ANATHEMA ARCANA

Tuesday Tunes: Kenji Kawai (Live)

2012-01-24T17:19:00.004-05:00

From the wonderfully crafted and aurally overwhelming GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE soundtrack...

AlphaBeasts: O is for Onryō

2012-01-23T03:38:00.003-05:00

With this week's diet of studio entertainment consisting of catching up on missed episodes of AFRO SAMURAI, revisiting MEATBALL MACHINE, and studying the directorial choices made by Yoshiaki Kawajiri between his early work and later films, it's no wonder that I'm sticking with a yōkai theme for this week's AlphaBeasts! entry...

O is for Onryō.

The Onryō is an interesting creature. It exists somewhere between yūrei (a Japanese ghost kept from a peaceful afterlife) and yōkai. Because the death delivered to the Onryō was so horrible, it undergoes a powerful transformation, materializing in the physical plane so that it might exact vengeance for its untimely demise...

Traditionally, Onryō are female and victimized by cruel lovers or husbands. The film JU-ON (THE GRUDGE) features a particularly nasty Onryō...and her equally nasty family...

For my interpretation, I kept the traditional visual elements (white kimono, wild black hair, and pale face) and brought in a few supernatural touches of my own. My Onryō is retching arcs of weapon-clutching ectoplasm and is fully prepared to dish out otherworldly revenge.

Tuesday Tunes: The Creepshow

2012-01-17T02:35:00.002-05:00

AlphaBeasts: N is for Nukekubi

2012-01-16T03:50:00.005-05:00

After an AlphaBeasts! hiatus, I'm back in action and returning to the beastly battle royale with more yōkai!

N is for Nukekubi.

The nukekubi are a strange breed in the ever-horrifying family of yōkai. By day, they make every attempt to appear as ordinary human beings completely devoid of supernatural powers (or monstrous urges). But, when the night falls, the nukekubi reveal their true form: a floating, blood-thirsty head.

Yes, these bodiless demon-things soar through the night sky in search of the innocent and descend upon their prey with terrible expressions and horrible screams. But, like western vampires, these creatures fear the dawn. If they do not return to their bodies by the first light of the day, a ghastly death awaits.

For my interpretation, I chose to fashion the body with a sort of biomechanical defensive mechanism to protect it from any would-be monster hunters who think it wise to hide the body away from the nukekubi. The head itself is transformed into something far more sinister than a human face bobbing on evening gusts.

If you look closely, you'll see I've also included a hito-dama ("human soul"). Hito-dama are the spirit forms of the recently deceased that frequently appear when the supernatural world interacts with our own. You can see hito-dama and more yōkai in this trailer for the classic film Yōkai Monsters: Spook Warfare below:

Tuesday Tunes: The Good Natured - Wolves

2012-01-10T17:51:00.003-05:00

I hear the howling and it's time to let go...The moon is rising and I'll never be alone...

KU vs. Simon Drax

2012-01-09T17:07:00.006-05:00

No AlphaBeasts today, friends. No, I'm bringing monsters of a different sort to this week's art party...

Above you'll see the image I created for the eBook version of Simon Drax's A VERY FAST DESCENT INTO HELL.

I was completely honored to be asked to create an illustration like this for Simon (who has been a wonderful supporter of my work) and provide more than a bit of "fan art" for a story I enjoyed from the moment I picked up my copy. The texture and density of the paper pages betray the tale that awaits.

The book reads like a wild mash-up of post-apocalyptic mythology and the better parts of Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER with all the gnashing of fangs and soul-hungry demons you could ever want. It's the kind of story animation director Yoshiaki Kawajiri needs to get his hands on...

But don't take my word for it. Discover your own doomed-future experience at the hands of Simon Drax here: LINK

AlphaBeasts: L is for La Llorona

2012-01-02T04:39:00.005-05:00

Not only is this week’s AlphaBeasts! entry a serious creepster, she’s packed with the letter L. Ls everywhere. Ls enough for the whole project…

L is for La Llorona.

La Llorona isn’t just a fun name to say, she’s one of those mythic creatures that comes with a wild tale of watery horror, cast-off love, and filicide. Like Jenny Greenteeth and other malicious water spirits, La Llorona has a tendency to drag the unsuspecting down into the depths for a quick drowning. Having “lost” her own children (stories differ on whether she had a hand in their murder or not), she’s quite fond of seeking out the wayward offspring of others.

"Aquí están mis hijos..."

As a proper complement, here’s the PJ Harvey song that became stuck in my head from the moment this week's beast began:

Tuesday Tunes: Faith And The Muse

2011-12-27T12:42:00.003-05:00

C'mon, baby...C'mon, darling...Let me steal this moment from you now...

AlphaBeasts: K is for Krampus

2011-12-26T03:38:00.005-05:00

Every year the Internet comes alive with interpretations of Krampus. And why not? He's the darkest part of the deepest pit in St. Nicholas' shadow. He's a terrifying relic of ancient celebrations who carts naughty children off to the underworld in a washtub.

Given that this week's AlphaBeasts! falls directly within that window between Christmas and New Year's Eve, it just doesn't make sense to let this winter fiend go untouched. And that's why...

K is for Krampus.

So I hope you'll enjoy this rather odd reimaginging of Krampus and return next week to see the latest installment in this ongoing series.

Happy Hogswatch to All

2011-12-24T13:28:00.001-05:00

Tuesday Tunes: The Prodigy vs. Pendulum

2011-12-20T23:10:00.005-05:00

AlphaBeasts: J is for Jorogumo

2011-12-19T04:04:00.013-05:00

For this week's entry into the ongoing AlphaBeasts! project, I've chosen to marry several loves: Yokai, spiders, magic, and things both foul and fair. And that's why...

J is for Jorōgumo.

Everything about the Jorōgumo seems tailored to my style of work. And my decision to pursue this beast as my subject for this week began with:

According to legend, when a spider turns 400 years old, it gains magical powers.

An ancient, magical spider? A sorcerous arachnid able to mimic the appearance of a beautiful and beguiling woman? A creature with alternate names like "whore spider" and "binding lady?" Yes, please.

As a rabid fan of yokai tales and films, I'm hoping to sneak a few more of these wonderful Japanese myths into this project. Until next time, enjoy another interpretation of the Jorōgumo by Gojin Ishihara:
And for the Hell of it:

Bartley Barnacle - Original Innsmouth Creature

2011-12-16T15:13:00.006-05:00

Now that this original creature sculpture has arrived safely at the home of his new owner, I can reveal the final painted and gold-adorned outcome of this Lovecraft-inspired project.

You can read GhoulFriday's response to the piece on her blog HERE.

And you can see other photos of the final reveal, including work-in-progress images, on the project page at The Creatureworks.

Bartley Barnacle is an original, one-of-a-kind creature sculpture and will not be reproduced as a resin model kit.

Tuesday Tunes: IAMX - Spit It Out

2011-12-13T00:33:00.001-05:00

AlphaBeasts: I is for Illithid

2011-12-12T04:22:00.006-05:00

This week's entry into the ongoing AlphaBeasts! project comes from the mind of Dungeons & Dragon's creator Gary Gygax given a serious dosage of influence administered by the writings of HP Lovecraft. It's a psionic, tentactular nightmare that will pluck your brain right out of your skull and eat it in front of your friends.

Those of you who are already familiar with this creature should make a Saving Throw versus Will. You know what's coming.

For those of you not retreating to the safety of the nearest nerdery, this week's beast is frequently called a "Mind Flayer" and its sinister, spirit-shattering powers are why...

I is for Illithid.

Illithids have a basically humanoid body, but their head is octopus-like. They have four tentacles around a lamprey-like mouth, and require the brains of sentient creatures as part of their diet. An illithid who snares a living creature in all four of its tentacles can extract and devour its living brain. Their eyes are pale white, and they can see perfectly well in both darkness and light. Their sense of hearing is slightly poorer than a human's; they have difficulty distinguishing between several sounds mixed together. Their skin is purplish blue to gray-green and covered in mucus, and is very sensitive to sunlight. Though sunlight does not actually harm them, they loathe it with incredible ferocity.

