Covered

Working away on the cover. Lots of 1930s horror

movies on while I work.

Gertrude Number Eight (Under The Sea)

Here are some exploratory sketches for a character, lets called her Gertrude #8, for a magazine cover. It's for the Canadian speculative fiction magazine On Spec and they pretty much said do what you want. I love hearing that. So I'm taking the opportunity to mix some of my favorite things up in a picture; mermaids, Frankenstein's monster, weird science, Mignola and Lovecraft. As usual I'll do it mixed media on paper, starting with a pen and ink drawing. And I'll have on James Whale's Frankenstein while I work.

A Push

Some stuff from a sketchbook. Things are very busy right now. I have several covers to complete before we go on a trip back to Nova Scotia on April 15th, this is on top of my comic book work. Julie's in school and stressing about that. I'll be bringing work with me, there's still a studio set up in my mom's basement which is convenient. To alleviate some stress Julie and I have been watching movies. We saw Frailty last night. It was great; scary and surprising.

Lagoon

This is a sketch I did in my sketchbook but it inspired a magazine cover I'm working on now.

Uzumaki

Uzumaki is a horror manga by Junji Ito and it is incredibly creepy and compelling. The first time I've been unnerved enough to not want to turn the page but so intrigued by what I know is coming. The artwork is top notch manga, richly hatched and controlled pen work. Doesn't look like it was done really fast, looks like it was lovingly worked on. Great characters as well. If you don't mind being creeped out or story lines that are pretty surreal then grab this book.

The Saturday Post

Feeling some anxiety today as my computer died last night. It seems to think the hard drive isn't there any more. I'll put it in a wheelbarrow and drag it to the shop later today. Annoyed as I wanted to watch a movie on it tonight. Henry just woke up at 4:45 and I think I'm up for the day now. Coffee is made and I'm heading up to the studio to start work.

Progress

Some pencils for a cover I'm working on.

Dreamlands Of Lovecraft

Keeping with weird themes here's a really cool map of the Dreamlands done for Call of Cthulhu Games based on the writing of H.P. Lovecraft. I love maps and I love these stories. Very cool.

Ghostly

This is a very small detail from a new book cover I'm working on.

Vampyre

Here's a sketchbook sketch. Despite being swamped with work I'm going into town today so that I don't become a total shut-in.

Basajaun

'In the world of the rabbits, she is hailed as a savior.
In the world of men, a holy man wants her dead.
She is twelve years old.' From the jacket.

An amazing, unique and beautifully written story. A fantasy in the tradition of Watership Down but even darker.

Dead Friends

One painting down, four to go. Things are going well. Watching lots of horror filoms while I work.

H.P. Lovecraft And His Polka-dotted Tie

Here's a sketch of one of my favorite writers the revered horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. I read his stuff pretty young and it really, really scared me. He taught me the pleasure in being scared, which is a useful tool in life. The Wikipedia entry is good but you really need to read his work to get it. It's totally unique, though you'll likely recognize something of his work in contemporary horror movies and books. His work is incredibly relevant and fresh seventy years after they were written. As an aside there are some amazing Lovecraft book covers by a great number of amazing artists. I recommend hunting down one with a Mignola or Palencar cover but there are plenty more great ones. However you can read all his work for free here.

I should warn you, this author changed my outlook on life. He expanded the shadows deeper and made sure I understood my mind would totally break if I could actually see what's there. He certainly makes things more interesting.

A Big Ghost

This a sketchbook doodle played with in Photoshop. My sense of horror seems to be reasserting itself. Perhaps in response to all the childrens TV I've been absorbing. My psyche is in open revolt. In any case, it's a place that feels like home. I'm happy with how this piece turned out, as an experiment.

Summoned

Here's a pencil sketch of girl in a hoodie summoning a demon plus other related scribbles. Between work I've been getting back into urban fantasy type stuff in a big way, both role playing games and books. I was worried it didn't suit my style at first but I really like this.

Corpse Dress

I'm pretty disappointed that I'll probably never have time to finish this one. My to do list keeps expanding and this keeps getting pushed to the bottom. Especially after I just spent the last four days sick which felt like an eternity. You never know, though. I'll keep it on file.

The last few days, as I said, I've been feeling pretty ill. No idea why. A case of Henry bringing bugs home from daycare, I think. I seem to be better. Hope so. I have an unfinished book cover waiting to be done sitting on my drawing desk. also, I'm in the unique, to me position of needing to make a certain amount of money to afford a train ticket to visit home. So stuff needs to get done, tired or not.

