Those that know me are probably looking at this and thinking it doesn't look anything like anything else in my gallery and you're very much right. My friend and I got to see Mirrormask on Friday evening and I wanted to do something that reflected the broad, layered, and almost expressionistic style I got from the film.

By and large, my favorite part/characters had to be the sphinxes. They had such a nicely unique look, very different from the standard Egyptian style (though I have nothing against that style), and their personalities and traits were well done, too. I couldn't explain it here if I wanted to, I think it's just one of those things you have to see for yourself

For anyone who hasn't seen anything on it yet, Mirrormask is the new film that just came out from Neil Gaimen & Dave McKean and the Jim Henson Company. I will be the first to admit, it's not for everyone. It's a very surreal and introspective piece and if you're not big on metaphor or stylish-lush imagery, it might not be best suited for you. I enjoyed it immensely, though. I've heard critiques of the film where they thought it was visually beautiful, but lacked in story. I would tend to disagree with that. The basic surface storyline might lack in depth, but this is one case where the term subtext definately applies. There are a myriad of other plots and meanings developing below that surface that I think you could find something new everytime you watched it. At any rate, that's my 2 cents. There are only two theaters in a 40 mile radius showing it around here, so unless it has a wider realease at another time, you might have trouble locating a theater near you, but I think it's worth looking into if you have the chance.

Media: Original ink drawing done with Copic drawing pen (F01), then scaned and placed over another scan I had made of a sheet of Egyptian papyrus paper, then painted digitally in Painter 8, then brought back into Photoshop where I added a few more layers of other papers I had scanned and quill pen ink writing I had done and turned into brushes. So yes, for anyone keeping score, that's traditional mixed with digital mixed with just a dash of manipulation. I'm sure if I really tried, I could have worked in another technique, though Catagorically speaking, I think the digital painting media and fanart nature remain the dominant elements.

Mirrormask copyright the Jim Henson Company