Welcome to the ROX-TV website, we appreciate you for participating in our “Artist 5 Series” which highlights poets, artists, painters, and writers. Before we get into the interview, can you tell the ROX-TV readers where you are from or what town you are representing tonight?
I am from northeastern MA living in the small town of Rockport
This article must have been fated somehow because as I was watching “Mind Hunter” on Netflix, the real life story of development of behavior science in regards to serial killers and their MO’s….I decided to check the old Instagram account. The first thing I noticed was a “like” from Charcoal Monsters. I was intrigued by the name, and I won’t lie, I was envisioning some kind of sketch artistry with a name like that. To my surprise, not only was I right, the artist specialized in serial killer art work. “Drawing Monsters with charcoal. It’s not about glorification. But fascination”. I was fascinated by the premise and decided to reach out for an interview. Can you talk to the ROX-TV readers about what compels you to make these interesting and striking pictures? Perhaps talk about the fascination aspect of why these infamous killers strike such a chord with you?
These people are capable of acts that most of us can’t so much as comprehend. They keep secrets so dark and so shocking from the whole world, including those closest to them. Some have spouses, and even families that they live with, while compartmentalizing their dark sides. Many of them have a deep seated disgust for humanity, and many are driven by voracious lust, both of which I have an easy time empathizing with. I think drawing them is just another means of pondering their existence and trying to gain just a bit more understanding of them. Going through their photos and choosing a standout one to reference, brushing up on their stories, examining and recreating their eyes and facial expressions, and figuring out key parts of their stories to incorporate into the portrait backgrounds all contribute to better understanding these mind-blowing humans.
I must say that serial killers have always intrigued me. The insanity perhaps, knowing people out in the world among us, possess an absolute terror streak which many are able to hide away for long periods of time before finally getting caught. The odd way it makes me feel, to know that these monsters walk around, perhap even living in the same state as me. It’s a weird feeling but there is that desire to know more. What makes them tick and drive them to their horrible deeds. I think it is only human nature to be curious about things we don’t understand or that frighten us as a community. The Charcoal sketches are amazing. I’m a fan of H.H. Holmes and notice you have a wonderful sketch of the man, with his famous murder castle in the background. Do you have a favorite bad guy? If so why?
I’m not gonna go into his story here cuz I’d be writing a novel, but that man’s life is just a total enigma of absolute darkness that I think trumps just about all other serial killer stories out there. I actually have a song I wrote about him called ‘Implements of Hell’ coming out on all major streaming and download platforms on 12/10 with my gore metal project AcidBrain. Was even granted permission by serial killer expert John Borowski to sample some audio from his amazing Fish documentary for it, and have six guest vocalists throwing down on the ending part. I really couldn’t be more stoked at how it’s come out.
I notice the Ed Kemper drawing as I watch the feds interview him on Mind Hunter. I also see a Gacy, a Bundy, an Albert Fish, all the big ones are well represented. Is there a particular subject you like recreating? If so why? Perhaps some are easier to draw than others?
Thank you! I love adding blood haha. Call me weird but I just love the stuff. I also like to find interesting parts of their stories to incorporate. I like to try to make people think too. Some are easier to draw for sure. The angle is a big part of that too.. for example I find it much easier to draw a face straight on that from kind of a side angle.
Although the subject matter is in the realm of taboo so to speak…I applaud you for creating art you enjoy. I think the content is intriguing to a lot of people, even if some of them are unwilling or afraid to admit it. I think it’s in our human nature perhaps a little darkness in all of us, and that somehow translates to want to know more. I think that scares some people, and others don’t know themselves I suppose. Do you find that your art is generally accepted or do people give you shit for it?
I love talking to artists about their work but when I have the chance, I like to delve deeper to learn more about the origins. How old were you when you really took a liking to art, beyond what the normal experience is for kids growing up? Was there a particular artists, painter, or other source that inspired you? If so, who or what was it? Perhaps a painting or a certain item that set the passion on fire?
Been into art since I can remember. Giger was an early interest and still among my favorites. Lots of album artwork was influential as well. Always been very big into music, and the art that goes with it. The artwork by Vince Locke on the Cannibal Corpse album covers always stood out to me. The Cradle of Filth album covers and art I always loved. Rob Zombie’s album art too. Was stoked to be able to commission the amazing artist Raulo Caceres to do and incredible piece of cover art for my gore album ‘Murderous’ too.
