The Wonder of Blotter Art
The Wonder of Blotter Art
Blotter art became an iconic symbol of the 1960s counterculture, particularly tied to the Grateful Dead and the psychedelic movement. This art form emerged during the rise of the hippie renaissance, featuring ultra-trippy, colorful designs that enhanced the visual experience of psychedelics.
Printed on perforated paper, blotter art has served as both an expressive medium and a functional vessel for carrying LSD. Some designs became legendary, ranging from the “happy face” symbol to unicorns, orange suns, and other vibrant, mind-expanding imagery, cementing their place in the cultural history of the era.
With poets, artists, musicians, music festivals, and cultural icons spreading the psychedelic gospel, albums like The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band exploded onto the scene, splashing the cultural landscape with vivid, colorful hues.
The Eye of Horus
The release of Sgt. Pepper’s in 1967 marked a pivotal moment in music and psychedelic history. It was at this point that rock and roll began to evolve into a broader, more experimental art form. One of the most famous tracks on the album, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” is often interpreted as a subtle nod to the band’s fascination with LSD, reflecting the psychedelic influences of the era.
The band’s music became a kaleidoscope of canvases, blending surreal imagery and experimental sounds that redefined artistic expression and the counterculture movement, helping usher in the era of psychedelia.
The Merry Pranksters were pioneers of the psychedelic movement, credited with bringing blotter art—a once-taboo form of expression—into the mainstream. Zane Kesey, carrying on this legacy of his father Ken, has long been at the forefront, flooding the country with blotter art as a legal and creative way to generate income, all while supporting artists and ensuring Blotter Arts’ place in cultural history.
Recently, I embarked on a mind-bending journey to Underground Culture Headshop and Lounge in Tiverton, RI—a true paraphernalia museum and time capsule of trippy artwork. Framed pieces ranging in size and recognizable pop-culture figures hung every square inch of wall space.
Mike, the owner and curator of this unique space, was fortunate enough to inherit over 100 rare and unique pieces of blotter art. His impressive collection arguably makes it one of the largest in the Northeast region, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of this vibrant art form.
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Bobby Nuggz: Can you tell our readers how you came upon this holy grail of blotter art?
Mike of Underground Culture: “All of this art is very personal to me as the man who handed it down to me was a dear friend. I’ve always been into art and tattoos and, along the way, met some really amazing people. I feel deeply connected to this collection from the late and great Adam Stanhope. I’m proud to carry on his tradition and showcase these unique works of art in my business.”
“Adam and Mark Mcloud wrote a book together and were good friends, so I’m assuming some of these pieces are from the original collection from Mark himself, “ said Mike.
Mark McCloud’s collection, also known as the “Institute of Illegal Images,” is the most comprehensive collection of decorated LSD blotter paper in the world and has become known as the “LSD Museum.”
“His collection also includes sheets of the comic strip character Snoopy from 1981, a full-color, perforated 44-tab piece from 1976 of a mouse and bunny with a birthday cupcake, a 1977 sheet with a Tetragrammaton with occult imagery, octopuses from Jules Verne, unicorns, and ants. Older pieces from McCloud’s blotter art collection have been exposed to ultraviolet light to eliminate any residual LSD. Nevertheless, McCloud was prosecuted by United States law enforcement agencies in 1992. He was acquitted but charged again in 2000 with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute LSD following a year-long stakeout of his home. A raid found 30,000 sheets of undipped, perforated blotter art, which prosecutors argued McCloud was supplying to chemists and wholesalers. After protracted legal battles, he was acquitted in both instances. The legal cost for McCloud’s defense in the 2000 case is estimated to have been over $500,000. Some of the blotter art confiscated by the FBI now bears markings from the agency. A binder of blotter sheets used as evidence by the prosecution in the case was obtained from drug busts throughout the United States in the decade before McCloud’s arrest. It was later published by McCloud and Adam Stanhope as The Bust Book and included side-by-side comparisons to pieces from McCloud’s collection. A special edition of the book included a sample of original blotter art depicting the Eye of Horus, which is thought to be the oldest extant example of the medium. Items from McCloud’s collection can be viewed at his website Blotter Barn.”
Bobby Nuggz
To me, blotter art has ultimately become a form of activism on paper—a vibrant expression of love for the counterculture and a celebration of freedom and creativity. It always warms my heart to see artists continuing to create with blotter, keeping this unique tradition alive.
I often wonder if many people today truly know the story behind it, which is why I wanted to share my perspective. I hope that you, too, can begin to appreciate, collect, and understand the extraordinarily unique artistic landscape, deep history, and lifestyle that Blotter Art represents.
This unique gallery can be viewed during private events or open business hours.
Underground Culture Smoke Shop is located at 4 Main Rd., Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA 02878, phone 401-516-5650.
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2 thoughts on “The Wonder of Blotter Art”
What a awesome article
Glad you enjoyed it!