John Bentley sent me an issue of Seven Days with this interesting illustration on the cover: it’s titled “California”, by Chris Varricchione. Excuse the smudginess, but I just scanned it in from newsprint, so it isn’t exactly the cleanest image to start with. Still, I had to make it my desktop image—who can resist a flying mollusc/bird chimera? Now if only someone would point me to a sharper original source…
Thanks, John!
Shan says
No, it’s a mollusc-bird-lifeguard chimera- I assure you, that girl is part of the animal!
Russell says
You realize, of course, that if we ever were to discover a mollusc with feathers, we’d have to credit it to a designer? ;-)
Deacon Barry says
Pegasomollusc.
ice weasel says
Why don’t you just call him and ask:
Chris Varricchione Illustration
Illustration/Design/Production Art
e.cvarrc@verizon.net
(802)233-8017
Since he’s listed several places online as a sponsor, I figured it wouldn’t be bad to post that same information here. Who knows, maybe someone will buy something from him.
craig says
You can’t trade in the cat for that… cats are cute and cuddly, and that thing isn’t exactly cuddly looking.
What you need is a piglet squid:
http://squid.us/2006/07/13/piglet-squid/
MissPrism says
Or a Cthulhu puppet:
http://www.nightgig.com/sideshow/puppets/puppetcthulhu.html
Eclogite says
You should get it tattooed on your back. Then it’s with you all the time.
Arun says
The illustration should be available in this online book:
http://safari.informit.com/0321336585/index?indexview=V
which is available if you sign up for a free 14 day trial.
You might like this.
http://www.illustratorworld.com/artwork/1002/
Michael I says
that thing isn’t exactly cuddly looking.
I dunno, she looks fine to me…
Although perhaps you were referring to the mollusc/bird thingy that the woman is riding on…
:)
Pieter B says
You want cuddly cephalopods, how about some Cthulhu Slippers?
BlueIndependent says
I’d call it the Cephalodactyl…but the only problem is this dactyl has feathers…
Cepheropteryx perhaps?
Azkyroth says
The mollusc looks cuddly enough to me…. :/
craig says
The mollusc looks cuddly enough to me…. :/
Well, I guess… but when the thing you’re cuddling can cuddle you back at least four times harder, then I think it starts to become something else.
belle waring says
PZ, have you seen the new Pirates of the Carribean? it’s got some cephalopoderiffic special effects.
Sweettp2063 says
Wow!! That’s exactly what I see on almost every street corner here in Los Angeles. But it is missing something, where are the “fruits and nuts.”
Mena says
May I suggest these? I need to go back to Drumheller!
The Countess says
Nooo!!! Never trade in a cat. Trade in your neighbor’s little yippie dog for that cute, cuddly little thing.
Marc says
It’s obviously the big C’s ‘good’ counterpart, Kthanid.