1978 titled Lemme Outta Here!, their last book also having work by Crumb and many others. Zap #1 had come full circle, it seems
Rick was joyed every month when the new Doom Patrol with Simon Bisely’s newest insane cover creation made its way onto my racks. He bought those issues of 2000 AD with Simon’s work as well.
My point being, Rick took it ALL in and out it came as only Rick could interpret what he was trying to say.
I have a million Rick Griffin stories absorbed since he first walked into my Berkeley Comics & Comix store at 2512 Telegraph Ave in Berkeley California in 1973.
He had come up from SoCal to visit Print Mint to pick up art for his then brand new comic book and I traded him vintage comic books and Marget Brundage cover Weird Tales he was salivating over for the original art to his Tales From the Tube cover. Yow!!
That was the first of many deals over the years we both enjoyed doing.
Am working on a book centering on the last couple years of the life of this master artist which I am calling it “Rick Griffin (Was) Without A Net.” It also will include a section covering the year and a half or so chaos following his tragic untimely passing.
Wow, Robert, thank you so much for commenting on this article. I love that you knew Rick Griffin! And I’m excited about the book your going to write about him.
Please let us know when it comes out!
I only recently started to get my swing back following having both hip joints replaced same day with metal spike implants out in LA at St Vincent’s Joint Replacement Institute. Most of my research projects forced into hiatus the past several years when the hip joints went bone on bone in 06. Canceled by HMO Aetna citing “undisclosed pre-existing condition” Oct 2006, took three years of clawing to get the surgeries.
My RG book was over half way completed text wise. Am picking up my life where I left it off when the crumbling bone on bone joints caused the electricity levels in my brain to go down inducing seizures.
I do not claim to be an expert on all aspects of Rick’s life, no one could ever hope to accomplish that for some time to come yet, as the stories about him are still being written, a collation of all that data needs to be accomplished down the road. by some one.
A listing of all the artists he has influenced would be interesting in itself to look at. Thousands. Many came thru the gallery when it was open.
But when he moved into the Haight a couple blocks from my comics & poster store back in 1988, our friendship grew into confiding hopes, dreams, aspirations. He hit rock bottom late 1990, I was privy to some intense scenes between Rick and Ms Hafter. He ended up in jail a couple times before I tracked him down on Pat and David Ferger’s couch in Petaluma.
He shook that off and we made a plan and then focused on creating new art for a gallery which grew in scope. We became partners, me having a contract for exclusive art agent. We fronted Rick $25K to get his life back to even for the privilege. I bought that old green truck Flavin was driving in after that day. Rick had a lot of fines to pay with the state of California before he got his driver’s license back.
which culminated in a push to climb out of the previous year’s pit beginning Feb 1991 with a Rick Griffin art gallery in The Cannery, San Fran. Ten thousand people came thru for the grand opening June 1.
Most ALL the other poster artists of the period wanted in on Rick’s action. The late SF Chronicle columnist every one vied to get into, Herb Caen, was a huge fan only happy to keep plugging us quite a few times as a happening destination point for those into it. San Francisco is a huge tourist town, and once upon a time every one read his column.
Rick put a crown on the eyeball logo he developed for the gallery as can be seen here
http://cgi.ebay.com/RICK-GRIFFIN-1991-EYE-BALL-ROCK-ART-GALLERY-LOGO-SPLASH-/230480374597?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35a9b36b45
Here is the presentation piece Rick did for the gallery to show Chris Martin, owner of The Cannery for signage approval. Took Chris 30 seconds to say yes. By the time the sign went above the door, he had altered it with a crown for King Rick. His confidence was restored and saw himself as #1 in his field.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RICK-GRIFFIN-1991-BEST-COMICS-FINISHED-PAINTING-/310224539096?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483ad2cdd8
Rick had earlier painted at George Mead’s Wet Paint Studio an 8 foot Bill Graham #105 Jimi Hendrix Flaming Eyeball recreation which hung right when you entered the front door.
