Monsters & Kittens

Cardboard Kittens

2012-01-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

Ever since converting to oils, I've known that my acrylics will soon turn to congealed lethargy and be useless. Since I've invested hundreds of dollars into buying Cel-Vynils over the years because of their amazing pigments, opaqueness, butter-like consistency and overall amazing product that puts any latex paint manufacture to utter shame. I do not want them to go to waste. I still use the black, umbers and greys a lot. But the multitude of colors I have need not get wasted. I also have accumulated a vast amount of non corrugated cardboard squares whose source shall remain unnamed. So I decided to take a slight break from the linseed oil world and paint some cute kittens on all the squares of cardboard and sell them on Etsy.

Here is an example of what I have been working on. You can purchase these three on Etsy right now, more to come in the future until the cardboard is gone or the acrylic runs dry.

I'm partial to the Siamese kitten, she's my favorite.

Original Artwork for the Stellar Corpses, Vampire Kiss Single is up Fore Sale

2011-12-16T02:05:00.000-08:00

The artwork I painted for the Stellar Corpses single, Is now up for sale on my Etsy account.

The Astronomer Painting

2011-11-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

This painting is the closest you will ever get to the core of my heart. It is a painting of complete admiration of a fellow human being. It was a joy to paint this one and I hope you find the same joy and inspiration from it that I have found while creating it.

The Nebula Nymph

2011-09-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

I took a hiatus for a while but, now I am back in full force. I just finished painting of a serenely beautiful nymph floating through a green and blue hued nebula, dancing with a flowing velvet drapery. I am quite pleased with how it came out. If you would like to know the song that inspired the piece it was Christopher Young's beautiful introduction piece for the film Species. I'm excited to paint more in the weeks to come.

Clicking the thumbnail will take you to my websites gallery

Also feel free to visit and reblog this image on Tumblr

Enjoy, and thank you for all of your support.

Wiggly kitten

2011-08-02T02:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't made any art or sketched for the past month, I figured I would do something cute and funny. So I made a loop of a wiggly kitten. For some reason the gif wont animate unless you click on it.

My Etsy

2011-07-10T00:24:00.000-07:00

I recently decided to switch to Etsy.com to sell some of my paintings, Come take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/people/MonstersAndKittens

Music For This Moment In Time

2011-07-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a song comes along that speaks so perfectly to what is in your heart and mind. This song by The Darlings AKA the Dillards is one of those songs. I find it completely mournful and happy at the same time. Which is in essence the duality of all love and most things precious, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Savage Licentiousness

2011-07-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

I finished my painting titled Savage Licentiousness a few days ago, it will be on my website gallery soon, but I felt like posting it here first. Enjoy!

This & That

2011-06-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have been really loving working with oils more and more, I can't believe I didn't make the switch sooner in life.

Here is a peek at what I am working on right now.

Demon Slayer

2011-06-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

I finished my Demon Slayer painting today. Here is a close up and a link to the gallery.

Three new sketches

2011-06-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

Utopia Has Fallen, new painting.

2011-06-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a new painting entitled: Utopia Has Fallen. Here is a close up of some of it.

Come give the whole painting a look.

Dream Reactor is now available for purchase

2011-05-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

My first book is finally available for sale. Chock full of semi-clad women, monsters & of course cute things.

You won't be disappointed.

Purchase a copy

Stellar Corpses Summer Tour Poster Art.

2011-05-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

I recently finished doing artwork for the Stellar Corpses summer tour poster. As always, I love doing art for them. Be sure to check them out when they come play near you, they kick serious ass.

Crossing The Finishline II

2011-05-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

I got the prototypes in the mail on the 5th, How exciting, they look amazing!

Crossing The Finishline

2011-04-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

My book that I have been working on for the past year is finished. Now all that needs to happen is a tad bit of editing and coming up with a cover and title. I am so excited to submit it for publication. I am quite proud & I am thankful for a certain person who constantly helped me to be diligent even when life gave me lemons.

