This sketch is probably from 1998 when Labor of Love was publishing GLYPH, the free tabloid. We were trying to think of ads for our design studio to print in the paper. This one had something to do with LoL helping you connect your castle in the sky dreams with the real world and success! The idea never made to a final ad but I do like this illustration.
Author Archives: skook
A Dagger for Your Heart
Here’s the last of the spot illustrations I did for the first issue of The Black Seal. I don’t believe this one saw print either.
This Will Only Sting for a Moment
One more spot illustration intended for The Black Seal #1. This one didn’t see print. Until now. Not that this is print.
Strange Carving Found in the Desolate Hills
Another spot illustration intended for The Black Seal #1 should there be any unsightly blank spaces. This one didn’t see print.
Do Not Open ‘Til … well … EVER
Another spot illustration done for The Black Seal #1. I’d need to check the issue to be sure but I don’t think this one ever saw print.
Old (ancient!) books of evil lore are a staple of Lovecraft’s stories. The Necronomicon is the most famous but many other authors have contributed their own dreaded tomes to Library-of-Books-it’s-a-BAD-Idea-to-Read.
In the Dark
Another spot illustration for The Black Seal #1. I did all the spot illustrations with pen and ink. The first illustration I did, the one that I was first assigned, was mostly done in Photoshop and it took forever. I hadn’t used Photoshop for illustrations much at that point and so I was learning as I worked. I fell back on pen (and brush) and ink for the rest of the illustrations in order to get them done more quickly.
Smoke and Empty Space
In the first issue of The Black Seal I was assigned three illustrations. I was also asked to come up with some spot illustrations that could be used to fill any unsightly empty spaces. This is one of those spot illustrations.
Tumor, Removed
Another illustration for The Black Seal #1.
Glaaki Zombie
This is the pre-Photoshopped version of an illustration I did for The Black Seal #1 back in 2003. For some reason I decided to add the blacks digitally on this one. Perhaps I thought it would speed up the work? I doubt if I would do that today. I enjoy laying down brushloads of black ink. It’s relaxing.
Fungi From Yuggoth
This is another image from 2000 that I intended to use a portfolio piece. Ultimately I guess I did – the finished illustration is in my Epilogue.net gallery – I just didn’t get it completed until 2003.
This is a Mi-Go, a so-called Fungi from Yuggoth, one of H.P. Lovecraft’s alien species. They’re featured prominently in The Whisperer in the Darkness. I don’t think many of authors have used them. They’ve gained most of their prominence and personality by their use in the Call of Cthulhu role playing games.
