Posted on

“Well Read” Exhibition FAQs

“Well Read” Exhibition – April 6th – 8th 2017

What is “Well Read”?

Well Read is a new body of work by Justin Hillgrove consisting of over 20 original acrylic paintings and more than 15 framed drawings, all themed around reading and books. Each piece of art is accompanied by a short story, description or poem. “I wanted an exhibition that would allow viewers to stop at each piece and become immersed in the story and details for a time before moving on to the next. A show that was a complete experience…”

Joining Justin will be Author/Illustrator John Skewes, celebrating the tenth anniversary of his best-selling children’s book series “Larry Gets Lost” with a show of artwork from the series. John will be signing Tenth Anniversary Editions of “Larry Gets Lost in Seattle” and “Seattle ABC” during the art walk.

[Click HERE for Facebook Event Page]

Want to see the show, but can’t make it in person?

The show preview will be posted on Justin’s blog Thursday at 7:00pm, an hour after the physical show opens. If there is an original you are interested in purchasing during the opening (4/6/17 6-10pm PST), you may call 206-799-3863 to see if it is still available and make the purchase over the phone (shipping extra). Originals still available after the show will either be sent to galleries or may be purchased on ImpsAndMonsters.com.

Just will also likely be posting show images (and maybe video) via social media during the exhibition, so follow him here:
Instagram: @impsandmonsters
Twitter: @impsandmonsters
Facebook: @impsandmonsterspage

Giveaways

I will be giving away a bookmark (while supplies last) to those attending the opening. Additional bookmarks may be purchased at the show or online.

If I purchase an original, can I take it with me right away?

No – The original paintings and drawings will stay hanging until the show ends on Saturday night so that they may be seen and enjoyed by all who attend. Purchased originals may be picked up at the Piranha Shop at 7pm on Saturday(4/8), and those remaining will be shipped or otherwise delivered to their new owners starting on the following Monday.

Will prints be available?

Yes – Both open edition and giclée prints will be available for purchase during the show. They will also be available online once the show opens.

When and where is the exhibition?

Opening Night:
First Thursday, April 6th, 2017 6p – 10p PST

Show Hours:
Thursday, Apr 6th, 6p – 10p
Fri, Apr 7th, 11a – 8p
Sat, Apr 8th, 11a – 7p

Location:
The Pirahna Shop – 1022 1st Ave. South Seattle, WA 98134

Who is Justin Hillgrove?

Justin is a Pacific Northwest artist, well-known for his paintings of monsters, robots, pop art and parody.  He also creates board games, comics and toys. He has been showing his work in shows and galleries since 2005.

Who is John Skewes?

John is a former Disney artist and illustrator of more than 20 children’s books. He is the author and illustrator of the award-winning Larry Gets Lost picture book series.

Posted on

Imps and Monsters February Newsletter

Imp Lands Comic Book 4

Newsletter: Kickstarter ending Thursday, Imp Lands Issue 4 is out, and Emerald City Comicon Approaches!


Hi everyone,

I will no longer be using Constant Contact to send out newsletters  but will instead be regularly updating my blog – so if you want to receive updates in your inbox just enter your email address in the “Subscribe to Blog via Email” field here on the right side.

Other than that, just a few updates (see below) – because this week is BUSY!

Thanks for all the support,
Justin Hillgrove


“By Order Of The Queen” Boardgame

Ends Thursday March 2nd @ 9pm PST

Just a few days left if you want to get in on the Kickstarter for our new game “By Order Of The Queen.” We have been working like mad on all the finishing touches, last minute stretch goals, and getting files ready to send to press. CLICK HERE to learn more about the game. Remember the Kickstarter copies come with extras not included in the retail version as well as being offered at a lower price than the MSRP. Thanks for all the support and sharing that has made the campaign so successful!

Also, Analog Games interviewed me about working on board games. CLICK HERE to read the interview on their blog.


Imp Lands 4

Imp Lands Comic Book 4Imp Lands issue #4 is hot off the press! I’ll have some with me at Emerald City Comicon and they are available HERE on the website as well.


Emerald City Comicon

And speaking of Comicon, I will be at booth #412 near Steam Crow and The Oatmeal, so if you are attending be sure and drop by. I think tickets may already be sold out so be sure and check before coming down.

Emerald City Comicon – Seattle, WA

March 2 – 5, 2017
Washington State Convention Center
emeraldcitycomicon.com/

 

Posted on

Miyazaki Totems

A Studio Ghibli / Hayao Miyazaki-themed group show opened at Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco on February 2nd. My contributions to the show are two 8″ x 24″ original acrylic paintings on canvas (sold as a set). The “Miyazaki Totems” were a lot of fun to work on – It was an opportunity to re-visit my favorite Miyazaki films and put my spin on many of his beloved characters.

Prints can be ordered HERE on impsandmonsters.com

Spoke-Art Gallery
816 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 796-3774 * SF@spoke-art.com

 

Posted on

Daily Sketches Are Starting Up Again! Drawing 1 – 3.

