Well, not entirely, but I wanted to talk about some of the artwork I’ve created that pertains to fantasy characters, along with other things happening in my world.
Last November, I finally dove into the Sarah J. Maas book series *A Court of Thorns and Roses*. It all started when I began tattooing specific symbols from the books on a few of my clients and became curious about the interest surrounding them. One client told me I would love them if I had any appreciation for fantasy stories. She explained that they were fun and easy to read, like *Harry Potter* for adults. I have always been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, and I enjoyed reading the *Harry Potter* series. So, when I had to take some time off work for a minor surgical procedure, I decided to read those books while I recovered. They were fantastic! A nice escape from what I typically read these days, which has been books about the current environmental-political climate or the fears and worries of modern technology—essentially, books that drag me down to hopelessness. The series completely flipped my Instagram algorithms to the point where it was almost annoying, with an overwhelming amount of AI-generated content of the characters, cosplayers reenacting scenes from the books, girls discussing the books, and oddly muscular guys working out. What the heck is going on here?
I created a linocut during my recovery of a book scene called "Starfall." I was able to showcase it during my vending exposition at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo in Louisville, KY, and it was a big hit! I sold every piece! I noticed that anyone familiar with the books would immediately get excited when they saw the artwork, which inspired me to create more designs.
Some of you may remember that I made artwork inspired by *The Last of Us* game and television series, where I created humorous propaganda advertisements for the fungus, encouraging people to get infected. I wanted to do something similar with the ACOTAR series, so I made three illustrations that advertise products and services based on specific chapters of the books, mostly from the second book, *A Court of Mist and Fury*. If you’ve only read the first book, my illustrations might confuse you due to their spoilers. The artworks made their debut at a vending exposition in Columbus, Ohio, a couple of weeks ago, and they ended up being my best sellers. I’m considering creating more art based on the ACOTAR series and may even develop something more serious, like a collage design for each book. Don’t hold your breath on that, but it’s an idea I wouldn’t mind pursuing someday. Here’s a link to a fun reel I made on Instagram of all the ACOTAR themed ads I’ve made so far. A wonderful voice actor, Drew Holley IG: @the _voice_ of _drew offered his talents and did a wonderful job reading my advertisements as Rhysand ACOTAR commercials for your pleasure.
In other news, I have designed a new logo and am doing away with the sun ray/all-seeing eye bird design. I chose to go with a ginkgo leaf skull etching and added a European robin to accompany it. I tend to get a bit esoteric with my artwork, and I’m trying to step away from that a little so that I’m more approachable. This new logo seems more fitting for what I hope to convey.
Etching has become my new passion, and I just purchased two mezzotint rockers to achieve darker-toned etchings and eliminate the need for using acid to bite the copper plates. I’m not comfortable using acid because I have to do it at home and store it there. It’s very toxic, and even though I etch outdoors and seal everything well, it still makes me uncomfortable. Creating this way has been a slow process, and I’m not able to produce artwork as quickly as I could with digital methods, but I think that will be beneficial. After the ACOTAR illustrations, I vowed not to create any digital drawings for the remainder of the year and to devote my creative efforts specifically to etching. My goal is to have a variety of etchings that will outnumber the pieces I am currently selling. It’ll take time, but it’ll be worth it, and the more I practice, the better I’ll get.
I’m phasing out some of the digital drawings in my collection but keeping a few that continue to sell well for me. As I mentioned before, I want to be less esoteric so that my creations will attract people who can understand them and relate to them in their own way. I will always embrace the weird, but I want to be more inviting with my themes. Most of the artwork I’m archiving are the boldly Satanic-themed illustrations. My themes will focus more on the cyclical nature of life and death in the universe. I’ll continue to keep the popular culture-themed illustrations, such as the Cordyceps series, and of course, the ACOTAR work will have a permanent place in my setup for a long time.
I’ve posted all the events I’m participating in for the year, so please check that page if you wish to meet me or purchase art. The online store doesn’t have nearly as much work as I sell at in-person events. If I have ever made something that you do not see in the online store and you wish to purchase it, please email me, and let me know, as I can usually get you what you want.
Love and light always
