<p>Dave McMacken said working on art for Frank Zappa, including the cover to his 1971 American-British musical surrealist film "200 Motels," was the linchpin for his entire career.</p>

Gothic-looking re-creations of hauled out boats and derelict buildings theres one of the Flavel Mansion intermingle with classic album and movie posters inside the all-wood interior that used to be Forsythea.

Just opening up Ratz and Co., his gallery/studio combo, commercial illustrator Dave McMacken hopes to bring his own brand of weirdness to the local art and tourist scene.

Theyre kind of icons of something sitting in the local area, said McMacken about his darker landscapes, which he refers to as acrylics on board. He collects photo references for what he wants to paint, sometimes even creating a mock-up of the painting in photoshop. He hand draws the photo scene on a board and then paints.

With paintings such as the Flavel Mansion, McMacken wants to add typography detailing the address and people who lived there, creating momentos for visitors.

McMacken also wants to move into portraits.

If I could drag more weird people in here, I would start painting weird people, he said. Im not a good-look painter. I like more bizarre stuff, and so when its got an edge to it, when its funny, then Im kind of more happy about it.

His originals can go for thousands of dollars, but McMacken said hell start bringing in giclée prints of the works in various sizes for more affordability.

Although most the work is his, McMacken also showcases other artists in Ratz and Co., including Portland artist Jacki Avery; Frank Zappas former personal designer and illustrator Calvin Schenkel; Vancouver, Wash., artist Stephen Bergstrom; Astoria photographer David Myers; Seattle stone suiseki artist Ed Keun; and McMackens daughter, artist and interior designer Emma Davis.

McMackens own commercial work on display includes anything from the cover of Frank Zappas 1971 American-British musical surrealist film 200 Hotel Rooms to tourist advertisements depicting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Honda Classic golf tournament in Florida and other various events and attractions around the country.

A Newport native, McMacken toured the country before returning to the Oregon Coast three years ago. Just out of high school in 1963, he said, he hopped on a greyhound bus and left town. Life took him to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.

Leaving Los Angeles in 1980, his family moved to Durango, Colo., for a couple years before spending 20 years in Sonoma, Calif. He lived briefly in Hawaii and Connecticut before spending a year in Portland and moving out to Astoria.

We liked the town better, said McMacken about choosing Astoria over his hometown. I call it a squared-out town. Its got about four or five streets this way (north-south) and about eight streets that way (east-west). The town isnt just one (strip) like Seaside. We just like the ambiance here. And people are right. It is like a little San Francisco.

McMacken, sharing his aspirations, raised a hatch door in a stage at the back of his store. Down a narrow staircase and underneath his main showroom is a dim basement. McMacken dreams of opening a bargain basement where artists can display work that, if not sold, will be included in an auction. The artists will be guaranteed half of their asking price or get their work back.

Ratz and Co. is located at 260 10th St., and McMackens work can also be found at www.mcmackengraphics.com.