Tragedy in the Making For Sale

2011-04-03T00:56:00.000-07:00

My painting Titled A Tragedy in the Making is now up for sale.

I have always loved this painting and never

planned on selling it, but I am able to let go

of it at this point. Help find it a good home.

Midnight Sketch-a-thon Part I

2011-03-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

I have been spending many of the stormy nights up until the sun rises, listening to the winds howl & rain beat against the roof. I have been very inspired & most of the work I have done this month have been sketches.

I always love how unrefined they are versus the final paintings. Don't get me wrong I love painting, but I feel you get to see more of where an artists head is at through their sketches. Here is a small handful of what I have been conjuring onto paper.

New Sketchbook

2011-03-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

I just finished my 66th sketchbook. I always get excited when I finish one & get to make a new one. It's so silly, just like New Years. It's still paper just like the other book was, just as it's just another day just like it was the year prior to new years eve. But there's this intangible feeling of excitement and newness. I love the quality of Aquabee Sketchbooks, they always take watercolor so well. They barely pucker & seem to never bleed through to unused pages.

A Coffee & Watercolor Sketch

2011-02-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

Zombies In Santa Cruz

2011-02-25T02:15:00.000-08:00

I just finished doing a flier for the band Stellar Corpses & their upcoming April 9th show in Santa Cruz. I sent them a few variations, so I don't know what the final product will look like. Here is the raw art I created for the flier & the final product. They have been a pleasure to work for & I hope I can work with them in the future. I love it when bands who ask me to do artwork for them give me a large amount of free range to be creative, the final product always looks so much more amazing. If my schedule permits, I will see you at the show...enjoy.

Suteneko Tora-chan, Amazing Japanese Classic Cartoon

2011-02-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this amazingly beautiful cartoon from 1947 directed by Kenzo Masaoka. I love the music &

the overall classic feel to this short film. The kittens are so cute too! It's nice finding animation that can be so inspirational.

Coffee & Pencil

2011-02-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

For Sale: The Hideous Hair Beast & the Voluptuous Vixen from Venus

2011-02-10T04:19:00.000-08:00


The Hideous Hair Beast & the Voluptuous Vixen from Venus

It measures 18 x 24 inches and is painted on Canvas board. It was painted in Cel-Vinyl

acrylics & comes unframed. It has been the icon of my website where I showcase my

paintings & I am exited to present it for sale to you.

Death Rides the Wind

2011-02-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

Death rides the wind in my newest painting. I had quite a fun time painting this one.

This is the piece of music that Inspired the painting, Enjoy!

Contest Winner

2011-02-01T01:21:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Malin Sjöberg you won the contest for the painting A Rather Curious Perch! Thank you to everyone for entering & helping me promote my site. I will be holding another contest with the same rules for another painting in the very near future.

Tokyo Rag - Tib Kamayatsu

2011-01-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this song and I wanted to share it with everyone because it brightened my day.

Two Paintings Up For Sale

2011-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

The two loved paintings "The Final Dream" and "Bugbert The Electrostatic Pup" are now Up for sale. Even though they are on Ebay, they both have a "Buy It Now" option and the traditional bidding option.

Pink Elephantine Hell & Pterosaur Perching

2011-01-26T02:43:00.000-08:00

Two new paintings!

Check em out!

Some Fun Sketches

2011-01-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

2011 Contest!

2011-01-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

For the painting titled "A Rather Curious Perch" I am running a contest. Here are the rules:

1. Post a link from whatever venue is your online voice, a link to = http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monsters-Kittens-The-World-Of-Jacob-Mantia/140432548045

2. In the comments section of this blog post, post a link to whatever the site it is that you posted the link on.

3. I must be able to access the link (no password protected sites). Good options are Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Tumblr, Blogger, and whatever else is open to the general public.

You are welcome to post links to the facebook fan page as many times as you like, the more you post....the more times your name goes into the drawing at the end of January.

This painting is painted on a thin newsboard in cel vinyl acrylics, the dimensions are, 11.5 X 17 inches.

