Hot Rod Cartoonist Article - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ToonMan · 03-10-2004, 03:53 AM

Get Your Ride 'Tooned' up with Automotive Artist Rob Butler
By Brent Simpson

Rob The ToonMan

One of the coolest things to go along with the Hot Rod world has always been Automotive Art. Especially the radical cartoons of Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth, or CAR Toons Magazine. One modern version of these two legends is Oregon Automotive Cartoonist Rob Butler. Rob has been drawing cartoons since he was in the fifth grade. He started out drawing Semi Trucks, Big Rigs of all configurations. It was obvious, even then, that Rob tended to exaggerate the drawing, stretch it, squish it, or shorten it. It still looked like what it was supposed to, but definitely a caricature of the truck.

Before long, the old car bug hit Rob, and his art went along for the ride. Rob’s parents had many classics and he would draw them. Once Rob bought his ‘56 Chevy Cameo the ball started rolling! Rob would draw the Cameo many different ways and then color them to help decide what color to paint the pickup. Rob went on to design a logo for his truck club’s jackets, and also illustrate their monthly newsletter.

In 1994 Rob was approached with his first ‘Professional’ job. Rob’s boss hooked him up with a guy, Bill, who was building a super trick ‘67 Nova for the Portland Roadster Show. He gave Rob 300 pictures of the car in various stages of build up and asked for 5 cartoons showing the work. Rob did the drawings, and Bill used them as his display at the show, where the Nova won Best in Show.

In 1996 Rob knew it was time to get more serious about his art, and he wanted a name to draw under. Since he’d been called Bigfoot since he was 11 (and he had size 14 feet) he thought he would follow that theme. After considering the possibilities, Sasquatch Artworks was born. Along with the new name, He wanted a company logo. So he drew a walking Bigfoot and placed it on his business cards, and later had it tattooed on his leg. Unbeknownst to him, this would open up a whole new line of customers! Bigfoot researchers saw his card art and asked if he could do more. Rob complied, drawing many Bigfoot cartoons, including a new character ‘Squatch’. Rob ended up illustrating Bigfoot newsletters from all over the US, and several books on the subject, as well as designing T Shirt logo’s for events. He also did an interview on local radio station KEX, and made an appearance in the TLC documentary ‘Sasquatch Odyssey’. Another feather in his cap was when his art was shown on the Travel Channel, and Discovery. He even ended up doing numerous window paintings for Oregon based comic book publisher Dark Horse Comics.

For as much as Rob loves drawing Bigfoot, his artistic heart lies with the Hot Rods. In the fall of 1999 Rob started drawing Classic Rides again. He drew friends cars, just for fun, but after 2 months had a 2 page spread in a national magazine, and soon others followed. The national exposure helped Rob immensely. He made friends with ChevyTrucks.org owner Wayne Osborne, who built the Sasquatch Artworks website. (www.chevytrucks.org/Squatch-Art) The site has brought Rob a great deal of work from all over the U.S. and Canada. Rob also made friends with New York Hot Rod legend Ed ‘Croozer’ Fitzgerald, who gave Rob the nickname that has stuck to this day. Rob, The ToonMan. A name which surely seems to fit!

One unique service Rob provides is to do a drawing of an unfinished vehicle, totally based on a description of what the owner wants it to look like when completed. In most cases, the drawing ends up hanging on the shop wall as an inspiration while the car is being built. A very neat thing for those building radical customs!

Today, the bulk of Rob’s work consists of drawing people’s rides for them, converting those drawing into professional style T shirt transfers, doing limited edition prints, event flyers, greeting cards, and working on two sets of new cartoon characters-Hot Rodders ‘Chuck & Arbee’, and Rob’s very own crew from the Star Trek universe.

If you are interested in having Rob do a cartoon of your favorite ride, contact him through his website.

www.chevytrucks.org/Squatch-Art

Grim Reaper · 03-11-2004, 12:37 PM

Cool Bio!
The link is dead.

8t5Silverado · 03-11-2004, 02:51 PM

That's cool.

I read that article when I got the mag.

I got a letter published in the same issue.

lofat · 03-11-2004, 06:49 PM

cool!

