Acrylic Paintings

Meaning Behind Work

Dustin Rigg. Alone. 2001. acrylic on canvas. 24"x30". all one image

"Alone" was done as a final project at Gavilan Community College in creative art with Professor R2ROW Rosette. During this time, I was at a state of mind of surpassing each art project I did. Each piece had to be better than the last one. The final project had to surpass anything I did. So i thought of a metaphorical piece of how the class surpassed on their own. As you see here, I made the piece glow in the dark representing us going above our skill in art. I played Ozzy in the background with the lights off, so the class can soak their thoughts into the piece. The funny thing is.. as the lights were off students slowly waved their lighters back and forth while the music played. After, I had a standing applause it was a great feeling for me to feel. The following students that had to present after me, refused to go, or had to make a comment that theirs wasn't as great as mine. I simply shook my head and said, "It's just art, nothing more. We are all equally creative and have to find our niche in life."

Dustin Rigg. Diversity. 2002. acrylic on canvas. 18"x24". all one image

Diversity comes in many colors, stereotypes, and society. This piece represents Everybody as one form. A "form" free from lies, stereotypes, and hurtful comments. This is how I see our future if we all take it seriously. In the dark, Their are three forms that can be seen. The one in bright color simply says, "Through thick and thin, these color run strong in our society." The other image as a glowing silhouette is our society under the negative destructive world. Not so pleasant to look at huh?

Dustin Rigg. Interests. 2008. acrylic on canvas/ mix meadia. 18"x24" all one image

"Interests" is a unique piece. I got the idea from a Japanese piece (can't remember where tho). The four pieces are four interests I have in life. Clockwise Top is "Religion" There is a picture of me kissing Amanda. She is my bible, as long as she smiles my world is ok. I also placed Tibetan prayer flags next to our picture kissing. I am a big believer in Diversity, Religion, and Family. I am open to a lot of things... one has to be, to understand what is around them. I do my best to open my mind to new cuisines, and cultures. The next one is "Music." I got to be honest music soothes the soul. The musicians I included are John Lennon, Bob Marley, Aerosmith, and Styx. Sorry girls, I would of added Janis Jopplin, Alanis Morsette, but I didn't have any of them to put in the collage. Below is "History." I used a 1950's Journal magizine. I had a laugh looking through this, and its era. This magizine had only caucasian women (no men, or any other ethnic color) posing in the ads. Looking in todays society, I could never imagine this generation getting to this point. The last piece is "Art." I love anime (Hayao M), video games, and anything involving art! The piece can also be seen in the dark. This image in the dark represents how my life would be if you take away my interests. I would be staring at the sun until the day I die.

Dustin Rigg. Pipe Dreams. 2008. acrylic on canvas. 18"x24". all one image

"Pipe Dreams" is a reflection of those phrases we hear all the time. ever here this diddy, "Man I should start my own..(fill in the blank)." Personally, I hear these sayings all the time when I'm at a friends house, or drinking coffee an over hearing another conversation from a social group. The first image has a steamy little creature on top of the coffee mug mentally taunting (daring) that "I should" person. The second image is that same person running the idea in their head, and thinking of start up costs, location, materials, etc. the third image is the give up stage when they know their idea is a "pipe dream" their either lazy, or can't come up with the means to make that dream a reality.

 

Dustin Rigg. Let it Blind Me. 2008. acrylic on canvas. 18"x24" all one image

 

Photographs

 

Meaning Behind Work

New Dustin Rigg. End of Days. Spring 2008. Digital Photo. 8"x10"

This photo was taken outside my job the week of 05.19.08. I was alone, outside, and in the parking lot in Seaside, Ca. I looked up into the sky and saw a red sun. I thought to myself, "Now, I've seen a orange moon, but a red sun? This is a Little creepy!" The digital camera was unable to capture the blood red with-in the sun, only it's thick halo. It lit up the clouds red. Parents dropping off their kids to daycare agreed with me that this looks like an opening scene to the apocalypse. A father smiled as he walked passed me and said, "See you around." I smiled back and replied, "Maybe?" I thought to myself, if this were "End of Days," I would like to be with my wife for the seconds we had left in this world. I found later in the day the fires in Fort Ord, Ca were the cause of this distortion.

