Art of Willis R. Harrower

Hello and thank you for visiting my site! My name is Willis Harrower, a self taught artist specializing in graphite illustrations. Throughout my life I have always had a love for all things monster related and have dedicated my art to creating them. This site will be focussed on presenting my own unique creations as well as classic monstrosities from cultures around the world in addition to my attempts to capture the horrors found within the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. If you are a fan of monsters, graphite illustrations or highly detailed artwork I am sure you will enjoy your visit. Please check back often as there will be new pictures each week!

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Bigfoot

Well it's been a slog getting through inktober and working on graphite on the side as expected, resulting in a rather uninspired bigfoot illustration.

I know what you bigfoot fans are thinking, "what?! Does he hate the sasquatch or something?!" My answer to that is a big fat NO and don't worry, next tuesday I am gonna prove it!

Bigfoot is the most famous monster in north america; people just boot off to the woods looking for him just for something to do out here, small towns build statues of him and crooked shopkeepers put their kids through college with the sweet cabbage that grows in his heavy footfalls, I don't even know what society would look like without the big hairy dude potentially lurking behind every tree and bush but I'm sure it would be a lot less fun!

#bigfoot #cryptid #forest #graphite #illustration #monster #sasquatch #trees #wilderness #willis #harrower #willisrharrower

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Definitely the most enjoyable illustration I've worked on in I couldn't even guess how long, certainly my whole adult life so far! This one was achieved by laying a piece of paper over an awesome p...

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Qalupalik

All the cultures of the world seem to have their own version of the Bogeyman, a merciless tyrant laying in wait to drag wayward children to their dooms.

Inuit parents warn their children of the Qalupalik, a green fleshed hag lurking below the ice, eager to snatch them up in her Amauti (a parka worn by Inuit mothers with a built in pouch on the back to protect their babies from the elements) and steal them away into the ocean, never to be seen again.

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Weigh Anchor

Some deep ones shenanigans.

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Qiqirn

The Qiqirn is a fearsome and erratic monster haunting the world's northern polar region, it's very presence causes fits of convulsion in those unlucky enough to encounter the massive bald canine.

Though terrifying and horrific it is also foolish and cowardly; it is said that men and dogs run from it and it runs from men and dogs.  

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Nessie

Well I'm sure it was to be expected that eventually I would get around to depicting Scotland's Loch Ness monster, this creature was no doubt the first cryptid that I had ever heard of (the same could likely be said for all of us I imagine) and likely remains the most publicized of all the world's legendary monsters.

As is the case with all cryptid sightings: the Loch Ness monster's description has varied significantly since it was first reported in 1933, largely however the description has been conducive to that of a prehistoric marine reptile such as the Plesiosaur.

Though I find it fruitless to debate the actual existence of such a creature today, the legend of the Loch Ness monster has inspired fear and wonder in people the world over and has been a massive influence on my imagination throughout my life!

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Out of the Blue America's Pine Barrens are a wonderful setting for all sorts of creepy stories, stretching across more than 1 million acres it plays host to many rivers and water lands and Jersey's "Blue Hole" is the setting of many macabre tales. The circular, clear blue body of water is surrounded by dense forest, quicksand and steeped in legends of the Devil of Leeds (Jersey Devil).

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Ravenous Horde The full version of the picture used in my banners, it was so much fun drawing the individual rats that make up the pile, I really like doing compositions that are full of characters instead of mostly scenery, not that I don't love full scenes, it's just more engaging  to draw a stack of creatures than massive amounts of dirt and water.

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Shub-Niggurath II

Well it's been a busy week but I managed to squeak this one in right under the wire!

One of the last of my pictures held hostage in my old sketchbook, I used to pay no heed to the type of paper or pencils I used to get my work done and this one was a painful reminder of that!

Fortunately my faber-castells saved the day once again and I was able to salvage this one from the clutches of toothy paper and pitty pencils...huzzah!

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Rampaging Makara

The Makara is an iconic cultural mainstay across all of Asia, featured in countless works of art throughout the centuries and out of all the mythical creatures I have illustrated it is far and away the most venerated and celebrated!

Given the sheer number of cultural references it would be foolish of me to even attempt to go into any real detail about it's significance as it clearly means so many different things to so many people but I am always fascinated with the popularity and reputation of monsters and if you feel the same way I urge you to look into this awesome creature for yourself.

I hope you enjoy my interpretation, I will no doubt revisit the Makara again someday as there are so many wildly varying descriptions of this fascinating beast and I would love to take another crack at it again.

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Tariaksuq

The Tariaksuq or shadow people were said to be a race of hunters that prowled the frozen tundra, unable to be glimpsed if looked at directly they appeared as a caribou/human creature to one's peripheral senses.

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Cultist

A random cultist doing a quick cut/paste function on his palm pilot.

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Nain Rouge

The infamous Nain Rouge is a celebrated monster from Detroit, playfully reviled each spring during their Marche du Nain Rouge parade.

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Mothman

West virginia's mothman over the ill fated silver bridge.

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Akhlut

Wolf tracks leading into the sea alerted the Inuit people that they had found the hunting grounds of the mighty Akhlut, a fierce monster said to be both wolf and orca. #Akhlut #mythological #inuit #graphite #monster #wolf #orca #attack #hunter #pencil #water #ocean #illustration #sea #willis #harrower #umiak

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Shub-Niggurath I

Last year I started a series of Shub-Niggurath pictures that became a bit too ambitious for the quality of pencils I had been using up until now.

Thanks to my Faber-Castell 9000s I am happy to present the black goat of the forest with a Thousand Young!

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Obed Marsh

Here's my rendition of Obed Marsh - the Savior of Innsmouth.