chuck hatton

Mad Swirl is excited to welcome artist Chuck Hatton to our mad stage. The Dallas-based illustrator has immense talent (this much is obvious) but there is something to say for the artists who bravely go above and beyond to use their platform to share their voice, to make a statement, and to inspire important and much needed conversations – all the while making you laugh. With satirical renditions, such as the infamous Donald (F) Tr*mp as the ‘hamberderler’, holding a plate of McDonalds burgers (‘over 8,000 lies sold!’) alongside Putin dolled up as Ronny himself, we here at Mad Swirl must admit that we whole-heartedly are pickin’ up what Hatton is putting down! We feel that Chuck’s illustrational talents and political savvy will get your undivided attention and probably spark some conversation (and at the very least, a laugh?) as we absolutely believe it should. ~ Madelyn Olson

(click the image to see it in its entirety)

BFFs — Chuck Hatton

Lying King — Chuck Hatton

Colbert — Chuck Hatton

Hamburderler — Chuck Hatton

Impeachable Me — Chuck Hatton

Trump’s Wall — Chuck Hatton

A bit about Chuck: Chuck Hatton was born in Burbank, California in 1965. He received his formal training at multiple university art departments such as SUNY Plattsburgh, Purdue University and a small amount of time at The Art Center College of Design. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree at the Art Institute of Philadelphia to follow a career both as a graphic designer and an illustrator.

While traveling overseas, Chuck was greatly inspired by the Italian masters in Venice, Florence and Rome. He became more immersed in traditional training, which has become the underlying foundation of all his work. He gravitates toward the works of Sargent, Anthony Van Dyke and Velazquez, finding a powerful source of inspiration that conveys a sense of emotion and mood. From these influences, Chuck sees the power of rendering subject matter with an economy of carefully placed brush strokes.

As an illustrator, Chuck has been heavily inspired by illustration icons Drew Struzan, Howard Pyle, Norman Rockwell and J. C. Leyendecker and most recently, Joseph Lorusso. Says Chuck, “My time studying with Joseph at Scottsdale Artist school allowed me to focus on the link between illustration and fine art, blurring the lines between the perceived differences and acknowledging that skill and insight defines the value of any art form.”

Chuck came to Dallas, Texas in 2007 to foster his career as a graphic designer and illustrator— working a great deal in web, package design, page layout, and brand identity. He was recruited by the Army Air Force Exchange Service in 2009 and currently serves as an art director for advertising publications and cross-channel marketing.

Artist Statement (satirical and caricature work): I find satirical illustration and caricature to be a great forms of expression. The current political situation deservers an artistic nod — highlighting the ongoing controversy that is the Trump presidency.

Here I’m playfully rendering the key players to create an entertaining look at issues that are far more serious. Trump’s haphazard use of Twitter, the investigation concerning Russia’s involvement and the enormous tally of lies piling up are all fodder for my caricatures—trying to find succinct metaphors that get people to think about the issues.

To see more of Chuck's work, check out his website, Hatton Creative