One of the most feared powers is the dreaded Mind Blast, where the illithid emits a cone-shaped psionic shockwave with its mind in order to incapacitate any creature for a short amount of time. Illithids also have other psionic powers, generally telepathic in nature, although their exact effects have varied over editions. Other powers include a defensive psionic shield and powers of psionic domination for controlling the minds of others.

Art Attack - Decatur Drink & Draw

2011-12-06T12:54:00.004-05:00

Superboy/Supergirl hanging around a Christmas tree simply can't compete with cold Danish winters and the creak of boiled-leather scales...

Here's a quick thing sketched out between slices of pizza and fiercely nerd-ish gibbering (both of which are never in short supply).

Tuesday Tunes: The Lotus Eaters DCD Tribute

2011-12-06T12:51:00.002-05:00

AlphaBeasts: H is for Homunculus

2011-12-05T03:38:00.008-05:00

For this week's entry into the ongoing AlphaBeasts! project, I chose a nasty bit of alchemical history as my inspiration:

In the [Visions of Zosimos,] Zosimos mentions encountering a man who impales himself with a sword, and then undergoes "unendurable torment", his eyes become blood, he spews forth his flesh, and changes into "the opposite of himself, into a mutilated anthroparion (a Greek alchemical concept of a being somewhat similar to a golem but possessing a sense of will and intelligence), and he tore his flesh with his own teeth, and sank into himself", which is a rather grotesque personification of the ouroboros, the dragon that bites its own tail, which represents the dyophysite nature in alchemy: the balance of two principles.

Zosimos later encounters several other homunculi, named as the Brazen Man, the Leaden Man, and so forth. Commonly, the homunculi "submit themselves to unendurable torment" and undergo alchemical transformation.

Transfiguration, autosarcophagy, teeth, and teeth, and teeth! Stoke the fires and gather all the lead you can find, because this week is giving life to...

H is for Homunculus...

Tuesday Tunes: Rosewater Elizabeth

2011-11-29T10:52:00.003-05:00

For when the sky descends, the snow flitters in fragile flights, and the firelight conjures the crackling phantoms of memories best left undisturbed...

AlphaBeasts: G is for Goblin King

2011-11-28T02:36:00.006-05:00

This week's contribution to the ongoing AlphaBeasts! project should require no introduction. And if it does, I've included a video below that should instantly pinpoint why...

G is for Goblin King.

KU Field Trip 2011

2011-11-23T20:18:00.015-05:00

Now that I'm back and settled from my recent trip to lands south of Georgia, here's a collection of photographic highlights from that experience. Let me add that seeing Stuart Craig's production design skills firsthand will have a definite impact on the work to arrive in 2012.

AlphaBeasts: F is for Faerie

2011-11-21T07:47:00.003-05:00

Ancient earth work fort and barrow/Discreetly hide their secret abodes/The most fearful hide deep inside/And venture not there upon yuletide/For invasion of their hollow hills/The music hold and Oberon fill/Is surely recommended not/For fear of death in fear of rot

- "Hollow Hills," Bauhaus

Let me start by saying that I have no trouble admitting that I’m a fan of faeries. I am. But let me also add that my particular view of the faerie realm is closer to that of Arthur Machen than of Walt Disney.

And before Machen there were others who spoke of this place and its peoples. Their real and serious fear of the faerie folk - those that wander the hollow hills that lead to Elphame and consorted with spirits best left to pass undisturbed through the veil - live on in the tales of old. The common eye sees these records simply as rhymes and songs, but those with a crooked view recognize the warnings beyond the verse.

Certainly faerie creatures have committed kind acts (aided heroes, shielded the innocent, and other deeds) as we understand them, but, by and large, trafficking with such creatures was ill-advised. The wiser amongst us knew what treacheries faeriekind set for mortal hearts.

Because at one time in our history, before the fairytales were blunted and rewritten, faeries were cruel. Not bad, mind you – all things of the natural world have no concept of good or evil which are mortal constructs. They simply act as they will. And things of such stinging, prickly desires that are intemperate and ever-changing can only seem cruel. Which is why…

F is for Faerie.

For this week’s entry into the project, I chose to depict a faerie racing along as part of a Wild Hunt. I’ve been feeding myself “Regency Period” for upcoming projects and that style has infected the outcome of the creature’s design. The mount is a faerie beast – appearing from afar like a common bird – but easily discernible as something less-than-common as it passes by with cursing cries. Its palsied flight betrays its otherworldly origins.

I’m away from the news blog, trying my hand at vacationing. I’ll return tomorrow with more art and news to share.

Tuesday Tunes: First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

2011-11-15T19:48:00.007-05:00

I am no more a witch than you are a wizard. If you take my life away, God will give you blood to drink.

- Sarah Good, hanged for witchcraft in the summer of 1692 despite her repeated professions of innocence. When Death came for Sarah Good's tormentor, Reverend Nicholas Noyes, he died with a throat swollen and choked with blood.

AlphaBeasts: E is for Ent

2011-11-14T00:36:00.010-05:00

With a name like King Unicorn and the dark brand of work that I like to hammer out in The Creatureworks, it's easy to assume that I prefer a haunted trail through Ye Olde Mystic Forest. So, when it came to thinking about this week's entry for AlphaBeasts, I had little trouble deciding that...

E is for Ent.

I was first introduced to the concept of the "animated tree" through the 1939 production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, when hungry Dorothy and The Scarecrow decided to stray from the yellow brick road to gather apples. A grove of twisted, angry trees was perfectly in keeping with the bizarre wonderland that was OZ and thrilled my developing imagination.

Of course, I was soon exposed to the works of JRR Tolkien and his shifting forest of tree-giants bound to tear Isengard and its Black Tower asunder. The various portrayals of Treebeard and his companions by Alan Lee and John Howe remain some of my favorite interpretations of the ents in Tolkien's work and stamped the image of the "tree man" firmly into my mind. Their work and derivative designs (especially since the release of Peter Jackson's trilogy) can be difficult to steer clear from.

For this week's entry, I chose to portray the ent as a disused and ill-tempered sort of creature. The environmentalist in me prefers to believe that this is just the sort of thing that's waiting to haul its way out of the heart of the forest to lend Woodsy Owl and Smokey Bear a bit more teeth. The fantasist in me longs to stumble off a North Georgia trail and come face to face with a creature of this sort. I wonder what ancient lore it would have to share?

I wonder if I'd hear any of it while running for my life?

Tuesday Tunes: Swans - Blood & Honey

2011-11-08T20:46:00.001-05:00

'Tis now the very witching time of night...

AlphaBeasts: D is for Deadite - Paper Model

2011-11-06T21:31:00.010-05:00

For this week’s AlphaBeasts! entry, I’ve found the perfect way to combine my sculpting background with a brand new creature design: Papercraft! Now you can celebrate AlphaBeasts every day by building your very own King Unicorn AlphaBeast. Display it on your desk, bookshelf, or wherever you want a little minion of doom to guard your valued possessions.

ATTENTION: Looking for the high-resolution file? You can find it on my AlphaBeasts archive page at The Creatureworks.

D is for Deadite.

I’ve been a fan of Sam Raimi’s horror-comedy approach to dark filmmaking since Junior High School when I was first introduced to EVIL DEAD 2. Raimi knows how to cut terror with humor in ways that keep the audience from bolting for the door. I can recall catching myself laughing aloud when just moments before I was certain terrible things were going to come crawling out from the television screen to drag me away to some dreaded netherworld.

And those things are called "Deadites."

Deadites are the beings summoned, possessed, or resurrected throughout Raimi’s EVIL DEAD Trilogy and represent the primary group of antagonists that assault Ash Williams - the films’ time-traveling, chainsaw-fisted hero. Best of all, deadites appear in many hideous shapes, providing plenty of room for interpretation and personal expression.

