Friday, September 18, 2009

The Ghostly Findings of a Ghost-Finder

Halloween is fast approaching and what more appropriate time to visit the mysterious exploits of Thomas Carnacki than when “the leaves are crisped and sere.” The English investigator of things that go bump in the night was created by authour William Hope Hodgson in the early years of last century. The "Ghost-Finder’s” initial appearance in the publications The Idler and The New Magazine coincided with the ever intriguing age of Spirituality which was pockmarked with candle-lit rooms and mournfully adorned individuals of heightened sensitivities to the visits of the deceased and otherwise ethereal passers-by. The Edwardian detective shares similar shades of tone with the brooding Sherlock Holmes, and as a Holmes enthusiast I can honestly expound of my own conviction, Carnacki as most deserving of sharing a hansom cab with the enigmatic gentleman of Baker’s Street. Of the ghosts haunting the pages of Carnackian adventures one may be reminded at times of the dreadful manifestations of H.P. Lovecraft, who was so wonderfully capable of provoking a sense of fear and uncertainty of the unknown foliations and age of existence. The world of spooks is indeed a large one, and its expanse is jealously fogged. Thomas Carnacki, though skeptical until the very last shadow of scientific causation has vanished, is a most intrepid believer compelled to explore this region and his adventures are utterly thrilling. From what I have been able to unearth concerning the literature and publications of Hodgson’s creation have suggested limited illustrations, which only availed my desire to pen my own. The composition of the drawing below was done simply for love of the craft and the stories. Attempting the somber atmosphere of those stories required a tremendous amount of ink and my nose has been greatly piqued by the applications.







15 comments:

  1. Nice illustration. Ya know, every once in a while I need a Sherlock Holmes fix myself and have to the book off the shelf and read before bed. I read them to Josh sometimes too while he's working. Exceptional... :)

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  2. Thanks, Mai - and I know the feeling! The stories, even if previously read, have simply a wonderful ambient influence on the brain -

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  3. Thanks, Chrissy - happy you like it:)

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  4. you captured Carnacki perfectly!

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  5. That made my day, Cat - thank you:)

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  6. Quite stunning blog you have here. And the post was very nice as well. I love this time of the year, not just because of Halloween, but because that dreaded summer seems to finally be giving us a break. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, where summer is the hottest nine months of the year! Not as bad as Florida though...

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  7. Truth! Spending the majority of the summer months hiding from insects and heat is not worthy of a parade, I must say -

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  8. WOW, can I just say Wow! What a wonderful gift and talent you have to take the words off of a page and beautifully execute an interpretation onto paper so that we can see the stories as you see them. Amazing illustrations!

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  9. Thank you so much for such a wonderful compliment! I am so very pleased you like them:)

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  10. What an awesome piece (and blog in general)! Great stuff!

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  11. Woo your art work is disturbing! I love it!!! Awesome!

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  12. after viewing your illustration and reading your description, i was compelled to procure a copy of carnaki's adventures...thank you! what a treat!!

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  13. Your most welcome, Zoe - so pleased I could help you find the spook detective's exploits! They certainly are fantastic adventures.....

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