Dustin Rigg. Hakone. 2001. black and white print

This piece was taken at Hakone gardens in Saratoga, Ca. It is a Japanese Garden located in the hills. If I ever became so stressed, I go there to think. The gardens is wonderful it has a bamboo forest, a coi pond with dancing turtles that do side stands (no joke), weddings, and tea ceremonies where I took this picture. I can really empty out my thoughts when I'm here.

Dustin Rigg.Thirsty Past. 2001. black and white print

Dustin Rigg. Prunedale. 2001. black and white print

This is a picture of an old fire truck I took that was up the road from the old house I use to live in at Prunedale, Ca. My wicked mean in-laws own the property their, and didn't do much to clean up the area. They will leave everything sit well beyond it's rusty years. What a poor way to live for anything in these parts.

Dustin Rigg. In Charge. 2001. black and white print

"In Charge" was a humorous thought I had before I took this piece in Prunedale. I imagined what it would be like if I was a giant and telephone poles were the size of toothpicks. I would squash the hell out of those money grubbing in-laws, so my family could live in peace,lol.

Dustin Rigg. Awake. 2007. color print

Amanda and I were having a picnic in Big Sur on day. we went for a hike with our old dog Sam, ate and took a nap on the beach. it was a hot summer (and windy) so we hid underneath the blankets so we wouldn't get burnt. There I noticed Amanda looked so peaceful here, and I had to grab a picture. That was a good day.

Dustin Rigg. Coasting. 2007. color print

I really admire coi, and any other fish that can swim. They make really make this look easy! I look like a polar bear in the pool. No matter how hard I kick, I'm not going any where,lol. This picture was taking next to "Happy Hollow" in San Jose. You are allowed to feed these guys food pellets, and man do they race towards ya by the billions. When their all their it looks like an under water painting in motion.

Dustin Rigg. Cut a Deal. 2007. color print

Not to long ago, Amanda and I lived with our aunt in Watsonville next to an animal ranch. The horses are not treated bad, but they hang goats up by the hooves, and gut them as your driving by. I heard this from my uncle and didn't believe it. A few days before we moved out, Amanda and I were driving by and sure enough I experienced what my uncle told me. It made amanda and I really sick to our stomachs. So.. when I see this guy I feel bad for him, it's like he's starving for attention.

Dustin Rigg. Dangerous Door. 2006. color print

Dustin Rigg. Innocent. 2006. classic print

Sam was our old dog. She was really mans best friend (my best friend, and sister). I never once had to put a leash on her. Since day one, she always stayed by my side. This picture was taken at Phiefer Beach in Big Sur. Boy was she tired she slept all the way back to the house. Shortly after, we found out she had sugar diabetes and a huge tumor. Amanda, the family, and I fell apart. I still miss her to this day! We all miss you Sam!!!

Dustin Rigg. Monkey See Monkey Do. 2006. color print

This was also taken in Watsonville, Ca next to my aunts house at the animal farm. This was the first time I saw furry cows. I mean really really long hair cows! These two were a trip to look at! The funny thing was the baby would mimic the mother and follow her where ever she would go...wierd.

Dustin Rigg. Mora. 2004. color print

One of my favorite pictures. I was a junior at CSUMB doing volunteer work at the Maritime Museum in Monterey, Ca. I was using my 30 hours of community service to help build the Jo Mora exhibit starting in the next two weeks. I heard he was a great artist. He did illustrations, cartoons, and statue work. This piece is called poppy girl. The director of the museum said she liked this photo I took. The reason being is that If you look behind this statue you'll see Jo Mora posing in the back ground with the same statue. Cool huh?

Dustin Rigg. Moss Landing. 2007. color print

I took this color photograph in Moss Landing, CA. I love and hate this picture! I love it because the boats are so uniform, and perfectly lined up together. I also hate this picture because it is a bunch of toys floating in the water for corporate kids to play with when their life gets to hard at the office. I really only saw a couple of commercial fishing boats out there.

Dustin Rigg. Oblivious. 2007. color print

"Oblivious" was taken on a beach outside Castroville, CA. I was walking the beach while I was watching Sand Pipers in search of sand crabs. A heard of them flew away as they felt my presence, all but this one didn't seem to notice me, or the wave that was about to hit it. I looked at this bird and thought of it as those people that are oblivious to the world around them.

Dustin Rigg. The Rock. 2007. color print

The rock was taken in the mountains of Santa Maria, near my dad's telescope he looks through and works on for a NASA division. He loves to hike, and he showed me the coolest rock formations around the site. Another telescope he works on is surrounded by a hill side that has crystal ores. Their not that hard to find, but I can think of other things to do that are better than that.