Below is an example of Raimi’s expertly executed shift from horror to humor. What begins as a terrible run-in with a cellar-dwelling deadite becomes a battle with a misfit puppet that would make The Muppets shudder with fear.

And here is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the practical effects for many elements of the above scene:

Art Attack - Friday Night Dinner

2011-11-04T20:16:00.005-04:00

I'm a firm believer that every dinner table should be covered with butcher paper and have a pile of drawing implements within easy reach. All that blank, white space begs for proper scribbling.

While crayons are not my preferred weapon of choice for an art attack, it's the poor artist who complains that he/she is without "the proper tools" when the moment to create presents itself. And that moment is fleeting when good food is quickly served!

Tuesday Tunes: Concrete Blonde - Mexican Moon

2011-11-01T13:13:00.002-04:00

In honor of Día de los Muertos, here's the perfect song for grabbing a calavera de azúcar, finding a quiet place to sit, and letting thoughts drift to those who are no longer with us.

Halloween 2011: Frankenstein Monster Bust

2011-10-30T12:44:00.006-04:00

Also honoring Halloween 2011 is my latest resin model bust inspired by one of the season's most recognized and beloved characters: Frankenstein's Monster.

Adam Wretched-Heart

I've never created an interpretation of this iconic figure before and I thought it would make the perfect subject for this year's Halloween project. I've named the character in honor of the original work and will produce him as a single-piece resin model for release by Christmas.

With colder weather approaching, this is the last project I'll complete for my line of original model kits for 2011. I'll be spending the winter months on commissions and original works until 2012 is firmly upon us.

You can read more about Adam Wretch-Heart's development and see all the images of the final sculpt at The Creatureworks Project Page.

I do hope you enjoy the piece and have a haunted and festive Halloween!

AlphaBeasts: C is for Changeling

2011-10-30T12:17:00.011-04:00

In honor of Halloween 2011, this week's AlphaBeast's entry is one of the oldest and worst "tricks" devised by the goblins let loose in our world on this most magical of days...

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake one evening during a violent thunderstorm to strange cries from the room of your newborn child. But these are not the cries of some frightened infant. There's something unnatural about the sound, like a human playing at being a squealing piglet or a cackling hyena fleeing before a lioness.

You enter the room cautiously, because you know deep down in the oldest part of yourself that something is amiss. And when you finally reach the crib and pull back the wreck of blankets, you discover that your baby is gone. In its place is a hideous, child-like thing that calls out for your affection with its terrible cry.

This is the fear that's haunted parents for ages. That's why...

C is for Changeling.

A changeling is an interesting thing. The name represents both the child carried off to the faerie realms within the hollow hills, and the misshapen, ghastly creature left in the child's place for the parents to find. What's left behind might also be an enchanted object that appears to grow sick and to die in the care of the mother and father as a cruel jest.

But a changeling is not always immediately recognized as a thing of faerie heritage. In the case of goblin children, it can take months or even years before the first signs of its unnatural origins appear. But when they do, there's little doubt for the parents that the child they've raised as their own is not of their flesh and blood.

For a delightfully mythic All Hallow's Read, I recommend Arthur Machen's The Novel of the Black Seal (available as a free ebook download through ManyBooks.net) which explores the changeling concept in ways that thrilled even HP Lovecraft.

Of course, there's also the Jim Henson/Brian Froud film, LABYRINTH, which plants the changeling story directly in a magical (and Muppet-filled) interpretation of the goblin realm. Additionally, the fine imaginations at White Wolf Publishing have an entire game set in their World of Darkness that explores the struggles of changelings past and present.

Halloween 2011: Zombie Walk!

2011-10-30T12:00:00.016-04:00

I missed the previous zombie walk in Atlanta this year due to a scheduling conflict, but was able to make up for it by joining my wife and her roller derby team for the Marietta Charity Zombie Walk! A local food bank helped sponsor the event, and zombies were asked to bring canned goods as part of their participation, adding a wonderful community service element to the event.

Zombie walks are a great opportunity to dust off my old Special F/X chops and put them to work, and I did my part to help bring out the dead by smearing cream makeup, spreading liquid latex, and spraying blood in every direction. You can see how the event turned out below (all credit to my wife who was snapping away):

[Above: Our pal Sarah didn't break character once. A true champion of the zombie horde.]

Halloween 2011: Old Mister Six-Snips

2011-10-27T23:01:00.006-04:00

The other day I received an invitation to a virtual Halloween party hosted by the webmistress of Justine's Halloween. Never one to pass up the opportunity to dig into my costume trunk and spook up an occasion, I dreamed up this sinister creature to help spread a little holiday fear.

OLD MISTER SIX-SNIPS

For the children, he's the terror of Halloween night, cutting the bottoms out of candy sacks and ruining trick-r-treater' chances of arriving home with a sugary haul. For the adults, he's another legend in a long line of Halloween head collectors, gathering faces to wear over his own ruined visage from one season to the next.

It only takes six snips...

Tuesday Tunes: Oh, Peter Murphy

2011-10-25T19:50:00.008-04:00

Old Lady Shade turns a vespertilian thing. A motion event. A friend of the jinn!

I received the latest effort from Peter Murphy for my anniversary this past weekend, and it's not left my person since prying it free from its wrappings. My home sways with the sounds of mystics and phantoms.

Chase this one down for your collection.

AlphaBeasts: B is for Banshee

2011-10-23T22:09:00.009-04:00

Looking over – and ultimately scrutinizing - my first entry into the AlphaBeasts project, there were a few things I wasn’t happy with and wanted to eliminate entirely from my process (most noticeably a poor choice in line weight and a separation of the subject from the rest of the page). As you can see from the work above, I’ve spent a little more time beating my creative process into fighting shape for this week’s entry.

Part of the thrill of encountering a beast is the moment of discovery. The fight or flight response summoned by a more ancient part of our brain. It’s the instance of choosing to plunge your spear into the thing’s heart or scatter for whatever gentle comfort one can first hope to encounter. Now that I’ve warmed up and set a few creativity “rules” in place for myself, this concept of discovery is what I want to drive this exercise moving forward.

I hope this new image feels more like an encounter and less like a flat entry into some mythic taxonomy.

B is for Banshee.

My first experience with the Banshee was through Darby O’Gill and the Little People (a classic film my father took great pride in showing every Saint Patrick’s Day). It was a fun and lighthearted movie until the very end, when I found the strange wailing that competed and finally overtook the film’s score worrisome. Accompanying the cry was the teary-eyed fear in the face of Darby, the old groundskeeper. It was a desperate look that could only herald ruin.

What appeared on the screen – descending out of the sky in a translucent shimmer that betrayed its unnatural presence – was at once both terrifying and inspiring. I’d not seen a ghastly specter like that before, and this week’s entry honors that wonderful phantom.

For those unfamiliar with the Banshee, this animated video presentation makes an entertaining introduction to one of the more famous death spirits:

AlphaBeasts: A is for Amphisbaena

2011-10-17T00:24:00.006-04:00

For the next 26 weeks, I'll be participating in the AlphaBeasts project, joining other artists and monster fans in creating personal interpretations of our favorite creatures out of fiction and myth.

Since I start my studio sessions with a few moments of warm-up sketching to focus my attention and develop ideas, this makes a great exercise to replace my usual scribblings.

A is for Amphisbaena.

The amphisbaena has a twin head, that is one at the tail end as well, as though it were not enough for poison to be poured out of one mouth. -Pliny the Elder. Naturalis Historia, ca. 77 AD

The myth of the amphisbaena begins with the slaying of Medusa. As Perseus flew with the gorgon's severed head above the deserts of Libya, drops of blood fell free from the stump of her neck and landed in the rough sands. There, nurtured by the dry air and the heat of the open sun, the blood transformed into fabulously dangerous creatures.

