Jim Woodring's "Dirt in the Afternoon" drawing

This disturbing work of art by Jim Woodring reminds me of the late Boris Artzybasheff's anthropomorphic manchinalia illustrations. While the creatures here are indeed creepy, it's that house, seen though the living room window, that grips my spinal column and squeezes the juices of primal dread into my brain. Well done, Mr. Woodring! Jim Woodring's "Dirt in the Afternoon" drawing

[#1 posted by Stefan Jones , September 8, 2008 4:53 PM]

A repeat of The Simpsons shown the other day had a scene in The Android Dungeon comic shop. There was an issue of JIM hanging in front of the counter. Nice touch. I guess Groening is a fan.

Woodring's art is getting better and better, but I do miss the actual comic strips he used to do.

[#2 posted by zikman , September 8, 2008 5:38 PM]

for me, it's that thing on the couch that squeezes my spinal column and what not

[#3 posted by Lilorfnannie , September 8, 2008 5:49 PM]

"Hi Mom! I'm home! I brought a friend with me- can he stay for dinner?"

[#4 posted by Shawn Wolfe , September 8, 2008 5:57 PM]

I agree - that view of normalcy through the window makes me howl.

[#5 posted by Falcon_Seven , September 8, 2008 5:58 PM]

"...it's that house, seen though the living room window...

That house looks like any other Craftsman style home of the early twentieth century. Mark, why does that creep you out?

[#6 posted by Mark Frauenfelder , September 8, 2008 6:20 PM]

Falcon_Seven@5: "That house looks like any other Craftsman style home of the early twentieth century. Mark, why does that creep you out?"

Beats me. It only really affects me when I view the full res version on Jim's blog.

[#7 posted by skeptical , September 8, 2008 6:42 PM]

Mark, maybe its the fact that the roof structure is drawn incorrectly that is throwing you off? The corbels are shown supporting the fascia, not the actual roof itself. The fascia should be fastened onto the ends of the horizontal members of the corbel.

[#8 posted by wayn3w , September 8, 2008 6:45 PM]

That house is so angular and inorganic, in stark contrast to the characters in the foreground. Even the curtain rod has more life in it than the neighbor's house!

[#9 posted by anthony , September 8, 2008 6:48 PM]

The psychic lines suggested by the 'corbels' cause the house to be as walleyed as the creatures. Nothing is looking at the viewer, and that can evoke an uneasy feeling.

[#10 posted by anthony , September 8, 2008 6:52 PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elements_of_art#Shape

[#11 posted by membrain , September 8, 2008 7:44 PM]

I love how the knob of small table with the lamp seems to be like an eye staring at you.