Krampus by others

Choking Krampus
Originally uploaded by travis37a

Every once in a while I would like to take a moment and share with you Krampus-related artwork from other artist's that I admire.
Travis Louie is probably one of the first artists I found depicting this mythological character in various settings. You can find more of his work at his website and if you click on the image it will take you to his gorgeous Flickr set of Krampus portraits. He makes me chuckle. And I've never chuckled before.

Enjoy and be good…for goodness sake.

Krampus postKard

In order to cut costs this economically challenging year, I've decided to create a postcard in lieu of a single folded, full-fledged greeting card. No text in front. Just your run-of-the-mill, on-sided postcard image says it all. I really liked having the limitation of a single side. Plus, adding my cats to the design made my wife happy. :)
This particular design is inspired by a past post seen here.

Order Sketch #1

For every Krampus Kard order between now and Halloween, the buyer will receive a sketch of a krampus by the artist. Hand drawn with ink and everything. This one-of-a-kind sketch is on it's way to UK right now.

Be good.

Krampus Kard s2 for sale

If you clickity clack on the image above it will take you to a place where you can purchase a pack of 10 Krampus Kards from the 2nd series (along with 10 envelopes).
I am trying to work on releasing the award winning kards first unveiled in 2005 but funds have been tight. So, the more you buy of these the more chance they will see the light of day. I guess you can say that Krampus Kards are a non-profit organisation. Santa be damned!

P.S. tell your friends and stuff.

Nikolaus v. Krampus

I've been meaning to post another original illustration by your humble blogger, but during the holidays it gets more and more difficult to find the time. Since I don't have kids, I really have no excuse. I've been working on this piece for a while. I am currently in the middle of coloring it but I couldn't wait any longer to share it with the Internet.
Most of the old world depictions of St. Nickolaus and the many incarnations that represent the darker side of the axial inclination, show them working together rather than working apart. It's more of a "yin-yang" situation than a good versus evil. This is where my comic geek kicks in and that is why this drawing exists. Shown here in its inked but unfinished glory. Combining contemporary literary perspectives of Dr. Seuss' Mr. Grinch and the aesthetics of Marvel Comics' Nightcrawler from the X-men*. Also making the scenario more "American" by adding Santa Claus rather than St. Nikolaus.
Incidentally, this was intended to be 2008's Krampus Kard, but my wife wasn't a fan of Santa being depicted as a Hulk-like monster. Since the Kards we send out are representative of our household, I need her final approval. This will see print someday, though. In postcard format, most likely.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

FUN FACT: The word Krampus comes from the Old High German word Krampen, which means claw.

*Interesting that Nightcrawler is from Germany since that is one of the many areas that the Krampus originates.

Easter Krampus?

This postcard design is from an artist in a recent post in this here blogsite. I searched through my krampus postcard book and realized I have a number of this particular artist's cards. I find his/her style to be the most original, as I hinted to in my previous post. I plan on researching more on this artist to be able to reveal their name and origin.
What I find the most interesting after studying this design is the use of pussy willows as the bundle of sticks that the Krampus would use. Also note the crafty way of using catkins as ligaments for the mini-krampuses. Methinks that this postcard may come from the Ukraine or Poland but most likely Bavaria, since they still celebrate this nefarious looking mythical creature. Albeit more modern (Southwestern Bavaria also recognize a character much like the Krampus called Wilde Mann which is Krampus sans horns). The reason is due to the fact that numerous East European folk would carry pussy willows instead of palm branches on Palm Sunday since palms didn't grow that far north.
Also, since the krampus is more of a pre-Christian Alpine symbol (representing the first 2 weeks in December and accompanying St. Nikolaus), the use of pussy willow may lead me to believe this is depicting the character Perchta (Slovania) because this character, although similar in creature-like features and may or not come from the Nordic goddess Freyja, was recognized from the last week of december into the first week of January*. This would suggest that the removing of the catkins from the branches to make a birch rod (not necessarily made of birch wood) hints of the coming of Winter. Although this can also be described in the Krampus mythos as well since pussy willows could have lost their kitty characteristic by the first of month as well.
So, it is hard to come up with the region of where this postcard originated. I think I've narrowed it down some, though. kinda/sorta?

*The Krampus and Perchten "monsters" eventually shared the limelight in many cultural events in this area of the world which lead to the loss of distinction of the two. Although there is more romantically supernatural reasoning behind the Perchta, it is definitely not as memorable of a character from the ancient days.

Krampus the Beer

So, I'm celebrating the Christmas season with my wife, her parents and her Uncle Bob. Great guy. Gets really thoughtful gifts. So, knowing that I appreciate this European story of the Krampus and all things related to the BAD side of Santa, Bob the Uncle has given me this 22 oz. bottle of Imperial Helles Lager from Southern Tier Brewery. This combines 2 of my favorites things: Beer and Krampus. So, of course, he gets me a bottle since I make and send out these Krampus Kards every year. It helps that I like micro-brew beers and most European-style brewing. I am looking forward to trying this out, but I feel compelled to share it with Bob the Uncle and my Father-in-Law. We all enjoy all sorts of brew. Funny things is, it would be naughty of me if I didn't. Which would make sense considering the theme...

stay tuned...

p.s.
Check out the zoom of the beer label here. Enjoy responsively.