Grating Newt Tail

clover ink wash

Cthulhu Fhtagn!

For Trevor Henderson's upcoming grim and dreadful H.P. Lovecraft zine "Puffed Shoggoths", which has incredible line up of artists including Trevor himself, Jimmy Giegerich and Jon Vermilyea. You can find out more about the zine here.

With Halloween on it's way, I figure I'll tie this little story into the piece: this illustration is based on an intense fear I experienced on the one and only cruise I'll ever take in my life. I was on the deck one night, in the middle of the Atlantic; it was cloudy and a new moon so no light whatsoever came from the sky. I remember looking out past the railings and seeing the lights from the boat just end only a few feet out at the most charcoal-deep blackness I've ever seen. It was such a profoundly dark and completely unbroken void that it just seemed to swallow everything. As if the ship had sailed into a black hole, there was just nothing in every direction. I remember finding my back to the wall of the ship before I even knew I'd moved and just filling up with the most instinctual fear and dread. There could have been a colossal eye staring at me in the dark and I wouldn't have been any more disturbed than I was in that moment. 

"When you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you," apparently...according to some guy... 

So in true Lovecraftian style, I let the dread take over and this is the result! Stay tuned to Trevor's tumblr for news on the "Puffed Shoggoths" zine.

This weekend I thought I'd share just a tiny sliver of the books on my wishlist that are all debuting at SPX. All the work that's popping up for this year looks fantastic, and I'm so psyched to be there already.

Magical Beatdown Vol. 1 by Jenn Woodall / Reggie 12 by Brian Ralph / Frontier's second issue featuring work by Hellen Jo / Blobby Boys by Alex Schubert / Picnic Ruined by Roman Muradov / Honey by Celine Loup / Gold Pollen and Other Stories by Seiichi Hayashi / Softcore #1-3 by Box Brown / Snackies #2 by Nick Sumida 

Tomorrow I'll share the books my table group mates are debuting! They're ALSO on my wishlist and are soooo good lookin'. Check back then!

Today is Kali Ciesemier's birthday. I made this ridiculous thing expressly for her. She's wonderful (and one of my best friends, y'all) so wish her a happy birthday!

"Oscar, the Architect Finch", for Muse Magazine. A few illustrations from a recent series about an innovative Lady Gouldian finch living at Pandemonium Aviaries. Thanks to my AD John Sandford.

cartoon quickdraw

Cartoon Quickdraw is a fun and likely goofy journey into nostalgia in which you choose a classic cartoon character (video games too), draw them in a minute from memory and throw the drawings into a pile. The drawings are revealed, the best and worst are chosen and, in hard core versions of the game, the worst drawing gets tattooed in permanent marker on its artists' arm. Fortunately we didn't do that when we played last night or I would have a totally wrong Rocko-as-a-puppy, a doofy Megaman or a ridiculous Foot soldier (TMNT!) on my arm right now. Can you figure out the rest of the characters?

Good way to keep your doodling fresh, but more importantly just hilarious times (note backwards-hand Sonic).

what's this then?

Back, spectre!

Spending some time with a style I rarely get to spend time with. Working this way is so much fun.

fungi-gathering goblin bros

penta-pretzels! maybe be wary of eating these though…