Today we are pleased to bring you an interview from another great artist from the upcoming Assassin Series, here is the 16th installment of the CTU's interview series...

Presenting the CTU's Dirty Dozen featuring: ARDABUS RUBBER



1. What name do you go by and why?

In the real world, I go by Justin. But for my art I use Ardabus Rubber. The story of how I came up with it is a little involved, so here is the short version: I was watching the film “Fitzcarraldo” by Werner Herzog, where the main character is on a quest to “carry” a boat over some mountains and build an opera house in the amazon amidst some rubber trees. At the time I used the name for my solo noise music, which mirrored the ideas of the main character in Fitzcarraldo. I’ve since stopped making music and just kept the name, and I think it fits my style well.

2. Why did you get into custom toy making?

I started painting on 3” dunnys because I was unhappy with kidrobot’s artistic side of things, but I loved the platform of the dunny. I wanted more strange and abstract stuff, so I just started painting my own, for my collection. Now I’ll paint on just about anything.

3. What influences / motivates your work the most?

It probably sounds really cliché, but life in general is my biggest influence. I was born and raised on a farm in Maine, where everything is calm and boring… I moved to California and lived the second half of my life here, so the contrast of the two places has given me quite a lot to work with. My other major influences are Salvador Dali, Mike Patton, Ralph Steadman, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Paul Thomas Anderson and Mr. Bungle.



4. What is your favorite platform to work with?

As for toys, it’s gotta be the 10” labbit. One thick piece of vinyl, no articulation… classy. I prefer to remove the smork though. I also love painting on canvas, but I’ve been on a kick with the primed wood boards lately. They are awesome, and so smooth!

5. What tools of the trade do you use?

Robert Simmons Sapphire S51 Liner 10/0… this brush is my best friend. I use it for everything. I use Liquitex acrylic artist colors, mostly making my own mixtures with matte gesso, clear gesso, and/or flow aid. I also use India Ink for most of my line work, depending on what type of paint is under it. India ink doesn’t go over watercolor that well. For watercolors I use anything cheap with little to no pigment in it because it reacts to the gesso and the India ink in a weird way, almost like soap and oil.

6. Do you have any formal arts training?

Nope. I’m a firm believer that the wrong teacher can completely destroy someone’s creativity by teaching with opinion and not fact, so I’d rather teach myself the techniques and keep my imagination in tact rather then let my mind be subject to a biased art teacher who teaches me the theory of cubism or uses his favorite artist as an example whenever he can.



7. What other artistic mediums do you dabble in?

I’ve written a handful of screenplays. I just got back into making landscape models. But I spend all my time painting so anything else takes a back seat.


8. Who are your favorite artists?

Salvador Dali is basically it for me. I have an enormous amount of respect for all artists though, not just painters and designers. In my opinion, art is what's great about the world.

9. Who or what pieces do you collect?

I’m old school, I have LOTS of dunnys… mostly 3”ers. I also have LOTS of Kozik and Chueh, some Andrew Bell, some Peekaboo paintings, and a wall of canvas sketches from lots of different artsits. I painted for 10 years just to satisfy my own urges, so I have a lot of my own stuff on the walls. And of course some Dali.

10. What piece are you most proud of?

That’s a tough one. I’m usually most proud of whatever my newest piece is, but my all-around favorite vinyl piece is the Angry Clobber Monkey custom “Oleg”, and my favorite canvas is called “A Day Before The Circus Burned…”



11.Do you have any shows or exhibitions in the works?

Nope, but I’m open for anything! I don't get out much and I'm not very good at networking but I'm trying to get better. I've never tried to contact a gallery to get my work shown, but after almost 15 years of painting it's time

12. Do you take commissions?

Of course... my list is always open, but it's first-come-first-serve and is usually about 2 months long. Commissions are my favorite thing to do because it's more personal than just than selling an already created piece.

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The Custom Toy Union would like to thank Ardabus for his time and for sharing his work with us.

You can see more of Ardabus Rubber's work here:

http://www.ardabusrubber.com
http://www.ardabusrubber.bigcartel.com

Consistently great work man, love that Dunny.

Thanks for the opportunity to get inside your head a lil', Ardabus!

Mr. Bungle!!! Thats awesome.

You got an unique style, its something different. Keep up the great work.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!