Can you talk about Acidbrain Productions and tell the readers a little bit about the site and when it was created?
I’d like to hear about “Murderous”….which is a gore metal album out now on all major platforms. For people who have never heard of gore metal or are familiar with your music….what can they expect?
Well.. we are doing our own take on gore metal. A whole lot of gore metal out there I find, has production that is kind of thin and overly raw, with muddled mixes, pangy snare drums, indecipherable vocals with lyrics that are mostly incomprehensible medical terms, or just lazy attempts at maximum depravity, and all the songs sound pretty much the same.. which is all good and all. But I wanted to do something more. I wanted killer quality production that still sounded gritty and raw, I wanted vocals that sound brutal as all fuck but you can still understand the bulk of the words, I wanted to write songs, not just an album that all sounds the same, I wanted song titles and lyrics that were not only next level fucked up, but also clever, original, and even funny.. and I really think I achieved all of those things with MURDEROUS. Each song is a horror story.
And I wanna give a shout out to my vocalist Steve Rasmussen, who has a horror review YouTube channel called Steve’s Horror Cave, for his killer work as the vocalist on the album. I couldn’t be happier with how that album turned out, and I think with time it will catch on and reach a wider audience. I have very little time to promote, as I spend so much time creating stuff, but I hope to figure out some sort of solution to that issue soon.
Talk to the readers about “Sharpe Knives”, the insane graphic novel series out now. How many issues are there currently?
I see that you actually sell these charcoal drawings and sketches, with all big hitters already sold, I might add. What is it like to make money doing what you love? Do you have any advice for the readers out that, who might be just starting off with art and wanting to accomplish what you already do? Do’s and Don’t of the art world?
My advice to aspiring artists would be just keep making art. Don’t let ideas float by. Bring as many of then to life as you can! Just keep doing stuff. Keep your mind wide open and you’ll find ideas and inspirations everywhere. Find other artists that you like and follow them, too. Oh.. and drugs. Cannabis and psychedelics are great for art! lol.
Is there one killer from history that stands out among all the others? If so, who is that and why? My vote is for H.H. Holmes and not just because he graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School (his class picture still hangs in the hospital, I’ve seen it personally, but you have to know where to look and what class year. It was there as recently as 2014ish when I came across it)
Well I feel like I sort of answered this already in a previous question when I brought up Albert Fish. That guy was just so profoundly fucked up it boggles the mind. Just imagine shoving 29 needles into your own groin! Or kidnapping, murdering, and cannibalizing a ten year old girl and then writing a letter to her parents detailing the incident! Eating shit and so on.. He just takes the cake as far as I’m concerned. HH Holmes is certainly right up there too though! His castle of horrors.. holy crap!
Shout outs: Who are you shouting out tonight? Any parting words also?
BIG SHOUT OUTS to Sharpe Knives illustrator Martin Trafford!! AcidBrain vocalist Steve Rasmussen @ Steve’s Horror Cave!! Filmmaker John Borowski whose work I’m a huge fan of!! All of our guest vocalists on ‘Implements of Hell’!! And my amazing wife Amanda who is always there supporting me, helping me out at events, doing special fx makeup and just being and awesome person and life partner!! Parting words, I’d like to thank you guys for taking an interest in my work and including me in these interviews! It’s humbling and it’s a huge help in getting the word out about my creations! To everyone who has supported ABP already in any way, and to anyone reading or hearing this thanks for taking an interest and please, if you dig any of my work, the comic, the music, the charcoal, or anything else, please share it with anyone you think might enjoy it as well! I can’t overstate how incredibly difficult it is for a creator like me both keep creating art, AND keep promoting it adequately in this digital ocean of other creators. Thanks so much and cheers!
Well that about wraps up this “Artist 5 Series” segment. Thanks to the readers for giving us a few minutes and a look see. We appreciate you all and strive to bring interesting perspectives to the forefront for consumption. Until next time, treat people good, treat yourself good, and live a full life.
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Head Writer
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