John Kenn Mortensen

[bendk]

John Kenn Mortensen (b. 1978) is a Danish artist who draws monsters on Post-It notes. I believe he has published two small books of his art. Only one, Sticky Monsters, has been published in English. Besides drawing monsters, he also works as a writer and director for television in Copenhagen, where he lives with his twins and his girlfriend.

He has been favorably compared to Edward Gorey. He recently illustrated the Centipede Press book Deadfall Hotel by Steve Rasnic Tem. (Wonderful work, and one of the reasons I bought the HC version.) He is listed as one of the artists for the forthcoming book A Mountain Walked. It would be great if he illustrated Ligotti's story.

A Mountain Walked

There is no bigger name in horror fiction than H.P. Lovecraft. This new collection of fiction assembles a handful of reprints and over a dozen new stories inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos. Authors include T.E.D. Klein, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Gemma Files, Lois Gresh, Thomas Ligotti, Patrick McGrath, and many others. Loaded with illustrations by David Ho, Thomas Ott, Denis Tiani, and John Kenn Mortensen, this is an oversized, gorgeous clothbound book.


vbull posted this link a while back.
http://johnkenn.blogspot.com/

[warmsoda]

Obviously I'm a fan. Thanks for the heads-up re: the upcoming book. I would love for Mortensen to illustrate Ligotti's story.

But I'd also like to imagine John illustrating a children's book written by Tom. You know, something to introduce the kids to the Shadow at the bottom of the world.

(Of course, I'd also like for John's books of drawings to be published Stateside.)

[bendk]

Quote Originally Posted by warmsoda

Obviously I'm a fan. Thanks for the heads-up re: the upcoming book. I would love for Mortensen to illustrate Ligotti's story. But I'd also like to imagine John illustrating a children's book written by Tom. You know, something to introduce the kids to the Shadow at the bottom of the world. (Of course, I'd also like for John's books of drawings to be published Stateside.)

I did indeed notice your avatar, warmsoda. That illustration is one of favorites by Mortensen.

A children's book written by Ligotti and illustrated by Mortensen! What a terrific and horrific idea!! I am going to dream about that one for a long time to come. It could even be a mock children's book like Struwwelpeter by Heinrich Hoffman. Wow.

[njhorror]

Is A Mountain Walked upcoming from Centipede? I don't see it listed.

[njhorror]

Thank you.

[MadsPLP]

Should anyone want for the Danish editions of his work, I'd be more than happy to help. As I don't work (very much) anymore in the bookstore I used to work in, I can't recall whether it is still available, but I'll gladly look it up. PM if interested.

[bendk]

John Kenn Mortensens MONSTRE - YouTube

[Gnosticangel]

I have this work and it's amazing! First encountered his work through his illustrations for the Centipede edition of Steve Rasnic Tem's "Deadfall Hotel, which I love.

Later found an email on the author's Danish web site and sent a paypal to purchase the book. Don't think that he would mind my saying here that I waited almost a full year to hear anything back, and I began to think it had been lost in e-limbo somehow.

But then I received a package in the mail, with "Grotesquely late, my apologies!" written on the side. It contained the book and this is one case in which I did not mind the long wait, as (to my taste) the book is that good!

Many thanks for posting.

[bendk]

I am going to look into getting this when I can. My introduction to his work was Deadfall Hotel too. I love that book. Unfortunately, the paperback doesn't have the illustrations for people who missed out on the HC.

I still feel crushed that I couldn't get the Robert Aickman set from Centipede with his illustrations. They are two of my favorites.

[MadsPLP]

A very friendly and sweet guy as well, with good taste in horror literature.

There is an interesting project in the pipeline in English. I don't know the deadline for it yet, but I think some here will be delighted by it.