If you have any questions, send me a line at BlackHeart@JacobMantia.com

2011

2011-01-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great New Years celebration last night. I am excited to create a rich & wonderful year out of 2011. New Years feel like new sketchbooks. There is nothing special about today vs. yesterday aside from a linear marker of time. The new feeling is all based on the power of the mind to create what it desires.

Our brains are very powerful tools. I am enjoying this morning of the new year with a cup of espresso & watching The Making of the Dark Crystal. Jim Henson & Brian Froud are both amazing creative people. I wish there were more people like that working in the film industry today. I miss the renaissance of fantasy films the 80's brought to the world. Happy new year my friends, may your creative endeavors be monumental & groundbreaking!

Birds

2010-12-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

I recently finished my oil painting titled "Birds" I also decided to include the sketch that inspired the painting.

Amanda Fucking Palmer!

2010-12-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

There are many lackluster music artists who bow to the whim of record labels. However true creative geniuses cannot be confind to such mediocrity. Art is art, confining the boundaries of art makes it completely lackluster.

I applaud Amanda's "divorce" if you will from Roadrunner to pursue her true art & self. In this new age of immediate sharing without companies inflicting their marketing leashes, the true artist can rise above, I admire her for that & I love her music. If you make valuable art and share it with the masses, the populous will reward you for it. Many people can't create art & that makes it valuable. Art takes many forms, poetry, painting, music, film & dance. People who entertain the masses who cannot go there on there own owe great gratitude to these muses that celebrate the creative side of human nature. Sharing with absolute freedom should be encouraged. Lackluster artists & secrecy has never sewn new creative endeavors, that methodology only breeds little flourish bubbles that die when the ruse is visible to all. I bow down to the goddess of the piano, the siren of the ukulele, and the liberated witch of creativity that is Amanda Fucking Palmer. Cheers to creativity & to new beginnings!

AFP!

Two Watercolors

2010-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Two different ink and watercolor girls I painted this week.

War Wizards

2010-12-13T02:39:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to seeing Ralph Bakshi's Wizards. I always feel at odds with Bakshi films for the rotoscoping aspect, but I would take rotoscoping any day over CG imagery. I think it is Bakshi's best film. I love all the voices & the original plot of the film. I wish the soundtrack was released, because it is quite good. If you have not seen this film and miss the days of traditional animation it is worth watching. I hope that one day there is a resurgence of non Disneyesque traditionally animated feature films.

Sketchbook Excerpts

2010-12-13T01:03:00.000-08:00

Black Swan

2010-12-12T02:14:00.000-08:00

I saw Black Swan tonight & I absolutely loved it! I love Darren Aronofsky, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman & of course Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I know as a person I rail against Hollywood & the fecal matter it excretes, but Black Swan was a breath of fresh air. If you love the arts, be it film or other, I recommend this film. I found it erotic, tragic & empowering all in one.

Moar Troll Sketches

2010-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Trolls & Goblins

2010-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Ever since watching the film Best Worst Movie I have been dreaming of Trolls (or Goblins if you come from Nilbog) I have been drawing a lot of trolls in my sketchbook. Here is a few drawings, I will have more up soon.

Sketchbook Drawings

2010-11-22T19:11:00.001-08:00

Music that has been in frequent rotation this month

2010-11-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

I have been listening to a large amount of Synth music this month. The two albums that stick out the most are The Man Machine by Kraftwerk & Vangelis music from the Carl Sagan's Cosmos series. I am a big fan of 70's & 80's Synth, it has a sound that is very distinct. Listening to these in a dimmed room really gets my imagination racing.

Best Worst Movie on DVD

2010-11-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

My copy of The Best Worst Movie came in the mail today! I have to say, I was not disappointed. I wanted to see it in theaters but missed out on the screenings. I loved seeing the director's point of view of Troll2 & the actors opinions as well. George Hardy seems like such a fun guy. I was down in the dumps with strep throat & this was a perfect pick me up.