Many medieval depictions of the amphisbaena reveal a two-headed beast (appearing like a basilisk or somewhat like a cockatrice) with a dominant head, two limbs, a pair of wings, and a set of stubby horns. Others depict a vicious, snake-like beast.

For my interpretation, I chose to keep the amphisbaena closer in appearance to its mother, creating a misshapen monster that blends human with serpent at each end. The limbs are useless growths that can do little more than slap and scratch at the ground, and the horns that sprout from the dominant head have grown into slender lengths as sinister as needles.

I like to believe it's just the sort of villain Medusa would've birthed had she not been made a trophy.

Moon Day Inspiration: Bela Lugosi as Dracula

2011-10-09T23:15:00.006-04:00

I love a late-evening viewing of Max Schreck in NOSFERATU. I'm an adoring fan of Gary Oldman's performance in Coppola's DRACULA. But neither can compare to the majesty of Bela Lugosi's turn as Stoker's blood-craving count.

There are daggers in his every smile.

Moon Day Inspiration: The Halloween Song

2011-10-03T22:09:00.003-04:00

For this first post of October that is also an entry into my Moon Day Inspiration series, it's only fitting that we revisit Stephen Lynch's "Halloween" song. I know I've shared this before, but it's one of the more appropriate ways to invoke the spirit of the season and the holiest of holidays without a dusty grimoire and a thimbleful of black bile.

KU Resin Bust: Memmio - Final Sculpt

2011-09-27T00:01:00.005-04:00

I've finally completed and uploaded the full reveal of my Memmio the Free-Changer bust to The Creatureworks. If you've not seen the previous set of work-in-progress photos, you can access both at the project page.

Final model specifications and ordering details will be available soon.

Moon Day Inspiration: Victorian Horror Puppets

2011-09-26T00:05:00.005-04:00

I do so hate being late to the party. Especially when that party features work so near and dear to my heart: Live performance, sculptural arts, haunting soundscapes, necromancy, and gothic horror...

The Narrative of Victor Karloch - see more of this amazing production HERE.

Friday Night Frights: The Streets of Arkham

2011-09-24T09:56:00.005-04:00

After being introduced to Fantasy Flight Game's Arkham Horror board game last year, my wife decided to procure a copy for our household.

Last night, we cracked the seal on this expansive, complex game and spent several hours battling monsters, losing our sanity, and ultimately waking the anger of a long-asleep elder thing that devoured our characters in hellish ways.

If you like lurking about old curiosity shops, selling the carcasses of defeated horrors for quick cash, and passing through portals into distant dimensions in the faint hope of stalling certain doom, this is the game for you.

Bring friends. You'll need them.

New KU Resin Bust: Memmio (WIP)

2011-09-16T10:24:00.008-04:00

With Halloween fast approaching and the long winter on its heels, I'm catching up on a number of outstanding original projects to release for the darker days ahead. The first project escaping The Creatureworks began as the sculpting demonstration at this year's Baltimore Comic-Con: MEMMIO THE FREE-CHANGER.

This work-in-progress photo hints at the strange shape and depth of detail the final model will possess, which come together to create a wonderful canvas for casual painters and veteran kitbuilders alike.

This kit will be pressure-cast in gray resin and is scheduled for an October 2011 release.

Additional images available on the project page.

Moon Day Inspiration: Skeleton Frolic (1937)

2011-09-12T19:55:00.001-04:00

KU vs. Dead Souls: WiP

2011-09-02T10:49:00.006-04:00

EDIT: The final design has finally been revealed at THE SHADOW FARM. There, you can see the outcome of my collaboration with Dave the Dead on the new logo for his marketing materials.

Now that this project has wrapped up and the originator is preparing to make the grand reveal of the final outcome, I wanted to go ahead and share some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into this latest commission.

Here are three rough versions of the artwork (based on the artist's original designs) that I pulled together before we finalized the right look for the project. Because the final design will be transformed by another artist at a later time, we had to make a few decisions about what would best assist with the next stage in the whole process.

Deep shadows and pale skulls always win the day...

KU vs. Baltimore Comic-Con 2011

2011-08-18T13:21:00.008-04:00

Once again, the KU Traveling Horror Show wheels northward to take part in Baltimore Comic-Con 2011!

And it couldn't come at a better time.

As with HeroesCon, I'll be sharing space with Christian Sager (and the expanding issues of his nautical fantasy adventure, BORDER CROSSINGS) to share the unique creation we've put together called THINK OF THE CHILDREN. I'll also be displaying a small contingent of resin model kits, OOAK works, and monsters in-progress.

I've got a 1/4-scale aberration on deck for the live sculpting demonstration this year, so I'll be carving, pounding, and tearing away clay all weekend.

And if you're looking for sketches of your favorite heroes (or monsters), check the sketch schedule for Dave Wachter and Robert Wilson IV who will be helping us wall off a good section of the event this year.

EVENT DETAILS:

Baltimore Comic-Con
Saturday and Sunday - August 20 & 21, 2011
Show Hours: Saturday 10-6 & Sunday 10-5
Location: The Baltimore Convention Center

Letters From Exile: KU Studio Update

2011-08-15T09:44:00.008-04:00

No, this isn't the view of some far off and haunted keep taken at the edge of a dangerously steep cliff. This is ground zero for what has become the complete and thorough gutting of my current residence as plumbers and repairmen search for cracked pipes, bad connections, and signs of additional water damage. Fortunately, we are merely tenants and not responsible for the flow of cash that is funding the replacement and repair that is currently underway. The joys of renting are never so clearly punctuated as when home repair bills pass on to someone else.

Without a studio space for the next week (fingers are crossed that the work proceeds without any additional discoveries of "house rot" that might push this process into a third week), my current schedule has been severely interrupted. Here's the update:

1) Commission Schedule: Commissions contracted for August/September have been delayed. I have sent out emails addressing this delay and offering new timelines to put the schedule back on track as quickly as possible. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please let me know.

2) Think of the Children Production: Beyond the housing issues I've contributed to this delay, an email went out last week to donors covering the unfortunate breakage of our laser engraver and color transfer printer. While we await the finalization of the TOTC books, I can confirm that the other rewards produced for Kickstarter donors are 100% complete. They are carefully packed away and protected from the destruction in and around my studio.

3) Baltimore Comic Con: Christian Sager and I will be making our scheduled appearance at BCC Saturday and Sunday (August 20-21) to share the work on TOTC and promote upcoming projects. I will have model kits, project previews, and small-scale sculptures on display and will be conducting a live sculpting demonstration to continue last year's session.

If you can make the show, do stop by (a map of our location will be posted later this week) and check out the new work being stitched, patched, and magicked together in the studio (once it doesn't look like this:)

Moon Day Inspiration: Noroi the Curse

2011-08-08T19:13:00.002-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Bela Lugosi's Dead

2011-07-18T15:17:00.002-04:00

"..back on the >>>rack<<<..."

Did you hear that? She nailed that line in the deceitful murder-whisper a lover hears just before the poison seizes the heartstrings.

Bolt the windows and bar the doors, kids.

Moon Day Inspiration: The Sword

2011-06-20T11:30:00.000-04:00

Black and White: Chieftain and Witch

2011-06-15T01:16:00.005-04:00

Between catching up with my backlog of projects and TOTC assignments, these inked concepts continue to spill out of the art cauldron.

In keeping with the theme of the previous work, this is another juxtaposition of ancient and modern, scarred and soft-skinned. What I most like about this piece is that both figures appear to have developed their own brand of pagan savagery.

I have no idea what dangers these two have in store for the rest of us.

Black and White: Allegra Razor

2011-06-08T02:26:00.005-04:00

Here's another black and white sample headed to the gallery as part of my preparations for upcoming projects this summer. This one is a dark mash-up of beauty and beast, Iron Age and gutter-punk.

