Another in a series of Terry Pratchett inspired illustrations to keep myself busy during a particularly slow year. One of my favorite characters in all of the Discworld books was the Patrician of the city of Ankh-Morpork, Havelock Vetinari. I’ve long pictured the british actor Charles Dance when I’ve read the books, and I was tickled to discover that he had in fact been cast in the role for the television adaptation “Going Postal” (Jeremy Irons played him in “Colour of Magic”, and according to the Wikipedia page, Terry Pratchett’s own choice of actor was the late Alan Rickman). So, for my portrait, I’ve sort of leaned towards Charles Dance, but with a different hairstyle and without the goatee, as he is so often pictured with).

In anticipation of Tuesday’s first debate, I am reminded of the movie ‘The Exorcist’. The growing sense of unease, menace, and mounting horror at the malignancy that has been growing unchecked under our own roof. That feeling of desperate hope when kindly Father Merrin finally shows up for the showdown with the bile spewing demon. Here’s wishing Joe Biden luck in keeping up with the fire hydrant of lies, fear and hatred. Or maybe they will surprise us all with an evening of intelligent discourse and reasonable debate on the issues . . . (uh, yeah, right)

Some of my favorite pieces this year have been non-commissioned. Here’s another in my series of Terry Pratchett inspired illustrations. (see previous posts over the past month or so). Here’s the Librarian (word of advice; don’t call him a ‘monkey’).

As I wrote in an earlier post, I’ve been reading (and sometimes re-reading) through a huge pile of Terry Pratchett novels during this strange year. The sense of absurd humor and colorful recurring characters I’ve been finding strangely comforting. Several of the most recent titles I’ve gotten through have featured a wonderful trio of witches, Granny Esme Weatherwax, ‘Nanny’ Gytha Ogg, and their young junior apprentice Magrat Garlick. I previously did a portrait of “Death” (from the same series of novels) and wanted to do another one along the same lines. They may or may not end up as self promo pieces.