H.P. Lovecraft's poem Hallowe'en in a Suburb was first published in a small press publication in 1926 then in Lovecraft's second posthumous Arkham House collection in 1943. For the reprint in the September, 1952 issue of Weird Tales editor D. Mcllwraith asked Virgil Finlay for an appropriate illustration. #FinlayFriday
an inspiring video of the 7,500 illustrations the US department of agriculture commissioned from 1886-1942 to support and promote america's fruit cultivators.
Exploring the horned serpent imagery. This specific one closer to the North American imagery, mentioned by the peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands and Great Lakes. Where the horns are described as more stag. I ended up using the cottonmouth for inspiration (one of my favorite snakes, visually). I like to think this particular horned serpent is more benevolent.
I was a big Greek mythology buff at school. My dad had bought an encyclopedia in the late '70s, and I was learning everything about it via it. Naturally, my favorite character was goddess Athena. All about knowledge & wisdom. The most kind-hearted of the gods too. So I had to paint a portrait in her honor.
Virgil Finlay cover painting for Famous Fantastic Mysteries, August 1941, illustrating fantasy classic The Metal Monster by his friend and supporter A. Merritt. #FinlayFriday