The origin goes back all the way to 1996. I was attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with my extremely talented younger brother and I had always had the dream for us to create comics together since that was a love of ours. Since we were both into horror movies and extreme violent Asian cinema I thought it would be fun to do a play on the name Brothers Grim. We would collaborate under the name, Grim Brothers. Jeremy, my brother, even came up with a sweet graphic for us to use as our label.
Just around this time America Online was just gaining momentum and they had just released their Instant Messenger and you had to choose a tag/name so that friend could see you. I choose Grimbro1. I expected my brother to follow suit but never happened. I think he wanted his own independence and for me to stop trying to control him. Which he more than deserved.
Almost a decade later when I decided I really wanted to develop my painting skills and get better as an artist I really wanted to have a name/tag/moniker that stood out. SO why not Jude Beers? I am not really sure, I just knew that right away that did not sit well in my head. I guess it would be like, "Why Lady Gaga? or Why Bono or Sting or John Wayne for that matter?"
When I thought of the horror art of Jude Beers I felt trapped and restricted. Jude Beers came with all my baggage of being me. Jude is a family man, Jude is a father of 2 lovely girls who has to show up a parent teacher conferences and college registrations.
Jude is an amazing name which I grow to love more everyday. How many people say your name and then break out into song? Yeah that's my awesome name, it makes people sing. The last name Beers well whats not to like?
I will give credit where credit is due, I agonized as I was trying to come up with a tag/name for an online vinyl art toy custom paint I had done
It was my Mom who happened to be visiting at the time who suggested that I use my AOL Instant Messenger name that she knew me by.
So it stuck.
Being Grimbro allows me to go to places Jude Beers won't go or by society standards maybe should not go.
I don't have to worry about hang ups of what I should or should not do or say.
Being Grimbro opens up doors in my creative being.
All that said, I do have a pet peeve of when people drop the 2nd R and make me "Grimbo"
I am trying to get past it. It is amazing how common that mistake is.
So today I am heading out to my 1st convention as Grimbro in 5 years. I will get my Grimbro on and Jude Beers will disappear for a short time. I like to wear Grimbro
So now you know :)
P.S. People that I collaborate or are friends with me as Grimbro usually end up calling me "Grimmy" Which ended up being the name of my LLC.
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