Dustin Rigg. Sammy. 2006. color print

Here's Sam again. She usually got what she wanted with those big brown eyes. I walked her all over the place: Through my grandma's orchard, the dirt track around the house, chased her in the front yard. Boy, did she like to dig huge holes looking for those gofers, and she always wanted me to watch her,lol. My mom got so mad when I let Sam dig those holes. She would dig a hole4 ft deep some times,lol. God I miss her.

Dustin Rigg. Speed Demon. 2007. color print

My Favorite car from the Santa Maria car show my dad, Amanda, and I went to. I found out not to long ago, my dad became deathly ill, and I came down there to spend a week with him. before this, we got into a big fight and didn't talk for close to ten years. When we came to visit, we apologized to one another for being stupid. He said he was sorry for not being there for me and that he was to young to have a child, and he wasn't a ware how mentally and physically bad it was when I was a kid, he really wish he knew what happened to me back then. This ended being a very good/ bad day for me.

Dustin Rigg. the Classics . 2007. color print

Another one of my favorite classics from the car show. My dad spent hours here taking pictures of every single car. It drove Amanda and I nuts. Then he would have a talk with each of the car owners about that particular car! I called my step-mom and told her that he won't leave, and she talked to my dad on the phone saying that they have guests coming over to the house in 10 minutes. This was a great lying tactic to get us out of there quick... thanks mom!! lol

 

Ceramic

 

Meaning Behind Work

Dustin Rigg. Duck Mask. circa 2001. recycle clay/ glazed

Dustin Rigg. Goblin King Mask. circa 2001. recycled clay/ raku/ horsehair firing

Dustin Rigg. Horse Hair Mask. circa 2001. recycled clay/ raku/ horse hair firing

This mask was the first done from this series. I was trying to make a mask which represented Easter Island. I really do love the those statue designs from that island. There is still so much mystery to those things, and their really huge too. I decided to burn horse hair into this piece, and raku part of one side to give it some personality.

Dustin Rigg. Egyptian Bird. circa 2001. recycled clay/ horse hair firing

For some urge, my hands needed to make a bird. I studied designs from Egyptian early years and blended it into this art piece. I also burned horse hair into the sculpture. The funny thing about horse hair is that no one has control over how it is burned into the piece. What was really cool was that I some how burned a unique design in the forehead of the bird. I'm not sure if it is visible in this picture or not?

Dustin Rigg. Raku. circa 2001. raku firing

I know I wasn't trying to make an ash tray in this design, but I did want to make a sculpture none the less.I wanted spikes on the top and the sides. The spikes had to be perfectly spaced and shaped the same. My instructor introduced me to Raku firing the very first time, and insisted I do this technique on this piece. I said, "ok."

Dustin Rigg. Pandora's Box. circa 2001. recycled clay/ popcycle glaze

One of our projects in ceramic class was to make some type of jar. I wanted to make a pandora's box, but add a humorous approach to it. So i did and I slapped on a popscicle glaze over it.

 

Mixed Mediums

 

Meaning Behind Work

This is probably one of my favorite pieces I have made. Drawing cartoons are my favorite art form to draw when speaking to the viewer as a metaphor. When I was attending college, I worked a lot of cashiering jobs in a painful retail environment. Upper management didn't care to much for my kind. They gave customers and cashiers fake warm smiles, and crystal promises as an excuse to get back to their comfortable desks trying to think how they can advance more in their career. These jobs reminded me of being Alice in Wonderland. Hence, my distorted version of retail as a Wonderland theme.

NEW Dustin Rigg. Hendrix. Spring 2008. Metaphorical Art. 8"x10"

As I was growing up, I've been surrounded by music. On car trips, my mom listened to an oldies station as she listened to when she was in high school in the 70's. My family in Michigan told me my dad did a life size painting of JIMI HENDRIX when he was a teenager. A few of my friends in high school were into a lot of weed and listened to Hendrix. I have always heard him on the radio as well during long driving trips, and in movies. Some how my life is linked to his music? He was a great song writer. His melodies rocked future generations. How did such a talent (like him) lead to a drug overdose? I used different cloud effects to simulate how he died. To show the viewers that he was one of the great thinkers in music, I wrote the lyrics to "Foxy Lady" and "Purple Haze" (my two favorite songs) into his hair.

