Marilyn Manson, "Dope"

Marilyn Manson - Dope

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

Somehow Manson has managed to stay ahead of the competition for lo these many years now.  His inventive use of shock tactics and gothic, angst ridden lyrics belies an extraordinary man.   The more you know about him as a human being, and especially the more you hear him talk the more you know how he's stayed ahead of the game for this long!  In the midst of all the Halloween hooplah this year with all the classic monsters I wanted to show my love for some of the monsters that have meant a lot to me personally.  Most of those are musicians so I decided to do Manson and Zombie - I was really pleased with the way that both of them turned out.  This is old school Manson, but not so old school that he isn't recognizable, if there is interest I might be intised into doing another piece from another era - hint hint...

Lon Chaney Sr. - Phantom Of The Opera: "Phantom"

Lon Chaney Sr. - The Phantom Of The Opera

Portrait,15 1/2 x 10 /2 in.
Lead on Paper

Another piece in the ongoing series of Classic Universal Horror Monsters is in my opinion - the original Horror monster.  Before there was Lugosi there was Chaney, before there was sound there was Chancey, before there were make-up artists there was Chaney.  We still don't honestly know how he achieved the upturned nose make-up for The Phantom of The Opera to this day, though these days most people believe he used very thin wire to upturn his snout.  Seemingly impervious to pain in the service of achieving a realistic appearance on screen Chaney is considered by some to the first character actor.  Whatever your opinion on the man might be it's hard to argue that he is anything but a legend among horror fans.  Once he haunted the screen, they say he still haunts the opera set which is miraculously still standing today, but if you want he can always haunt your wall!

Bruce Campbell - Evil Dead: Ash, "Woods"

Bruce Campbell, "Woods"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

I guess it all depends on what circles you run in, but if you know anyone that I do then Bruce don't call me "Ash" Campbell has been one of the biggest names in and out of little Hollywood, and has been for nearly three decades!  Due to Campbell's working relationship with director Sam Raimi on their Evil Dead trilogy and cameos in such films as Spider-Man 1,2 and 3, as well as Dark Man he has become a house hold name.  In more recent memory he has been starring as Sam Axe on the television show, "Burn Notice" for some time now.  Despite all of that I will forever remember him as the star of Within The Woods.  A 30 minute short film version of Evil Dead that was shot on 8mm while Bruce was still on college to attract investors to the aforementioned film.

Holding his spattered chainsaw just out of frame you can almost feel the blood oozing off the page in this illustration.  If you grab a print of this one be careful, it looks like it might drip a little!

Jack Skellington - The Nightmate Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, "Smile"

Jack Skellington - The Pumpkin King, "Smile"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11in

Lead on Paper

Tim Burton has done some amazing work - and his designs are the largest part of many of his most memorable films. Edward Scissorhands and so many others started off in his sketch book and were brought to life through his vivid imagination.  A Nightmare Before Christmas might be his largest undertaking in this category though, as it was the first full length animated film he had designed from the ground up.  He did a great job of not buckling under the pressure in this case, resulting in some amazing designs.  Jack Skelligton is one of the coolest designs out there.  Sheik and cool, complex in his simplicity - it was a real pleasure to draw him.  I stuck him in the woods for a little background and plastered a silly smile on his face as that's how I remember him, though I must admit I'm a more than a little tempted to do a companion piece that's a little more ominous than this one. In the meantime, bring a little Halloween, or Christmas - whatever you like, home with you for the holiday seasons in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Vincent Price - The Bat: Malcolm Wells, "The Bat"

Vincent Price - The Bat

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

The unforgettable Vincent Price is swooping in this holiday season - again remembered here in a piece paying tribute to one of his earlier and oft over looked films, The Bat.  It also stays well within the Classic Horror series of the 1940's and 50's that we have been working on for the this Halloween season.  Price has been such a presence in so many ways from his films and narration as well as being a real personality and family man, that I felt he had earned a place amongst names like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.  II wanted to illustrate a younger more serious Price than many people are used to with this piece, when many people.considered him to be the up and coming, pretty boy actor of his time.  Notice how he doesn't look serious or snide though, somehow he always maintained a sense of majesty that time hasn't varnished.

Lon Chaney Jr. - The Wolfman,"The Wolfman" (1941)

Lon Chaney Jr. - The Wolfman

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

In another piece spotlighting the Classic Horror Films of the 40's and 50's for the Halloween season, Lon Chaney Jr. can be seen in the 1941 Universal Classic Horror film, The Wolfman, lurking in the mist while howling at the moon!  And why not this is a heck of picture, in so many ways...  Few of the monsters from the golden age of horror cinema were originals.  Most of the Universal Monsters were adaptations, Bela Lugosi's Dracula was a novel - and the film is actually an adaptation of the stage play that was adapted from the afore mentioned book, as well as the inimitable Frankenstein which was a novel by Mary Shelley.  The Wolfman and The Mummy however, were both originals and have found a welcome place in the dark corners of our imaginations and a loving place in our hearts.

Benicio Del Toro - The Wolfman, "The Wolfman" (2010)

Benicio Del Toro - The Wolfman

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in. (Original piece)
Lead on Paper

Straight out of our ongoing series spotlighting Classic Universal Horror Monsters, Benicio Del Toro leaps howling from the page in his role as Lawrence Talbot in the 2010 "Wolfman" remake.  One of the few remakes that didn't fallen flat on it's face, much of the film's success is due to the delightfully grotesquely horrific make-up for the monster, of course Del Toro's undeniable acting abilities did't hurt the situation either; even though he was lurking beneath a sea of latex and one furry body suit!

Snag this snarling beast on prints in several convenient sizes and formats, starting in the notebook size and ranging all the way to posters and  sweaters / shirts!