The Monster Engine

May 14, 2008 2:10 AM

What would a child's drawing look like if it were painted realistically? Dave Devrie aims to find out, starting with Monsters and Superheroes.

I liked this unusual interpretation of the Crucifixion, and this blue freak. I'm not sure what Devrie means by 'realistically'.

posted by jack_mo (19 comments total)

That. Is. So. Cool.
posted by Nattie at 2:18 AM on May 14, 2008

These are wicked good, thanks!
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:25 AM on May 14, 2008

See also: this project by Yeon Doo Jung which did something similar through photography.
posted by creeky at 2:29 AM on May 14, 2008

So faithfully figured, cool. You get a sense of Dave's hands being so good that it's just a helluva lot of fun to do. But you have to wonder if the kids, shown the rendering, don't go 'NO!! NO NO NO!'
posted by toma at 3:01 AM on May 14, 2008

"randy lay there like a slug. it was his only defense."
posted by CitizenD at 3:10 AM on May 14, 2008

I don't think these drawings are really painted any more "realistically" than the original children's drawings. He just seems to keep the central features more or less intact but translate the primitive style into more of a Pixar style (not that it's not impressive). In fact, making the drawings "realistic" would probably be a lot more interesting, but often undefinable...how do you make a square face, with no features other than the outlines of eyes and a mouth, look "realistic"? Maybe you could stretch out a photograph of a real face to make it fit the dimensions...
posted by creasy boy at 3:14 AM on May 14, 2008 [1 favorite]

But you have to wonder if the kids, shown the rendering, don't go 'NO!! NO NO NO!'

There's an interview with one kid buried deep in the site.
posted by jack_mo at 3:30 AM on May 14, 2008

Sorta agree with creasy_boy. While Devrie's art is great to look at (some much more than others), the theme comes from those imaginative drawings from the kids. By realistically I think he probably implied professionally.
posted by neetij at 3:32 AM on May 14, 2008

These are great, and that interview jack_mo linked to is hilarious.
posted by umbú at 3:36 AM on May 14, 2008

I could have sworn we'd seen this before. Maybe I'm crazy.

Regardless, I really do like the idea, and I hadn't seen the interview with the kid before. I love how he alternates between not really having an answer ("Umm, he probably got them from an elf." -- which, might I note, is going to be my default response to most applicable questions fro a few days) and having some elaborate explanation already in mind. That monster is more badass than I at first gave him credit for.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 3:59 AM on May 14, 2008

I liked this unusual interpretation of the Crucifixion,

I like the kid's version better: Christ as a scarecrow fooling all of the stupid birds who believe him to be real.

That kid's got it figured out. The artist didn't come close to getting it right.
posted by three blind mice at 4:01 AM on May 14, 2008

See also: this project by Yeon Doo Jung which did something similar through photography.

and Al Jaffee did the same thing with toys in Mad Magazine during the 60s.
posted by bunnytricks at 4:01 AM on May 14, 2008

previously
posted by marxchivist at 4:22 AM on May 14, 2008

seen this before and it was pretty boring the first time. Have you people ever actually been to an art gallery?
posted by mary8nne at 4:27 AM on May 14, 2008

previously

Damn, my first double. Weird that the previous post didn't show up when I searched for the URL, nor when I previewed the post.

Have you people ever actually been to an art gallery?

Sheesh. Yes, I go to art galleries pretty much every day. In fact I'm willing to bet actual money that I see more art in a month than you do all year. All of which is completely irrelevant - this is just a bit of fun!
posted by jack_mo at 5:16 AM on May 14, 2008 [1 favorite]

I can spell, do math and run faster than your kids.
posted by Human Flesh at 5:24 AM on May 14, 2008

this is just a bit of fun!

You'll have to excuse mary8nne, she's been complaining and whining continually for six years.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 6:10 AM on May 14, 2008

Jesus wow, mary8nne... pleasant posts.
posted by Edgewise at 6:19 AM on May 14, 2008

seen this before and it was pretty boring the first time. Have you people ever actually been to an art gallery?

From what little I do know of him, i seem to remember that Jackmo works as a Janitor for the Glasgow Arts Centre Kelvinside, so he practically lives in an art gallery.

bet you're embarrassed now, Mary !
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:22 AM on May 14, 2008