NEW Dustin Rigg. Joplin. Spring 2008. Metaphorical Art. 8"x10"

NEW Dustin Rigg. Life is a Blank Polaroid. Spring 2008. Digital Collage. 8"x10"

This piece is focused around people that call them selves "EMO." I researched emo girls on GOOGLE when designing this piece. I find it funny that teenagers have to create these odd trends to get attention. First we were greasers, than hippies, followed by gothic teens, and now the emo generation (short for EMOtional). In the end, individuals need to find that thing in life that makes them happy, which brings us to this piece, "Life is a Blank Polaroid." To an EMO their Polaroid is a blank pea green meaningless world. "I love art," is my polaroid. What does your Polaroid say?

NEW Dustin Rigg. Mother Teresa. Spring 2008. Metaphorical Art

I recently taught students an art project called "Community Squares," at an elementary level. I heald a disscussion with the class on what it means to them to be in a community, wether it means being in a school, neighborhood, or in a city setting. Next, I told them the meaning to warm and cool colors, and how colors are proven to represent emotions. For the art project, I drew a huge puppy dog face on poster board and cut them up into 15 squares. Each square represented a person in society, and the students learned when you get a community together you can make something really big. They want to do this project again next year,lol. I decided to one myself for an art exhibit, and Mother Teresa popped in my head. She dedicated her life to helping society that are less fortunate than her. She helped the poor in India, started centers for patients with Leprosy, and excepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the "Poorest of the Poor." She did what she did to help those in need, unlike the celebrities in Hollywood that do it for popularity! Mother Teresa truly represents "ALL" colors and I am proud to have her included as an art piece!

Dustin Rigg. Circle. circa 2002. Acrylic paint on Bristol board

For an art project, I had to use two colors (one warm/ one cool). Next we had to take two shapes ( circle in this case) cut out a design. I accidentally made a husky person out of my circle. can you see the head, arms, and feet in this image,lol?

Dustin Rigg. Square. circa 2001. Acrylic paint on Bristol board

This is the same as the "CIRCLE" piece above, but with a square. It took me hours to find what I could use all these pieces for. Finally I got the pieces to look like a spider.

Dustin Rigg. Demon and Angel. circa 2001. Color pencils on Bristol board

This was an art piece where I used every color penciled I had to make a demon as a angel. A lot of line were brought together to form this shape. I feel that it is a metaphorical piece on a misunderstood soul searching for ones purpose in life.

Dustin Rigg. Dragon. circa 2001. ink on Bristol board

"Dragon" was a difficult piece to create. It took a lot of patience to draw, because it is formed only using tiny straight lines. Since I picked such a hard task to do, I decided to do it on something I love... dragons.

Dustin Rigg. Taste 3D. circa 2001. prism markers/ colored pencils/ found objects

In a art class at Gavilan College, we had an unusual assignment. We had to combine a 2D piece with a 3D object. I formed a click with a bunch of girls. One of them was really cool (who is now a goldrush cheerleader for the 49ers) and I decided to draw her 2D and drinking a 3D pepsi can through a straw. She loved it she said she was never a cartoon before.

Dustin Rigg. Thinking. circa 2001. ink on Bristol board/ found objects

I don't have the original piece but I made this replica in its place. I was at Gavilan Community College when 911 hit that day. The school closed for the week. When we came back the week after. Professor Arturo Rosette was shaking about 911 that he had us do an art project about the incident. we had two weeks to come up with an idea. As the presentation came we hung up all our art. The whole room was filled with unique flags and in the center was mine. A giant acrylic painting of a purple monster taking a dump on the toilet reading the newspaper,lol. Rosette V-lined straight to mine tilted his head and said "Huh?" after half of the kids presented it was my turn. I heard giggles in the back ground as I walked up to present. no one really knew what to think of this piece. Rosette gritted his teeth and and ask to explain it. I said it was a acrylic, popup painting of 911. The monster woke up and had to use the bathroom the next morning. There was a red arrow on the right side of the canvas that you pulled and out came the monsters son asking him, "Are we flying to Disneyland?" Last, I pulled another red arrow on the top left corner of the canvas which had the monster dad saying, "No apparently hijackers found out they can use planes as bombs!" The class laughed, and Professor Arturo said maybe timing on humor is a little off (in a serious voice). A few years later, I met up with Arturo to complete my thesis in college. Arturo said, "Hey I remember some of the stuff you did in my class! do you still have that 911 monster painting? Man that was my favorite, it was really hilarious!"