Simon Underwood
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lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Simon Underwood
@lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
1.5K followers 110 following 170 posts
Portland illustrator and comic book crafter. Swords, sorcery, trees, skulls, doom.

For commissions, merch, and my graphic novel GARGANTUAN, check out www.lizardbrainart.com
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lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Simon Underwood @lizardbrain-art.bsky.social · Jan 14
#PortfolioDay ! I'm a traditional illustrator who's worked for a number of small press fantasy publications and TTRPG projects. I recently self-published a graphic novel featuring a kaiju in a sword-and-sorcery setting.
A necromancer armed with a sword and a spell descends the steps of a castle, surrounded by her skeleton guards. A four-armed giant stands waist-deep in the ocean, face obscured by a green hooded cloak, holding a staff covered in bones and pulling a star out of the night sky. Two adventurers, an elf and a dwarf, traverse the ruins of an ancient underground city while a shoggoth lurks on the cavern roof above. Cover of the graphic novel GARGANTUAN, displaying the title and the protagonist, Queen Pharseia, standing amidst scattered, abandoned armaments and looking up defiantly as the shadow of a huge monster looms over her.
Reposted by Simon Underwood
jeffvandermeer.bsky.social
The mist-shrouded morning at Point Reyes National Seashore, hiking with @sallyfisherprice.bsky.social, felt not just haunted or ethereal, but otherworldly. The zenith of that sensation came when a huge bull elk appeared out of the landscape as if a ghost from another land entirely.
slope of darkness with mist over the ocean cliffs huge antlers over low bushes, in the mist the bull elk slowing appearing out of the mist bull elk framed by mist, suddenly come clear to us, casually eating a plant, with plant stalks draped over part of his rack.
October 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Man I love drawing dead guys
Work-in-progress photo of a comic panel featuring a richly dressed, crowned corpse turning its head to ward the viewer. The clothing and jewelry suggest an ancient, mummified king or sorcerer. At the top of the panel, a shadowy form can be glimpsed clinging to the top of the corpse's crown.
October 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
I can finally show off probably my favorite piece I've done this year--the Halloween merch design for @moviemadness.org. Beyond stoked to do more work for the best movie rental/theater/museum/temple in the world. And those practical effects are sooo satisfying to replicate in ink
A green illustration on a black background, featuring the words "MOVIE MADNESS" in a font that suggests bad VHS tracking. In the center of the image, four monsters burst out of a vintage TV set--the werewolf from An American Werewolf in London, the creature from The Thing, half-human and half nightmarish alien, the dripping Tarman zombie from Return of the Living Dead, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon reaching toward the viewer.
October 11, 2025 at 6:29 AM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
"The apparitions are getting worse. The air in the vaults feels like a thin curtain that could be ripped away at any moment. I do not know what door I opened in search of the afterlife, but I pray to all the gods it isn't the one our souls go to in the end."

A quick one for the spookiest of seasons
Pen and ink illustration depicting a darkened doorway in a stone wall. A robed scholar scrambles away from the doorway in a panic, having dropped his writing implements, as a monstrous, glowing apparition manifests in the darkness beyond. At first glance, it appears vaguely humanoid, but has the suggestion of three heads, many mouths, and an indeterminate number of limbs.
October 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Made a little block print. It's hard to find inspiration for personal work in these fucked up times, but a new medium always helps me.

Spend time with the people, places and experiences that make life worth living, and return ready to take the heads of those who would steal those things from us.
Block-printed image in green ink depicting an arm holding a short sword bursting from the undergrowth on a forest floor. Above it are the words "FIGHT FOR LIFE"
September 15, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
newedgeswordmag.bsky.social
🖌️ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT🎨
Linnea Sterte, aka @decassette.bsky.social, made this beautiful interior illustration for WASTE FLOWERS by Bryn Hammond, and is returning to create a new full page illustration for WHAT ROUGH BEAST?

