High-octane hula horrors
Low-brow arteest Dirty Donny eats Chevys for breakfast
by JOHNSON CUMMINS
Local artist Dirty Donny (known to his tax accountant as Donny Gillies) has been exploding all over the rock 'n' roll art scene. Donny's artwork is kind of like a cross between the bygone days of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's hot-rod hooliganism and early-'70s Saturday-morning cartoons.
His childhood fascinations with Lon Chaney movies and hot-rod art with brilliant chrome and oversized stick shifts has never left him: one gander inside his house and you'll agree that Donny knows what he likes. The place is floor-to-ceiling Rat Fink model kits, monster posters and tiki paraphernalia. Jumpin' jiminy, the guy has even dedicated his entire back to a Frankenstein tattoo.
If you have ever walked inside Jailhouse Rock Café, chances are you have come across Donny's two murals there. More recently, he has done artwork for such bands as Electric Frankenstein, the Black Halos, Supersuckers, the Lazy Cowgirls and labels like American indie giants Victory, Junk, Caroline, Devil Doll and more. "If I'm not inspired by something then I don't do it. I'm into rock 'n' roll, monsters and hot rods, so that's what I paint."
His work has appeared in art rags like Juxtapoz and Tattoo Illustrated and he's currently planning to do illustrations for hot-rod/punk-rock magazines Gearhead and Hot Rod Deluxe. His work has also appeared in galleries in New York and Los Angeles, and he'll be included in the next Taboo Tu: the Art of Tiki book. This year he plans on branching out to pinstriping cars. If you want to peep more of Donny's art you can go to www.dirtydonny.com.
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