Collaborations
Some of my favorite projects happen when artists join forces. This collection showcases collaborations with friends and fellow creators where our styles, ideas, and artwork came together to create something unique.
Benjamin Graham - Bird & Skull Snail Print
Benjamin Graham, the artist behind my shoulder sleeve and back tattoo, gifted me a copy of one of his pencil sketches after I gave him one of my prints as a thank-you for his amazing work. Wanting to preserve the original, I made copies and experimented with color, creating my own interpretation of his artwork.
This was a fun creative exchange between two artists, and one of my favorite collaborations to date. Ben even told me he preferred my color versions to the original black-and-white sketches, which was a huge compliment coming from someone whose work I admire.
Jim H. Madison - The THING PRINT DESTROYER #92
I've been a fan of Jim H. Madison's work for quite a while. After purchasing The Thing from his Print Destroyer series, Jim generously gave me permission to create my own color versions of the piece.
To begin, I scanned the print and digitally flattened it so I could work from a clean, distortion-free image. From there, I experimented with several different colorways while leaving every line, texture, and detail of Jim's original artwork completely untouched. It was a fun creative exercise that showed just how dramatically color alone can change the personality of an image.
I'm incredibly grateful to Jim for trusting me with one of his prints, and it was an honor to create these colorways with his permission. His bold, DIY printmaking style has a raw energy that I really admire, and I'm proud to have this project featured here among my collaborations.
If you enjoy handmade prints, underground comics, punk aesthetics, and printmaking culture, I highly recommend checking out Jim's work.
Jim's Original 3.5"x5" Silk Screen Print, and Included Photo Print in Black and White.
My 2 Color Variations OG/THING, and HULK/THING
Kenzie Tarpley/Tarpley Studios - Damon Planter
One of the best parts of being an artist is discovering the work of other independent creators. Every so often I come across a piece that has so much personality it follows me home, and eventually finds its way onto my drawing table.
That was exactly the case with this handmade ceramic monster planter by Kenzie of Tarpley Studios. I purchased this little guy simply because it made me smile. The expressive face, bold colors, and playful design had so much character that I couldn't resist illustrating it.
Rather than creating an exact replica, I wanted to capture the spirit of the piece through my own style. Using ink and alcohol markers, I explored the shapes, textures, and personality that first drew me to the planter while creating an illustration that feels uniquely my own.
Kenzie launched Tarpley Studios in 2022 after years of working with clay, creating whimsical ceramic monsters that have brought smiles to collectors ever since. It's easy to see why each one feels like it has its own personality.
Supporting fellow artists has always been an important part of my own creative journey, and I'm grateful for the inspiration this little monster brought into my studio. If you're looking for handcrafted ceramics that are equal parts fun, expressive, and beautifully made, I highly recommend checking out Tarpley Studios LLC.
