ZOMBIE BITES

Body of Light I: Ape of Thoth

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:05:00 +0000

I must preface the description of this piece with a note that I did not intend to create a piece about the Ape of Thoth, but upon finishing this piece, I knew that was what I was seeing. As I researched for more information, it seemed more and more that my initial reaction was appropriate. I found a really good description of the Ape of Thoth over at Strange Onion Peelings that helped me confirm. I feel like I should also make note that I found this piece particularly difficult to write about. Ha.

Ah, to do battle with a cross dressing baboon in an attempt to create change in the world. It all makes perfect sense now. Thoth also appears as a baboon god of equilibrium, A'an, in the Underworld, Duat, assisting Ma'at with judgement of the heart. A certain level of sense being made there as well in that what we desire in our minds and what our hearts desire do not often jibe. Thus the Ape of Thoth as agent of confusion and disruption becomes clearer. May be it all just boils down to a cosmic case of miscommunication. Ha.

Recommended Listening:
Ufomammut
Eve (FULL)
from Eve

This piece and the next two of the Body of Light set were created from the same source material. Again I ran into a piece (or rather a set of pieces), that might be better off over in Trail of Breadcrumbs, but due to some of the adult elements of the pieces and their slightly disturbing nature, they found their home here in Zombie Bites instead.

{Digital Images manipulated in Adobe Photoshop}

This House

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Some places are stained with a belligerence that takes on a life of its own.

Recommended Listening:
False Mirror
Constant Descent? (not sure which track this is)
from Derelict World

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

From the Sketchbook Archives: Open Skull

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

I cannot remember my original motivation for this image. I don't recall being enamored of a Cyclops skull, but I do find the gaping hole disturbing. Maybe a little inspiration for non-traditional skulls from Wayne Barlowe going on here as well. I do love his work.

{Sharpie}

Kabbalistic Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

I kind of feel like this one would be more at home over at Trail of Breadcrumbs, however, that blog doesn't have an adult rating, so a little spiritual nudity here instead. The Kabbalistic Cross is a short ritual that is part of a larger one, the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram(LRP).

Recommended Listening:
Atheus
The Magic Mountain
from Soundscapes and Drones

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

Devil's Head IV: It Swims in Blood

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

It emerges from beneath red tides, parting the crimson mist. It moves with a singular purpose, yet robotic. It lumbers past and into darkness, its muscled arms creak like leather pulled too tight. Its breathing is ragged and wet, fading into the distance with each thud of its monstrous feet.

This piece was kind of an after thought once the other pieces in this set were finished. I almost didn't include it in this set, but it was created from that same source material.

Recommended Listening:
Black Seas of Infinity
The Wordless Aeon Has Awakened
from The Wordless Aeon Has Awakened

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

Festival of Orgone 2012: June 20th-July 4th

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Please join me at Trail of Breadcrumbs, beginning on the Northern Hemisphere's Summer Solstice, for the two week event I am calling the Festival of Orgone! Everyday on and between the Summer Solstice and U.S. Independence Day this year I will be posting a new Orgone inspired piece of artwork. With each piece I will be posting information about Orgone and other universal energies. Below are a few of my previous pieces based on Orgone energy.

I must offer up my apologies to the late Wilhelm Reich as I will be playing somewhat fast and loose with the exact definition of Orgone. My focus is inspirational. I will be looking at Orgone from a Mythical and Magickal standpoint. My goal is to tantalize your eyes and minds.

Join me for the Festival of Orgone.

{Digital Images created in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, & Adobe Photoshop}

From the Sketchbook Archives: Strange Eye

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Here's a quick sketch of a strange Cthulhian eye. I've always been fascinated / creeped out by octopus and squid aspects of the Cthulhian Mythos. My goal with this sketch was to explore some of the nonhuman eye construction one might encounter in the worlds of H.P. Lovecraft.

{Graphite}

Devil's Head III: My Daemon

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

This piece was simultaneously disturbing and satisfying as I completed it because I realized I was looking at a part of myself. It is actually kind of a relief to see this darkness and recognize it as my own. The feeling here for me was very similar to what I felt upon the completion of The Fear.

Tricky, this. I'm not put off by it, or angry, or feel I should destroy it. I just feel like I'm being shown something I needed to know. Weird, hunh. The other pieces created from this set disturb me more than this piece. I dunno if that is good or bad or just is. I guess there is less to be disturbed by when, no matter how twisted, it's your reflection you're looking at.

Recommended Listening:
Black Seas of Infinity
Porta Vox Umbra
from AMRITA - The Quintessence

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

Devil's Head II: The Unquiet Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

In the dark caves of Hell, trapped and hungry, forgotten desires map out the cursed gift of their continuance. Their garbled chanting wears the air thin with obscenities. They stretch free of the underworld like separating meat. Toothless and eager and undead, they seek us out for one last wet embrace.

Recommended Listening:
Black Seas of Infinity
AIShtLa
from AMRITA - The Quintessence

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

From the Sketchbook Archives: The Gateway

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:44:00 +0000

Here is another sketch for a larger piece. I had a vision of a large arched gate that a dark river ran beneath. My initial thought was of the Moon card from the Tarot, but upon time and reflection, I think this may be an incarnation of the river Styx and the entrance to the Underworld / Realm of Hades. Considering the time frame during which this sketch was created and Pluto's inevitable ingress into Capricorn (my sign), Styx seems very likely. Also, the two guardians are very much like grim reapers. Of course, both visions can be true. Intriguing.