Carpe Noctem

2010-11-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

I recently posted two new oil paintings to my gallery . Carpe Noctem & Eterea. Carpe Noctem was fun to paint because I love working in drab earth tones. With Eterea, it was also fun to do the flip side of what I normally do & paint something very vibrant & pastel looking.

Don't forget to check out my paintings for sale on eBay!
There will many paintings for sale
during this holiday
season!

Halloween

2010-11-01T02:12:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a great Halloween this year. I had fun carving tons of pumpkins with two of my favorite people & playing with black lights. The goblins and ghouls in my neighborhood sure made this year a fun one. I also got to watch /laugh at Troll 2 plus see a few Twilight Zone episodes. Halloween & the fall weather have sure put me in a very good mood.

New Camera!

2010-10-28T03:33:00.000-07:00

I recently got a better camera. I could kick myself for not getting a DSLR years ago. I am enthralled with how much more accuracy is in the photos I take of my artwork. Thanks to the invention of polarized lenses, minimal glare is far less of an issue. Here is a prime example of what you have been missing.

This is what my old camera sees.

This is what the DSLR sees.

Quite a vast improvement! I am looking forward to Re-shooting some of the pieces currently in the gallery that I had trouble capturing accurately & re posting the higher quality image in thier place.

The Bride of Satan

2010-10-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

I recently published my painting entitled "The Bride of Satan" I always love painting swirling currents of beasties & demons. That was my favorite part to paint. Enjoy & happy haunting.

The original is up for sale right now on eBay

Plastic Bats & Candy Corn

2010-10-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Happy October everyone! This is the time of the year when things get exciting. People celebrate the coming death of the year. The morbid side of the human mind becomes acceptable as houses get decorated with gruesome scenery on every street. In October the skeletons in the closet come out to play. Come take a peek at my spooktacular new painting that celebrates that wonderful October feeling ! Happy haunting!

Also boils & ghouls, don't forget about the Blood Sweat & Fears show at the Sacred Gallery in New York running from 10.02.10 - 10.31.10.

Summer's End

2010-09-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for the death of summer & the cool fall winds to fill the air once again. The feeling of a windy Autumn afternoon with the sound of dry leaves cackling along the sidewalk always excites my senses. I have so many paintings I'm inspired to make right now that I feel overwhelmed. I have been listening to Zacherley & chomping at the bit to watch James Rolfe's Cinemassacre's Monster Madness 4. The stores are already getting packed with orange & black delights.

Zombie

2010-09-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

I recently finished working on a new painting of a zombie. It is my first published work in the oil medium. I feel that I am finally understanding how to use oil paints without the demon of doubt sitting on my shoulders. I had a lot of fun working on this piece, enjoy.

W.W.J.C.D.?

2010-08-13T23:00:00.001-07:00

I will always be inspired by Johnny Cash. Tonight I am listening to The Long Black Veil & other songs performed by J.C. He will always tug at my imagination & heart when I listen to him. I love that most of his songs are a narrative story. It is few & far between that an artist can take you on a journey that reaches to your inner sanctum within the few minutes a song can last. I have nothing but admiration for the man in black. I wish I could shake his hand and thank him for the art he made in his lifetime.

Saucers Attack The SF Skyline

2010-08-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

I recently finished two new paintings. One is of the saucer attack on San Fransisco, the other is some treetop nymphs enjoying a lazy afternoon.

The Best Of The Broken

2010-08-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Recently I was contacted to do album artwork by the very talented Luck Loosh. The album is called The Best of the Broken. Go check him out!

Oil Part 2

2010-07-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's been quite frustrating at times working with oil paint. I have learned immensely since my last post. I have learned that patience is a virtue with this medium. I am working on album art today in acrylic & I am astonished how fast it dries because my brain has adapted to oil time. I hope to finish
my two oil paintings very soon. One is of a Jack-o-lantern headed ghost & the other is a girl in a bikini who found something odd on the beach.

