This Artist’s Illustrations Hide Creepy Details That Will Send A Shiver Down Your Spine

September 6, 2021

It’s no secret that some artists like to hide secret little details in their works, like their initials for example. However, American artist Jeff Lee Johnson takes it to a whole different level.

Read more Under the Boardwalk

Image credits: Jeff Lee Johnson

In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the artist explained that his brother was a fan of sci-fi and horror, and shared his library with him. The two also loved watching classic movies together. “I spent a lot of time either with my nose in her books or watching those old movies, playing the various roles in those stories, and gaining empathy and insight into a wide variety of personalities and situations,” explained Jeff. “Switching from one genre to another in my art is not much harder than switching channels on the TV or picking up a new book.”

Rue The Day

Image credits: Jeff Lee Johnson

The artist is a big fan of the writer H.P. Lovecraft but says he’s a bit more optimistic than him. Jeff really got to explore the Lovecraftian world when he received an assignment by Fantasy Flight Games, the place where he works as an art director, and illustrated a 1920s railcar full of all sorts of shady characters.

“When that painting was finished, I realized I had found a really fun thread to tug on, and began thinking of a series based on that theme,” explained the artist. “In each painting, we take the point of view of someone giving a good first look at new surroundings. Not all of these observers are impartial, which seems natural, and some may not be very nice, though they are all fearless lovers of travel and new experiences.”

Check out more of Jeff’s wonderfully eerie illustrations below!

The Grand International Hotel