Learn more here 👉 www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
A black and white illustration by Linnea Sterte showing two Mongol women from the times of Genghis Khan. The taller is a bandit with short hair, dressed in a stolen coat with badges of authority visible. The shorter has a side buzz, otherwise longer hair, and is leaning into the shoulder of the taller one.
September 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
moviemadness.org
Our Movie Madness Presents Creature Features risograph print featuring artwork from Portland illustrator, Simon Underwood (@lizardbrain-art.bsky.social) is now available in the shop! Come on in and check it out!
September 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Poster I did for Movie Madness here in Portland for their Creature Features block. One of the largest ink pieces I've ever done!
Pen-and-ink poster illustration. A number of monstrous limbs reach out from behind a steel door, chained and padlocked. The words "CREATURE FEATURES" are drippily painted on the door. A creature that resembles a spidery crustacean with a human woman's head scuttles across the door, approaching the padlock with a key in one claw and a mischievous expression on her face. Pen-and-ink poster illustration with digital color. The words "MOVIE MADNESS PRESENTS" cover the top portion of the image. A number of monstrous limbs reach out from behind a steel door, chained and padlocked. The words "CREATURE FEATURES" are drippily painted on the door. A creature that resembles a spidery crustacean with a human woman's head scuttles across the door, approaching the padlock with a key in one claw and a mischievous expression on her face.
September 11, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
mentat0209.bsky.social
Inktober 52 - Virgo

A witch. Pens and white ink.

I'm open for commissions!

#art #inktober #inktober2025 #inktober52 #inktober52virgo #fantasy
Ink drawing of a druid woman with tattoos, cloak, raven, and basket, in retro TTRPG manual style with detailed cross-hatching.
September 1, 2025 at 12:27 AM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Some pieces I did for an adaptation of Clark Ashton Smith's Tale of Satampra Zeiros a few years ago. Not sure if they were ever used but they were super fun to draw.
Illustration from "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros" by Clark Ashton Smith. Two thieves stand in a dark room surrounded by the silhouettes of various reptilian creatures. One man holds a lockpick and is looking eagerly into the chest of glowing treasure he just opened, while the other, holding a dagger, glances nervously behind him. Illustration from "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros" by Clark Ashton Smith. Two men explore a dense, vine-choked jungle. Illustration from "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros" by Clark Ashton Smith. Two men approach a small, simply built temple in the middle of a starlit jungle clearing. One swigs from a wineskin as he walks towards the doors. Illustration from "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros" by Clark Ashton Smith. Two men confront a strange, protoplasmic entity rising from a large basin in the center of a small temple. An idol of the god Tsathoggua perches on a dais behind them, looking like a humanoid cross between a toad and a bat.
August 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Thinking about GARGANTUAN: "the queen's an essentially good person being sabotaged by her aristocratic nature--thematically it's about accepting the loss of control and the unpredictability of the future--"

Describing GARGANTUAN in front of a camera: "yep. I drawed it. It has a BIG monster."
August 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
I think I have to come to terms with the fact that, unlike seemingly every other artist and writer I respect, I'm too dumb to read Gene Wolfe.
August 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Money is tight this month, so I suppose now is a good time to mention that I have a store with some neat stuff in it. Skeleton T-shirts! Lizardman prints! A full-length sword-and-sorcery kaiju graphic novel! Anything you feel like picking up is much appreciated.
lizardbrainart.bigcartel.com
Lizardbrain Art
Gloomy art and merch by Simon Underwood
lizardbrainart.bigcartel.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
vor-bokor.bsky.social
My twitter is dead. I don’t wanna a burner. All I want is 27K bluski subs
July 31, 2025 at 12:56 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Turned 32. Spent some time with @esque-arts.bsky.social and the local mountain.
Photograph of me. I am standing on a dock with a cup of coffee overlooking a large lake surrounded by firs. Mt. Hood is visible in the background. Photograph of Mt. Hood in the evening taken through a binocular lens. Photograph of an ink sketch of Mt. Hood being held up in front of the actual Mt. Hood, out of focus on the background.
July 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
"IT'S SATAN! EL DIABLO!" from a youtube video from 2012 I could never find again. It wormed its way into my brain and has never left
joshcrewsreally.bsky.social Josh Crews @joshcrewsreally.bsky.social · Jul 8
What's the most random/obscure thing you quote?