The image is best viewed with Leæther Strip's cover of LULLABY by The Cure which was in heavy rotation during development.

Moon Day Inspiration: Stripped and Stripped

2011-06-06T13:55:00.005-04:00

Because after a long and brilliant weekend at HeroesCon in North Carolina, my voice is as thrashed and shredded as Lindmann's vocals and, from 2:13 on, this song makes me impervious to elemental air, treacherous fire, and the effects of "con crud."

I've included the Shiny Toy Guns version as well (the 2:13 mark bursts into a chasing duet between Carah Faye and Chad) for those who need something less abrasive for Monday:

TOTC Reward: KU vs. William Gaines

2011-05-22T16:43:00.007-04:00

Just in time for the two-week mark to arrive for the THINK OF THE CHILDREN Kickstarter Campaign, I present the limited edition art print that will be given to all supporters who contribute $10 or more to the production of the printed version of our comic project.

Originally, this illustration was going to be offered as an ACEO print that could be framed, traded, or given away to a friend, but Christian Sager and I have decided that for the final artwork created for our comic, that's simply not enough. So, we're now offering our donors a larger, black-and-white print at an 8x10 size that's suitable for framing and display.This is a huge shift in our original reward offer, and those that have already donated a minimum of $10 are going to get more than they bargained for!

For this image, I've revisited the figure of EC Comic's William Gaines and rendered him in the sinister light that I feel the members of the Senate Subcommittee wanted the American public to view him. Gaines is presented holding his vile meteorite fragment and beckoning one of his ghastly minions to come to his aid.

To see this and the other rewards we're offering to those who contribute to our project, visit our Kickstarter Project Page!

TOTC Kefauver's Relic - Reward Sculpture

2011-05-19T01:52:00.007-04:00

Early in our discussions for Kickstarter rewards, Christian Sager and I talked about creating a small netsuke-style sculpture that would complement the resin seal crafted for the cover of the THINK OF THE CHILDREN book. Once the project began, it quickly became clear that this piece wanted to grow into something larger than the initial concept. So, throwing the self-imposed guidelines away, I fashioned a 4” tall beast that makes the perfect desktop companion (or talisman for warding off those tentacular Elder things).

The images above are of the raw sculpture before molding and casting and simply don't capture how large and aggressive this design turned out.

The final piece will be pressure cast in gray resin that’s suitable for display or ready for painting and customization. This production is a strictly limited run and available only to Kickstarter contributors.

Learn more about this project and how you can receive this exclusive sculpture HERE.

TOTC FREE Bookplate Artwork

2011-05-13T17:06:00.004-04:00

Every hardcover book produced as part of the print release of THINK OF THE CHILDREN will include a 4”x6” ex libris (“from the books of…”) bookplate affixed to the inside cover for recipients to proudly proclaim their ownership.

I’m very pleased with this design and I believe it makes a wonderful introduction to the strange monstrosities that await readers as the pages turn and the story is revealed. What I also enjoy is that it’s not a design that’s limited to our project. It has the potential to fit into any book in any library. That’s why Christian Sager and I want you to have one too.

That’s right, friends, we’re giving away a hi-res, 5”x7” version of this bookplate FOR FREE!

All you have to do is grab the digital copy, scale it to fit your needs, print it off on sticker/label paper, and apply it to your favorite book. It’s that easy.
If you like this design, tell your friends to grab a copy too, because this print is only available for a limited time!

Click here for download instructions.

TOTC Street Teams

2011-05-02T09:56:00.003-04:00

Now that we're entering our second week of raising funds for the printed version of THINK OF THE CHILDREN, Christian Sager has launched a new street team initiative to help put the word out about the book and our efforts to raise funds for an original, artifact comic.

The street team was especially developed to help people spread the word around their local communities and in the local bookstores and comic shops they frequent. And to reward those who help spread the word, their efforts will be recognized and immortalized in the physical book. People will know you had a direct hand in making this wonderful project happen.

To learn more about our project, the new TOTC Street Team, and donate to help us bring this project to completion, visit our KICKSTARTER page HERE!

TOTC Kickstarter Page Launched

2011-04-22T15:16:00.007-04:00

The Kickstarter page to call for support for the printed artifact version of Think of the Children has officially launched!

If you're a fan of independent comics, a true lover of monstrous fiends, or someone who enjoys the sculptural works found here and on my website, please donate to this project and share our Kickstarter page and/or the video above with others to help spread the word.

We've created a wonderful list of rewards to thank everyone who contributes to this Kickstarter fund. Those rewards range from stickers and limited-edition prints to original creature sculptures so rare, you'll swear they're one-of-a-kind! If you thought the monsters in the book were nasty, just wait until you have one of your very own watching you...plotting against you...while you sleep...

I'm looking forward to outdoing myself to offer up some truly exciting works for those who have helped Christian Sager and I bring this project to completion.

TOTC vs. RUE MORGUE Magazine

2011-04-20T00:25:00.002-04:00

Taken from the ROAD KILL section of Rue Morgue Issue 110. Thanks to Monica S. Kuebler for the thoughtful write-up.

Moon Day Inspiration: VAST - Pretty When You Cry

2011-04-18T18:23:00.002-04:00

Lovecraft Inspired Book Cover Seal

2011-03-24T13:03:00.006-04:00

As part of the ongoing development of the print version of THINK OF THE CHILDREN, here is the sculpt of the Lovecraftian seal that will be fitted into the cover of every book. Yes, friends, the tentacular horror bursts forth from the page and right through the binding board!

The seal is approximately 4.5" in diameter and transitions from a mutagenic mess to eldritch stone. To add a sense of depth, the seal itself is sculpted as a stone ring through which the "book spawn" is emerging as if through a portal from a hostile frontier. It will be crafted in cold cast metal and given an appropriately eerie tint.

ARS SOMNIUM - The Plague Doctor

2011-03-02T19:44:00.005-05:00

ARS SOMNIUM has officially launched!

ARS SOMNIUM is an ongoing exhibition between Carisa Swenson | Goblin Fruit Studio and myself celebrating the characters and creatures that appear during our nightly visitations to our private dreamlands. These beings are rendered as one-of-a-kind artworks and shared online for your amusement.

The first character to appear from my workbench is an interpretation of Carisa's Plague Doctor encounter.

Learn more about this online exhibition: HERE

See more of The Plague Doctor art doll: HERE

See Carisa's interpretation of my Swinebalg creature: HERE

Resin Kit Preview: Long Pork Mk II

2011-02-23T09:16:00.006-05:00

Here's a preview of the new resin model kit for the second version of my Urban Pacification Organism: Long Pork original creature design. This half-bust sculpture is solid-cast in off-white resin and part of a strictly limited edition.

Only 16 models will be available for purchase.

Release Date: March 2011

Moon Day Inspiration: Vermithrax Pejorative

2011-02-21T12:26:00.002-05:00

Comics Make Kids Evil

2011-02-17T17:22:00.007-05:00

"Comics make kids evil!" It's not just the battlecry of certain McCarthy-era politicos but also the web address for a new 24-page one-shot I completed with writer Christian Sager: THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

The story is a horror-satire that tells the secret history behind why representatives from the United States government took such a keen interest in the crime, suspense, and horror comics produced by William Gaines of EC Comics.

While the comic is freely available online, a print version will be produced, hand-bound, and released this year with a sculptured seal set into the cover.

You can read more about this release on BoingBoing, Comics Alliance, and Geek Syndicate.

Moon Day Inspiration: Halloween Week Begins!

2010-10-25T09:43:00.003-04:00

On This First Day of October - 2010

2010-10-01T22:50:00.007-04:00

Especially when the October wind
With frosty fingers punishes my hair,
Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire
And cast a shadow crab upon the land,
By the sea's side, hearing the noise of birds,
Hearing the raven cough in winter sticks,
My busy heart who shudders as she talks
Sheds the syllabic blood and drains her words.