Sketch-A-Day #1
Sketch-A-Day #1
Sketch-A-Day #2
Sketch-A-Day #2
Sketch-A-Day #3
Sketch-A-Day #3

Not-Quite-Daily Sketches Are Starting Up Again

It’s been awhile since I ended my sketch-a-day but I’ve been wanting to start it up again and it is finally happening now! I may post some of my new Daily Sketch feed here in the blog, but the best way to follow them is to follow me on Instagram or Facebook. I’ll most likely be posting 3-5 sketches a week but I’ll try to keep it up.

instagram @impsandmonsters

facebook @impsandmonsterspage

Posted on

Goldilocks “Just Right” Timelapse Video

YouTube 3 Bears

Here’s another acrylic painting time-lapse video with voice over – I hope you like it.

YouTube video URL: https://youtu.be/HacZATcShG4

Posted on

Two New Miyazaki – Sendak Mash-ups by Justin Hillgrove

Its been a couple years since my last Miyazaki/Sendak crossover and I’d been itching do another these last few months, though I think what really sparked the desire was listening to “Howl’s Moving Castle” again on audiobook (for probably the seventh time). I finally sat down in June and started looking over my worn out copy of “Where The Wild Things Are” (easily my favorite Children’s Book of all time) and started roughing out what new spread I might use. There were two spreads in particular that I could not decide between, and in the end I decided to paint them both.

I started with rough pencil doodles to figure out what Miyazaki characters would best fit the roles they’d be playing, and then I spent three days cleaning up the drawings and inking them while in my booth at the Edmonds Arts Festival in June 2015. Afterwards I picked out a couple canvases (18″ x 36″ is probably my favorite size canvas to paint on) and then spent the next few weeks painting…


Hungry and Homesick

“Hungry And Homesick”

18″ x 36″ acrylics on canvas. 2015.

Another in my tribute series mashing up “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak and some of my favorite Studio Ghibli (Hayao Miyazaki) characters: Kamaji, No Face (Spirited Away), Totoro and San (Princess Mononoke). There are a kodama and some soot sprites in there too.

PRINTS AVAILABLE HERE

Hungry and Homesick


 

Well Eat You Up

“We’ll Eat You Up – We Love You So”

18″ x 36″ acrylics on canvas. 2015.

Another in my tribute series mashing up “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak and some of my favorite Studio Ghibli (Hayao Miyazaki) characters: San (Princess Mononoke), Totoro, No Face (Spirited Away), Ponyo, Turnip Head (Howl’s Moving Castle), Haku (Spirited Away), and an Ohmu (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind). There are kodama and some soot sprites in there too.

The title is part of the text from the page of “Where The Wild Things Are” that this painting is based on.

PRINTS AVAILABLE HERE

We'll Eat You Up - We Love You SoClose Up

Close up details…

WIP

Work in progress…

Posted on

JUNKING ON KICKSTARTER

Designed by David Gerrard • Art by Justin Hillgrove
Design and Layout by Travis Torgerson

Successfully Funded on Kickstarter and Arriving Fall 2015

The Game

JunKing is a 2-4 player strategy card game (UPDATE: 5-6 player expansion now included) set in a corner of artist Justin Hillgrove’s Imp Lands world called the “Junk Lands”. The Junk Lands are a place where old, lost and broken items collect into huge heaps and mounds. Scavenger Imps are the dominant creatures there and they love their home – to them the Junk Lands are full of endless riches and so their days are spent sifting, collecting and guarding their individual junk hoards. Scavenger Imp society is built on this and so those with the best junk hoards rise to the top of their tribe.  That’s what “JunKing” is all about. Each player hoards valuable junk, while keeping an eye out for the most prestigious piece of junk in the Junk Lands… The Crown.

JunKing was designed with three goals in mind: It had to have simple mechanics, take as few as 15 minutes to play, and it had to have strong strategic layers interwoven into it.

During play, everyone draws off the same shuffled deck of cards in the center of play, called the Junkpile. On your turn, you draw a card, place a piece of junk into play from your hand, then activate one of the actions on your junk or use your character’s ability.

All junk is worth something. In the junkpile, there is one card that is the most coveted of items called The Crown. Once a player draws that card, the game is over and everyone adds up the points displayed on the pieces of junk they have found. You also have a Hoard of used junk that increases the value of your collection. The player with the most points wins the current round. The game only takes about 15 minutes to play, and is designed for multiple rounds of play.

 

kickstarter-logo-1

 

Links

Downloadable Rules PDF

Junking On KickStarter

Board Game Geek

Interview with David Gerrard by Inquisitive Meeple

 

 

Animation Footer

Posted on

Adventure Time Cover #36

Adventure Time Inside Cover #36

Last year I painted a cover for the Adventure Time comic book (Kaboom Studios / Cartoon Network) and it is finally out in stores. Issue #36 (Main Cover A) can be purchased online direct here: http://www.boom-studios.com/adventure-time-36-cover-a.html or at your local comics shop.

Adventure Time Inside Cover #36

Adventure Time Inside Cover #36

Posted on

New Posts via Instagram

You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting here on the blog as often as I used, instead I’ve been sharing via Instagram (which only shares to my Facebook Fan Page and my Twitter). This simplifies things for me and lets me focus on creating and makes sharing progress less time consuming. So to keep up on current work in progress, sketches, etc, be sure and follow me on one of the below:

instagram.com/impsandmonsters/

facebook.com/impsandmonsterspage

twitter.com/impsandmonsters

Instagram

Also, you can see my Instagram feed in the right hand column –>

Posted on

Sketch #241

Sketch0241_800

Sketch #241 ©2014 Justin Hillgrove. http://www.impsandmonsters.com