Dakota Cates (aka Wizard of Barge) is just one of my most loved artists I’ve found out as a result of social media. Like most dopamine-craving humans, I shell out as well much time staring into the digital void nevertheless, when my incessant scrolling benefits me with WOB’s artwork, I’m often happy I went on the endorphin hunt. Amusing, poignant, wonderful, and at times a bit crass, Dakota’s strange world of wondrous wizards and wacky creatures by no means fails to thrust absent the storm clouds of the modern malaise. I took a mystic journey into his DMs not long ago and we kicked again a six-pack of issues.
Michael Sieben: How did you appear up with the name Wizard of Barge? Did you contemplate any other names just before landing on that?
Wizard of Barge: I just adore fantasy and wizards, and “Barge” was the fight cry from my skate crew back in Houston. Like, if you are worried to try out something—just barge it, guy! I had no notion it would stop up being my artist moniker right until it was way also late to select a considerably less-perplexing name. Oops!
Your art has a rather upbeat tone. Does anything bum you out?
I’m sure I get bummed just as a lot as any one else, but which is precisely why I like to inject positivity and humor into my art—to fight the shitty chaos lords that wreak havoc on our lives. It’s variety of a reminder to myself to not get it all so seriously and just get pleasure from the ride. You can find plenty of bummer things to seem at out there with no me cloggin’ up your eyeholes.
When you had been developing your unique illustration design and style, who had been some artists that influenced you?
I received into art from skateboarding, so you ended up in fact a major affect on me early on, together with folks like Ed Templeton and Neckface. I also fell in adore with a ton of fantasy artists like Skinner, Moebius, Frazetta, and genuinely anyone drawing wacky creatures.
If you could function on a project with an endless budget, what would you conjure up?
I grew up on cartoons, so that’s possibly at the leading of the bucket record for me correct now. I would love to make a whole universe all around my characters and see what they are up to on any offered day: Comply with some goblins close to as they pull pranks in a dungeon, notice some doorway-to-door cultists making an attempt to recruit some new customers prior to the end instances. You know, each day happenings in the Barge realm.
If you had a time device, what assistance would you give to the 12-calendar year-old model of by yourself?
Comply with your stoke! It is as well uncomplicated to see your aspiration occupation and believe, That does not come about to folks like me. It held me back from genuinely placing myself out there and likely for it until eventually I ditched that mindset. Oh, and will not belief farts!
Who would earn in a battle between Harry Potter and Gandalf?
Gandalf all day, male! He is combating armies of orcs and big demons when Harry is, uh… executing research?! And how are you likely to call your self a wizard devoid of a lengthy, magical beard? I imply, I really don’t have a single possibly, but that’s just since of genetics. Many thanks, Father!
Verify out much more of Dakota’s artwork on Instagram: @wizardofbarge or pay a visit to his website: wizardofbarge.com