Inspired by Basil Poledouris

2010-07-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Basil Poledouris handed down a gift from Crom when he scored the music for Conan the Barbarian. This film score has been the prize musical jewel to inspire me throughout my whole life, as far as I can remember. The funny thing is so much of what inspires me is the fantasy art from the 70's - 80's. The same applies to the Swords & Sorcery B-films of the 80's. I love those cheesy fantasy films, they will forever inspire me. But I tend to never express that part of my brain in my artwork. This is my first attempt at Swords, sorcery, dungeons, dragons & busty barbarians. It wont be my last. I am so happy to have explored this avenue that has been dormant in my art but not in my mind. I hope you enjoy my first trip into that world, it wont be my last. As always, clicking the thumbnail will take you to my gallery.

Oils

2010-07-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

I have never worked with oils, however I recently have felt up to the challenge. I have always feared them because they seem so alien to me. The more and more I researched what makes oil paint so special, the more they seem to alleviate all the frustrating qualities of acrylic paints. I'm sure a new set of frustration will present itself when I work with them. I only have two more paintings I need to finish in acrylic before making the big leap. I am terrified and excited over this.

Dracula's Daughter is up for sale

2010-07-01T04:21:00.000-07:00

This is to be read in that 1960's B-movie trailer voice:

Dracula's Daughter(echo), She will shock you, she will arouse you. Come see a seductive sex kitten with a taste for human blood. Dracula's Daughter (echo)! This creature of the night always gets her man, even if the date ends up being a pain in the neck. Parents if you have children or impressionable teenagers, don't let them see this sinpirationally bare chested bloody beauty in all her satanic charm. Come see Dracula's daughter(echo). Take her home tonight, if you dare...

Summertime Saucer Mania

2010-06-25T01:24:00.000-07:00

Every time when summer rolls around, the anniversary of the supposed Roswell saucer crash puts me into a 50's saucer/little green men mood. I love all the 1950's saucer craze imagery, especially the Norm Saunders Mars Attacks paintings. I love the idea of EBE's visiting the earth. It always gives my imagination an inter-venous injection. After all, Halloween is far away still & driving out to the Mojave desert & imagining chrome plated hubcaps invading the skies is a fun daydream. Many late night painting sessions have been spent listening to Coast to Coast AM. I always want to do a painting of the Roswell crash since It both terrified & inspired my childhood. I think it's high time that I exploit that part of my brain & let the saucers invade.

I wish there were more movies being produced today in the vein of George Pal & Ray Harryhausen. In my opinion CG has completely overshadowed the fantasy genre in a dissonant way. I miss the older Hollywood. I miss the days when even the B movies were fun to watch. I will leave you with a preview of a painting I have been working on this week. Until then, watch the skies!

Sketches Of Monsters, Sketches Of Kittens

2010-06-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Frank

2010-06-13T00:26:00.000-07:00

On May 10th 2010 one of the most incredible artists passed away. Frank Frazetta amazed my senses as a child growing up & still continues to amaze them to this very day. The fantasy worlds he created were always rendered in breath taking beauty. His rendering of the human anatomy was superb. The thought that went into the staging of every painting can always elicit emotion from the viewer. I remember going to book stores as a young lad, I would look in wonder & amazement at his paintings. I would be so inspired by everything he created. When I first got a house, one of the first requirements on my list of things to decorate with was a print of a Frazetta painting. I still need to get a print of one of my favorites of his, Fire & Ice. The woman in this painting is breathtakingly beautiful. I look at his artwork with utmost admiration. I hope future generations will continue to be inspired by his paintings. Your creativity will be missed Frank.....

Felicia Rose and the Curse of the Graveyard Ghouls

2010-06-11T01:47:00.000-07:00

I just finished a painting of the beautiful Felicia Rose & posted it on my websites gallery.

Cthulhu Painting

2010-06-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to reading some Lovecraft. It inspired me enough to do a painting of the mountainous cephalopod headed creature Cthulhu.

