The Art of Straight Chillin'

All Burlingtonians, whether they are aware of it or not, have seen and probably laughed at the art of native Vermonter, Dug Nap.  As chill as his art, Dug Nap has evolved into something of a celebrity in Burlington.  Though the winter keeps him indoors (and not at the Farmer's Market selling his prints) his presence lingers in downtown restaurants, bars and shops through his artwork.

Though I've never had the pleasure of meeting him personally, I got to thinking about his work the other day, when I saw a print of his hanging in my friend's apartment.  As I read the few witty lines about Vermont, I let out a half-hearted laugh and then quickly forgot about the piece as I became distracted by something else.  It wasn't until later, when I was racking my brain for inspiration for my next blog post, that I remembered the print and began analyzing the simplicity of Dug Nap's work.  The thing is, his work is so straightforward that it only took me about 2 minutes to come up with a conclusive analysis.  But I suppose that's the very point of his work.  The simplicity of his composition and meaning coupled with his boyish charm produce prints that mirror the beauty that lies in the simplicity of Vermont itself, as well as its inhabitants ability to laugh at themselves.

Though his prints are often disregarded as a cliche staple for every freshman dorm room, I think there's still something more to be said about Dug Nap.  After all, I would argue that a good sense of humor is in itself an incredibly difficult art to master; and when coupled with the laid-back attitude of a native Vermonter, it's rather ingenious. 

For more of Dug Nap's prints, visit his site: http://dugnap.com/index.html