Noted artists hit Hermosa Beach classroom
Artist Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins works with art student Parker Cunningham.
Hermosa Valley School teacher Robyn Alatorre aimed high when she looked for guest helpers for her eighth grade art class, and she came up with noted artists Bob Dob – a Valley School graduate — and Greg “Craola” Simkins.
“As a practicing artist, along with being a middle school art teacher, I follow the important art periodicals to keep up with who’s who. Upon reading an article about Bob Dob — one of my all-time favorite contemporary artists — I discovered that he lives in Redondo Beach,” Alatorre said.
“I found him through his Facebook fan page and asked if he would be willing to speak to my students about his work,” she said. “I was thrilled when he responded, and even more excited to find out that he himself is a graduate of Hermosa Valley School.”
He offered the services of Simkins as well, and the two gave a lesson and worked with the students on their pieces.
Bob Dob played in the punk band Lunacy for 10 years, works as a freelance illustrator, and had his first gallery show at the famous La Luz De Jesus Gallery in Hollywood in 2004. Simkins is a sought-after pop-surrealist painter whose work is found on clothing and in video games, and who now has a show at Merry Karnowsky Gallery on La Brea Avenue.
At the beginning of the week, the two told Alatorre’s students about their art and their process, and gave the students a painting assignment drawn from Simkin’s favorite childhood book, “The Phantom Tollbooth.”
At the end of the week, “Greg and Bob came back to critique their work and give the students some new techniques to draw upon in the future,” Alatorre said.
“Each student received personal attention and great advice. Moreover, this whole week was documented by up-and-coming videographer Rob Seher, who will be compiling the footage to create a documentary,” she said.