- Dylan Thomas, Especially When the October Wind

King Unicorn Influence Map 2010

2010-09-16T12:52:00.005-04:00

Upon returning from Baltimore and following up on a few artists I met at the show, I discovered the Influence Map Meme that's been circulating the Web. It was actually Paige Pumphrey's map that set my mind chewing away on the concept. I certainly see the value of having such a handy tool available for those moments when I feel stumped by a project or in sudden need of a mainline injection of inspiration.

Yesterday, friend and collaborator, Christian Sager, dropped his collection of influences, and I realized that I should spend an hour or two meditating on those grand artists and ideas that have led me to this place in my life. Of course, not everyone makes the cut. No, my friends, with limited space and carefully planned guidelines, the decision of whom to include and whom to set aside becomes a challenge. In fact, I discovered that I keep two particular camps: Influences and Inspirations.

Influences are the artists, ideas, and events that are immediately recognizable in my work and have repeatedly provided some fire of creativity in my artistic process.

Inspirations are the sparks of creativity that send me racing to my workbench to gather up my influences and renew the artistic journey. Certainly my influences provide inspiration, but my inspirations are far more fickle in their presence and often linger only long enough to charge my need for a new project.

I hope this meditative project will inspire you to create your own Influence Map and spend some time driving deeper into the core of who you are as a creator and what helped you to arrive at this point in your development. Many thanks to Matt M. Laskowski for developing and sharing this exercise.

Baltimore Comic-Con 2010 Report

2010-09-01T00:24:00.009-04:00

I continued a remarkable con season by attending Baltimore Comic-Con in The Charm City last weekend. I didn’t think HeroesCon could be so easily matched, but this most recent event became a serious competitor for one of my favorite shows. Three things can be said about Baltimore Comic-Con:

1) The people who attended were some of the friendliest, most respectful, and most excited fans I’ve encountered yet. In fact, we had more than one occasion when a con guest stopped by the table and engaged us on a level we weren’t quite ready to meet. We discussed the suspected Asperger's syndrome of HP Lovecraft, techniques for silicone facial appliances in FX, and which cuts of meat on a unicorn produce sparkles, rainbows, and glue. I spent most of my day laughing with con guests, cheering on the zombies that lurched by the booth, and answering the usual questions about clay blends, armature construction, and the frequency of my nightmares. I even had one guest offer up his Neo action figure from his Matrix display (it was too random an offer not to accept).

2) The talent at BCC is incredible. We had a chance to catch up with our peers from Heroes and meet a few new creators who made our time at the show pass like an extended party. In the Artist Alley: On our left was Jeff Lonett, an artist from Virginia who had a remarkable display of layered wood sculptures and comic art (if you know anyone in a love affair with Captain America, this is the artist to see). I am the proud owner of an original zombie sketch crafted by his 5-year-old son.

On our right were Jeanie Galster and CJ Draden. They had an amazing spread for their illustrated novel Reverence, and Draden’s large-scale painting process kept more than a few passersby lingering by their display.

Behind us were Robert Wilson IV and his wife, Tiffany, who made sure I didn’t throw my display down while wrestling fresh monsters out of my con kit. Robert is the artist on Knuckleheads. I think I might have traded a few Rum Gimlets for having my pumpkin-headed mug appear in one of the future issues.

3) Baltimore is a great con city. While the bar at the chosen congregation hotel closed at midnight (well before the throng of writers and artists were ready to disperse), Baltimore is a city with plenty to offer. A little pre-conference reconnaissance revealed a wonderful Poe-themed restaurant known as the Annabel Lee Tavern. It rocked – plain and simple. We followed ALT up with a grand dinner with friends at the Inner Harbor La Tasca and a series of crazy events – including the razor-like wit of our waitress and a haunted bathroom – and dining over the weekend was set.

As with HeroesCon, I didn’t escape from the booth but for a few minutes to discuss commissioned projects and cover tables for those that needed a quick break. My traffic was primarily curious visitors who wanted to handle the sculptures and ask questions about my process. I made sales and covered expenses, but that’s never what drives events for me. I just enjoy escaping the art cave, running into fans of dark fantasy, and having the chance to sketch, push clay, and breathe in fresh ideas.

I always have a fair number of kids coming by the booth and this show was no exception. When the booth is covered with monsters of all shapes and sizes, it’s just something I have to prepare for. I made sure to have kid-friendly/kid-safe samples ready to avoid any accidents. That was a fine idea until I mentioned, “Don’t worry, you won’t break it.” Those words, friends, easily translate as, “Go ahead and rip it in half.” I can proudly report that my silicone samples have a tear strength that resists the 5-to-8-year-old crowd and create moments of unintended hilarity for everyone around the booth.

At this point, I can’t reveal any further details of the show until connections are made and projects are firmed up. The Shifflett Brothers say that only 1 in 10 projects discussed at events ever truly pan out. Of those that were brought up over this past weekend, any one would be a pleasure to wrap my hands around. I’m looking forward to discovering what pathways open up in the coming weeks and will happily share what I can when I can.

Moon Day Inspiration: Night on Bald Mountain

2010-08-09T21:17:00.002-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: PJ Harvey DOWN BY THE WATER

2010-08-02T21:31:00.000-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: THE GIFT

2010-06-14T20:18:00.000-04:00

HeroesCon 2010: Con Report

2010-06-07T23:19:00.006-04:00

I can honestly say that HeroesCon is one of the best conventions running. It was a full-throttle event from the start, and I spent all three days pushing clay and talking shop. I burned out my voice by Day Two, but I croaked my way through the final day to pass out tips and talk up the joys of three-dimensional artwork.

1. BORDER CROSSINGS: Christian Sager and Andrew Sides are a great pair to share a booth with. They have a wonderful following and the genuine excitement their fans beamed as they discovered two new books available for this year's event cheered the crew on for the whole show.

2. The Fans: HeroesCon has a terrific fan base and while others report that they didn't feel they received as much traffic as they were expecting, I was hit harder than I thought I would be this year. I was asked a lot of great questions, inspired to reboot my tutorial section on basic sculpting to help those that asked for additional assistance, and given the opportunity to see a few words of encouragement go a long, long way. Thanks to everyone that stopped by the table and made the show a great success for me.

3. The Artists: HereosCon brings out the talent (bone-crushing, eye-rupturing, brain-squishing talent). From the professional creators to the independents rocking the Indie Island and the Artist's Alley, I saw some work that made me shake my fists with excitement. If you come to HeroesCon, pack a bucket for your brain, because it will ooze right out of your skull before you're even through the first aisle. And do hit up the panels. There is so much information and inspiration to be found when creators are willing to sit down and share their experiences.

4. Guy Davis: I want to draw attention to Guy Davis. First, this man has inspired me since I was a daydreamer in High School. Second, he is a tremendously supportive artist and is one of the most genuine people I've encountered from the professional cadre of creators. His comments on my work will keep me motivated for years to come. Third, he was offering sketches FOR FREE! I was prepared to empty my bank account for a Nosferatu sketch and I received one FOR FREE! So, thanks to the legwork of my boothmates, I was able to purchase his latest sketchbook and a MARQUIS shirt as a small gesture of appreciation. To see someone of his caliber handing out sketches to anyone interested in his work is something to pay attention to.

5. Inspiration: For me, the highlight of the show was having the opportunity to meet new folks and discuss commission opportunities. I have plenty of personal projects on my calendar (one of which I'll be sharing tomorrow), but to have someone request a private commission for his/her collection is always thrilling. Given the requests collected from HeroesCon, it looks like the remainder of this year will be full of challenging yet exciting work.

6. Sculpting Demo: I didn't plan on sculpting the whole time, but it became quite apparent from the traffic on Day One (and the requests of booth visitors) that they wanted me to sculpt from start to finish. So, below you can see the results of the Fantasy Creatures Sculpting Demo I worked on between talking shop and supporting the new BORDER CROSSINGS books. I really had no idea where I was going to go with this piece (I didn't have any concept sketches or on-site designs to pull from), so I just riffed on some organic shapes and let the clay guide me along.