I need to think about talking to you soon. i'd love to get a caricature of my chrysler at some point.

apstguy · 03-12-2004, 12:59 AM

Woot woot! That is very cool to have your Bio in a car mag! Good job!

79BIG10 · 03-12-2004, 01:48 AM

WTG Rob!! Now we know what you've been doing- signing all the autographs LOL!!

ToonMan · 03-12-2004, 03:12 AM

Try this one!!! It will work!!!

http://www.chevytrucks.org/squatch-art/

Yes the Auto Art jobs are keeping me busy!!!! Publicity like this sure helps!!! Now everyone wants a toon of their ride and then an Iron on of it for a shirt for Cruise in season!!!!

Thanks for the kind words guys.....I appreciate it!!

drink2mny · 03-12-2004, 03:45 AM

Sweet..
Been to many car shows and always look for a someone to draw my '64 Olds 442 (check Sig)..
I'll be telling the wife and keeping your web address..
I would rather deal with someone on this board then some of the cocky guys I have business cards to..

Again your site with some of your drawings are sweet...

ToonMan · 03-13-2004, 01:53 AM

Here is another link to some of my Truck Art

http://www.73-87.com/7387_Novelties/Toons.htm

Just scroll down and you will se the section on me!!

ToonMan · 03-14-2004, 04:28 PM

...........AND HERE IS ONE MORE!!!!!!
http://groups.msn.com/ShadowsoftheNi...rt.msnw?Page=1

ENJOY!!!!!

03-10-2004, 03:53 AM	#1
ToonMan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 575	Hot Rod Cartoonist Article Get Your Ride 'Tooned' up with Automotive Artist Rob Butler By Brent Simpson Rob The ToonMan One of the coolest things to go along with the Hot Rod world has always been Automotive Art. Especially the radical cartoons of Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth, or CAR Toons Magazine. One modern version of these two legends is Oregon Automotive Cartoonist Rob Butler. Rob has been drawing cartoons since he was in the fifth grade. He started out drawing Semi Trucks, Big Rigs of all configurations. It was obvious, even then, that Rob tended to exaggerate the drawing, stretch it, squish it, or shorten it. It still looked like what it was supposed to, but definitely a caricature of the truck. Before long, the old car bug hit Rob, and his art went along for the ride. Rob’s parents had many classics and he would draw them. Once Rob bought his ‘56 Chevy Cameo the ball started rolling! Rob would draw the Cameo many different ways and then color them to help decide what color to paint the pickup. Rob went on to design a logo for his truck club’s jackets, and also illustrate their monthly newsletter. In 1994 Rob was approached with his first ‘Professional’ job. Rob’s boss hooked him up with a guy, Bill, who was building a super trick ‘67 Nova for the Portland Roadster Show. He gave Rob 300 pictures of the car in various stages of build up and asked for 5 cartoons showing the work. Rob did the drawings, and Bill used them as his display at the show, where the Nova won Best in Show. In 1996 Rob knew it was time to get more serious about his art, and he wanted a name to draw under. Since he’d been called Bigfoot since he was 11 (and he had size 14 feet) he thought he would follow that theme. After considering the possibilities, Sasquatch Artworks was born. Along with the new name, He wanted a company logo. So he drew a walking Bigfoot and placed it on his business cards, and later had it tattooed on his leg. Unbeknownst to him, this would open up a whole new line of customers! Bigfoot researchers saw his card art and asked if he could do more. Rob complied, drawing many Bigfoot cartoons, including a new character ‘Squatch’. Rob ended up illustrating Bigfoot newsletters from all over the US, and several books on the subject, as well as designing T Shirt logo’s for events. He also did an interview on local radio station KEX, and made an appearance in the TLC documentary ‘Sasquatch Odyssey’. Another feather in his cap was when his art was shown on the Travel Channel, and Discovery. He even ended up doing numerous window paintings for Oregon based comic book publisher Dark Horse Comics. For as much as Rob loves drawing Bigfoot, his artistic heart lies with the Hot Rods. In the fall of 1999 Rob started drawing Classic Rides again. He drew friends cars, just for fun, but after 2 months had a 2 page spread in a national magazine, and soon others followed. The national exposure helped Rob immensely. He made friends with ChevyTrucks.org owner Wayne Osborne, who built the Sasquatch Artworks website. (www.chevytrucks.org/Squatch-Art) The site has brought Rob a great deal of work from all over the U.S. and Canada. Rob also made friends with New York Hot Rod legend Ed ‘Croozer’ Fitzgerald, who gave Rob the nickname that has stuck to this day. Rob, The ToonMan. A name which surely seems to fit! One unique service Rob provides is to do a drawing of an unfinished vehicle, totally based on a description of what the owner wants it to look like when completed. In most cases, the drawing ends up hanging on the shop wall as an inspiration while the car is being built. A very neat thing for those building radical customs! Today, the bulk of Rob’s work consists of drawing people’s rides for them, converting those drawing into professional style T shirt transfers, doing limited edition prints, event flyers, greeting cards, and working on two sets of new cartoon characters-Hot Rodders ‘Chuck & Arbee’, and Rob’s very own crew from the Star Trek universe. If you are interested in having Rob do a cartoon of your favorite ride, contact him through his website. www.chevytrucks.org/Squatch-Art Attached Images __________________ Rob the ToonMan 56 Chevy Cameo----Custom, [Turquoise] 67 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside (Black & White) 63 Trailorboat-------Teardrop Style Trailer 69 Honda CM90

