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That's what the world is today. An orb of mystification. A sphere of bewilderment... Uh, a cardboard globe of disarray... A round mound of unsound...?
Seriously though, brand loyalty to water? I actually overheard this at the store during Vancouver's turbidity crisis. I could only laugh. And then put the guy in a cartoon.
Here's an image done up to promote a goth-tat-B&D-industrial-death-metal spectacular at one of Cowtown's nightspots this upcoming yuletide season. For your amusement, it's presented here sans all the logo soup that usually festoons such promo pieces. Already, I can hear the tat-gun revving up, Filbrandt's shirt coming off...
There was a spectacular sunset seen from my studio window the night of November 24, 2006. Oil pastel, ink and wine on paper.
All I've done for the last 4 days is unpack boxes and boxes and boxes of books. And no, I don't work in a bookstore (anymore) or a library; these are my books! It's a sickness, I tell you. A sickness.
That's right, I can't stop myself... Somebody help me...
Over on BoingBoing they note that issue 6 of Craphound is out. If you don't know Craphound, you must meet Craphound; it's the best, craziest zine ever, crammed full of clip art arranged by theme. It's a dream come true for illustrators and the obsessed. I can't imagine the hours it must take to put one of these suckers together (which is probably why they're re-releasing old ones at the moment) but apparently a new one is in the works.
So if anyone is down in Portland at Reading Frenzy (Kamala, this means you!), be sure to pick up a few copies for yourself and friends you may not even have met yet. They will thank you.
PS. to Kamala: and while you're shopping for local product, could you pick me up some 1171 Vellum Bristol Paper (Bee Paper Company)? That stuff is amazing for fine fiddly ink work, and no one up here seems to have it.
Video Vulture this week is dealing with the spate of early '80s Spaghetti-ocalypse flicks that followed in the wake of The Road Warrior. I've attempted to render a making-of moment involving the 1984 classic "Rats: Night of Terror". This is what awaits us in the year 225 A.B. (After the Bruschetta)...
Handsome and talented Sinner Rod Filbrandt is in a show opening this weekend. Ryan Heshka writes:
"The Jupiter Project is at it again! A number of us have organized a group show and sale, "WALL CANDY", taking place in Vancouver, B.C. at the JEM Gallery, which runs from November 24th to December 6th. The show will consist of affordably priced items such as paintings, prints, dolls, holiday cards, and the like, and just happens to take place a month before Christmas (hmmm... gift ideas?).
I hope you'll be able to join us opening night, November 25th ... the items are cash and carry, so come early and get first crack at the best stuff!! Much of the work for sale is hand made, so once its gone, its gone."
More animal cruelty, courtesy of Kamala and Ian. And Otis.
I bet you've never seen a pointing dog hunting in a rainbow wig before, now have you? I thought not.
Over on Neatorama there's a post about Giant Microbes, a company that produces adorable plush toys that look like yukky diseases. Archie McPhee has been selling Parasite Pals for a while now; who knew cute li'l ickies could be so popular? And then there's the medical student who draws cartoons of bacteria.
While not focusing on the cute, painters like Suzanne Joelson and Dr. Lizzie Burns have been inspired by the wonders found under the microscope.
Fascination with the itty bitty is nothing new. The Victorians practiced the obscure art of "arranged" slides, complete with fancy paper covers; and there's the work of Ernst Haeckel, whose engravings of diatoms and other minutae still dazzles.
Well, I'm inspired. I think it's time to go look up something mysterious, spooky, and altogether ooky to sew while I watch the Addams Family DVD. Microscopic mates, anyone?
pictured: E. coli (Escherichia coli), Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius), Ulcer (Helicobacter pylori), Flesh Eating (Streptococcus pyogenes)