I can report that the sculpt made it home safely for an unbaked piece and will be detailed and finished as the project schedule permits.

All in all, it was a terrific show, a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, and a chance to get to know some of the up-and-coming creators that will dominate the comic book scene for decades to come. Thanks again to everyone who came out to the show and made the 2010 event a truly memorable experience.

BORDER CROSSINGS/King Unicorn booth photo © ComicRelated.com 2010

HeroesCon 2010 Event Details

2010-06-03T10:57:00.005-04:00

HEROESCON – Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC
June 4-6th 2010

The show has finally arrived!

That’s right, friends – it’s time to load up the King Unicorn Monsters of the Durty South Roadshow and return to Charlotte, North Carolina for a weekend of fun, fandom, and a few dedicated days of talking art, sketching zombies into books, and mashing clay into ghastly shapes.

I’ll be rocking the Small Press section at booth AA-336 – sharing space with Christian Sager and Andrew Sides (the team responsible for BORDER CROSSINGS). Christian and I will be tag-teaming a horror comic (FOR THE CHILDREN) to be released later this summer, so it’s the perfect time to start gabbing to folks about how our worlds will collide.

Due to space limitations, I’m bringing only a small sample of my sculpture work to have on display (busts and miniatures). I will, however, be offering up sleeved ACEO prints, matted prints, and Lovecraftian summoning (summoning dependent entirely upon the recommendations of the Fire Marshal and the availability of human sacrifices).

This event has a huge guest list this year and I’m hoping to chat with a few artists I’ve followed over the years and extract whatever insights I can uncover to improve my own efforts. This one is going to require a full Con Report and, as much as I’m looking forward to sharing my adventures, I do hope the weekend passes slowly so I can soak the experience in.

Moon Day Inspiration: Dragon Head Trophy

2010-05-31T11:29:00.001-04:00

HeroesCon 2010: Bad Mutants and Big Spiders

2010-05-27T21:25:00.009-04:00

I'm two weeks away from making a grand appearance at HeroesCon, and - above and below - are two samples of the print works I'll have on display. The first is my new KU poster that will be keeping a watchful eye on the passersby (no sudden moves around this handsome fellow). I wanted to work something up that appeared like a zombie-mutant-troll mashup. The kind of creature that might scream, "Burn the elves!" while waving around a chipped and rusted cleaver. This feels just about right to me.

And here we have my Coffin-Nail Spider. I love the slender wickedness of spiders and I've been itching to tackle an arachnid-inspired creature for a while. This first example will be available as the last ACEO print in the first series of 4 and, like the others, will be limited to 80 prints.

I'll have a few matted prints of this critter (and the other ACEO prints) on-hand at my booth. If you can't make the show, be sure to check out the KU Web Store in mid-June for prints, resin kits, and other original artworks.

Moon Day Inspiration: MANBORG Teaser

2010-05-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

Art and Anatomy: Before You Break the Rules

2010-05-15T18:04:00.003-04:00

I remember an art teacher from my grade school days telling the class, "You've got to learn the rules before you can break them." I've heard/read this several times in my life - usually during a critique of one kind or another - and it holds true each time. This notion of knowing the rules in order to break them is no better illustrated than when applied to the application of anatomy in art.

Even the most horrible of monsters requires some sort of structure - the bones and muscles and ligaments and organs - for all of its ghastly features to rest upon. And with a proper examination and study anatomy, those features can have a measurable degree of development or a sense of reality. That reality is what gives the audience a reason to pause with wonder over what you've created. It looks natural and alive, and those are the elements that will give your work a solid platform for success.

Here's a quote from Frank Frazetta on the study of anatomy:

When Ralph [Mayo] took over [as Art Director of AC Comics], he pulled me aside and said, "Frank, you stuff is great, but you need to learn some anatomy." When I was in school with Falanga the emphasis was on feeling, not on the nuts and bolts, so I really didn't understand what he meant by 'anatomy.' So Ralph handed me an anatomy book and when I went home that night I had decided to learn anatomy.

I started with page one and copied the entire book – everything in one night, from the skeleton up. I came back the next day like a dumb kid and said, "Thank you very much, I just learned my anatomy." Of course Ralph fell over and roared with laughter. "Frankie, you silly bastard! I've been studying for ten years and I still don't know anatomy, and you went home and learned it last night?!"

But the thing was I had learned an awful lot. I had the ability to absorb things and he saw an improvement in my work right away. It amazed him and that meant a lot to me. From that point on I developed pretty rapidly: I started to do things with figures that made sense.

KU ACEO Prints Series 1: Sanzor Belfry

2010-05-13T12:41:00.002-04:00

Here's the second ACEO print in the first series: Sanzor Belfry. This unfortunate creature is a failed-vampire - an example of the horrible outcome that awaits those that don't take to the supernatural transformation that bestows immortality and a cruel blood lust. Stretched bones, jumbled organs, and limbs varied and mismatched are just a few of the terrible mutations that occur.

As with Dachma von Nacht, Sanzor Belfry will be limited to a production of 80 prints and first be available at Charlotte's Heroes Con before appearing in the KU Web Store.

As always, thanks for looking and keep those closet doors firmly shut.

Moon Day Inspiration: RiP Frank Frazetta (1928-2010)

2010-05-10T14:28:00.005-04:00

I don't usually write anything into this space on Mondays. I prefer to leave the videos without comment or influence so that they can be enjoyed on their own merits. However, Frank Frazetta - a master painter and champion of worlds savage and fantastic - has passed, and I find myself a bit shaken.

It was his time, as they say, but the world is a little less wild and wondrous from his passing. Rest in Peace, Frank, and thank you for the work you've left for us to experience and explore.

KU ACEO Prints - Series 1: Dachma von Nacht

2010-05-06T17:07:00.008-04:00

Convention season is here and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to make new friends, check in on other artists, and share the latest works developed in the Creatureworks.

For this year's season, I'll be trying something new: ACEO (Art Cards, Editions, Originals) prints. ACEO prints are a wonderful way to collect original or limited edition artworks without putting a stake through your bank account. Each ACEO print is roughly the size of a baseball card (the only ACEO rule being that each artwork must be 2.5"W x 3.5"H) which makes them perfect for collecting, trading, or gifting.

Above is the first print in the first series of limited edition art that will be featured this year (kicking off at Charlotte's Heroes Con June 4th): Dachma von Nacht. Dachma will be limited to only 80 prints, and each print will be protected in a clear plastic sleeve. For those not attending Heroes Con, this print and the others in the first series will be available in the KU Store (finally launching June 2010).

May Balefires and Beloved Beltane

2010-05-01T14:34:00.004-04:00

Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!
Woods and groves are of thy dressing;
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

- John Milton, Song on a May Morning, 1660

Image © Beltane Fire Society 2010

Moon Day Inspiration: Seventh Moon

2010-04-26T18:35:00.001-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Stake Land

2010-04-19T16:55:00.001-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Vernian Process

2010-04-12T19:53:00.000-04:00

Moonday Inspiration: Rachel Brice of The Indigo Belly Dance

2010-03-29T07:40:00.002-04:00

Middle ♦ Night: An Original Web Series

2010-03-23T20:15:00.009-04:00

If you stop on over at my digital base of operations KINGUNICORN.COM you can start following along with my ongoing fantasy-horror series MIDDLE ♦ NIGHT. Here's what you're in for:

MIDDLE ♦ NIGHT is a dark fantasy in the truest sense. In this developing collection of visual narratives, the veil that separates the waking world from the world of the unseen has been pierced. Fairytale nightmares are free to snatch the innocent from their beds, while the unwary clamber into rabbit holes or unlock forbidden doors hoping to discover wondrous adventures.

