The Dark Fantastic

Aaand back to oils! Much improvement since last time, definitely. I had WAY too much fun doing this one.

I've been on a major Ray Bradbury kick this summer ever since finally reading his novel Something Wicked This Way Comes (and seeing the movie, as well, which is quite good!), and absolutely falling in looove with it. Seriously, read it this fall. It's excellent. And seasonal!

And this BAMF of an antagonist is Mr. Dark, The Illustrated Man - proprietor of the bizarre carnival that shows up in Green Town, Illinois around Halloween: Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show. I painted him as he was described/how I pictured him in the book, but not without a little homage to the Jonathan Pryce movie version. And Bradbury's descriptions of his tattoos are beyond badass, so I had an awesome time putting them together!

Took about 26 hours total over three weeks, oils on 16x20 canvas board. Hope you enjoy, and happy autumn!

Details:

Step-by-step: [link]

Face detail: [link]

Tattoo detail: [link]