This web site is a collection of new and old creative work, snapshots, paint journals, recorded memories, irretrievable lullabies, consternating excavations and cathartic distractions. My name is Dan Schmidt.
© Me. Don't steal. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask.
My buddy Brendan found this goodie when he was cleaning house. This is from 1998, I believe, one of the first (only?) “published” illustrations I ever did, for the campus magazine at Kent State. It’s all right there. Not much has changed in aesthetic. Could have been ripped from a page in my paint journals.
Neil Young. Fulfilled a longtime request from Jon. Feel as though I am getting closer the capturing on canvas the looseness of the paint journal work. Happy with how this turned out.
Sketchbook to photoshop exercise. Based on a photo in a magazine article about the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Good Job, which I have never seen.
From the basement archives, destroyed by water damage. Quick exercise of acrylic on corrugated cardboard.
The bastards at the bar. I think this was my earliest (and favorite-est?) concept for the Stairs and Elevators cover. I was just contacted last week by Fat Possum to hand write the lyrics from the album for the new vinyl edition.
Close up of Memphis Slim painting I did for Will to give to inspirational Dr. Lemming. I did two paintings at once, mini-Warhol factory style, and and giving him the best of the two. I find this is a liberating way to work.
This is one of the oldest things I have posted here, probably from 1996 or so. It is from one of my painting classes and is a close-up study of this little miniature elephant I got in high school. You might say I had a thing for elephants. I guess I still do, though it is not an obsession. But the beauty of the pattern and fact that you really can’t tell what it is makes it one of my favorites. I was digging through some old paintings when I was clearing an area in the basement to paint. Perhaps someday this would be a good candidate for framing.
Look familiar? I feel like I could do a hundred of these and love every minute (that would actually be a good artisty sort of exercise). Feels good to take the brushes and canvas for a spin. Starting off with a back-to-basics, go-with-what-you-know sort of warm-up. Been awhile. Thanks, Mikey.
Another old one from, this from 1996 or 97. It’s Jay Farrar, he of Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo fame. Go listen to “Chickamauga.” Seriously, I’ll wait. I’ve been meaning to send this off to an Uncle fan site. The block of black with the line turned out to be an early indicator of a style I ended up sticking with.
Where I lived at the end of my Kent State days. With Jason, Bill, Brendan, and at times Clayton (he stank). And Tracy (she was hot). And Steven? (her boyfriend) And kinda Dana (my girlfriend, visiting a lot). A total dump.