Sexuality On Other Planets

2010-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

I was thinking that on some distant planet, maybe the male of a species is bipedal and the female is rooted deep in the soil like a plant. The fruit of their sex would produce egglike pods. Some that were female would take root and become a tree. The other that were male would harden and turn into eggs. This would in turn hatch some hairy pipedal being. The biped would wander the planet in search of another tree to mate with. when it did, it would mate for life. continuously tending the tree, grooming it & watering it. When the bloom time came it would mate with it in some obscene pollination ritual. This painting is based on that scenario that I thought up in my head. I hope you enjoy it. It will also be for sale on Ebay. Enjoy!!

Drac's Daughter

2010-05-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

New painting, Dracula's Daughter. It was inspired by the song by the famous Screaming Lord Sutch. It will be shown in October at the Sacred Gallery in New York. It will be up for purchase at the show. Hope you come out to see it in person! Pleasant Screams!

PsycheDelicatessen Phase III

2010-04-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Last in my PsycheDelicatessen series of paintings.

More Sketchbook Stuff

2010-04-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

Two Heads

2010-04-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

2 new sketches, I haven't drawn heads in a while. The one with the glasses you can see I had a bit of trouble deciding how I wanted the hair. I love girls who wear glasses, especially when they have very square black frames with inclined dramatic eyebrows.

Double Picking Surf Coffins

2010-04-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight at midnight I am going to go see Pulp Fiction in Santa Cruz. Naturally it put me in a Dick Dale double picking surf mood. I have been listening to surf music all day. There is nothing like driving over Hecker Pass taking turns as fast as you can while listening to Surf music at ear bleeding intensity. I was listening to The Ghastly Ones tonight, I haven't listened to them in quite some time. They perfectly blend the surf and spook genres seamlessly. I love the Ghastly Stomp which sounds very much like a surf version of Grim Grinning Ghosts. Go check them out by clicking on the album cover.

Something Slightly Different.

2010-04-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

I must say 2010 has been a very stressful time in my life. I have had a lot of fortune and misfortune. Most of my art reflects my love for campy B-movies and stag magazines from the 50's and 60's. I wanted to paint something that brought me to a very serene place, I wanted to paint someone whom I hold dear to my heart in a beautifully serene place as well. This painting is the culmination of those very tumultuous times, a polar opposite of the chaos and sadness 2010 has brought. This painting is a very personal one, I hope you enjoy it.

Midnight

2010-04-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have a new painting to view in my gallery entitled The Midnight Garden. I have worked on illustration board for so long, that using canvas has been strangely invigorating. I used to despise canvas's tooth, but the more and more I like using drybrush techniques, the more I like using something with tooth. Enjoy the painting, see you in the midnight garden.

Hair Monsters & topless Girls

2010-03-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

I recently updated my index page on my website & thought I would share with you the sketch that inspired it. For a long time I have wanted to do a painting of a pin-up girl sitting with a hairy beast. I was quite happy with the final results, which you can see on my websites Index page.

Entering Dreamland (is now up for grabs)

2010-02-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

Entering dreamland is now sold, as is Tipping The Hogshead.
My thanks goes out to the people who bought them.

Tipping the Hogshead Painting

2010-02-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

This painting was inspired by the torrent of rain we have experienced here in California. I was listening to a track titled "Scare Me Music" and a few old Monkey Island tunes and it birthed this painting. Come see my finished piece by clicking the thumbnail above.

Tipping the Hogshead (inspired by the weather)

2010-02-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

It's been raining here for quite a while now. The torrent of wind & rain has been completely inspiring. I have listened to Thurl Ravenscroft pirate songs over and over as well as the famed X Atencio music from POTC the ride as well. Here is one sketch I did during one of the fantastically stormy nights. I ended up using it for a painting that will be posted sometime this week. I did a myriad of other pirate girls as well & I hope to paint them as well in the not so distant future. The "Tipping the Hogshead" painting will also go up for auction on ebay roughly the same time as I post the new painting in my gallery. I am thinking of also putting "Entering Dreamland" up for auction at the same time.

