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ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Rob Butler: Bigfoot Artist
By Rick Wood 11/23/2004
Rob first became interested in Bigfoot in 1973, when he was in the 3rd grade. He was certain the he and 3 friends were going to go on a camping trip to Ape Canyon to find Bigfoot. That trip never happened, but the interest remained. By the time he was in the 6th grade, he watched all of the shows on TV, and read every book he could find on the subject. While his friends idolized Football legend Roger Staubach, Rob's heroes were René Dahinden, and John Green.
He grew up next to Mt Talbert in Oregon, and just knew Bigfoot was up there. He and his family would often visit his Aunt and Uncle in Zig Zag, Oregon. (10 miles from Mt Hood) Whenever they would take a hike, Rob was always on the lookout. Rob's size 13 feet at age 11 had naturally brought about the nickname Bigfoot. It was around this time that a footprint report came to Rob's attention. They were found on the opposite side of Mt Talbert from him, in a Filbert orchard. Along with the prints, some droppings were found. They contained peach pits! What ever ate the peaches ate them, pits and all!
For as much as he loved the subject, it did freak him out a bit. When in Jr High, Rob was watching a Bigfoot Docu-Drama, and decided to run out to his dads' workshop on a commercial. Before leaving, he grabbed a baseball bat, for protection! J His little sister had gotten outside before him and decided to give him a little scare. When she jumped out, Rob swung the bat so hard that when he missed her, he broke a shake on the side of the house. Good thing he missed! Throughout High School, Rob remained interested in the subject, but old trucks and girls soon became his focus.
When in his early 30's, Bigfoot once again reared his head in Rob's life. Rob was spending a lot of time in LaPine Oregon at his In-Laws, and used those trips to get out into the woods to have a look. By this time, Rob had become quite the Artist. He had started his business, Sasquatch Artworks, in '96, drawing Hot Rods and Monster 4 wheel drives. On his own 4x4, Rob had painted his CB Handle, 'Sasquatch', with a Dad, Mom and Baby Bigfoot to represent his family. One day, someone saw the painting and put Rob in touch with Larry Lund, and Ray Crowe of the Western Bigfoot Society. It wasn't long until Rob's artistic talents were put to use in the pages of the Track Record.
Rob couldn't stop at pen and paper. In '97 he designed his Bigfoot Tattoo, and made the first of many hand painted life-sized plywood cutouts of Bigfoot. The cutouts became a photo magnet whenever they were brought out. He made them for stores, museums, and even for a garden scarecrow! After Rob's first WBS campout at Carson, Washington, one of the cutouts appeared in the Vancouver newspaper. That was followed by a radio interview on Portland station KEX.
In '98, Rob was asked to be a part of a new documentary on Bigfoot called Sasquatch Odyssey. He shot with the film crew one day on Mt St Helens, and 3 days at Bigfoot Daze in Carson. Rob spent a lot of time in front of the camera, but little of it made it into the final cut. Rob's tattoo, his huge 4x4, and one of the cutouts were about it. Rob did love the experience though. Shortly after this appearance, Rob was contacted by the Travel Channel, to have his art shown on their show 'Weird Places'.
Rob's Bigfoot art became in high demand. He illustrated the book by Joe Beelart, 'The Great Sasquatch Conspiracy' along with several others. He designed Bigfoot event t shirts, flyers, program covers, supplied art for many Bigfoot newsletters, and his cartoon character 'Squatch' was always doing something funny. Rob's most cherished memory was spending an evening with his boyhood hero, Rene Dahinden.
It was the conversation of a lifetime to Rob, for six months later Rene passed away.
With all of the attention and pseudo-fame the Bigfoot art had brought, Rob really wanted to get back to his roots, drawing Hot Rods. In late '99, Rob's art graced 2 pages in a National Truck Magazine, and has gone straight through the roof from there. His t shirt designs, flyers, magazine illustrations, and newly introduced greeting cards are desired by many in the automotive field. His cartoon character 'Squatch', has been joined by two hot rodders 'Chuck & Arbee', and they are every bit as well received as 'Squatch' was. Rob is now considered a Premier Automotive Cartoonist, and his work is highly sought out by people all over the US and Canada.
Rob still does go out searching for the creature on occasion, but never considered himself a researcher. He always thought of himself as an enthusiast. To this day Rob has never seen a Bigfoot, but he remains a true believer.
Post Note: This Month, Rob has introduced a line of new Bigfoot Greeting Cards.
Writers Note:
Rick Wood operates Oregon Sasquatch Investigations and Research (OSIR) out of Clackamas County, Oregon
Editor's note: Prints not available at this time
Material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission of the artist. |
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