David Hernandez aka (Traplord the II) is a Houston, TX based artist. He mainly focuses on obsessions towards pop culture characters, and how their initial functions can shift into a new context for viewers to acquire various satisfactions. These 24/7 obsessions can lead towards a path of absurdity. Utilizing modern “clickbait” techniques in a post ironic society, he leads his audience into wondering his true intentions. Whether he’s being a true obsessive or a true absurdist. Memes are becoming more apparent in he’s newer body of work, correlating with the ideas of post irony. Out of context imagery/ symbols can be use to exaggerate feelings. Wondering if he’s serious or joking.
Most of the the works are composed of pop culture imagery that he’s archived over the years. Whether in the physical world or the digital space, these images are picked and then collaged into one composition that is primarily constructed with acrylic paint and applied with an airbrush.
Hi David! Thank you for sitting down with me. First question that I always ask. How does a regular day look like for you in Houston?
First, thank you for having me. 5 days out of 7 are typically the same. I wake up around 9:00 AM getting ready to work my 9-5 job, but before I leave I pet my dog Fifi for about 10 mins. I work at an art store here in Houston. Sometimes it’s great, other times it’s hell, and it boils down to one thing; are customers going to be the nicest people ever or the worst living creatures on earth? Once I close the store for the day, I go home and pick up something to eat on the way. I get to my place around 8:00 PM and begin to work on anything that I got going on like stretching a canvas, gessoing, or painting. I stop working around 11:30 PM and play video games (recently it’s been Halo) for about an hour, I rage here and there occasionally until I get ready for bed.
Growing up, What kind of kid were you, what did you enjoy doing and how did you spend your time?
I was a calm kid, spending half my time with my cousins from both sides of my family. Either playing with legos, video games, or watching YouTube videos. The other half I would draw, It was something that I loved doing all the time. Hot Wheels were one of the things that I used to draw all the time, all thanks to my mom. My mom would always buy me one Hot Wheel when ever she came back from work, and my grandma would get pissed at her saying, “why do buy him toys when he’s not asking you for any?” I also used to draw the chaos emeralds from Sonic the Hedgehog and pretended I was Shadow. My dad had Need for Speed Most Wanted on the PS2, and I would only play that game to customize cars and that’s it.
Houston has a very unique sound and style when it comes to hiphop, and has produces some of the most renowned artists within that genre. Scarface, Z-Ro, Travis Scott, Pimp C, DJ Premier, Devin The Dude, Bun B, and honestly the list goes on… Growing up in that, has that influenced you in any way growing up?
Man, there is still so much I gotta learn about the scene. I’d say music is more of an influence to me now than it has been in any other point of my life. What inspires me specifically is how producers sample other records to create something new. I love how they can chop one small section of an old song, flip it, and turn it into something contemporary, while still paying homage to the past. I’d like to think it’s similar to when you compile images and collage them to create new narratives. I got my homework cut out for me, which is a good thing.
Ok, let’s talk about your work now. How did you get introduced to the airbrush? And when did you start taking becoming an artist serious?
During my senior year of undergrad, I was just walking through the studios, and stumbled upon an awesome painting by a junior. Brandon Sanchez is his name (amazing painter) and I asked him how he got that blurry effect going on, and he told me he used an airbrush. From there I started to ask other artist where to begin? What equipment to get, how to mix paint, what kind of paint to use, etc. It took me about a year to build up money to get everything I needed, totally worth it. I started to take art seriously during my senior year of high school, specifically when I sold my first 2 paintings to the schools nurse. I never thought you can make a career out of art to be honest, but seeing all the people who supported me made me want to push myself harder.
While we’re on the subject. What is it about the airbrush that makes you prefer it over a regular paint brush?
I love the soft look I can get with the paint. I’ve been wanting to create gradients in my paintings during college and I tried doing it with oils, but man I hate waiting. Plus I can say I got a gun … an airbrush gun!
The various surreal scenes, objects, motifs, and characters, in your work. How do you come up with them?
A lot of it really comes down to how can I mess with things, how far can I push the line with these images? I kind of crank the nob in my brain to insane mode. I get images and try to exaggerate their emotions they are expressing. Sometimes I like having them react to something totally different from what they are initially doing. Basically I’m trying to make a meme at the end of the day.
Alright, tell me about your obsessions towards pop culture characters. What is it about them that resonates with you and makes you want to document them?
Using characters can help me bridge the gap between me and the viewer quickly. I want to bring the pretentiousness of art down by not having to pretend there are hidden messages in my work. Humor is my tool to bring art to a more down to earth level. Having the community laugh together and point out the obvious makes it less serious. Then there’s the sexual content that’s infused to the work too, now I know a lot of people really can’t relate to that haha, but hear me out . . . . . Yeah never mind
So how do you choose which pop culture characters to paint? Are there specific criteria or personal connections that guide your choices?
