Des Moines

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icecreamcomicsfest : Poster design by Blair Gauntt

icecreamcomicsfest:

Poster design by Blair Gauntt

Rachel BuseFebruary 19, 2018

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Along with drawing, I also love to make music using FL Studio. I find it very enjoyable to experiment and mess around with different sounds and genres to try to make something new. FL Studio is pretty easy to learn, but in 5 years of using it almost daily, I haven’t felt like it has worn out its welcome. I pretty consistently upload what I’ve worked on to my SoundCloud if you wish to hear some of my music.
SoundCloud name: StandardParty

"Old Knights" and "Musician Kings"
Over the past year, I have been in the Concept Stage of a video game I am creating (with my brother on the coding side of things). I have recently entered into the Initial Design Stage-- bringing my concepts to life digitally (more on that soon). Here are concept drawings for two of the fifty enemies (including bosses) in the game. "Old Knights"- A ring of elder cannibalistic knights that have fused to their armor from heat. The jaw on their helmet is just for show, as they cannot feed. However, they still mime the act as if to relive the old days of their hunger. "Musician Kings"- When a musician becomes bloated with pride, they see none who can stand against them. They wear wigs and other follies to stand out from the dead, and all sound is washed from their minds. Then, the musician is dissatisfied even with his own limbs, and must have them replaced with the shiniest of chromed machines. With so much thought of vanity there is no place left for music, and the musician can see naught but himself anymore.

My game is set in a city floating in an abyssal underworld. You and up to three other friends play as recently departed warriors who have fallen to the city. There is a rumour that at the end of the city's dangerous labyrinth is a way to return to life, but many others still seek that same power. You must fight through the crazed and corrupted factions that now hold the labyrinth to make your escape.

“The Dark Descent”
I’m inspired by a lot of video games and the feelings they can invoke with suspension of disbelief.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the few games that I feel can invoke real horror, and I really wanted to capture the whole winding feeling in a drawing that shows the whole descent.
If you like the design, it can be found in the Redbubble link in my bio @standardparty

Gavin McAvaddy (@standardparty) is an emerging multimedia artist living in Des Moines, IA. Age 15, he’s spent the past 5 years working hard to establish a prolific art practice that combines writing, drawing, and music. His work is often a combination of anthropological details, organic decay, and mechanical elements. “I want to build cohesive worlds through conceptual design and set the tones through music,” he says.

He composes electronic music under the alias StandardParty on Soundcloud. He prefers classical, house, and ambient sounds - yet often challenges himself with new genres. If inspiration were a smoothie, Gavin’s would be an icy blend of David Attenborough narrated nature docs, a few scoops of the Machinarium soundtrack, a squeeze of Dark Souls, and a hefty sprinkle of ocean water.

Currently, he’s concepting and developing an independent video game (a rogue like dungeon crawl for those who are into gaming). He starts by writing and drawing out his concepts on paper then builds them in clay or as digitally sculpted 3-D Models.

His friends and family know him for his quick wit, storytelling and easy going vibe. Humor and levity are the driving forces, no matter how dreadful the subject matter may be. When asked about his approach to making art he replied, “I think it’s best to let your drawings weave stories without words and to always draw for fun.” #iowaarts #dsmusa #catchdesmoines

Forest for the Trees Number 54, on exhibit in the national juried exhibition “CLIMATE” at Michigan State University’s galleries until August 31st. #iowaartist #iowaart #encaustic #photoencaustic #environmentalart #landscapeart #womenartists #unocfam #scenemetrospace #artcanchangetheworld

This piece by Valerie Hegarty. #valeriehegarty #landscape #landscapeart #womenartists #artcanchangetheworld #landscapepainting #artistinspiration

Looking for a Iowa road trip? Head over to Oskaloosa Iowa and check out my joint exhibition at the Oskaloosa Art Center, there until July 31st! #iowaartists #iowaroadtrip #oskaloosa #oskaloosaartcenter #cyanotype #alternativephotography #unocfam #womenartists #shinetheory #russnordman

Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999. #womenartist #mother #artistinspiration #crystalbridges #learnandgrow #whyartmatters