N is for Nightmare: 1995, gouache on black illustration board. Part of a 5-piece senior thesis. I found that Nightmares have a basis in Greek mythology (though there's tales of nightmarish creatures in almost every culture) so I depicted the 'mare with Cerberus, the Chimaera, and the Minotaur, within a border of Greek "key" patterns.

J is for Jaguar-man: 1995, colored pencil, pen, and marker on toned paper. Part of a 5-piece senior thesis project. Jaguar-men have a basis in very early Mesoamerican mythology; to the ancient Olmecs, they were supposedly the result of a union between a Divine Jaguar and a human female. The Jaguar-man wears Aztec and Olmec decorative elements. The two square-ish masks in the upper corners are based on Olmec mosaics of were-jaguars, the upper statue is Aztec and was used in blood-offering rituals, and the lower object depicts an Olmec werejaguar/"crying baby" figurine/knife blade. I LOVE Mesoamerican art!

This image available at http://www.cafepress.com/syntezcatli
or as a print at my website.