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British Artist David Shrigley Shows Off His Dark Sense Of Humor In 44 Brilliant Illustrations
Visual art comes in all shapes and sizes. And while for many, a true work of art is something extremely detailed, colorful, that which speaks volumes with its expression, there are people who take a more minimal and straightforward approach to art.
And you know what? Both approaches are effective in conveying everything that art should convey.
David Shrigley is a UK-based visual artist who does the latter. Well, OK, saying his art is minimal and straightforward is pure understatement as it’s much more than that. It’s intricately simple and straight to the point with its mostly monochromatic, uncluttered, cartoony aesthetic and overall message literally written on the picture.
Bored Panda invites you take a deep dive into the visual art of David Shrigley. We’ve also got in touch with the artist for an interview, so be sure to read it while you scroll. And why not vote and leave a comment on the best ones with what you think about it!
More info: davidshrigley.com | Instagram | Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Niamh McVeigh 5 years ago
The artist is UK based, so it's probably about Boris Johnson. It totally applies to Trump as well, though.
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Jorge da Silva 5 years ago
David, when you drew this fantastic work, were you thinking of any country here in South America?
Truth Monster 5 years ago (edited)
Sometimes we need bastards. But most of the time and certainly not all the time. The problem is that the way the politicians get attention is by being bastards. If Trump had been a mild-mannered business man, he would have been quickly drowned out by stronger and more compelling voices in the RNC. But you wouldn't've liked them either. In the DNC Tulsi Gabbard, easily the best candidate in my opinion, was drowned out by the nutjobs who are easily as unhinged as Trump or worse. We're stuck with Biden the Hair Sniffer as a result and I think Trump, for good or ill, is going to win again because none of the DNC but Tulsi could have wooed away the middle ground.
Pusfarm 5 years ago
"...who are easily as unhinged as Trump or worse." Are you serious?? I know there are nutjobs in both parties, but Trump is far past the nutjob stage - light years past. The hinges, and doors, were blown off many years ago and he's sucking the oxygen out of the US as we nosedive toward the ground like a lawn dart.
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#2
Malicity D'Obscuro 5 years ago
And I scratch the heck out of you, when you get up to pee in the middle of the night....and your boots just add to the jumping and attacking fun, silly.
#3
Tiffany Marie 5 years ago
No.. There's just something new & equally sh*tty around the corner..
David doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics and expresses himself in a crude, but honest way. Swear words are no stranger to his art... unlike visual subtlety. Don’t be surprised to see images like a devil fornicating on the floor or pure nudity in his art.
It’s somewhat random, for a lack of better words, but it’s a good kind of random—a perceptive and defamiliarizing approach, one that keeps people coming back to explore topics or concepts not many necessarily think about. Parts of it are funny, others are sarcastic, yet others are critical. And it's best experienced individually.
Drawing is an integral part of who David is as a person. “Drawing makes me happy. Every day that I draw is a good day. I think that I always wanted to be an artist even before I knew that such a profession might be a possibility,” he told Bored Panda.
#4
Garth Robinson 5 years ago
..... it's the practice I can't Handle, Bach, Baithoveen, Wackmaninov !!
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#5
Meyer Weinstock 5 years ago
I notice no tea bag tabs...Kudos to knowing how to brew a pot of tea.
#6
kasa alex 5 years ago
When I was 5 a boy at pre-school had a mullet. I remember telling my mum how much I didn't like his mullet. She told me I should just stop looking at it if I didn't like it, but for some reason I could nevr stop looking at his mullet
Ilya Ditkovskiy 5 years ago
I don't blame you. Mullets are... Probably one of worst hair styles ever imo...
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Malicity D'Obscuro 5 years ago
Porn....thanks to the Conservative/Right Wing people, I found out about Bigfoot and Yeti Porn...as a kinky old cow, I am astounded the depths these fine folks can plunge into, for me to explore.
He went into detail about his artistic process: “I find that the best way to work is to try to fill a specific number of sheets of paper in a day. 30 seems to be a good number for me. I seem to have more success with drawing if I try to convince myself that I’m doing something other than making art,” he said.
“If I just think of my task as being to fill 30 sheets of paper then this seems to be a lot easier somehow,” he added.
David told Bored Panda that he discards a lot of the drawings that he does. He estimates that around 70 percent of his art doesn’t see the light of day.
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#8
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
I want to be my dog for an evening. At night he lays on his blanket and I cover him with another. He is literally in a blanket sandwich all night on our king size bed.
#9
“I like to think that everything has the potential to be art or garbage and it doesn’t matter which it is as long as the drawing in question is finished. Ideally, I like to put all the drawings I make away for a few weeks before I decide what gets kept. That way I can look at them with fresh eyes.”
He continued: “Another method of working that I have is to write a list of things to draw before I start; a tree, an elephant, a lorry, an orgy, etc. This gives each drawing a starting point. Once I have started, the drawing usually manages to get somewhere. I think the starting point is important for an artist. Once you’ve started the battle is half-won.”
#10
FurryManiac 5 years ago
ummmmmm, no its not it puts you at a higher risk for heart disease and causes type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. I understand some people carry extra pounds naturally, and there is no reason to be ashamed about this, but for most people it can be deadly.
#11
Damon Gates 5 years ago
Art isn't finished, it's abandoned. So the answer is "When you can't stand to work on it anymore!"
Night Owl 5 years ago
It really sucks being both a perfectionist and an artist
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Podunkus 5 years ago (edited)
When I studied watercolors under the tutelage of a local professional some years ago, this topic came up for group discussion. There was general consensus that one of the hardest things to learn was knowing when to stop in order to keep from overworking a piece. This was particularly apropos with watercolors where there are only a few subtractive techniques to get you out of trouble. Thankfully there’s lots of good software now to work out and rework your ideas electronically before committing to expensive physical media. So don’t be that guy in the picture who put in a lot of effort but still doesn’t seem to know what he wants.