While sick I read comics and role playing manuals. I have to say, White Wolf's Mage The Awakening books are compelling reading. At least as compelling as any urban fantasy books I've read recently. The also gave me weird dreams. Great, weird dreams.

Also, something I'd like to do is go on a University of Toronto Ghost Tour. It looks amazing.

Urban Tree Elf

Here's a sketch I did in pencil and punched up a bit in Photoshop. I'm always looking for markets to work in, especially fantasy markets but I find there's a real shift in the type of work I'm seeing. Less whimsical and much darker. I'm finding it a shame that the field seems to be narrowing. I think it's the violent online games popularity that is influencing things. Too bad.

Some Rudimentary Fumblings

Trying to figure out how to colour line drawings in Photoshop. I'm a bit behind on this...

Invitation To My Grumble

I've spent the last few days sick, ugh. Hoping today is better. I think I'll read comics for a bit and then tackle work.

More Atha Sketches

More sketches to accompany a short story I wrote.

Iron And Wine Love Vigilantes

An amazing band covering an amazing song originally done by New Order.

Theodor Kittelsen

Theodor Kittelsen is an artist, like John Bauer that deserves wider recognition in the English speaking world. Kittleson, also like Bauer, is primarily known as a "troll" artist as his best known work was illustrations for books on Norwegian folklore. Unlike Bauer, whose work is filled with unthreatening and friendly trolls Kittelsen monsters are darker, more mysterious and much more frightening. These works are amazing and haunting and have had a huge impact on me.

Atha In Technicolor

A sketch I did of Atha. Not a lot to say this morning. We're feeding Henry and it's really windy and wet out. I'm off to play RPGs this afternoon. Plan to check out comic shop called The Hairy Tarantula. That's it.

Jirel Of Joiry

A pretty amazing sword & sorcery romp. I can't believe I've never read it before. Moore's writing is quite good, not overwrought like some pulp stuff. The book also feels pretty fresh and original. Not a lot female characters in the sub-genre have been quite like this.I was disappointed she only wrote this handful of Jirel stories.

A Few Idols To Start The Day

Some sketches for an upcoming book cover I'm working on.

Another Digression Into Rejection

The above picture I did to as a sample for a job. It was rejected by the author because he thought the coyote wasn't sly enough. This was one of Canada's most famous writers. Ouch! I got over it. I don't really like his books anyway.

I got such great responses to my post on rejection a few days ago I thought I'd post some quotes from them here.

Russel Dickerson said
".... there's no one on Earth harder on my work than I am. The actual rejections I've received haven't said anything worse than I've already thought."

Glendon Mellow

"... send them more artwork. A change in editorial personnel or style, or even just the right art at the right time may see the relationship change for the positive.

Rod McKie

"Bide your time Eric, the best revenge is living well."

Charlene

"I don't think they mean 'you suck', which is probably where the sting comes from for most of us."

Dave Howlett

"Best you can do is believe in yourself and that what you are doing is both worthwhile and something that you would enjoy reading yourself. Certainly no editor should be able to discourage that, whatever their reasoning."

Grimalkin Press

"PROVE THEM WRONG."

Madeline Carol Matz

"rejection letters is like an actor not getting a callback for a part. "

Viviane Schwartz

"Ah, you can't please them all... If the illustrations they generally use look really different from yours than that's just what they're set on using. - It's really frustrating."

Atha Brew

"Cold fingers like questing tree branches plucked at her clothing. Atha Brew pushed through the knee deep snow, her lungs burning with cold. She could hear laughter behind her....."

Atha Brew is a short, blond, unassuming barbarian exiled in the white wastes of a desolate, snowy northern world. I started off trying to write a Dungeons & Dragons pastiche and kind of turn it on its head and I kept adding elements like Clark Ashton smith concepts, Lovecraft ambiance and a bunch of steampunk stuff. I wrote it in between stuff and would like to do more with the character and world. I drew maps! I'll post more later.

The story will appear in a pulp magazine that is thus far nameless. In the meantime I've posted an early draft as a PDF on DeviantArt. Let me know what you think.

A Happy Kid

A little personal life update. Everything's great and we're poor as dirt. These are interesting times. I'm doing the coolest work of my life and Julie's in school getting a teaching degree so the finances are slim...However Henry doesn't notice or care. Everything's magic to him. He's starting to say a few words, mostly names and he can go for a walk outside without the aid of a stroller. I'm a bit overwhelmed. Lots of little projects and two big ones.