This near-demonic Flaming Eyeball either drew you in, or the phenom of scaring some souls away. Though that is no longer in my life every day like it used to be, Here is a NM example of one of the very rarest Rick Griffin items ever created.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-HENDRIX-GRIFFIN-EYEBALL-PSYCHEDELIC-MIRROR-POSTER-/310218491291?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483a76859b
Am seeking web site to place some of my Rick Griffin lore already written. His life is important enough to be documented properly for future generations.
Perception if Reality.
It hurt not to have the unpublished RG art I have here, including the huge air brushed sign above the gallery double wide door entrance, which would have looked cool in Laguna Beach. Must be 14 feet across. At least the gallery was mentioned in some foot note in the back of the book.
Cut through some of the legend and tell the simple truth of his path along the quest for truth in life. he read his bible, he also threw the I Ching and the Hopi Indian motifs were there for a reason as well. From Michelangelo to Harvey Kurtzman. Rick took it all in.
I have no bones to pick, no axes to grind, nothing to justify, merely a simple documentation of the facts with the hind sight of 20 years to formulate the proper vision. And I am going into a lot of depth that such a tale needs. Mostly from early 1988 thru Aug 1991 and beyond. Have any suggestions?
Thanks Robert for your narrative. Almost like being there.
I like to think that my Surfer’s Guide To Costa Rica cover would give Rick a chuckle. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words. Where does one see your Costa Rica Guide?
Hey Robert, I also look forward to your book on Griffin. I love the personal stories as they make him more of a real person for those of us that never got a chance to meet him. In 1964 as a young artistic 14 year old, the Murf The Surf strip in Surfer magazine became my first art teacher. 50 some odd years later Ricks style has stayed with me. Stylizations that have been pleasantly burned into my cerebral hard drive.
The Surfer’s guide To Costa Rica can be seen online by Goggling or picked up in most surf shops.
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Remember that quote you hear all the time “There is nothing new under the sun” ?? (Ecclesiastes 1:9-14 NIV “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”)
All artists are influenced by other artists – we became inspired to create by what we had seen created! How can that not affect our work?
I am heavily influenced by Warhol’s quad style pop art, Walt Disney and Salvador Dali as well as the cartoon style rock art of the sixties (think Blue Meanies). You betcha I’m going to create art that looks like a combination of these styles – it’s what I like!
Of course, you probably will never see me draw Mickey Mouse with his ears melting down his head while he rides a yellow submarine. . . .
Griffin inspired many artists. I am glad that his influence lives on..The vibrant colors and hard lines are awesome. Drews art is clearly his own just as Ricks art is his own. They share the same flavor but clearly express their own individual ideas. Mc Donalds and Jack in the Box both make hamburgers. They are knocking off someone elses idea in their own original way..
i grew up surfing in the 60’s and looked forward to receiving a copy of surfer magazine each month and i remember seeing rick griffin’s work on a regular basis. tonight there was an email from drew brophy art schools and i saw the beautiful, inspirational painting “sunrise” and i immediately thought of rick griffin.
because of that, i don’t think it is accurate to say none of mr brophy’s paintings uses rick griffin’s style
also, when i first saw “sunrise” it was small and i thought there was a cross on the beach and that seemed like a nice touch given that so much of the surf world is in the gutter and i hope mr brophy will seek to include elements of the christian life in his work… heaven knows how much surfers need that influence and inspiration!
take care and best wishes
When I first saw Drew’s work I thought it was Ricks before I noticed Drew’s name attached to it,I’d say Drew’s work is definitely more than just being influenced by Rick .
If Rick was alive when Drew started this style of painting I think he would have had a quiet word,it is just to much the same with all the little quirky symbols,shapes and designs Rick conjured up, but I guess the fact that he is not here you can get away with justifying it by saying he is just an influencer and not the guy who actually developed this unique style.
The only difference is that Rick didn’t use Posca’s