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September 1, 2007
monster month challenge
by sven at 8:00 am
Woo-hoo! I've just gotten my first paid illustration contract!
My employer is noted cryptozoologist, Professor Ichbonnsen (no relation). He's hired me to do illustrations for his forthcoming book, "Lifeforms Heretofore Unknown by Science: New discoveries from the world's most renowned monster hunter."
I'm actually kinda baffled as to how he found me, given that I've never really done illustration work before. It's possible that he found Scarlet Letters by googling his own name -- after all, I did mention (1, 2) his work during last year's monster month.
It's also possible, though, that he's mistaken shots from Let Sleeping Gods Lie for actual documentary footage... And thus thinks that I'm a fellow crypto-enthusiast??
Anyway, the Professor -- he's never mentioned a proper first name (hm...) -- has asked me to do illustrations of 31 creatures, to be delivered one-a-day over the course of October. Doing that many is a bit of a challenge, so I've already started work on some sketches and studies. I plan to use this as an opportunity to develop my skills in painting with acrylics; that's how I'm hoping to do all the final pieces.
Ichbonnsen, frankly, seems rather eccentric. I confess, based on the adventure stories he's told me so far, part of me's wondering if he's flat out delusional! But, money is money...
(The "Dark Strider," the "Noble Shellkaye," the "Trick Squilligoss," the "Colossal Ubertuber," the "King Shielyana"... What the heck are these things, anyway??)
an open invitation
I'd like to invite all my artist friends to join in the fun. I'd love it if you'd do up some monster sketches of your own for October and post them on your blogs. ...BUT -- and here's the trick! -- be sure to make them illustrations of purely imaginary creatures!
See, I want to play a little game and test the good Professor -- to see whether he's really the World-Class Monster-Hunter that he claims to be -- or if, rather, he's a Certifiable Loony!
When I point him to the pictures on your blogs, will he believe that the intentionally made-up creatures are also "new discoveries, heretofore unknown by science?" ...Or will he immediately see through the ruse?
Help me discover the truth!
P.S. I want to give everyone adequate time to start thinking about this. But please DON'T post any of your pictures until October 1st! That's when I'll start posting my own pictures, one-a-day -- and we don't want to tip our hand to the Prof, OK?
posted by sven | September 1, 2007 8:00 AM | comments (5) | categories: bestiary, exhibits & events, painting
Comments
Oh, I know him! I heard him interviewed on Coast to Coast! He is so cool!
They said is name was Dr. Lyon P. Ichbonnsen III, Esq.
Love the painting!
Posted by: shelley Noble at September 1, 2007 9:10 AM
Hmmm!
Posted by: Mark F. at September 1, 2007 9:11 AM
Hmmm..... are you sure that wasn't Professor Nevs Ichbonnsen? Or perhaps Shelley is thinking of his notorious brother?
Come to think of it, I did run across something the other week that I wanted to further explore - strange footprints like none I've ever seen before, either in person or in any of the zoological journals. At the time other commitments kept me from following up - and they're far from fresh now, but fortunately there's been no rain or other erosive conditions to destroy them - it's still possible I might be able to trace them to their source - or rather to their makers. It LOOKED like tracks made by several different types of creatures, but hard to tell - they were rather confused and for the most part overlapped each other to the point of obliterating most detail. My considered opinion was that one or more creature might have been chasing another. The trail seemed to lead in the general direction of a tall series of dirt bluffs towering over the local cemetary - toward a location where old local legends (never corroborated or disproved thus far) place some sort of tunnel into the very bowels of the earth, some say linked to the discovery twelve years ago in the same area of fragments of stone bearing strange heiroglyphic-like markings that noone from the university or the nearby museum has ever been able to identify.
I'm absolutely itching to follow up on this intriguing lead - but unfortunately my job requires my presence for at least another month, after which time I expect to be able to get some vacation time - during which of course I'll pack up a rucksack and take up an electric torch and camera and begin preliminary explorations. And after last year's disastrous camera malfunction, I'll be sure this time to bring the sketchbook - microminiaturized electronic components are a great luxury, but hardly to be relied upon entirely in an important situation.
Good luck to all my fellow Cryptos in all their endeavours!
Posted by: Darkstrider at September 2, 2007 12:05 AM
Hmmm..... are you sure that wasn't Professor Nevs Ichbonnsen? Or perhaps Shelley is thinking of his notorious brother?
Come to think of it, I did run across something the other week that I wanted to further explore - strange footprints like none I've ever seen before, either in person or in any of the zoological journals. At the time other commitments kept me from following up - and they're far from fresh now, but fortunately there's been no rain or other erosive conditions to destroy them - it's still possible I might be able to trace them to their source - or rather to their makers. It LOOKED like tracks made by several different types of creatures, but hard to tell - they were rather confused and for the most part overlapped each other to the point of obliterating most detail. My considered opinion was that one or more creature might have been chasing another. The trail seemed to lead in the general direction of a tall series of dirt bluffs towering over the local cemetary - toward a location where old local legends (never corroborated or disproved thus far) place some sort of tunnel into the very bowels of the earth, some say linked to the discovery twelve years ago in the same area of fragments of stone bearing strange heiroglyphic-like markings that noone from the university or the nearby museum has ever been able to identify.
I'm absolutely itching to follow up on this intriguing lead - but unfortunately my job requires my presence for at least another month, after which time I expect to be able to get some vacation time - during which of course I'll pack up a rucksack and take up an electric torch and camera and begin preliminary explorations. And after last year's disastrous camera malfunction, I'll be sure this time to bring the sketchbook - microminiaturized electronic components are a great luxury, but hardly to be relied upon entirely in an important situation.
Good luck to all my fellow Cryptos in all their endeavours!
Posted by: Darkstrider at September 2, 2007 12:07 AM
I'm hooked. Mike tells an awfully good story. I know where some monsters are living!
Posted by: shelley Noble at September 10, 2007 11:45 PM