Tag: Chet

The Society of Sinister Simians

“The Society of Sinister Simians” explores the mysterious world of an evil collection of vicious and power hungry primates that held sway over the land centuries ago. Thanks to the efforts of the ill-fated Sourcrust archeological dig of 1887, details of this foul organization have finally come to light. In this book you will learn of The Society’s immortal leader, his powerful and brutal cadre of ministers and advisors as well as a variety of assassins, spies, soldiers and frightful supernatural figures.

Just released: the paperback book, limited edition hardcover book and trading card set depicting members of a secret society quite sinister. Part Victorian, part Steampunk and all evil. 122 pages. 24 evil simians illustrated with extensive biographies. Map detailing the realm of sinister sway, weapons and medals galleries as well as an addendum of sinister ephemera. The hardback version is hand bound with a rich Flanders British Tan bonded leather covering, sewn pages and topped off with a custom gold foil stamp. Each is signed and numbered from an edition of 50. The trading card set includes the complete roster of evil membership with the added fun of a poster puzzle on the reverse.

Continue reading “The Society of Sinister Simians”

Wrestle Pets Limited Edition Book

This book of Lucha Libre Wrestle Pets includes 20 dog and cat wrestler portraits along with corresponding humorous biographical information. It includes the original 15 from the trading card set plus five rookies. Each book has been digitally printed on 80 lb Cougar Opaque text and handsomely handbound here in the Dancing Cat Bindery with yellow 100% cotton thread in the pamphlet book style.The cover is Classic Columns Solar White over Red Pepper. A purple metallic foil stamp image of the Wrestle Pets logo adorns the cover label.

Book dimensions-5.5″ x 7.25″
Each is signed and numbered from an edition of 100.


Etsy Dallas Spring Bash

(Moments before the doors opened, the only two clear shots of the set up for the next 6 hours.)

Last Saturday we were a part of the annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash. We scored a great spot in the gallery space. It turned out to be a tremendous day with a steady stream of customers, new contacts from some great people and loads of sales. Word is the line started at 8 AM for the official 11 AM opening, all for a chance to receive a limited number of giveaway bags. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a great day.

We were so busy for most of the day, I was only able to get away from the booth to take a couple of shots of the area towards the end. Earlier it was elbow to elbow.

13 Incomplete Chapters of Mysterious Circumstances

A limited edition of 50, signed and numbered, of the series “13 Incomplete Chapters of Mysterious Circumstances” is now available. Handbound by Julie here in the Dancing Cat Bindery. Japanese style five hole stab binding with 100% cotton thread. Digitally printed on 65 lb Ivory Linen cover stock with Canson Mi Teintes Ivy textured cover. 13 full color illustrations with text. The book measures 5.5″ x 7″ and is available in the Etsy shop.



Coming Soon…New Wrestle Pets

A handful of new Wrestlepets will be unveiled soon, adding to the original set of 15. These will join the first pack of fur faced fighters in an upcoming new format.

Chimp My Ride

Newly added to the Etsy Shop,“Chimp My Ride.” Two variations of a styling grease monkey in his souped up chimp-mobiles. Also available on T-Shirts & Stuff.

3-D Prints

Just posted in the Etsy shop, a starter collection of prints utilizing a 3-D effect. More fun than regular old 2-D, these print variations sport an extra punch of fun dimensionality! The 3 levels: Color layer on paper, Plexiglass middle topped by a transparent film layer of line art:

Three in the shop to date with more to follow soon: Time Machine (pictured above) Spirit Tiki and Rocket Tiki

Tiki Series

I recently began a series of Tiki images exploring a graphic, limited color approach. Some in the series tend to skirt the outside boundaries of a screen print type of look. I hope to pick up with this series soon to add more since they’re great fun to create. See the special “twofer” price on the series in the Etsy shop.