Iron, or The Propagandist By S.M. Vidaurri

Here's a pin up up I did for the comic Iron, or The Propagandist By the extremely talented S.M. Vidaurri, one of the reasons I'm grateful for the internet is introducing me to great people like him. The comic is amazing, please check it out.

On Rejection

Earlier I received a curt, impersonal rejection email and I suspect it'll sting for a while. Maybe an only child trait? I've read that but I'm sure most people feel a bit of a bite. The rejecyion said they don't use my style and maybe not exactly my style I think their publications would benefit from my style. But then I think no, that's arrogant. There's a desperate and needy side to me that wants everyone to like what I do but if that were the case I'd be insufferable. Maybe rejections not so bad. On the other hand maybe I shouldn't view any avenue of illustration as blocked to me. It's a conundrum. In any case the sting will be gone soon so I'd better learn what I can while it's here.

I'm always very positive but I think it's healthy to explore the stuff that makes self employment hard as well.

In any case this post by a favorite writer of mine Midori Snyder Really cheered me up.

Box Of Dragons

I just received this old, old Dungeons & Dragons box set from eBay and it's awesome. I haven't owned this in ages and the sense of pure imagination and adventure in fantastic. Also very cool is that that someone had long ago tucked away a very nice map of a kingdom and a map of a dungeon. Great find.

Queen Of Swords

A Tarot card done for Superpunch.

As it says on the Superpunch blog "....about this project. I wanted to do something special for the third anniversary of Super Punch, and three weeks or so ago, the idea popped into my head of inviting my favorite artists to create tarot cards,"

Mistmantle Cover

Congratulations to Omar Rayyan for winning Spectrum gold for this book cover. It's just amazing.

Airship Sketch Too

Here's a second sketch I did for the Steampunk Reloaded art.

The Dragons Of Babel By Michael Swanwick

The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick has an amazing first half and is consistently inventive through out. I thought I was going to give it a higher rating until the end when a skillful fantasy became an uneven farce. A brilliant book in any case.Reminded me a lot of Gaiman's Stardust and Neverwhere and a bit of Pratchett's Discworld books but far crasser then either. The opening scene where a mechanical,sentient, steampunk dragon crashes into a village is amazing.

Airship Sketch

This is an initial sketch for the upcoming Steampunk anthology.

and on a Flying Boat related note I got this nice write up on the Top Shelf website.

Kevin Friederich Presents....

Went to a great show last night " Kevin Friederich Presents; Beating Around The Bush" Wonderful, strange oil paintings. It was at the Propeller Center For The Arts in Toronto. Check it out if you can! Thanks for the invite Jay!

Bugbear

Another favorite Dungeons & Dragons monster, the Bugbear. A great gobliny beast.

It's been an interesting week for me. Top Shelf released its new website featuring Maddy Kettle quite prominently. This led to me being featured in really cool places like here and here. Also, the Spectrum award has been in the nerd news a bit too, really great week.

Work wise, I just finished a couple of pieces for the upcoming Steampunk Reloaded anthology as well as a tarot card for SuperPunch, which is filled with amazing artists. You can check out my card here. I'm also contributing a sword and sorcery short story to a new pulp magazine. More on that soon. And now I've moved on to book covers before returning to comics.

I'm planning to return to Nova Scotia for a visit in the middle of April. I'm feeling a bit home sick and I miss the ocean. Before I go there are a couple of concerts I'd like to see, anyone interested in joining me? The first is indie folk harp player Joanna Newsom at the Pheonix in Toronto on March 13th. The second is a pagan heavy metal show headlined by Finntroll, and that's at the Opera House in Toronto on April 12th. Drop me a line if either shows sound interesting to you.

Beholder

Another Dungeons & Dragons monster interpretation. I love to imagine him mumbling in some guttural language as he floats towards his victims.

Just finished two new drawings for the new Steampunk anthology. It was hard work because I love the first one so much I really pushed myself to do something up to the standards of the writing inside.

And I'm finishing up a tarot card today. More on that after the weekend.

Aerial Servant

My take on another AD&D monster.

Ankheg

I've started playing Dungeons & Dragons again having finally found a group in Toronto to play with. To celebrate I've done sketches of some of my favorite monsters from the game.

Henry Holiday And His Big Wobbly Heads

Spectrum 17

I found out yesterday that not only did I get into Spectrum 17 but I got the silver award in comics! It was for this page from the Cloud Cave comic.