Really it happens at random times, like while I’m reading a magazine or when I’m driving on the road, those are just a few of examples. Actually, I’ve recently been playing Deadrising 1, and I forgot there is a mechanic in that game where you can photograph events. Seeing the template got me thinking how can I mix this with certain characters. I also look into their expressions, what emotion are they evoking? Stuff like that. But yeah there’s never a moment where I’m like yeah I’m going work this character.
Are there particular characters that hold a special nostalgic or sentimental value for you?
Sonic, don’t ask me why specifically … But seriously Sonic the hedgehog is one of those things that grew up with me. My first game was Sonic 1 on the Sega Genesis, but my favorite game is Adventure 2. I still collect their comic books, both publishers Archie and IDW. My favorite characters from that franchise are Shadow, Rouge, Tails, and Amy.
So what is it about cartoons that resonates with you?
Their world building, you can get attached to the story. Also character design.
How do you think painting deals with being well received on social media compared to being something people want to own and hang on the walls in their homes?
Painting is something that’s glorified online. Well glorified might be too strong a word, but it’s something people like seeing even though it’s not always the most incredible thing. You’re allowing a large audience to view your work on this digital wall. Having it on display at your house or gallery can limit who gets to see it. Process videos fuel that admiration for a rather slow sometimes boring process. You’re documenting the techniques and tools you use to achieve certain effects. You allow people to see the time and effort you put on to these works. They appreciate that.
Can you walk me through your creative process, from start to end result?
Sure man, I choose one of few canvas frames I have and stretched canvas around it, then gesso it. While it’s drying I work on thumbnails on photoshop. I have a USB filled with images that I’ve collected over the years, from screenshots to photos I’ve taken on my phone. Once I find something to work with I take it to photoshop and begin to build around it. It’s a back and forward process of adding other things or deconstructing the subject matter. I tape the edges off my canvas on the sides to prevent it from getting smudged, something about the bare bone canvas looks cool to me (shout out to Cascio). Thank god for projectors though. Once the image is in the canvas I map out where to begin, but mainly it starts in one spot and paint around it. I tape certain areas off preventing over spray, because cleaning it can be tough and I hate having to buy more supplies to fix a dumb mistake. Even though I try to be careful there is something that always happens, like the last painting “POV: you’re visiting a studio” I was taking some tape off and I forgot I had my X-acto in my hand. All of a sudden *rip sound I cut my canvas, I screamed and blamed Eminem, because he was playing in my speakers haha. Anyway I go from section to section until eventually I end up at the background which is always the last thing to paint. I mostly document my work with my phone, and hang it in my room for the meantime, then the cycle continues.
Can you also tell me about your use of symbolism?
A lot of the symbols that I like to use are things that I’m interested in, they come from parts of my life whether the past or present. For example the universal S, I didn’t think about it too much until it came across my mind one day. I used to think it was gang related at a young age, until I started to research the history behind it in 2023, and stumbled upon interesting info. One of the few things that blew me away was how international it was. I used to think it was a US thing only which was proven to be wrong. Cartoon characters are similar in that way. You might think it’s popular in your area only. It could be everywhere in reality. I love the connections people can have with one image, and that’s why I like to put iconic stuff like that on my work, to basically say, “remember that one thing? It’s randomly here in an unexpected place.”
How do you deal with creative blocks?
Two things, I play video games or go to art openings (SHOUT OUT PABLO)
Can you describe your studio practice for me? And are there any necessities you have to have with you or present in the studio?
All of my studio practice happens in my room. On one side of the room, it’s all of my art equipment, and on the other side, I have my desk with my laptop. My laptop is where all of planning begins. Oh and my bed is in the middle of the room, weird set up.
How do you approach color?
It depends on the previous piece. Sometimes I want to mimic the same color palette I had previously, or I want to use a super saturated color to make stuff stand out way more.
What motivates you?
My love for my queen: Rouge the bat and my art friends too I guess.
How would you describe a perfect day?
No errands, just me and painting, and also just sitting with my dog.
Alright David. I always ask these two questions at the end of an interview. The first is. What’s your favorite movie(s) and why?
Jurassic park (1993) man I watch that movie so many times growing up, even way more now. My uncle had most of the Spielberg movies on dvd, and he would let me watch them at my grandparents apartment. It’s pure nostalgic to me, plus I love the characters, the setting, the music, and especially the dinosaurs.
The second is. What song(s) are you currently listening to the most right now?
- 2005 Toyota Corolla by 2003 Toyota Corolla
- Life Of The Party (with André 3000) by Kanye west <—— André’s verse is so good, makes me sad
- Floating by Mac miller
- Dullscythe by Porter Robinson