Dipped In Cherry

A collection of illustrations, stories, and musings by Brandan Ray Leathead. [email protected] brandanray.com

[brandanray]

I made a 2026 Illustrated Calendar of my art! I wanted each spread to feel like an art piece that brings color to your space every month, turning the passing of the seasons a visceral visual voyage. I know this time of year can bring on an unwanted business so I hope everyone is finding time to honor what celebration and rest looks like to them ❤️. Cheers!

-Brandan

[brandanray]

Illustrated poster I made for Ethel Cain’s album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You. This albums storytelling and sound gives you so much to chew on while lost in its hazy haunting world of young love and codependency. Going on walks listening to Willoughy’s Theme makes me feel like a telephone pole who’s wires just snapped. 🌪️🤎

[brandanray]

Some visual exploration for the illustrated novel I’m working on called Party Store. Excited to start sharing some more writing excerpts soon! Aesthetically I’m going for a vibe that’s like a zine meets a 19th century novel with wood engraving illustrations in it. This project is a love letter to everyone dreaming and everyone sleeping; may each of us wake up in paradise of harmony. 🏁❤️

[brandanray]

New animation I made 🖤🩸. Vampires in culture as metaphors for abusers and/or victims is really interesting to me. Can you use the powers of your oppressor to bite back and burn down? This was such a fun creative challenge for me, I’m excited to keep making more stuff move. Illustrated and animated frame by frame in Procreate Dreams with some AfterEffects compositing magic, all done by moi.

[brandanray]

New illustration I made inspired by the Lorde album VIRGIN. I loved submerging into the world of this album and creating my own postcard from the edge ❤️.

[brandanray]

Some visual development for the illustrated novel I'm making called PARTY STORE. I'm finding so much solace and joy in creating my own world. Excited to share more ~ Santa Louisa, a coastal city where dreams and nightmares play together. Famous for its glimmering white beaches and seasonal meteor shower. Infamous for a missing persons phenomenon with no direct explanation. The fascination from residents and visitors fuels fandoms seeking answers and entertainment. Photographer and clerk Vince Sanchez has navigated the myths the city hides for over a decade. But this summer, a dormant whisper within him begins to manifest surreal visions; blurring reality into a lost paradise…this is PARTY STORE.

[brandanray]

New artwork I made from the book I am illustrating and writing called "Party Store". Read the excerpt that goes along with it on my substack <3

[brandanray]

Made this video of my art as if it were a commercial for an album in the 90's

[brandanray]

I made this illustrated poster and hand made type to celebrate Ultraviolence turning 10. More about this album, and it's inspiration in my life and art on my substack ❤️

[brandanray]

The brightest sun I've ever seen seared a spotlight through my small window. A fan buzzed in perpetual harmony with a lost housefly humming aimlessly in the hot rays of my studio. The fly spun in a circle, revolving in and out of the blinding light. Its iridescent shell shining like a shooting star, gravitating my attention with each opulent orbit. The petulant buzz ready to supernova at any moment. I tried to ignore the fly, just as it flared no attention towards me. Would it find solace in the vibration of my voice? I am quite good at whistling, not many people know that. Over time forgotten things master letting their songs fall on deaf ears. But nothing can stop their wings from beating like a snare drum, waiting for the rest of the band to join. So, I pursed my lips and counted myself in. The fly accelerated its jazzy speed, and rose its octave with my added instrument. The sunlight glows around my toes dangling off the bed. There is a key change in our duet as I listen to the houselly sing.

"Your hands look soft, I suppose you can crush me.

Expose my heart and guts to the transcending light.

But would you still swat, if I had a crush on you too?

Can we feel the solar power together?

Never become oblivious of what grows in darkness and spite.

Beauty is stolen in the night." The fly buzzed.

Soon the fly realized the sun was its exit, and went solo. Abandoning our song and repeatedly crashing into the glass on autopilot. Its urgent call for help got me on my feet. I loomed by the gateway to outside, feeling the speedy panic in its flight. Buzzing and tapping. Buzzing and tapping. I opened the window like a trap door to heaven. Before I could wish the housefly farewell, it flew away. Bleached out of sight by the brightest sun I've ever seen.

Written and Illustrated by Moi ❤️

[brandanray]

MY RED EYE WAS DELAYED

An excerpt from my May 2024 newsletter Dipped In Cherry:

Recently on a flaring afternoon walk I received an alert that my 11:40pm flight to the midwest was delayed by almost two hours. I texted “my red eye was delayed” to my sister, who if you’re following along- just had a baby. As the day continued and I postponed my already pwned packing schedule, I kept thinking; my red eye was delayed, my red eye was delayed. Taking out the trash, my red eye was delayed. Deflating a candle, my red eye was delayed. Watching the wind whisper, my red eye was delayed. What an attractive phrase used so pragmatically. I left for LAX later that evening with a hidden yawn. My head rested against the window, with swollen eyes tracing the moon along the hills, seeing infrared. Traffic was a breeze, minus the usual congestion in the final half a mile to the terminal. Ahead stretched a parade of burning taillights like hot coal. I suddenly realized; my red eye was delayed! What an amazing addition to the lore of the illustrated novel I’m writing: Party Store.

Party Store is what we call a bodega/corner store kind of shop where I’m from in Michigan. A space to get some water and chewing gum on the way to the bus. Where you pickup cigarettes for your friends who are running late. Somewhere to grab a six pack for your father, fix a mothers sweet tooth fixing, get the local newspaper, ice for the cooler, birthday cards, pop, lottery tickets, and condoms. Over many spring blooms, and romantic summer nights a party store can transform into a watering hole for the wild. It’s a place to stop along the way to wherever you’re headed next... Continue reading this months Dipped in Cherry HERE  🖤

Illustrations of the main cast of Party Store by moi

[brandanray]

An animation I made for the Lana Del Rey Album "Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?" 🌊 💙. Listening to this album feels like treading through an artist own world they've created. I'm in eternal awe with each listen. Figuring out how to capture it's essence and light in one composition was a fun creative challenge.

[brandanray]

Hi! This is me now, and some illustrations I have made :)

I regained access to my old tumblr account I used from 2011-2017 only to delete it and begin new here. It's rebirth season baby.

xoxo