Episode 34 – Krusty Wheatfield // Cartoonist. Artist.

“Alright, first things first, let’s get it on record: I’m a fan of Krusty. Their art style is so raw and whimsical - there’s a whirlwind of relatability and humanity all within their little old line. Usually, their work is either absolutely full of color, where it just sort of explodes off the page, or it’s often just a single color, like black on white paper, and each approach has this entrancing aspect to it. It’s like yin-yang, I’m into both approaches and they each feed off of each other, creating the artist balance that is the work of Krusty Wheatfield. My guess for why I love their work so much is their subject matter. Krusty has this singular perspective and magical ability where they transform the small, usually unappreciated moments in our daily lives - the tiny, beautiful details - and they turn the spotlight on them. Their work gives me hope and honestly it rewards and reminds me with of an appreciation for life, the human experience, and how these little moments in our lives are actually the big moments.

In this episode of BEDROOM™, Krusty and I talk about digital vs. analog drawing, how Krusty got into making comics, and the moral dilemmas of the modern artist when they get commissioned to work for corporations they may not believe in. We get into their schooling at UC Berkeley and the importance of finding community, self-publishing, making zines and comics, and entering the DIY world of the Bay Area underground scene. We talk about how absolutely fun the act of drawing is and how we just wish more people would practice it because of how fulfilling it is.

Krusty then shares their experience teaching kids art and comics at The International School of San Francisco, as well as the long-term collaboration they’ve had with San Francisco’s very own punk godfather, V. Vale - writer and publisher of RE/Search Publications - which is possibly the only surviving ’70s punk publisher. We talk about Vale and Krusty’s joint residency in 2025 at Headlands Center for the Arts in Marin, and we also get the scoop on their recently published comic anthology, Search For Weird, which was released in France.

We then tap into some listener-submitted questions from Justin Kohlberg, the cinematographer and filmmaker behind the musical project Moonrun.
Finally, we wrap things up with a round of BEDROOM BANTER™, where I rapid-fire some classic BEDROOM™ questions and Krusty gives the fans what they want. Big shoutout to Krusty Wheatfield for coming on the pod. Welcome to the BEDROOM™, y’all. WORLDWIDE PEACE.” – PSG

Krusty's Socials & Websites
Krusty's Instagram: @krustywheatfield
Krusty's Website: www.krustywheatfield.com

If you want to join Patrick Sean Gibson's Monthly Sticker Club, or support the Bedroom Podcast, check out his Patreon: patreon.com/patrickseangibson
--
Follow Patrick on Instagram: @patrickseangibson
Peep Patrick's Website: patrickseangibson.com