"MURDER and MISTLETOE" (2008) This was done primarily as a "Christmas Card" gift for some of the art communities that I am a member at, places like DeviantART and Comicspace, albeit a tad on the dark side. I did a variation of the "visiting Santa" theme as the basic inspiration for the sketch... a visit turned deadly! Anyone familiar with the world of comics and DC Comics in particular will recognize the seductive creature perched on Santa's lap, as the one and only "Poison Ivy", one of Batman's more unforgettable members in his infamous rogue's gallery. Jolly, dead St.Nick's pose was the most challenging part of the drawing, along with his chair. To be honest, I did not plan this illustration out.. it began as a vague idea turned into a doodle and ultimately the final sketch presented here. In the end the image is somewhat reminiscent of Michelangelo's "Pieta" especially in the posing of Santa Claus. Ivy's "children" is my take on the Venus Flytrap with a lil' "Audrey 2" from "Little Shop of Horrors" thrown in for good measure. I had a little personal fun with the names on Santa's "naughty" list. Along with the rest of Batman's "friends", I also took the liberty to add such nefarious individuals as; Osama Bin Laden, Rupert Murdock, Bill Gates, Dick Cheney, and of course George W. Bush, to name just a few...