In an attempt to expand my design portfolio with images that are less macabre, this happened.
Thursday Motivation
illustration
Batboy has a problem
Batboy tried Wordle just once, for fun, what could it hurt? Everybody else was doing it. He could stop any time he wanted to…
And We Shall Never Speak Of This Again
Batboy and the Art of Self-Sabotage (A Book)
I’m excited to announce that I’ve published my second book!
Available now on Amazon! Click Here!
This is a collection of the first fifty installments of the Batboy comic, which were originally published on social media from February to December 2021. You can see a previous post about Batboy here.
Batboy is my anxious alter ego and a vehicle for some of my random ridiculous thoughts.
I’m super excited to see Batboy in print, the full-color illustrations boldly leap off the page, even though Batboy himself is far from bold. You can see a small selection of Batboy for free on Instagram and Twitter. But if you want to make Batboy your own, please check him out on Amazon.
Brooklyn Horror con 2021
GREETINGS, CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT!
I’m super excited to announce that I will be appearing at the first annual Brooklyn Horror Convention October 23rd & 24th 2021. You can find me somewhere in the Artist Alley. I will post more info as it becomes available.
In preparation for my first real convention appearance, I’ve been painting up a storm and having a blast!
Below you can see one of my dear friends who will be attending the convention.
In addition to my original paintings, I will have an assortment of prints and postcards. Good ol’ Pumpkinspice will be on hand to ruin your pastries and spoil your coffee drinks.
I will also have a few copies of my illustrated book on hand. Pick one up for the monster kid in your life. I’ll even sign it for you (although that might actually decrease its value.)
If you can’t wait until October, you can order a copy from Amazon, by clicking here!
I’ll be posting more in the upcoming weeks, I’ve got quite a few new artworks to share with you! Hopefully you’ll want to come peep them in person.
I might also do a few posts on the logistical prep as an artist for their first convention appearance. I’m learning a lot and hope the info could be helpful to some of you.
Until next time!
Coffee is for Closers
I’m super excited to share this album art I created for CODE OF THE JAGUAR, a punk band from the “old, weird Philadelphia.”
This two-song single is streaming now, you can listen on bandcamp , and also preorder a physical 7″ record.
While you’re there, I recommend checking out their whole oeuvre, you’ll have these songs stuck in your brain for days.
And speaking of weird, old Philadelphia, in the 80s and 90s there was an all ages nightclub in the area called Pulsations, which featured a dancing robot. Take a look if you don’t believe me.
Introducing Batboy
A few weeks ago I created a random, ten-minute doodle. It was intended to relieve some pressure in between other more serious projects.
It turned out to be a new character. I call him Batboy.
He is able to voice some of my worries, my boredom, and other ridiculous thoughts in a single panel.
I have been posting him every other day on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Follow me there if you’d like to see more!
Twisted Love
I’m very excited to finally share my latest book cover illustration!
Coming February 12th from Jazz House Publications, Twisted Love is an anthology of 12 gothic romance stories guaranteed to chill your bones, just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Go on over to their website, see what they do and pick up some of their books. I’m very grateful to be working with them.
Inking a Sci Fi Illustration and Stuff
It’s a new week and I have a few new items for you.
Their meeting place has to be kept hidden. The robots that stalk the upper surface of the Earth would never understand. The kids would be laser blasted on sight. The kids’ mission? To read and discuss all the classics of human literature. That’s the basic idea behind this illustration that I have tentatively titled “The Book Club.”
Below you can watch as I ink this rough illustration and you can chill out to the hypnotic soundtrack.
Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ!
Also this past week I revamped an old design and added to my Amazon T-shirt shop. You might recognize this slightly more macabre version of the grinning face of Tillie, an iconic sight from Asbury Park in the old days.
Click on the shirt to visit my shop or click here!
As a nerdy kid, being not super athletic or interested in super athletes, I kinda felt left out when others showed their support for their football or baseball or hockey teams. Below is a shirt I designed for other nerds like me. People who think they’re funny.
Celebrate a Groundhog Day Birthday with these cards, magnets and mugs from my RedBubble store.
I think that’s about all I have accomplished this past week. I’m trying to keep busy and not let the stress of daily life derail anything.
How about you? Where are you at with your projects? Your goals?
I hope you’re kicking ass!
Until next time.
M. R. KESSELL 