Since Moving

2009-11-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Since moving, I haven't had time to paint while doing all sorts of things. I recently got my studio set back up & picked up the brush again to paint the cover of the newest sketchbook that I have.
Hopefully Soon I will have more time on my hands to paint on a more frequent basis.

Finally!

2009-08-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

My website is up and running again, thank you to those of you who have stuck with me on twitter, facebook & myspace. It took a longer time than expected to get it all up again.

Oops!

2009-07-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

I assure my website wont be down long, it was a billing mistake on my behalf.

Featured Artist

2009-07-14T10:55:00.001-07:00

This month I am one of the featured artists on the website Creep Machine. You can find out a bit more of my background as well as a handful of some of my favorite paintings that I have created. Be sure to check out the other artists featured on the site as well.

Music That Has Been Inspiring Me Lately

2009-06-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a Log time since I have given Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire a listen & the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Both are exquisite bands to listen to. I love the lo-fi sound they both have on their albums.
I also love the usage of violins & Katherine Whalen's nasally hi pitched voice. It reminds me of music you would listen to in a decadent Victorian era home, while playing spooky parlor games.
If you like older jazz from the 30's & slightly cabaret sounding music I think you would enjoy both the Squirrel Nut Zippers & Andrew Birds Bowl of Fire.

Time Out For Happiness

2009-06-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Things have been happy lately & it's been nice to express that in paintings. I ts nice to stop and smell the flowers, so to speak. As usual clicking the thumbnail will take you to my sites gallery.

New Painting & The Treasure Hunt

2009-06-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a treasure hunt on all the online networking sites I am a member of. The prize was hidden in the city of San Jose CA. The prize was my most recent painting & some of my new stickers. As usual clicking the thumbnail will take you to my websites gallery.. Enjoy ^_^

Dreamland Fairies

2009-05-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have a new painting completed and in my gallery. Enjoy!

Stickers Are Here!!!

2009-05-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

The New JacobMantia.com stickers have arrived!!! They came out very nicely. If you would like one, send your snail mail address to BlackHeart@JacobMantia.com and title the subject as (Free Sticker Giveaway). Limit 3 per person.

Diaboli Levitas Imperium

2009-05-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, before I had this blog I used to paint a reoccurring theme of girls who were Demonically possessed holding hand puppets. This week I felt like returning to that theme one last time. The paiting is titled, Diaboli Levitas Imperium (Sescenti Sexaginta Sex). clicking the thumbnail of the painting will take you to my websites gallery.

Two New Paintings & Some Sketches As Well

2009-05-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

This week I finished two new paintings. The first is of a fellow artist I know named Sara, the second is a continuation of the Psychedelicatessen series. Psychedelicatessen Phase II was inspired by my research on sacred geometry which led to research about the Mandlebrot Set . The center eyeball thing that is emanating from the girls fingertip was inspired by the Mandlebrot Set. I hope you enjoy viewing these new paintings, they were both complete bliss to paint. Here are some of my preliminary sketches I did for these paintings.

Music That Has Been Inspiring Me Lately

2009-04-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lately the music that has been inspiring me is obnoxiously loud fuzzed out psychedelic rock and music from the 60's. I stumbled across a band by the name of Aqua Nebula Oscillator last week and I can't praise them enough on how amazing they sound. They mix the great loud sound of Blue Cheer with a spooky acid induced vibe with both male and female vocals. If you are fan of loud fuzzed out psychedelic rock I urge you to check them out here.

Llamas & Chickens (they just go together)

2009-04-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

This painting was for a good friend of mine as a birthday gift. She has a great imagination & her friendship can be very inspiring at times. I just loved how it turned out so I posted it to my gallery.
Clicking the thumbnail will take you to my websites gallery.

New Sticker

2009-04-06T01:00:00.001-07:00

I recently got a new sticker to give out to people who support my art & website. They will be available for free once I get the first shipment.

