One. So, in the mid 90′s i was more or less a ten years old, and i was obsessed with prehistoric animals, mostly with dinosaurs of course, and i wanted to be an paleontologist so bad. At this same time it was very popular to collect stickers in special albums. I know that they’re still around but are probably not so popular as then. There was this one album about prehistoric life, almost whole about dinosaurs, but there was something about animals that lived before and after them. There was even something about space and how Earth was made. I loved it, it was amazing and i never get every sticker before this collection ended and it hurted me greatly.
Anyway, as i remember it, the illustrations we’re outdated even for the 90′s, but they also had this kinda edgy and gritted thing goin in, very dark and many browns. Just ugly but charming at their own way. I was in love with them and i wanted to one day draw as, ehehehe, realistic as person that made them. Let’s be honest, children can adore and treat as best art ever every piece of shit. 8D
But there was drawing of one animal that changed me, and it was irish elk, the megaloceros. It was the very first time when i saw it and i learned about that creature from this album. It absolutely blown me away, because holy shit look at that majestic, gigantic thing! But also this drawing was kinda different than the rest - slightly squarish, with strong chiaroscuro but not very detailed, looking very demonic and menacing, with a little distorted head and teeth that looked strangely carnivorous, drawed from down as it was supposed to run over a person that was looked at it while lying in fear on the ground, because dear spirits of elements, a humongous meat-eating deer is going to trample me. And aaah, yes, in the background there was this red blooded post-apo sunset, because why not.
I found this illustration drawn by Zdenek Burian and it look almost like this one from my album. So i guess that it was just weird and edgy take on that one made by some unterpaid artist that probably doesen’t really gave a fuck, because shit, it’s just for an album with stickers for kids and it’s 90′s so screw that.
Photo from here.
Second. In city where i was studying is a palace and an art gallery next to it and on grass in front of these building was standing this plastic, bright pink deer. And it was shining during night. It was like ten years ago so i have no idea if its still standing there. It was so ugly and campy and and i hated it at first but after some time i loved it and if i could i would get one for myself. It’s a real sculpture designed by artists and i don’t want to be disrespectful towards women that made it, but seriously, look at that thing!
Photos from here, there and this place.
Anyway. One year during exams i had nightmares that after midnight this deer was coming to life. Only it wasn’t this cute little baby, but an devilish and bloodthirsty megaloceros from my old sticker album. Still pink AF and also - i just know it - spiteful like gremlin. It was hunting and eating students that didn’t give back their grades to dean’s office on time. It wasn’t really that scary, but this feelig of being hunted down by something otherwordly that cannot be stopped putted me in a mood of inpending doom. And what can be better during exams when you’re anxious, not very smart and not so talented, emotionally struggling student, eh?
Some time later we got a project to do, an brochure for made up event. I don’t remember what i made up, but i put some animals on it, mostly rats, but among them was also this handsome fella looking for his prey, smiling at thought of fresh and warm meal. Restless. Patient.
Didn’t saw him since then, but still thinking about him. What a hunk, know how to made an everlasting impression.