A Ghost Wrote This In My Sketchbook I'm Pretty Sure.

What brand of gouache do you use? Have you tried using student-grade gouache, particularly Lefranc & Bourgeois Fine Gouache? I am always told to stay away from student grades, but I was also told that if they worked for me (color-wise), I should be fine. I am worried about "permanency", or that my gouache paintings will break down in the future.

I enjoy Winsor & Newton a lot. I've never used Lefranc & Bourgeois before, but I used Daler Rowney throughout school. (Is that considered student grade? I don't know. I still use it occasionally and I like them ok, but oh man, their yellow ochre! what happened? s'not good.) About the worst thing I've experienced with "lower-quality" gouache is that there will be more variation in how the paint dries, so that you'll get some colors that dry with an annoying semi-gloss for some reason. But my older paintings done in said "lower-quality" gouache are still holding up just fine! I think you should be good so long as you mix (mix (MIX!)) your colors, look for a nice even consistency in the pigment of your paints, and be mindful about storage. That way, your works should last you a good while!

Good luck!

Cthulhu Fhtagn!

For Trevor Henderson's upcoming grim and dreadful H.P. Lovecraft zine "Puffed Shoggoths", which has incredible line up of artists including Trevor himself, Jimmy Giegerich and Jon Vermilyea. You can find out more about the zine here.

With Halloween on it's way, I figure I'll tie this little story into the piece: this illustration is based on an intense fear I experienced on the one and only cruise I'll ever take in my life. I was on the deck one night, in the middle of the Atlantic; it was cloudy and a new moon so no light whatsoever came from the sky. I remember looking out past the railings and seeing the lights from the boat just end only a few feet out at the most charcoal-deep blackness I've ever seen. It was such a profoundly dark and completely unbroken void that it just seemed to swallow everything. As if the ship had sailed into a black hole, there was just nothing in every direction. I remember finding my back to the wall of the ship before I even knew I'd moved and just filling up with the most instinctual fear and dread. There could have been a colossal eye staring at me in the dark and I wouldn't have been any more disturbed than I was in that moment. 

"When you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you," apparently...according to some guy... 

So in true Lovecraftian style, I let the dread take over and this is the result! Stay tuned to Trevor's tumblr for news on the "Puffed Shoggoths" zine.

cotton candy magic wand pin! I made a super-limited set of these hard enamel pins that will be available at SPX on 9/19!

I’ve been watching Jimmy work on this and LEMME TELL YA. This issue is hilarious and it’s gonna be killer! you can get your own copy by supporting his Kickstarter. Please check it out and reblog!

HOLY SCRUNGE EVERYONE! It’s official, Fight Frogs 2: Never Stop Frog Fighting is officially an official thing and it’s going to be debuting at this year’s Small Press Expo!!! Not only that, my Kickstarter for the book just launched like this very second! WHOAAAA!!!

This new book has more sweat, more veins, more punching, MORE EVERYTHING! The Fight Frogs meet their ultimate challenge in a new gang of 80s frat boy muscle-head sharks called the Shit Sharks and stuff goes CRAZY.

Please take a look at the Kickstarter and support this book getting made! You can get copies of the book, screen prints, patches, original art, and more. In all seriousness, this is my favorite comic I’ve ever made and it’d be awesome to be able to share it with you!

Click here to pledge!!!

I made this poster for J Roddy Walston & The Business' 3-show series at the Ottobar starting on the 24th. Really fun direction and nice to have a hand in celebrating Ottobar's 20th anniversary! Tickets on the event page here.

a little punk boy blowing musical farts (obviously). margin sketches ✎

a lil bob-tailed familiar 🐱 #wip

Wicked Lady for Jenn Woodall's Moon Power zine. Always liked this bitter angsty babe.

A little Peruvian spice gourd I have hanging in my kitchen.  A woven net goes through the holes and inside it you put spices and aromatic things to keep the room smelling nice!

Sebastian Mesnard kindly invited me to take part in Gallery Nucleus' upcoming show Edward Scissorhands 20th Anniversary Tribute, and above is a little preview of the piece I did for it.  I chose to illustrate the scene where Edward is rushed by the suburban housewives and all their ambrosia salads.  One of my favorite scenes among tons in this movie, which made it hard to choose!  It'd been years since I'd seen Edward Scissorhands so it was great to rewatch it, and I remembered just how lovely this movie is.  It stands the test of time pretty well too!  It's not as dated as you might expect it to be. 

If you want to see my full piece, check out the Scissorhands 20th blog.  There are so many great pieces by great artists in the show and it's absolutely worth a look!  Thanks again, Seb!