In "The Stand' by Stephen King (complete/uncut ed iirc), a character called The Kid would sometimes say "how do you like that happy crappy?" and I often say that to myself/out loud for various reasons lol.
July 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Our long-suffering protagonist wakes up to some new friends
Two comic panels showing an extreme close-up of a man's dirty, tired face as he wakes up. A large, pale insect is licking the dirt off his skin. They notice each other with alarm as the man comes to.
July 6, 2025 at 1:47 AM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
More painting practice. I have been reading the Earthsea books and they are just what I need right now. Here's Ged and his boat.
Gouache painting of Ged, the protagonist of A Wizard of Earthsea, sailing in his boat Lookfar. He holds onto the rigging, his staff leaned on his shoulder. A couple of craggy, forested islands are visible in the background over the foggy ocean, and a dragon flies through the overcast sky in the distance.
July 5, 2025 at 11:16 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Cover for the debut album from the band SALTYR. I love when the brief is basically "make it as trad heavy metal as possible"
Album cover featuring a warrior descending a winding staircase in a huge cavern. Behind him, the stairs lead up to an open doorway surrounded by shattered remnants of the door and with light pouring through. Ahead of him, a horde of undead and demons advance up the stairs, and he fights them with an axe and shield. Small dragonlike creatures flap about overhead.
July 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
I would pay heinous amounts of money I don't possess to have the Isle of the Dead one in my home
partyinthefront.bsky.social Party In The Front - Comms Closed @partyinthefront.bsky.social · Jun 30
I can finally post 4 of these at once. The main pieces in almost 2 years of this new hobby.
#miniatures #diorama
A diorama of an entrance to a cave or dungeon entrance in a wall of rocks. The entrance is a sculpture of a wolf or feline's head. Stone steps lead up to it, sided by grass and stones. A miniature diorama of Arnold Bocklin's Isle of the Dead, seen from the front. A boat with 2 mysterious figures, sliding on dark green water, approaches an island composed of rocks and cypress tree. A miniature diorama of Arnold Bocklin's Isle of the Dead, seen from the front. A boat with 2 mysterious figures, sliding on dark green water, approaches an island composed of rocks and cypress tree. A diorama of a fisherman's house by the sea. The 3 story red house with blue roof is on stilts and a pier beside it connects it to land. There are barrels and stands with fish in front of it. The fisherman can be seen arriving on the pier, and his wife too, watering the plants on the second floor. The final piece in full color (grey stone and autumnal tones). Leafy drying vines, brushes and grass have been added. Moss covers some of the stones and rocks. The figure, (more recognizably a cat wizard with a red hat and grey robe) is glued down.
June 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
literaryfey.bsky.social
"I asked ChatGPT" "I asked Grok" ok well I asked Gandalf and he said he has not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm
June 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Vainamoinen in the pines for @elyvilon.bsky.social .
I really enjoyed this one. Tried to infuse it with some of that Scandinavian Golden Age of Illustration energy.
The Finnish mythological hero Vainamoinen sits under a pine tree in a mossy meadow, playing a kantele made of a large jawbone. His sword leans against the tree trunk. Various forest animals gather to listen to his music.
June 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
Painted a weird little guy. I still flounder every time I break out the paint, but this felt like I learned some things.
Gouache painting of a fully armored warrior standing in the desert with sunset clouds behind them. Their armor is brick red and resembles a carapace in places. They carry a falchion which also has an organic quality to it. Their eyes glow green from behind a full face mask.
June 12, 2025 at 4:24 AM
lizardbrain-art.bsky.social
"He can't keep getting away with this!"

He can, because you refuse to decapitate him
June 10, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Simon Underwood
badbucket.bsky.social
don’t let them in. fuck ice. fuck fascists
a black and white illustration of 4 ICE agents standing at the other side of an open door. They are silhouetted except for their glowing eyes and bared teeth. The text reads “our dire investigations had led us here. danger is everywhere - it is best to comply. may we enter?”
June 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM