Jonah
Grace
Cryptid Trading Cards
About Project
A set of eight large-format collectible “trading card” double-sided prints featuring various US cryptids including Champ, Jersey Devil, Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawler, Sasquatch, and Chupacabra. Includes an illustration, factual and fictional trivia about the cryptid, as well as a quote, typically historical. Aimed at an audience of art and trading card collectors and enthusiasts of cryptids/general spooky things.
Process
I wanted to create illustrations that were stylized, yet rooted enough in reality to be semi-believable as genuine creatures. I began by compiling photo references of various real-life animals (such as a whale for Champ and a rabbit for the Jackalope) for the anatomy of each cryptid, then sketching out their skeletons. Only once I felt the skeletons made sense did I begin sketching on top of them.
Once the illustrations were finished, I created a template for the card designs, including a nameplate, border, and various facts about the creature, inspired by a baseball trading card. The combination of typography, illustration style, and color gives the card designs a mysterious, academic feel.