03-11-2004, 12:37 PM	#2
Grim Reaper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,704	Cool Bio! The link is dead. __________________ Grim-Reaper 70 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible, worlds longest resto in progress Looking for 71-72 2wd Blazer or Jimmy Project

03-11-2004, 02:51 PM	#3
8t5Silverado Mudslides 'r my specialty Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: STL Posts: 1,106	That's cool. I read that article when I got the mag. I got a letter published in the same issue. __________________ Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339

03-11-2004, 06:49 PM	#4
lofat Rollin' Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hayward, California Posts: 240	cool! I need to think about talking to you soon. i'd love to get a caricature of my chrysler at some point. __________________ :: 1977 C10 cheyenne :: :: 1973 new yorker brougham :: for sale - $1,500 lofat productions

03-12-2004, 12:59 AM	#5
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	Woot woot! That is very cool to have your Bio in a car mag! Good job! __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

03-12-2004, 01:48 AM	#6
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	WTG Rob!! Now we know what you've been doing- signing all the autographs LOL!! __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

03-12-2004, 03:12 AM	#7
ToonMan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 575	Try this one!!! It will work!!! http://www.chevytrucks.org/squatch-art/ Yes the Auto Art jobs are keeping me busy!!!! Publicity like this sure helps!!! Now everyone wants a toon of their ride and then an Iron on of it for a shirt for Cruise in season!!!! Thanks for the kind words guys.....I appreciate it!! Last edited by ToonMan; 03-12-2004 at 03:19 AM.

03-12-2004, 03:45 AM	#8
drink2mny Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: spokane wa Posts: 2,189	Sweet.. Been to many car shows and always look for a someone to draw my '64 Olds 442 (check Sig).. I'll be telling the wife and keeping your web address.. I would rather deal with someone on this board then some of the cocky guys I have business cards to.. Again your site with some of your drawings are sweet... __________________ Support The Board

03-13-2004, 01:53 AM	#9
ToonMan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 575	Here is another link to some of my Truck Art http://www.73-87.com/7387_Novelties/Toons.htm Just scroll down and you will se the section on me!! __________________ Rob the ToonMan 56 Chevy Cameo----Custom, [Turquoise] 67 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside (Black & White) 63 Trailorboat-------Teardrop Style Trailer 69 Honda CM90

03-14-2004, 04:28 PM	#10
ToonMan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 575	...........AND HERE IS ONE MORE!!!!!! http://groups.msn.com/ShadowsoftheNi...rt.msnw?Page=1 ENJOY!!!!! __________________ Rob the ToonMan 56 Chevy Cameo----Custom, [Turquoise] 67 Chevy C10 Short Fleetside (Black & White) 63 Trailorboat-------Teardrop Style Trailer 69 Honda CM90

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.