I imagined everything in this image as bone white washed in the brackish run off from the rain that always falls in this dread place. This was during the same time that I was having interesting ideas for the re-imagining of haunted houses. A similar 'room' featured with the guardian statues being replaced by actors in gruesome costumes like the guardians here. Lots of ideas and never enough time to manifest them.

{Graphite}

COMING SOON: Festival of Orgone

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

At the end of of June 2012, I will be hosting an online art festival on one of my other blogs, Trail of Breadcrumbs. I've done some work in the past that has been an indicator of some of the style of work I will be displaying: the Janus Chariot, Blue Flame, and Collapsing the Waveform. My working title for the event is The Festival of Orgone. I will have more details available before the end of May and I will post a definite time frame for the festivities with more detailed information. Please come check it out!

Devils Head I: Dilemma of the Dark Votive

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

This is the beginning of a series of four pieces all of which were created from the same source material. Each had its own voice and message, so I've chosen to give them each separate posts.

This piece struck me as the revelation of a dark device. Some votive to an ancient devil suddenly discovered in your possession, its raspy voice whispering from the half light of a candle lit room. What if the Monkey's Paw whispered to you in the night?

Do you engage it? Do you have the strength to destroy it? Do you throw it away, hazarding the chance that some other poor soul might come under the sway of it? Or do you hold onto it, imprison it, forget it, and hope that you have the strength and courage to resist the lure of its dark promises of power?

Recommended Listening:
Black Seas of Infinity
Daughter of the Bleeding Sunset
from AMRITA - The Quintessence

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

From the Sketchbook Archives: The Immensity

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

A sketch for a larger piece. This image had been haunting me for awhile, waiting to be addressed. My original thought for this was as a large painting. I forget where the idea came from, but I want to layer transparent black to develop a subliminal visual space within the piece. In the meantime, a footnote here to keep the idea burning. These kinds of ideas never go away, but they do change form.

Other pieces have addressed this idea, but with a different take. I think there are a couple more sketches of ideas in this area that I have yet to post. Since I have regular access to a scanner again, I've recently renewed my review of my notebooks, so I'll get to those images soon.

Recommended Listening:
Dead Can Dance
Persephone
from Within the Realm of a Dying Sun

{Sharpie}

Micki's Tattoo Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Some tattoo designs for my friend Micki. She's a big fan of Hellraiser and Pinhead. Once these have been 'made flesh' as it were, I'll post updates.

{Digital images created in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Indesign}

The Second Phase: His Ire

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:05:00 +0000

Revelation of a truth about my nature,
and perhaps the face of one of the entities
who occasionally walks with my feet.

Recommended Listening:
This Morn Omina
One Eyed Man
from 7 Years of Famine

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

Sketchbook: Grahtennas

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Another portrait of the demonic arch duke, Grahtennas. This image is by no means a complete portrait, but it does give us a more expansive view of the archfiend.

{Sharpie}

Sketchbbok: Demon

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

A bat-winged demon guy lit by flames. The sketch started as just a satyr, but as I continued, it turned into something much more. I think when I drew him I was at odds with the capriciousness of the universe in my life at the time. I was just beginning to feel the effects of the Mars Retrograde cycle from earlier this year.

I am also working on a color version of this. I will update here once it is complete.

{Sharpie}

UPDATE Sketchbbok Archives: Taurian

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Another of the Rescans. Another interesting realization here about the differences between the ZIG and Sharpie markers. Please check out the old post and compare.

Observation of the Supplicant before the Throne

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

On the wings of thought and desire,
I send my petition into the other.

Recommended Listening:
A Forest of Stars
God (Part I)
God (Part II)
from The Corpse of Rebirth

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

UPDATE Sketchbook Archives: Scream

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Another of the Rescans. When I glanced at this rescan, I didn't think there was much change between this one and the original, but once I saw the two together, there is a definite improvement! Please check out the old post and compare.

UPDATE Sketchbook Archives: Red

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Another update from the Rescans. This one is completely changed by the Rescan. With the darkness of this piece and the glare from the sharpies, there really was no way to get a decent shot of this one. Once again the Scanner saves the day! Please check out the old post and compare.

In the Valley of the Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:05:00 +0000

At the bottom of our lives,

the soulless urge waits.

We've no reason to fear this skin we've shed,

yet a shiver still comes at its similarity

to our reflection in the mirror.
It is only absence,
it is only emptiness,
echoing the beating of our hearts.

Fear wears only the clothes we provide.

Recommended Listening:
Black Seas of Infinity
Daughter of the Bleeding Sunset
from AMRITA - The Quintessence

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}

UPDATE Sketchbook Archives: Face of Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Another update from the Rescans. This is one that benefits greatly from the rescan. No glare at all, in fact, you get some of the subtlety of the Sharpie transparency showing through on the scan. That almost never shows up in reproduction. Please check out the old post and compare.

UPDATE Sketchbook Archives: Winged Cat Demon

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:52:00 +0000

Here is another of the rescanned images from the sketchbook. On this one, the scan was so much better than the photo I took, I didn't have to touch up the image at all. Please check out the old post and compare.

The Room

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse W. Campbell) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:05:00 +0000

We live within a lie.

Recommended Listening:
Ministry
N.W.O.
from Psalm 69

{Digital images manipulated in Photoshop}