Tuesday, August 2, 2011

WILBUR WHATELEY

So, for the last few weeks I've been behind on posting new work. This is the reason. An acquaintance of mine, Sam Heimer, is organizing a group show based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft here in Philadelphia and asked me to be a part of it. He even plans on doing a graphic novel formatted book of all the illustrations with sketches and bios from all the artists. I chose to do a portrait of Wilbur Whateley as an infant...and here it is. I usually don't post my other art on here, but I thought the subject matter made it pertinent.

WILBUR WHATELEY
"Above the waist it was semi-anthropomorphic; though its chest, where the dog’s rending paws still rested watchfully, had the leathery, reticulated hide of a crocodile or alligator. The back was piebald with yellow and black, and dimly suggested the squamous covering of certain snakes. Below the waist, though, it was the worst; for here all human resemblance left off and sheer phantasy began. The skin was thickly covered with coarse black fur, and from the abdomen a score of long greenish-grey tentacles with red sucking mouths protruded limply. Their arrangement was odd, and seemed to follow the symmetries of some cosmic geometry unknown to earth or the solar system. On each of the hips, deep set in a kind of pinkish, ciliated orbit, was what seemed to be a rudimentary eye; whilst in lieu of a tail there depended a kind of trunk or feeler with purple annular markings, and with many evidences of being an undeveloped mouth or throat. The limbs, save for their black fur, roughly resembled the hind legs of prehistoric earth’s giant saurians; and terminated in ridgy-veined pads that were neither hooves nor claws."
H.P. Lovecraft, The Dunwich Horror


8 comments:

  1. Wow! O.O Really stunning and disgusting!

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  2. Please keep us informed as to the date and place of this upcoming art show.

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  3. Congratulations and well done Michael, great news.

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  4. Nice rendering! I like that: what looks like a wood panel for the background. Hope there's a nice turnout of the show.

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  5. Amazing work, man... so glad I discovered your blog!

    I'd really love to see a book of just your own stuff... any plans in that direction?

    Keep it up, please!

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  6. Thanks dudes!! Nerdstrom-I was in talks with a publisher but it looks like it may be too expensive for them so I may wind up doing individual prints and a zinestyle booklet or series of booklets...I'll let you know

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  7. Yes, please do think about prints and such! I think a lof of your fans would be thrilled!

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