R-tistic Value

BIG LAKE, MN – September 1, 2017 – If you are in the spray foam industry, own a computer or smartphone, and have a Facebook account, then you have most likely heard of the page Spray Foam World Wide (SFWW)—a Facebook group where contractors in the spray foam business connect from all over the globe. Taking a fresh approach to the trade, artist Carlos Moreno has created his own line of spray foam comics that have gone viral since the moment he posted his first drawing on the SFWW Facebook page.

“I came home from work one day irritated from messing with a Reactor E-30 that had gotten off ratio, which I just couldn’t seem to get back together, so I decided to draw out what had happened to release my frustrations. Feeling that others could relate, I wanted to share it with the SFWW page to see what would come of it. Instantly, the community loved what they saw and connected with my work and it all just took off from there,” explains Carlos.

As a spray foam veteran working for So Cold Spray Foam Insulation for the past 12 years, he understands the vexations of the business, along with the hard work required for the job. In order to convey his experiences to others, over the past year he took to the drawing board, which consisted of a pencil and paper, and began to create the spray foam-based comics. These designs consist of situations that would happen at work or comical spray foam stories he would hear about from friends and colleagues. “I’ve had the most fun drawing spray foam because I am able to relate to others through my work. On days where I see guys who have had problems on the job, I am able to illustrate it and give them a laugh,” says Carlos. “That’s why I like to do it.”

Although his exposure grew quickly from his talented illustrations, his artistry did not begin with spray foam. Growing up with a passion for art, Carlos has spent his past time designing tattoos and drawing portraits for friends and clients upon request. He also has experience in metal work designing sign art, which he draws and cuts out himself. Carlos lives in Houston, Texas where there are many welders in the area who request Carlos’ services for signs for windows, gates, and his favorite—the classic “BAR” signs he enhances with his artistic abilities. Throughout the years, he grew tiresome of the same materials and went looking for another subject to express his illustrious talents on and, when coming across the Facebook page, he had found his new muse.

Turning spray foam products into characters allow SFWW members to relate to the art work, all while putting a smile on their faces.

Daily on-the-job tasks are made comical by Carlos’s artistic spin on the situation at hand.

He reveals the reason he did not start drawing spray foam comics previously was that he was not aware of how large the spray foam community was. It was only just over a year ago when scrolling through his Facebook feed that he decided to search for spray foam pages to connect with. To his delight, he came across comments that were recently posted on SFWW and when reading them, he found a sense of comfort in the community he once thought did not exist. He also came across the sister Facebook page, “Spray Foam Meme King,” where spray foam art of all styles are posted for followers’ amusement and association. From that day on, he has interacted with spray foam industry followers alike and has received attention for his work from a vast array of audiences.

“I get messages for my artwork just about every week, from multiple people,” says Carlos. “I mostly receive requests from users on the Facebook page for different types of foam comics or any drawing they ask for really, which I draw on paper so they can copyright themselves if desired (he charges a small fee for these pieces). But I have also been contacted by huge spray foam companies in the industry such as Specialty Products, Inc. and groups from Canada for drawings of equipment, or to refurbish a logo.”

He credits his success to the creators of SFWW and Spray Foam Meme King, Bill Bilben, and Robert Vasquez. “These guys and their pages, along with all the members of the groups, have really impacted how I feel about spray foam insulation,” says Carlos. “The Facebook pages add so much more pride and integrity into how we do our jobs. And what is even better is that we have the capability of sharing our individual knowledge with each other.”

Carlos claims he is very excited about the attention he has attracted since he considered art as a hobby, rather than a potential career, and continues to spray foam as his daily profession. Having started with posting a spray foam comic on a whim, to being contacted to design for large-scale companies, Carlos only has positive opportunities ahead. Currently, he is in the works of collaborating with a new silk-screen company in Ontario where he will have the opportunity to have some of his comics printed onto shirts and hopes to expand to other types of merchandise in the future. •

Art courtesy by Carlos Moreno

For information, visit Spray Foam Worldwide’s Facebook page.