The blob of paint ended up looking like a shrunken head. Student David Gustlin (now a faculty member) looked at that shrunken head shape and sketched the guy that he imagined it belonged to.
A myth was born.
The art students at San Jose State University knew they had the perfect mascot for their campus organization. They called it the Shrunkenheadman Club.
The Shrunkenheadman Club was formed in 1995 to to create a sense of community among students in animation and illustration. The club arranges for figure drawing sessions, visiting lecturers, and an annual costumed draw-off known as “D-Day.”
They sponsored me to give my Color and Light lecture a few weeks ago in October. That’s me and my buddy John Fleskes standing out in front of the school.
The students at SJSU ordered 65 copies of Color and Light, which I signed for them today and put in the mail. To make the books extra special, I made a custom rubber stamp using the club mascot. The stamp is made from craft foam glued to a wood block, and then stamped using a rainbow-colored pigment stamp pad.
If another art school, game company, or movie studio would like to put together an order for 40 or more books, I’ll be glad to come up with something equally customized.
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Shrunkenheadman history / Official site
Shrunkenheadman program
Ordering signed "Color and Light"books from the Dinotopia Store
Previously on GJ: San Jose State University Art Program.
John Fleskes blog