It's an enjoyable departure from separating my writing habits and my art habits and has already broken free of the initial boundaries I tried to set around the project. I'll have a number of visual narratives coming out in and around the summer (some small, some large) and I'll share each of them as soon as they're officially released.

In the meantime, you can check out the first two pages of the first MIDDLE ♦ NIGHT story: THE FAIREST FIRE. I make a point to update every Monday (although my travel schedule this week will put the next page off by a few days) and hope to have this first issue in the mini-series available in its entirety at the beginning of May.

Moon Day Inspiration: SUCK

2010-03-22T22:12:00.001-04:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Conquest of Mythodea 2010

2010-03-01T17:28:00.002-05:00

Best Blog Comments Award

2010-02-28T22:18:00.009-05:00

I’m surprised and more than honored to receive a Best Blog Comments Award from fellow artist, blogger, and purveyor of the fantastic, PAM MORRIS of LABYRINTH CREATIONS.

Pam’s work effortlessly journeys between whimsy and dread and I believe that helps her develop projects that draw upon the elements of contemporary fantasy art while remaining uniquely her own. Do visit her blog and see the latest works she’s prepared. And when you’re done, stop by her website to see her past projects (her Steampunk'n remains a personal favorite).

To pass this award along to those who have consistently supported my work here, shared wonderful comments, and have not yet received this award (I apologize if I'm wrong about that), I’d like to start by recommending fantasy artist, tarot designer, and all-around mystical person LISA HUNT. Her blog follows her journey from one project to the next and provides thoughtful insight into fairy tales, artistic processes, and all things magical.

Next, I’d like to pass this award along to filmmaker, writer, and cinema reviewer B-MOVIE BECKY. Her blog (THE HORROR EFFECT) has not only introduced me to cinematic terrors I might’ve overlooked but also steered me away from "entertainment fails" through her witty reviews and clever photo captions. Do check in on her blog as she’s been known to share her own film projects there from time to time (and they're certainly as wild as they come).

And last but certainly not least, I have to call out DIANE of WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING STRANGE. Diane is not just a talented artist but also a grand archivist of all things weird on the Web. Her dropping in from time to time to comment on my art and the other strange contributions I have to share is a reward I can’t overlook. No one quite has a thumb on the pulse of the wide and unusual world of dark art like Diane does.

All in all, I'm very appreciative of any feedback I've received here (even if the blog has dipped into a bit of a cob-webbed state these past months) and I'd like to thank everyone who takes the time out of his/her day to respond to something I've posted. I've got a "thank you" I've been working on off and on since the holidays and I hope to pass it along to everyone soon!

Now, in keeping with Pam’s post, I’ll share the rules of this award:

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you and say a few kind words!
2. Paste the picture of the award on your blog.
3. Nominate other bloggers you think deliver great comments on your blog.
4. Let the new nominees know via email, post, etc.

Thanks again, Pam! Now, back the madness.

Bilbo Bronson vs. Tender Dracula

2010-02-24T20:33:00.004-05:00

Here we are - nearing the end of February - and I've not been keeping up with this space. Well, not in the way that it deserves. I do appreciate everyone's comments on the Moon Day Inspirations and will keep sharing them as time permits. Deadlines kept me from getting in here for this past Monday's contribution, but I have something decidedly fantastic for next week.

I have a great deal of news to share and I'll be spreading it out over the next few days to give this place some proper updates and attention. We'll begin with:

BILBO BRONSON: This is why you shouldn't let your friends influence your artwork. While watching the terribly disjointed TENDER DRACULA (which stars Peter Cushing in an awkwardly comedic and unpleasantly sexual role), we stumbled upon a character who appeared to be Charles Bronson's chubby older brother and dressed like one of those Sackville-Baggins that are oft bemoaned (yes, complete and utter nerdery). Immediately, someone dubbed him Bilbo Bronson and the madness you see above was born.

Personally, I think THE HOBBIT would've been a far more exciting tale if "the burglar" was prone to sudden bursts of vigilantism. Less wandering, more dispensing of hot-leaded justice. Let's see Leonard Nimoy sing a song about this chap.

Moon Day Inspiration: Synth Britannia

2010-02-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Hausu (1977)

2010-01-25T18:26:00.001-05:00

Animated Jabberwocky - Swedish

2010-01-11T22:08:00.002-05:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Nadja

2010-01-04T17:31:00.001-05:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Amano/Oshii Angel's Egg

2009-12-28T16:33:00.001-05:00

Victoria Lamb's LABYRINTUS

2009-12-22T13:38:00.008-05:00

I was recently directed to this wonderful project by sculptor, designer, and fantasist of the first order - Victoria Lamb - via a post on Tabletop Gaming News. Her still-in-development game, Labyrintus, appears to be a delightful marriage of tabletop miniature adventures and unconventional board gaming and speaks directly to a number of project ideas many sculptor/designers explore from time to time.

You can immediately see Ms. Lamb's creative background come alive in this project. The stage feels very much like a set design for an abandoned production by Jim Henson or Guillermo Del Toro. The faerie character pieces hint at a number of influences, but are so distinctively connected to the world Ms. Lamb's crafted that there's no question how clear her voice is for this project.

The amount of careful planning and execution Ms. Lamb has conducted is quite inspiring. Her hands have touched every creature, pathway, and wall to ensure that every element is in-keeping with the spirit of her game and reflects the larger vision she holds for this magical dreamscape.

This is not something to pack away in a box and tuck into an empty space, but a display-worthy collection that would tempt anyone to gather up a cadre of mythical minions and brave the stony, moss-patched corridors of Ms. Lamb's world. And nothing hints at the rarity of the creative control that went into the development of Labyrintus more than the limited number of these sets that will be offered. At the time of this post, only 20 sets will be published in the first edition making Labyrintus a treasured prize.

A 2D version will be available for play testing in early 2010 for those that want to experience the game before the complete sets are available. For myself, I marvel at the care and creativity of the 3D production and would love to have a life-size version to place behind my home.

For more information, visit the Labyrintus page at Victoria Lamb's website: HERE

Labyrintus Images © Victoria Lamb 2008-2009

Moon Day Inspiration: Cordyceps: Mind-Blowing (Literally) Killer Fungi

2009-12-21T01:56:00.003-05:00

Moon Day Inspiration: Alien Chestburster Development

2009-12-14T22:32:00.001-05:00

Art Preview: Sample Fantasy Portrait Linework

2009-12-08T12:28:00.003-05:00

Here are six samples I can share from a recent project I tackled. They were designed to fit into a traditional fantasy setting and have a look that was a throwback to the style of classic adventurers from the days of early RPGing (what might have been considered High Fantasy back in the mid-to-late 80s, but seems very Low Fantasy in contrast to some of the wonderful work being shared by contemporary publishers).

I don't usually enjoy throwing down my rough lines in PS, but for this project (and with the number of portraits on the roster), it helped cut out a few steps. I'll have a painted example or two to share once we cross over into 2010.

Moon Day Inspiration: Ink Trailer

2009-12-07T11:31:00.001-05:00

Where in the Wasteland is KU?

2009-12-03T17:31:00.004-05:00

As you can see by the lack of updates here (other than my attempts to maintain the steady dosage of Monday inspirations mainlined into your eye sockets), I've been strapped to the workbench and coming up only for email communications and sporadic tweets to keep up with what all of you mad creators have been working on.

November started off with some solid post-Halloween depression recovery techniques (chiefly attacking a writing project), but that quickly gave way to a rash of commissions that have absconded with the time I would devote to my personal work. Paying gigs are always worth investing my time in and as long as I'm exercising my imagination, I'm not sore about that unfinished sculptures, half-painted creatures, and chapter edits that await when I close these commissions out.

In the coming weeks, new work will begin to trickle out through the cracks of my exile. I'll have rejected concepts to show off, some previews of the upcoming creature bust series for 2010, and sample art that will be available as prints at my various convention stops starting in the spring.

As always, stay scary and keep creating.