The Idea

In this drawing I was beginning to get an idea of what the creature was going to look like. And how it would be positioned in the first painting.

The Water Tower and what's left of the long abandoned buildings.

In this early attempt of bringing things together. I worked on shading and putting mostly everything into perspective. But there were many more versions before it became a painting.

My son and I was talking one day about how the story of the Mothman stood out so differently from other unusual things that’s happened in the world. And he said he wished I would paint something about it. I didn't want to disappoint my son but I wasn't really sure if it would be so easy. The more I thought about how strong the creature was linked to this area though, the more I liked the idea. So I decided one day I would drive out to TNT and take a look around for a location where I could get an idea of what the painting would be about. The only thing I knew at first was I wanted it to look like the TNT area in the background. On the way there I spent some time thinking about what might bring the Mothman back too this area. While I drove, I noticed the power plants off in the distance with their unusually high amount of smoke, creating massive clouds of pollution. They were so large, they might remind you of a small nuclear explosion. As I watched those clouds, I would probably have to say. They were a clue to what this whole Mothman series was going to be about. Even though I didn't realize it yet!

As I saw the TNT area come into view it began to rain. It was about 3:30 pm by then. I had an eerie feeling while turning onto the road to the Wildlife Reserve. An abandoned structure with a rusty old water tower beside it stood off in the distance. It looked very much like what I had in mind. So as I began to turn my jeep around, a park ranger pulled up beside me. As we talked I asked him if he knew who owned the spot with the water tower on it. He said it was the property of the Farm Museum, but they wouldn't be open again until tomorrow. The next day after meeting them and explaining what I was planning to paint about. They said if they could find the key to the gate, they would take me up there. So after the key was found. I followed a very nice lady to the site. The place had a fence with barbwire completely surrounding it. She got out of her truck, unlocked the gate and said if I would like to I could drive my jeep back to the water tower but she would just stay at the gate. I didn't ask why but by the way the place looked I couldn't blame her.

After parking my jeep. I started taking pictures for reference. While walking past the building a shadow moved inside it but there was no sound. I began visualizing what might take place if the mothman was just hovering in front of me. And imagining what if groups of many different types of people were walking into this area from all over the place. The people also wouldn't be upset over anything. As I stood back about 100 yards from the tower. I saw a helicopter flying far away in the sky. I thought finally this would be about the Mothman having mind control over everything around it. But I also wanted to make you wonder why and how those people got there. As I looked around, the wind picked up some leaves, sending them past me. I knew then that I really wanted to capture the feeling this place was giving me. I don't know if they could do it safely. But it would probably be very interesting to the people who take a tour of the TNT area. If the Farm Museum would unlock the gate to this spot, letting people experience the feeling I felt. Anyway if you ever find yourself broke down along the side of the road near this place. Be thankful for the invention of cell phones.

When I was developing my version of the Mothman I wanted to make it look like something that hasn't been done before yet. More aquatic looking than what's been seen. So the tail of the creature that my version has is something like that of a Stingray. The large hands (or wings) have four fingers on his right side. And three fingers an a thumb on his left side. I was thinking he should be mutated this way to survive. For example if he chose to hunt for fish underwater in the river. With his large hands he could scoop them up like a fishnet. He could also use the river to travel to the many different locations he was reportedly seen.

This painting is the setup for a second part in “The Mothman” series of paintings I am working on. And perhaps a more apocalyptic and disturbing painting than this first one. It will have the city of Point Pleasant in the background. The town will have cars on fire in the middle of the streets. No living people left. Trash everywhere. But a sense that it hasn't been that way very long. Plus another element I want to leave as a surprise.

What is a Miniature Air Vehicle? (MAV) It’s development is part of an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program. The Micro Air Vehicle will become part of the U.S. Army’s future combat systems program known as “Hover and Stare”. The MAV is designed as a ducted fan air vehicle, that flies like a helicopter. It use’s a propeller that draws in air through it’s duct to provide lift. The MAV weighs about 17 pounds fully fueled and is 13 inches in diameter. It can operate at 100 to 500 feet above ground level, and provide day or night video imagery. Soldiers can be trained to operate the MAV in less than 24 hours. In October 2005 it was tested by the 25th Infantry Division. The Micro Air Vehicles simplicity to operate was demonstrated in these tests. Soldiers who were familiar with video games found it easy to learn to operate the MAV. When I learned that there were such things as MAV’s flying around, I really wanted them in the painting. I also thought it might be interesting if the Mothman was fascinated enough to reach out at it! I wanted it to look like that MAV was checking out unimportant things instead of the Mothman so to suggest whoever was controlling the MAV was under the mind control of the creature as well! Miniature Air Vehicles was new news at the time to most people I talked to at the Mothman Festival. It is my hope this is one of the first paintings to feature them in it. Wouldn’t it be a fascinating tool to use in monitoring the TNT area, for the ones of you who are in search of the truth?

It would have been so interesting to have experienced the events that took place back in 1966. The feeling that a creature was possibly flying above us and being spotted by someone every few days! Men in black strangely walking around town like they were just learning to walk! Lights in the sky with colors like nothing anyone's ever seen, hovering over us in the night! And the writer John Keel on the adventure of a lifetime in our own back yards! All in a fascinating little town ( and surrounding area ) called Point Pleasant. Well that was a long time ago. And I guess its all over now, except for maybe in our minds imagination, or is it ?

Monday, October 22, 2007 The second part in “The Mothman” series of paintings I have been working on. Starts out pretty much with this reference sketch I did a few days ago. Something I do sometimes to help my imagination start developing an idea. Is to draw a main character from my project, looking out into the background of the paintings setting. A completely blank background seems to take on so many ideas for me as I view my work this way. Although the Mothman won’t be positioned like this in the final version of part 2. It seems to really help me identify the character with the scene by using this little technique I came up with. Then again, maybe other artists do this and I just didn't know. Anyway it works for me.

By Matt Marshall

MOTHMAN ILLUSION