The Gay Blade of Frito Lay

 The last, for now, of our Frito Lay figure inspired illustrations.

The Gay Blade. 

Who seems to be an executioner. This type of subject was a common theme in this era of horror.

Punkenstein Progress

Working on another sticker. (and trying to put a store together) This one isn't ripe yet, but it is close and I want to share it. I hope you enjoy it.

The Nucklavee

This creature is evidence of evil fairies. He is a toxic monster that roams the roads at night assaulting travelers and damaging crops and farm animals. He comes from the sea, but fresh water seems to be a turn off for him. He is able to change his form and for some inexplicable reason he chooses this of a twisted horse and rider freak thing. Probably to make you fill your shorts. What a creep.

Native American Monsters

Given the season and the disregard for Native history. I am going to share a few American monsters from the indigenous peoples folklore.

The Baykok is a monster said to haunt the Great Lakes region of North America. an extremely emaciated skeleto-like figure, with thin translucent skin and glowing red points for eyes. It hunts only warriors and fires at them with invisible arrows, or beating them with a club. It seeks to devour its victims liver.

The Wendigo is one of the best known and most frightening monsters of Native American folklore, it has an insatiable hunger for meat and can move faster than the eye can see.

 The creatures heart is made of ice and it can completely wipe out the wildlife and people of a region as it eats every living thing it meets. The ultimate consumer and the last thing you want to meet on a cold winters night.

Sasquatch have been reported for almost as long as humans have resided and visited the north western forests of America. Known to occasionally kidnap humans, possibly for food or for more horrifying purposes. These monsters are not something you want to find your camp site.

B Move Cartoons

Do you know these monsters? I have been thinking of creating a coloring book full of bad movie monsters. 

Nosferatu

That's right, I'm back, baby!

This post is all about Nosferatu for me and Monsters & Merriment as well. This year is the films 95th anniversary and it still shines like a drop of blood in the moonlight. This is one of many Nosferatu themed projects I am working on and many more will be coming very soon.

I drew this to distract myself from the stress of waiting for my girlfriend to get out of surgery. It has been a hard year, but I think things are getting better.

Among my on going projects is this prototype bumper sticker that I plan to color and print. If they turn out well, I might start selling them online. 

Another Nosferatu!

Nosferatu I did seven years ago or so.  

Sam

A quick drawing from the other day that you might enjoy. 

Grimlins

I loved this movie as a child, even though the things scared the hell out of me. I was always afraid they would come out of some cabinet or something and grab me.

I plan to create a full color version and to make prints available. Stay on me about it and it might happen. 

Zach Galligan, and I 

This might have had something to do with me wanting to draw a Gremlin. 

The Great Cthulhu

The Call of Cthulhu

H P Lovecraft inspired a multitude of imitators and homages to his strange and wonderful works, but none is more popular today than the great Cthulhu. 

Lamia

 

The Lamia has many forms and many legends surround the creature. All agree that the Lamia is a horrible monster that feeds on the flesh of men and drinks the blood of children. The Lamia is of ancient Greek mythology, she was the queen of Libya who was transformed into a monster. Zeus, her lover, gave her the power to remover her eyes, the reason for this is unknown. In Edward Topsell's The History of Four-Footed Beast, the Lamia appears as a scaly lion with the head of a woman, but in Greek myth she has the tail of a serpent in place of her legs. Other tales say she is normal, but has a distorted face.      

 

Being an Artist

 

Being an artist isn’t easy, it can be fun, but making a living is a real challenge sometimes. I paint windows for stores, teach painting and drawing classes, and teach at a local college that is closing soon. (sadly) I illustrate, do graphic design work and occasionally build something for someone. Sometimes I think I should do something else to make a better living, but being an artist is who I am and it is very hard to not be who you are.

 

Last Year

Last year we planned a camping trip that was blocked by a powerful storm that could produce tornados, so we stayed at my friends place and told stories, watched movies and ate and ate some more. It was a lot of fun even if our plans didn't work out. Every year I try to create an illustration that captures the feel of that year and for last year I picked a Halloween tornado.

2 of 13 The Shroud

This ghost was based on the traditional shrouded spirit. He haunts an abandoned church, guarding the grounds from vandals. Guardian spirits are a common theme in ghost stories.

Golems

Golems come in all shapes and sizes and all can trace their concept back to an ancient tale, The Golem, from Jewish mythology. The animated clay man who when not correctly controlled runs amuck. This is also the origin of Frankenstein's monster.

This golem is based on the one from Jewish myth and was drawn for my book on mythological creatures. More on that another time. 

This golem was designed for a short story about a candle maker who's son is wrongfully executed causing the father to create a monster to exact revenge on the conspirators.  

The Horseman 1 of 13

I started a series of digital paintings and I plan to work my way through all thirteen ghosts I want to paint. The first was the traditional horseman. My version is a blue flaming skeleton on a skeletal horse swinging a fiery chain. I think I was influenced by a few sources including the Headless Horseman and a poem called Daniel Webster's Horses. 

Daniel Webster’s Horses

Elizabeth Coatsworth

If when the wind blows

Rattling the tress,

Clicking like skeletons’

Elbows and knees,

You hear along the road

Three horses pass,

Do not go near the dark

Cold window-glass

If when the first snow lies

Whiter than bones,

You see the mark of hoofs

Cut to the stones,

Hoofs of three horses

Going abreast—

Turn about, turn about,

A closed door is best!

Upright in the earth

Under the sod

They buried three horses,

Bridled and shod,

Daniel Webster’s horses—

He said as he grew old,

“Flesh, I loved riding,

Shall I not love it cold?

“Shall I not love to ride

Bone astride bone,

When the cold wind blows

And snow covers stone?

“Bury them on their feet,

With bridle and bit.

They were good horses.

See their shoes fit.”

The Ghost

I built this guy a few years ago. We are having a lot of storms this year. I hope he holds up. I also am a big fan of creepy poems, so here is one for you now.

Ghosts

I am almost afraid of the wind out there.
The dead leaves skip on the porches bare,
The windows clatter and whine.
I sit here in the quiet house. low-lit.
With the clock that ticks and the books that stand.
Wise and silent, on every hand.

I am almost afraid; though I know the night
Lets no ghosts walk in the warm lamplight.
Yet ghosts there are; and they blow, they blow,
Out in the wind and the scattering snow.-
When I open the windows and go to bed,
Will the ghosts come In and stand at my head?

Last night I dreamed they came back again.
I heard them talking; I saw them plain.
They hugged me and held me and loved me; spoke
Of happy doings and friendly folk.
They seemed to have journeyed a week away,
but now they were ready and glad to stay.

But, oh, if they came on the wind to-night
Could I bear their faces, their garments white
Blown in the dark around my lonely bed?
Oh, could I forgive them for being dead?
I am almost afraid of the wind. My shame!
That I would not be glad if my dear ones came!

Fannie Stearns Davis

Agatha

        

Agatha was my first full size build, the original was rather simple but nice enough for a thief to take her. So I built Agatha 2.0 I had grown a lot as an artist and her design became far more sophisticated. I think she turned out wonderfully.                

She is wearing my aunts wedding dress. 

Her jaw moves and her eyes light up, when I change her batteries. (almost never) 

Agatha loves a walk in the graveyard. 

When I was in school she posed for my drawing class.

Best pals.