New ChetArt Merchandise Shop

A new shop is now open for business, offering t-shirts, tote bags, mouse pads and more featuring characters from my “Steampunk Monkey Nation,” “World War Monkey” and “Literary Pets” series. Choose from a list of fun shirt colors or liven up your home decor with a General Persnickeybritches coaster for your drink. To see more, visit:

The ChetArt Merchandise Shop.

Tote bag to carry all your bananas.

Cork bottom coaster for your favorite Steampunk beverage.

Monkey Monday—The Decider

All you need to express your feelings for any critical situation.
Not sure how to respond? Let the Monkey Decider do it for you!

Steampunk Tales Cover Art

I was approached recently to create a cover for issue #3 of the popular “Steampunk Tales“ collection of stories. Advertised as the first ever electronic pulp fiction magazine published exclusively on iPhone and iPod touch.

Borrowing from the flavor of one of the ongoing stories “The Mask of Tezcatlipoca” by G.D. Falksen, I worked up a tight sketch from some thumbnail explorations and included a font choice for the magazine title. Once approved, I proceeded to create the finish, using Corel’s Painter software. The pencil sketch was scanned and I started with black line work mixed with some scratchboard treatments around the face and grass. All the line work behind the figure was selected with the magic wand tool and I substituted the black with greens and browns to soften the background. Color was than added, below the line work layer and a floral texture was added to the vest. The final step was adding a variety of textures over the entire area with beige and sepia colors to “age” its look and dull down the colors. I used thin line strokes along the left “magazine spine,” the edges and the corners to emulate some dog ears and stress.

Automagical Mural Art

Back in late December I was greeted by a super sized order from my Etsy shop for a large variety of prints. All monkeys.  I noticed that the buyer was Ben Chestnut, one of the co-founders of the Atlanta based company Mailchimp. Additionally I was proud to learn that he planned to pass them out as Christmas presents to his company’s employees. Monkey like!

A few weeks passed and then I was contacted by Mailchimp’s video impresario extraordinaire Joshua Rosenbaum with details of a project they thought would be just right for me. And how! The job was for a 12 foot by 40 foot long mural banner. This artwork was to be used for Mailchimp’s presence along the front of a building across from the convention center in downtown Austin for the annual South by Southwest conference. It would serve as a very large announcement to the world of some of their “Automagic” services. Their art direction was simple and straightforward: Invent a whimsical environment with a Rube Goldberg sprinkling of silly devices, add in some monkeys, Steampunk flavor to taste and… a unicorn. The resulting sketch composition was greeted with happy chimp screams. Working with Joshua and receiving input from their meetings to work out the details for the finished image was a true pleasure. The 500MB+ digital file was delivered to a large format vinyl wrap printing company and the site installation went up yesterday.


The art is also the centerpiece of the new “Automagical” landing page, replete with clanky, bubbling soundtrack. (shiny!)  In addition, Mailchimp worked out a sponsorship with Austin’s Intercontinental Hotel so that for the duration of the event the hotel key cards will be a special edition ChetArt card.

And the mural was designated as an official Gowalla point of interest:

Discover more Steampunk Monkey Business by visiting:

Steampunk Monkey Nation and The Society of Sinister Simians.

Felt & Wire & Monkeys

A big thanks goes out to Tom Biederbeck over at Felt & Wire for his kind post about the  Steampunk Monkey Nation card sets.

A bit of info about the great Felt & Wire site, from their “About” section:
“Felt & Wire is about the universe of design, paper and print — from posters to packaging, from memorable mail to beautiful books, from invitations to artistic innovations. Felt & Wire reveals the fascinations, avocations and professions of the people who inhabit this continually expanding and evolving universe. It is a community, by and about those of us who are paper-obsessed.”

Also, be sure and visit the Felt & Wire shop for loads of beautifully created items by artists and designers.

Felt & Wire Post

Felt & Wire Shop

Literary Pets Showcase

Modern Dog Magazine’s Spring issue is out this week and they’ve included info about my “Literary Pets” card set. They’re listed in the “Barking Good Deals” section for Great Items for $10. or less.

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