I stumbled across Martin Whitmore‘s site quite by accident… but isn’t that how the internet works most of the time? Once there I was hooked, and determined to throw money at him (he does one hell of a pole-dance).
What does he do? He’s an illustrator who has recently abandoned his day job in order to pursue making a living from his jeebus given talents alone — and those talents are abundant. I can support that.
He’s in Austin, so that makes him a local artist, and moves him further up my list when I’m choosing things to buy to put on the wall or on me. I can support that.
He’s got a dark sense of humor, and isn’t afraid to laugh at himself. I can support that.
He’s got a zombie, and zombie-huntress pinup fetish. I will support that.
I’ve already picked up the Cephalopocalypse t-shirt (seen worn at Christmas), the Chaos & Order Fairies prints (soon to be coming to a wall near me) and the Cephalopocalypse sticker (soon to be appearing all over town… on the back of my truck).
Go. Buy his wares, commission original work from him, shower him with moolah. Not just because he’s trying to make good by supporting himself with his talents, but because his stuff is fucking cool. Do it now, or I will withhold crawfish from you unwashed heathens… I’ll do it, I swear to Bob!
Ohh…this is the coolest stuff ever! I’ve now done my Father’s Day shopping, Big Dave will be pleased and I will make sure you get the credit for the find.
This will please the Marty, greatly. Spread the word, tell Kenny that if he likes what you got for him, that he should go and throw about shameless amounts of his hard earned rocket money. He can act like a big-shot. He’ll be a patron of the arts. He’ll be putting non-fermented oranges in Marty’s fridge.