“ I think nighttime is dark so you can imagine your fears with less distraction.” -Calvin and Hobbes.

 

These works represent an ongoing exploration of stories and folklore told to children to keep them out of harm’s way. The stories go back generations and repeat from culture to culture, still they all warn children to stay out of the woods, don’t go the river or lake by yourself, don’t wander around at night, eat your supper, or something unspeakable will get you. The names may change, but the all the stories refer back to some form of the

Bogeyman. The stories are everywhere, from Eastern Europe, to Asia, to the Appalachian Mountains, to modern urban cities. It is the timelessness and verbal tradition that pulls me and inspires me to provide a face or an environment to things only whispered about. The tales grow and feed on personal fear that has followed us up from early childhood. The fear of the unknown, the thump in the dark, the flicker of an image just out of the corner

of our eye, it is these base fears that cause the imagination to spring into action.

 

I contrast the concept of a menace just beyond perception with images of detail. In tandem my work provides some clues to guide the viewer into a darker world where imagination runs free based upon their own beliefs and life experiences. I do this by drawing. I have always been fundamentally attracted to line and value and how the variation of one will affect the other. I use a multitude of lines to describe form, to emulate light and shadow. Though I my experiment with other techniques and media, I always come back to this form of drawing. It provides a fresh way of viewing the world and provides challenges to overcome. From woodcut to scratchboard to pen and ink, the use of line tells a story. It communicates a feeling between the image and viewer, and when it works, there is nothing more satisfying or magical.

 

Bio:

The first sightings of what most refer to as Doug was rumored to be in Vandalia, Ohio

1967. It was rumored to be quite elusive and only a few sightings have been recorded from that time. From 1985 to 1989 Doug was seen attending the Columbus College of Art and Design where it graduated being named Outstanding Senior in Illustration. From there Doug sightings were reported in the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin. The story goes

that Doug was providing concept designs, and illustrations for Harley-Davidson Apparel.

 

For the last eighteen years Doug has been sighted in and around the Kansas City, Missouri area. Doug is elusive, rather clever, but mostly harmless. It has been known to come out of hiding periodically in search of snacks.

 

Partial list of Shows and awards:

 

2015:- 3X3 Illustration Annual, two merit awards.

2014:- Little Book of Monsters Volume 3.

2014:- Johnson County Public Library; Group Show, The Art of Steampunk.

2013:- Little Book of Monsters Volume 2.