Do you know the story of Joanna Southcott? The 64-year old allegedly pregnant prophet left behind a box of secrets to protect the world. Hope she can save us.
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.
Here’s a digital illustration I did this past summer for Bait/Switch magazine, available online and in print. It challenges creatives to respond to a previous piece. My drawing was inspired by a quilt made by Chicago artist Amanda Nadig. I then met up with New York-based writer Eliot Hudson who was living this design with his son Lance! He wrote a poem about the scene and the cycle continued with other creatives. I enjoyed the experience and recommend other artists of any medium to get involved.
Confusion (Light Blue Ensign). Oil on Canvas. 2021
I’ll be returning to Dubai Design Week this year, this time with two linocut workshops. They’ll take place at D3 on Tuesday, Nov 9th from 4:30 - 6:30, and Thursday, Nov 11th from 7 - 9 pm. Get more information and sign up here, or email me with any questions at drlperkins@gmail.com.
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.
Ever since I first became interested in printmaking, I’ve liked Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut engraving from 1498 featuring the four horsemen of the apocalypse. For my interpretation I chose to loop them together with an emphasis on the character qualities described in the Book of Revelation.
The first horseman delivers Conquest with a crown and bow. Riding a white horse, this strong man is intent on dominating the world.
The second horseman brings War and bloodshed. He wields a sword and is here to disrupt peace on Earth by compelling people to kill each other.
The third horseman inflicts Famine on the world. On a black horse balancing a scale, this rider represents the greed in society that creates imbalance in the sharing of essential goods.
The fourth horseman rides a sickly horse and brings vast Death to the world. This is often associated with the effects of plague.