Alexandra Ghobrial 5 years ago
what the.. this is like my art teacher to do this. and it looks like her...
Carolyn Taylor 5 years ago
Pay a friend to come over and tell you when to stop. Just put id down in your ledger along with brushes, canvas and paint expenses.
Laura Gastelum 5 years ago
I know my art is finished when I walk away for while because I don't know what else to do, and when I come back it's so much better than I remember. That's why I didn't know what else to do because it was finished
#12
Helen Haley 5 years ago
In the eye of the hurricane there is quiet. For just a moment....
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According to David, his artwork isn’t really about anything in particular. He said that certain themes might repeat themselves but it’s not something that he’s consciously aware of while he’s in the flow and drawing. “I guess, my work is mostly intuitive. You could say it was an elaborate form of doodling.”
The artist tends to use ink and brush or water-based marker pens for his elaborate doodles. “I try to work on a larger scale than the drawing might be reproduced at. Images reproduce better if they are scaled down from the original. I read that in a ‘How To Be A Cartoonist’ book. It was the only piece of information in there that was any use,” he quipped.
David also gave young artists a single piece of advice that he thinks will benefit them the most: “There are no rules. You can do whatever you want.”
#13
I I 5 years ago
mix in hair off 4 dogs and you'll soon be sorry for welcoming them when they EAT you
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Bob Belcher 5 years ago
It's funny because the majority of dust is dead skin cells. If it wasn't for us, there's be no dust.
Kelly Hartle 5 years ago
I’ve given up. After all, some of the dust may be someone’s grandmother.
Karin Gibson 5 years ago
We have Labrador fur bunnies. If I don't vacuum daily they take over the floors. We do brush the dogs daily too with a furminator. It gets worse the older they are.
Carolyn Taylor 5 years ago
I gave up long ago. Dust= Creativity. God used it(and spit) to make US.
Hannah Snashall 5 years ago
Or glitter. Ever tried getting rid of glitter in your house? Not just for Christmas, kids!
#14
#15
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
Until your bladder relaxes and you have to pee every 5 mi utes for the next two hours.
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#17
Carolyn Taylor 5 years ago
I can't think of anything right now, but that surely is an elegant drawing!
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Kitty the cat 3 years ago
Mez has to many of them and mez dont have time to take care of them and I think there getting mad at me😬
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SoozeeQ 5 years ago
Leonor, I'm not sure if you're querying the original post, or MsM's suggestion to serve it with corned beef. But if it's the latter - it's delicious. Throw in some potatoes as well, and it's divine! Just found this recipe online (I have no affiliation with the author, and have not actually tried this particular recipe yet, but it looks scrumptious). https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/corned-beef-cabbage-and-red-potato-hash-recipe/
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togcrewsc 5 years ago
For some reason after reading seven, I had flashbacks to the PACER test... idk y
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Margaret Duncum 5 years ago
Wow. That is really something. I will ponder this one deeply. Thank you.
#22
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
We all live in our own reality with our own truths and ideals. When someone tells you that your reality is fake or stupid, your subconscious reaction is to be defensive because you are being attacked. This is why sitting down and talking is a much better solution to name calling and yelling in a relationship.
#23
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#25
Podunkus 5 years ago
That’s because you’re pronouncing it wrong. It’s Wingardium leviOsa, not levioSA. Make the “gar” nice and long.
CAELYN MORALES 4 years ago
Ron, you are the most insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to meet.
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#29
Andrew Gibb 5 years ago
this is Adolf Hitler, as he leaves a little bit of growth over his top lip
#31
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
Ha! Damon, when I read your comment, I immediately thought of Gyro Gearloose from Disney's DuckTales, but now I can't find a picture of him in his propeller hat to post here.
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#32
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#36
Susan Weinberg 5 years ago
I think this is a quote from an Albert Camus book......not sure. Never sure.
#37
Mei-Xing Yang 4 years ago
I just squashed your guts open with a flyswatter. Hope you don't mind
Carolyn Taylor 5 years ago
You're welcome, but I'd like it a lot better if you wouldn't stick in that wee dram of anticoagulant! (Another elegant drawing, Honey!) t
#38
#39
Podunkus 5 years ago
Awwww, how could you not love that face? 183BA4E3-5...2-jpeg.jpg 
Lavender Wolfie (づ ◕‿◕ )づ 5 years ago
I never wear lipstick. Lip BALM, yes. No lipstick tho ┐(￣ヮ￣)┌
Carolyn Taylor 5 years ago
Not sure that will work, but people can tell if you've kissed a person.
#40
#41
#42
Lynsey Mooney 5 years ago (edited)
Who invited Nosferatu?? People know to never invite vampire into the party tut tut amateurs😏😏
#43
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Carrot dude 5 years ago
Something about these makes me want to go fall on a couch. Not sure what that means,
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago (edited)
Why, it's as if Wednesday Addams became an artist. Or perhaps Emily LeStrange.
Ilya Ditkovskiy 5 years ago
I mean I like the comics, but I don't find most of them actually to be dark humour. Idk, I was expecting something more I guess
Ilya Ditkovskiy 5 years ago
You don't have to describe yourself with your comments here
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Carrot dude 5 years ago
Something about these makes me want to go fall on a couch. Not sure what that means,
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago (edited)
Why, it's as if Wednesday Addams became an artist. Or perhaps Emily LeStrange.
Ilya Ditkovskiy 5 years ago
I mean I like the comics, but I don't find most of them actually to be dark humour. Idk, I was expecting something more I guess
Ilya Ditkovskiy 5 years ago
You don't have to describe yourself with your comments here
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