The Grand Adventure Of Snail-Boy

2009-03-20T01:37:00.000-07:00

I painted the Snail Boy skipping his merry way along a dead log in a deep cool forest today.The final snail boy is slightly different than the sketch but I feel it still retains the essence of the original sketch. I had a lot of fun painting this one. The music that inspired me on this one was Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I am still working on my book of collected sketches and I am happy to say it is coming together very nicely. As usual, the thumbnail will take you to my websites gallery.

Snail Boy & Forgotten Forest Paintings

2009-03-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

About 2 years ago, I painted a pretty picture of a fallen log in a forest. For the longest time I've had it set aside until a character came along in a sketch that seemed to fit. Well, last week I finally drew something that I think fits perfectly. It's a boy in a snail costume with a backpack made from a giant snail shell. Typically I don't publish sketches before I paint the picture, however I feel very inspired and certain about this one. I hope you enjoy the sketch, and the painting that will follow it.

Working On A Better Publication

2009-03-13T15:08:00.001-07:00

For the Past month and a half I have been working on my 2nd sketchbook publication. I know it seems to take forever but I am about halfway finished. I'm exited because I found ways to keep costs down & make a cheaper product with more content.

PsycheDelicatessen

2009-02-20T20:04:00.001-08:00

Today I finished a painting that I had on the back burners for a long while. It was inspired by the music of Wilburn Burchette. Clicking the image will take you to my websites gallery.

Meet Melvin Blargson

2009-02-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

I've been kicking around a story idea the past two weeks, and feverishly writing all the ideas down.
The main character is the lil guy featured here in this painting. The link will take you to my gallery.

A Rather Curious Owl

2009-01-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

I finished a painting today of a girl with an owl on her head. It was one of those random sketches that has been waiting to be painted for some time now. clicking the thumbnail will take you to my gallery.

Down And Out...

2009-01-21T17:51:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been kinda down about life and it's not so happy times. It's taken me a while to bring myself to paint or draw. But finally the past week I felt the urge to be creative again. So for the past 2 days I've worked on two paintings. They are simple, nothing complicated. Regardless of the simplicity of them, I really enjoyed painting them & they came out exactly how they were imagined in my brain, which is a plus. As usual, clicking the thumbnails will take you to my Website Gallery.

it's been a while

2009-01-17T15:50:00.001-08:00

I haven't done much art recently, hopefully that all changes.

More Martian Wildlife

2008-12-19T00:39:00.000-08:00

Today I finished a painting of some sort of Martian being collecting KnobFruits off of plants native to the area. A wandering Cactus is observing him as he picks the fruit. clicking the link will take you to my gallery where you can see the painting.

Index Painting

2008-12-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

For a long time I've only done sketches and colored them in a 2D ink and paint style in photoshop for my websites index page. I really wanted to paint a painting for the sole purpose of being used for the index page. I finally got around to making one and here it is, it has no title.

Sold

2008-12-17T11:28:00.000-08:00

I Sold two paintings this month, (A Lazy Evening At Home) & (Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned).

Epic listening In Dec.

2008-12-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

I've been getting into a lot of epic film scores again.

Miklos Rozsa's Sodom and Gomorrah is great. When I listen to it my mind instantly floods with imagery of enchanted forests & epic battles out on the desert, or scantily clad barbarian women.

Elmer Bernstein's score for the animated film Heavy Metal is also a masterpiece, it evokes the same type of imagery in my brain, especially the music from the Den cartoon.

Bernard Herrmann's score for The 7th Voyage of Sinbad evokes chilshood memories of sexy shrunken maidens and the cyclops. I adore this great epic score.

And, last but far from least is the magnum opus of all epic film scores, Conan The Barbarian by
Basil Poledouris. I've been listening to this film score since my childhood and I still haven't tired of listening to it's grandure.

If you like listening to grand epic film scores, i would recommend all of them. The Heavy Metal film score can be a hard one to come by. However I believe I acquired mine from a place called Monsters in Motion.