Book Launch at Zerzura Books

The official Dubai book launch for The End is at Hand was a fun event with a conversation about creative process, writing, illustration, printmaking, and of course how the world may end. There was an art show where I displayed work that relates to the book, we had a Q&A, book signing, and screen printed poster giveaway. Finally, once it was all done, we were able to enjoy the rest of the very lively Quoz Arts Fest at Alserkal Avenue.

The End is at Hand

THE END IS AT HAND comes out today! It’s my biggest project to date and I’m very proud of it. I worked on it every day during those dark, isolating pandemic times, so it’s a relief to see it finally arrive in stores and online. (Worldwide delivery here)

The concept started as an exhibition of prints, drawings, and paintings about the end of the world, but as I researched historical events to visualize, I became equally interested in writing the stories as making the art. Each page of writing is paired with a linocut illustration reflecting our fears of asteroids, volcanoes, floods, plague, aliens, global warming, and of course, each other.

THE END IS AT HAND: An Illustrated History of the Apocalypse is a collection of short stories and linocut illustrations about the end of the world. The book explores how it has all ended before, when we thought it would end again, and the ways it could end in the future. Told chronologically, the tales begin with prehistoric extinctions and extend into the distant future when the universe may or may not collapse. Nothing lasts forever, including the worlds we inhabit - human society, our planet, and the entire universe.

Namazu, the Earthshaker

Namazu is a giant catfish that lives under Japan and causes earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis with a rattle of its tail. The 15th century legend has evolved to make the catfish a Japanese symbol for mischief and natural disasters, but also of balance and a continuous life cycle.

Black Hole Sun

When I was sketching illustrations for the Sun expanding and vaporizing the galaxy (e.t.a. in one billion years), I kept getting the Soundgarden song Black Hole Sun stuck in my head. I ended up borrowing from the album cover as a reference for the Sun gobbling up the universe.