Bernie Wrightson - Uncle Creepy - Dark Horse Christmas Card - 2009 - Preliminary Pencils

When Liz posted this on CAF a while back, I was so excited to see this go up, as I'd framed a copy of the Christmas Card sometime back and have it hanging on my wall year round. After all, the spirit of Christmas should be with you all year!

However, it was listed as NFS. When I met Liz and Bernie in Dallas, they had this piece with them, and they both appreciated my love for the cat's look of righteous indignation at having to wear a bow and those reindeer antlers.

Liz told me perhaps they'd let this piece go at some point, and to ask again at a later time. Well, all good things come to those who wait, and when I asked here a few months later, I became the proud owner of this wonderful piece to add into my collection.

I've included what versions I've seen of the artwork as I believe this must have been the final work before the inking. There is so much to see in this picture beyond what makes it to the forefront: The eerie squid-like creature peering out of the skull gift wrapped box, an axe with a nice little Christmas bow, eyeball ornaments, the stocking hung with care with the foot still in it, a sad little (Charlie Brown-like) Christmas tree with bones, a heart, and an eyeball... And entrails strewn about for that garland effect, along with the ever lovely Christmas vixen...

And lastly, a fantastic portrayal of Uncle Creepy in a wreath of bones... Who could ask for anything more!

My thanks to Liz and Bernie for parting with this!