“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
The Creature
Digital charcoal illustration, 2025
The Creature started as a personal project and personal love letter to Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Only after sharing my first few drawings with friends, and getting asked, “are you gonna make prints?” (— Like that was even an option??) did I realize, dude… i gotta finish this now.
This passion project helped shape the visual identity I now use across my digital prints, markets, and product design.
This project changed my relationship with digital art.
For many years, i’ve tried digital art on and off, to no real avail. I waved it off as too hard, and too overwhelming! (sooo many brushes)
What changed:
I tried using my traditional charcoal techniques digitally.
with one brush. Florentine.
These two photos are mid-process. I laid down my values, and subtracted my lights with my eraser.
(also florentine.)
After this ‘underpainting’, I add my color.
The result:
Prints that look like traditional art. (the best compliment i get at markets)
My end canvas timelapse was a full 26 minutes. However long that translates to— a long time, over a few good weekends.
Some of that time was spent on things I ended up changing, covering, or taking out (mr. rat) →
This project challenged my composition skills, and slight inclination to over-work.
The Creature and I won that battle, and the final piece came out wonderfully.
(While falling in love with Guillermo’s film and Mary’s story.)
So, I fell in love.
I wanted this piece to show just how much of a someone The Creature is.
For The Creature, Mary & Guillermo, and all the other monster lovers who see him. ♡
Want to adopt a creature? He’s in the shop!
A relic for readers and wanderers alike.
These illustrated bookmarks are designed for fantasy lovers, gothic readers, and collectors of strange little things. Together, Bookmark I, II, and III form a print of my complete The Creature illustration. Each features a different quote from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
2x6". Printed on sturdy cardstock and perfect for marking your place between chapters 🕯️🖤
Collect individually or assemble the full illustration.
Bookmarks!
The Creature - illustration from the Found by Alex archives.
My love letter to Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein 2025 🕯️🖤
This print is reproduced from my original artwork and designed for lovers of gothic art, strange curiosities, and story-rich imagery.
Details:
• High quality Fine Art print
• Packaged with backing board + sleeve, and love.
Perfect for collectors of creatures, gothic art, and beautiful oddities 🖤