On the Styx

This piece brings us more visions of a journey through the Underworld.  Here we have statuary on the riverbanks in Hades.

Featured Creature: Reaching Zombie Guy

Here we have the last of the fill-in zombies to round out the HZO.  This will probably be my last zombie drawing for a little while.  I'm going to stick to non-zombie creatures for a bit until my self-inflicted PTSD wears off.  I am also in the process of rethinking on how I plan to present the Featured Creatures and what my goals are with these pieces.

I'm going to include the link here for the site that caused my dramatic change of heart.  I feel like I need to share this link because of the intensity of its images and its effect upon me.  PLEASE BE WARNED: if you choose to hit the link below that this is harsh material.  If you have the stomach for it, the site that broke me is called Charon Boat.

Thanks for bearing with me and I hope you enjoyed the HZO.  I'll post a toned version of this piece soon.

 
{Sharpie and Uni-ball Vision Elite Pen with tones added in Adobe Photoshop}

UPDATE 112512:

Here is the toned version for this piece.  This has been a long haul to get the fill ins for the HZO all completed.  The end of October and the whole month of November haven't taken any prisoners.  One of my housemates had surgery to have a tumor removed, my other housemate has been sick, my truck is having some kind of catastrophic failure at the moment, and I've been battling the flu for almost 3 weeks.  It turned nasty this weekend, pneumonia like, so I may be headed to the hospital soon.  You'd think by now I'd learn to respect the evil power of November.  It always kicks my butt.  Enough bemoaning my fate, eh.  Hey everybody - ZOMBIES!

From the Sketchbook Archives: Halloween Poster Pieces

Here are some unused sketches and color elements for a Halloween poster from several years ago.  Much of the imagery here is inspired by early twentieth century Halloween paraphernalia.

Featured Creature: Overalls Zombie

Here we have a good ol' boy who didn't get away quite fast enough.  I'll post a toned version of this soon.

Featured Creature: Long Haired Female Zombie

I didn't notice when I was drawing but someone I showed this to noticed that she looked a good bit like Laura Croft. An unintentional likeness as I've never played much Tomb Raider.  I'll get a tone version of this up soon.

 

Dysphorian Altar

In the blindness of ignorant action we build a home for all the things we deny.

Featured Creature: Dead Wolf

Here we have an undead wolf.  I forget exactly what inspired this piece.  I think I'd read something or other about the legend of an otherworldly black dog.  I'll update this piece with a toned version at some point later.

Featured Creature: Liberty Spikes Zombie

Here we have a punk rocker who wasn't quick enough to escape the hordes.  He was changed some time ago and grown dry with age.

{Sharpie and Uni-ball Vision Elite Pen with tones added in Adobe Photoshop}

Featured Creature HZO: An Apology

I must tender an apology.  I have run up against a truly unexpected barrier with the Halloween Zombie Outbreak.

There is a fine line in film where a horror movie can turn into a snuff film.  I enjoy being frightened as simulated catharsis, but I am not into murder porn.  I feel like I've been dancing around that line with the HZO pieces and maybe even crossed over it at a couple of points.  In my searches for reference material for the Halloween Zombie Outbreak pieces, I've come across some real world images that have made my soul hurt.

Generally, I find myself inured to most horrific imagery, but there is real violence and real suffering in the world that is soul humbling.  I just can't draw anymore undead children with their intestines hanging out.  I'm not done with horror or with even with zombies, I just have to take a break.  I can't draw any more horror right now.

I may not be able to create anything new, but I do have some other zombie pieces that have been waiting in the wings that I will post to round out the Halloween Zombie Outbreak.

Thanks for understanding and viewing.

  

Featured Creature HZO: Black Cat

"I work security over at the park off main and north.  The first one I saw was when I was patrolling near the front.  Halloween night is usually pretty busy so I had one other guy, Ted, working with me. I don't wanna talk about what happened to him, okay?

Disappointment

Light brings the revelation of a brittle truth.

Featured Creature HZO: Werewolf

"My mom's dog came running past me, yelping.  Someone was banging on the back door.  I ran into the kitchen, but stopped in my tracks.    It took me several moments to process what I was seeing.

Featured Creature HZO: Frankenstein

"There was a loud thump at the window.  I screamed and jumped back.  There was one of them at the window trying to get in.   He was struggling against the glass like a bird.  He was opening and closing his mouth as he pressed against the window.  I could hear the window  making popping and creaking noises as he flailed against it."