Gashadokuro

Griffin came in wanting a half sleeve of the Japanese yokai Gashadokuro: a mythical giant skeleton, made from the bones of the dead, that stalks around at night eating the living.

The ghosts on the back of the shoulder were an idea I had that I’m really proud of. I’ve tried to fit that idea into other projects since and it hasn’t landed the same. On this one, it added the flair the piece needed. We put a flaming toad on the inside to offer protection from the haunted figure on the outside.

Griffin also wanted the classic Japanese palette: black, grey, and red. That’s a combination I do a lot of and enjoy every time.