Larson: Small Press and Zine Illustration
from an early Paper Plant publication
David illustrated several of The Paper Plant’s chapbooks, as well as for Peloria Press (Jim Shell and David Kelly) and the recently published book The Orphan by Dave Wilson. He was a major artist for Scream, the most important creative magazine of its day in Raleigh. His covers inaugurated zines by both Margaret and Lee Johnson. His band poster work led into fertile ground as the “Mr Creative” of the Rollywood Funny Papers. His pastels graced the covers of the seed catalogs published by the late Russell Boone, publisher of Scream. Any publisher or writer was thrilled to be blessed by his work.
original sketch
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Scream Magazine, published by Russell Boone, issued 7 volumes.
Scream # 2
Scream #2 back
Below is an illustrated story in Scream by David Weaver. He was a close friend and part of the amazing Larson cadre from ECU, so the story itself is also imaged.
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from Randy A – Boone’s Seeds original
from Kim B (original)
Larson’s work for Russell Boone’s Seed company is archived at Alternating Crimes.
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from John DJ – S. Lifestyle original
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self-published chapbook by ECU friend Roger Lell
Cannibal love
Cannibal picnic
Macho Cannibal
Suicidal Cannibal
Missionary Cannibal
Catholic Cannibal
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David illustrated and lettered a flyer for the Artspace show Hats, Masks & Headgear. The exhibition involved several friends of David who had formed a weekly writing workshop.
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In 2018 Susan Crane and Neal Hutcheson published posthumously The Orphan by Dave Wilson, a Raleigh musician and writer who is as beloved and missed as David. The novel was originally published in blog form, early in that format’s history. David had done the illustrations long before the final publication.
Orphan interior illustration
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David Larson Celebrations and Statements
Enjoy these, from Christmas cards to one of the most powerful statements I ever saw from an individual artist that I knew.
from David Norris – sepia ink on printed card
from John and Cara DJ
from Debbie B (original)
from David N
from Karen W
from Cheryl P “Pin the Hippie”
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from The Paper Plant
from Sasser Street
When NC resumed executions with James Hutchinson in 1984, David posted these around town. Weaver remembers helping with Hillsborough Street, while Kurt F recalls driving David to the Governor’s Mansion, where “they got run off.”
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Larson: Drawings, Prints & Other
from Pat M
from Lucy I
from Debbie B
from Kim B
from Richard B
from Debbie B
from Alison T
from Danny G
from Ian B
from Cheryl P
from Johnny B “Ghost of Uncle Sam”
from David N
from Michele L S
from Sasser St. – migraine illustration
from Lori R McC
from Lori R McC
from Randy A
from Ginny W P
from Ginny W P
from Matt Neel
from Sasser Street
from Sasser Street
from Bill H and Pat M (magnet)
from Alan B
from Alan B
from Susan C
from Matt N
from Kim B – bookmark
from Matt N
from Matt N
Sasser St bookmark doodles
from Alan B: As all his friends know, David loved to doodle, on any piece of scrap card stock or paper. These are very small images he xeroxed a bunch together before sticking a few into books as markers at Cameron Village Library for a lucky person to find later.
Another interesting way David “published” his work was stickers, made from mostly bio portraits or Muerto Dia images and distributed to friends and on signs around town. Click below th see a selection.
Stickers & the DEL Commie File
from Kim B – bookmark
printmaking plate from ECU days
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collaboration with Marek Bireline
Alan B FB post with Larson/Bireline collabs
David N and David L draw each other
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doodles from the Cutler Street Grocery phase
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Below are 4 of the original pieces that came from Karl’s house on Cox Avenue to be shown at the original tiny location of the Paper Plant Bookstore on Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh.
from Doug J
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from John DJ
This lovely gal, a paper cut-out, came out of the closet in the Park Ave. apartment (by the I-Hop) during the final party before destruction of that house. Everyone graffiti=ed all the walls – David had already lettered this out in the hall “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
David Larson Oils and Works on Wood
from Ginny W P
John DJ
John and Cara wedding gift
from Debbie B
from Debbie B
from Phil Larson
from Tommy L – a fav of Karls – 50″x33″
from Mark H
He gave Mom and I this great painting for a song, after turning down a lot more for it at Easy Street one night, where it was hanging in Jim’s office. Madelyn only allowed it on the wall when I was in town. I had to wrap it in a sheet and hide it behind the sofa when I left. That went on for years.
Thanks David Larson.
from Leatha Koefler Juvenile Duds
from Sasser Street
from Sasser Street
from Sasser Street
from Mike R (via Dierdre)
from Nina F
from Mary R
from Mary R
from Debbie B
from Carly L, David’s niece
from Carly L
from Carly L
from Carly L
from Debbie B
from Alan B
from Alan B
from Pat M
from Dawn C
snapshot to upgrade
from Viki B St. Cecilia
Only this painting survived from the paintings in the burning house
David Larson Figurines
from Cheryl P
After his house burned down, David became something of a self-styled Outsider Artist, and his wondrous little creations made many people very happy to get them.
from Phil L
from Marlys de A
from Karen R
from Cheryl P
from Bill H
from Maryls de A
from Faye L
from Faye L
from Faye L
from Randy A
from Bob A
from Alan B
from Matt N
from Shonna G
from Mary R
from Kim B
JDJ’s 50th in a Ron R. bpx
from Michele L S
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Voo-doo Heads
from Bill H
from Kim B – a pin
from Art D
from Art D
from Cara DJ
from John DJ
from Alan B
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portrait by Guillermo Velasco
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