KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Artist draws on Bigfoot for inspiration
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Robroy Menzies' skills as an artist extend past painting portraits to perfection or graphic design. (Mike Nederbrock/KTUU-TV)
Menzies is a one-man band, playing every instrument on the dozens of songs featured on his five CDs. He calls himself The Cryptoids and said his band consists of two aliens and Bigfoot. (Mike Nederbrock/KTUU-TV)
Menzies does the cover art for the CDs and said the drawing of his bass player, Bigfoot, was not imagined. (Courtesy Photo)
His fascination with the mysterious animal began about a decade ago. (Courtesy Photo)
His work has been seen on national television, book illustrations, displayed in museums, as well as various Bigfoot Web sites. (Courtesy Photo)by Angela Unruh
Friday, May 18, 2007
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Yeti, Hibagon and Sasquatch are all words from around the world used to describe a mysterious creature that always seems to evade the cameras -- Bigfoot.
That hasn't stopped one Eagle River artist from chasing down an accurate portrayal of the hairy animal -- a task that's gotten him national attention.
Robroy Menzies' skills as an artist extend past painting portraits to perfection or graphic design.
For eight years he worked at Fort Richardson as an illustrator, designing coins, crests, brochures and posters.
"I've got work in Afghanistan and Iraq, even in Mongolia," Menzies said.
Menzies is also a one-man band, playing every instrument on the dozens of songs featured on his five CDs. He calls himself The Cryptoids and said his band consists of two aliens and Bigfoot.
"Well, I needed a bass player and he just seemed like the best choice, animated up on stage," Menzies said.
Menzies does the cover art for the CDs and said the drawing of his bass player, Bigfoot, was not imagined.
No, he's never actually seen the creature, but Menzies said he has worked closely with actual eyewitnesses from across the United States to get as accurate a portrayal as possible.
"I find that somebody in Montana has the same description as someone in Texas and how do these people do that?" Menzies said.
His fascination with the mysterious animal began about a decade ago. Since then, his work has been seen on national television, book illustrations, displayed in museums, as well as various Bigfoot Web sites.
And who knows, his next 15 minutes of fame could come from his new song.
"There I was in the woods one day, walking with my best friend Ray, looked at me in a funny way, this is what he had to say, you walk like Bigfoot!!!"
Contact Angela Unruh at aunruh@ktuu.com
