If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise... Gashadokuro, the giant skeleton! This huge & deadly creature likes to bite off human heads. Its appearance is heralded by a ringing in the ears. I think I've had some close encounters after performances by loud bands! ;-)
Acrylic on illustration scanned from Frank Leslie's Chatterbox, 1880-1881, ~6.5"x7.5" You may need to click the image to see the tiny human in the picture-- he was much more prominent to my eyes before the skeleton crept in, though luckily he still has his head.
Edit: Isaac asked to see the original illo before Oddification, so here it is! Click for a closer view, & I think you'll see what I mean about the human figure.
Also, I can finally now reveal that the "Mysterious" series was to illustrate A Word A Day for this week! As a word nerd, I dearly love that site, & I've been a subscriber for ages, so I was over the moon to be a part of it.
 |
Speaking of over the moon, I just have to give a shout-out to another Curiosity: the one that's headed to Mars!!
This is crazy! I wil not close my eyes tonight!!
ReplyDelete(:D)
I was in the woods today, by luckily no sign of Gashadokuro ! I prefer to have my head attached to my body as long as possible :)
You have a most intriguing style! I look forward to spending some time exploring your posts. And thanks for visiting my Etegami blog. :)
ReplyDeletespooky ...can't wait for your Etsy shop ....x
ReplyDeleteYikes! Excellent.
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Good morning. This morning I have a BIIIIIIIIIIIG smile on my face as I read the word of the day - Redolent. And there, featured on the upper corner is your illustration for Days. I was so happy and excited!!! Anu had a wonderful write up for you. Now you are even more famous. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations. Wow. I did not realize these illustrations measure 6"x6". I bow again and again.
ReplyDeleteI had the same happiness when I read Word of the Day today. Congratulations! Well deserved!
ReplyDeleteA ha! It has to be as much the green tint as the giant skeleton that makes that human figure vanish: he was the focal point before because the background immediately behind him was so bright (his silhouette produced some very strong contrast); now he's closer in intensity to the background, and the skeleton is the brightest thing on the page. Even some of the new "noise" in the tint layer (around the edges of the page) has as much contrast as Mr. Hiker and his halo, now. (Mystery solved.)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! What a day, AWAD & Alphabeasts...
ReplyDeleteIsaac, you're right of course about the green being a major factor, but it still surprised me a little, because I put that layer on before adding the skeleton, & at that point the figure still stood out. I do think it is the relative brightness of the skeleton as much as its size, though. If I had it to do over I think I'd leave a little more brightness around the figure so the poor guy didn't vanish before his time... though I doubt he will last long in any case!
(CHOMP!)
ReplyDeleteYou got some for real lovely bones happening here. But also gruesome and terrifying.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted to see your illustration on AWAD this morning. That led me here, so I'm doubly delighted! I'm from Durham, so I feel like a neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Henry!
ReplyDelete& welcome, Sock Monkey! I see from your profile you're a jazz fan-- my brother lives in Durham & is a jazz bassist. Curiouser & curiouser!
That's so cool--both the skeleton and being featured on Word A Day! Congrats!
ReplyDeletewow! thx to wordsmith for featuring you! i love, love love your wit & edginess! i'll be looking for your work on etsy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lupi & Patricia-- the Etsy shop is now LIVE!!
ReplyDeleteSaw your "Redolent" on A.Word.A.Day! Wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteHere from AWAD. Congrats. I LOVE this piece! It reminds me of my dissertation about folklore and hauntings in American literature. Is it for sale?
ReplyDelete