Author: Justin Norman

While vacationing in adesert wasteland just south of the Valley of Grins, I found myself deliriouslywalking toward a cloud of pentapi. These multi-tentacled creatures evolved fromthe discarded heads of used dolls, a fact evidenced not only by their button eyes,but also by their aggressively vengeful attitude toward humans. Had I not beensuffering from seven days’ worth of dehydration at the time, I would have knownbetter than to joyfully embrace one. But as the pentapus wrapped its red,velvety arm around my leg, fully intending to tear it from my feeble body, I hearda man shouting from the sky. I looked up, and who should I see but Australianpainter Shane Devries, floating overhead in his magical hot air balloon? Beforelong, he had parachuted to the ground and warded off every last threateningpentapus with his massive brush, which saved at least 30% of my limbs frombeing torn asunder.

HF correspondent Justin Norman interviews Australian painter Shane Devries.

Aaron Horkey's posters are the product of multiple hand-drawn layers, each meticulously detailed with micron pens - all scanned, composited, and screenprinted to create a finished product. At his recent "Midwestern Heart" show, fans got a rare opportunity to see original ink drawings and finished color posters hanging in the same vicinity. Afterward, I was able to ask Aaron about the process of creating one of these posters from start to finish and he was kind enough to explain in thorough detail.

HF correspondent Justin Norman sits down with acclaimed artist Aaron Horkey for the second of a two part interview.

Near a lonely silo in Windom,Minnesota, the massive, scale-covered tail of a rare bird whips around adecaying fencepost. Its claws grip the wood as it stretches toward the moon,holding a newfound treasure up to the light. Peering out from beneath its fish-shaped,metal helmet, the beast twists the object around in its elongated beak toexamine it from all angles. A skeleton dangles there. The bent remains of acreature perhaps a tenth of its captor’s size. The bird pauses, as if ponderingwhat to do with it. But it is soon startled from this dilemma as a flock ofmanta rays takes flight behind the hill, soaring up past the clouds toward thestars. The bird lets out a deep croak from its frog-like throat and, satisfiedwith the night’s find, flaps its massive wings, departing into the dark.

HF correspondent Justin Norman sits down with acclaimed artist Aaron Horkey for the first of a two part interview.