Thursday, April 21, 2016

Why Monsters?

 by kevan atteberry


Recalling a conversation from a month or two ago, when a friend noted virtually all my published books are about or feature monsters, I decided my post today would be a self-indulgent look at the the title question and whether there is an answer to it.

A few sample titles.
I knew this of course, but I didn't think much about it. Have I been pegged as another "monster guy?" Maybe. Do I care? Not really. Okay, sometimes I think about it and wonder if I should try and write a story with humans. But you know what? I love making monsters and I'm pretty alright at it. Whether for a book or for my own chuckles, I seem to default into sketching monsters when I have my sketchbook in hand. 


For several years I did a Monster-A-Day in October creating a new, from scratch monster everyday of the month. It was an exercise in discipline and creativity. (Hopefully, I'll resume that this October.)






I've also taken to incorporating monsters into old photos. You can see more them here http://vaguelyneighbors.tumblr.com/ where I share space with Patrick Girouard who adds robots to photos.  





I can create an endearing and interesting monster much easier than I can make an endearing and interesting child. Drawing kids is challenging and laborious and I am prone to exaggerated bouts of self-criticism and doubt. But then every now and then I'll knock out a kid that looks right. A kid that I feel good about. Chances are, though, that it will be a kid with a monster.


Why monsters? Why not monsters?

kevanatteberry.com

13 comments:

  1. I am utterly enchanted by that monster fish staring up at the dotted heavens. You are the genius of monsters, Kevan. No one does it like you!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. luv yur widdle monsters.....

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ah!! I LOVE these. Love, love, love, ridiculously love these.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I should have said, monstrously love, love, love.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You draw the BEST monsters on the planet!

    ReplyDelete
  6. me too...love, love love all of this to pieces!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kevan, you are monstrously amazing and wonderful. (And you're pretty damn good at bunnies, too!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. "Monsters are such innnnnteresting people," B. Bunny.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The winged monster on the bar stool with the bird? Warmed my heart! Thanks for the smile, Kevan.

    ReplyDelete
  10. * RRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!!
    * means "I love this!"

    ReplyDelete
  11. Why not monsters, indeed? I always drew animals instead of people when I was a kid because I found people hard to draw with their smooshed-in snoutless faces and all. (Got in trouble though when I drew the Holy Family as Sylvester, Tweety, & Co...) There are plenty of excellent human-sketchers around, so keep on mustering monsters :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your choice of colors is lovely. Keep doing the Monsters!

    ReplyDelete