From the Archives: Kirby Crackles and Alien

Here's a quick sketch with some Kirby crackles, a strange alien, and a hand study.

{8.5 x 11, Ball Point Pen}

Featured Creature: The Room Under the Bridge

Ken had been struggling with the key for several minutes.  The metal door and lock were very old and a patch of rust had accumulated around the keyhole.  He wiped the sweat away from his eyes and scraped at the rust again with his screwdriver.  He tried the key once more. Finally the blockage gave way and the key slid in with a loud click.

He had to press hard to get the key to turn at all.  It felt as though it were going to break off in the lock, but the inertia within the lock slowly relented and the key turned.  Once the lock released he tugged at the door and it opened with an audible gust.  The air within was stagnant and musty.

"Finally!"  He took a swig from his water bottle and placed his tools back in his belt.  Ken returned quickly to his truck to get a flashlight and double check the paperwork for the site: #PDOTA13  Tertiary Water Interchange under South Highway Fourteen and Old Mason road bridge.  The commission director wanted an inventory of all the older pump sites in the county before funding could be approved for the new waterworks construction next year.  Everyone in site management was working extra shifts until all the pump sites had been checked and cataloged.  This particular interchange was the oldest on his list: it had not been accessed in over seven years.  He clipped his flashlight onto his belt and pocketed a filter face mask just in case the air was worse inside.  Clipboard under one arm, he returned to the door.

Psyche Delectus: Within the Soul Smithy

Old roles, emptied of potency,
are revealed as the masks
for the truth of actions.

UPDATE: Psyche Delectus Tenebrarum

I just completed an update to the Psyche Delectus Tenebrarum gallery. Thumbnails for 2011 through 2005 posts are now up in their entirety as well as the full year of 2013.  After going over the thumbnails several times, I realized that the page gets rather monotonous after a bit, so I've also added some year markers to break up the thumbnails a little.  let me know if that helps in viewing.  I hope you enjoy!

Saturday Sketch: Classic Etrigan

I've always been fond of DC Comics Demon, Etrigan.  I was first introduced to him in Matt Wagner's limited series in the early 80's. It wasn't until much later that I read some of the Kirby stories.  It is always a dark treat whenever Etrigan shows up.  He's nothing but trouble.


{2.5x3.5,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright for the properties represented in the Saturday Sketches.  All copyrights and trademarks are retained by their respective owners.  I make no money from what I am presenting here.  It is presented for portfolio purposes only.

Exhumed: DC Comics Manhunter

I'm angling more and more of work towards comic book themes and imagery with the Saturday Sketch and other future posts.  Although this piece does not specifically have a horror theme or imagery, I wanted to share it for the coloring aspect.  I promise next time we will return to our previously scheduled horror.  :-)

{8x6.2,  Sharpie with zippotone and color added in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright to this DC Comics character.  This is presented for portfolio purposes and appreciation only.

From the Archives: Zombie Meat King Sketch

A preparatory graphite sketch for a color zombie image from long ago. 

{8.5x11, Graphite}

Featured Creature Delay

Apologies for the delay on this weeks Featured Creature.  Holiday scheduling has kind of caught up with me like a snowball rolling downhill...at me.  :-O  I tried really hard to get it all finished, but I've just run out of juice.  I promise it will be worth the wait though.  I'm really excited about this upcoming image.  It's very creepy.  Happy New Year and I'll see you next week!

New Gallery: OTHER FEATURES

I've added a new gallery, Other Features, to give a clearer pathway to viewing my older work in From the Archives and to put a spotlight on my new features Exhumed and Saturday Sketch.  Each section has selected pieces as examples of style and content as well as a main link to all my artwork under those individual headers.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  Enjoy!

UPDATE: Psyche Delectus Tenebrarum

I just completed another update to the Psyche Delectus Tenebrarum gallery. Thumbnails for all 2012 posts are now up in their entirety.  I hope you enjoy!

Psyche Delectus: Church of the Burden

Minds shut tight like maidens of iron,
their bodies were only ever formed
to service the dissolution
of their God's hunger.

Saturday Sketch: Classic Hellcat

Marvel Comics Hellcat, Patsy (Walker) Hellstrom, was one of the first female heroines I read as a kid.  There was something about her simple design and bright primary colored costume that called to me.  Her later marriage to the Son of Satan and connection to demonic forces also made her very intriguing.

{2.5x3.5,  created in Adobe Photoshop}

I claim no copyright for the properties represented in the Saturday Sketches.  All copyrights and trademarks are retained by their respective owners.  I make no money from what I am presenting here.  It is presented for portfolio purposes only.  

Exhumed: Dark Magus

This piece was originally posted on EXP3 back when I was still posting artwork there.  In the original sketch the character was a villain from a fantasy story.  In the color rework, I feel like he has taken on a more mythic quality.  Now he seems more like the dark magus of the plains of sorrow or some such title.  For this rework, I added elements from another older sketch that this seemed to echo in tone. 

{8x5.33,  Graphite with Color added in Adobe Photoshop}