About
2 years ago I created 31 different mental health behaviors for the annual Inktober series (where every October, artists draw a piece of art in ink for each day), having no idea that those images would completely change my life. With every illness I posted, people from around the world reached out saying the artwork described how they felt when their words couldn’t, and for a moment, the art helped them not feel so alone in their battles.
Mental health professionals from the US and Europe now use the artwork as a way to help speak to their clients, and I couldn't be more honored. By creating art that focuses on our hidden, but universal struggles, I too have been able to open up about my own battles with depression so that others won't feel so alone. With this book, I want to help bring comfort for those who need it on a larger scale, and I can only make this happen with your help. I want this to be more than just a book of art. I want this to be the first step for many to start a movement using darker art as a way of communicating how we feel.
The book will feature all of my mental health and human condition art with descriptions as well as the inspiration for each piece giving fans a never before seen look into the process. I want to remove the stigma around mental health so that we can all begin the healing, together. I hope you’ll join me . Armor up, and battle on.
The book will be 8.5x11 inches, hardback, with 165 to 175 pages depending on the response and backers. Each illness , phobia, and armor up series will feature a brief description of the design along with where my inspiration came from and where my head was at during the initial layout.
Stretch Goals: If and When we get to the higher tiers I have some more ideas planned!
Shawn Coss is an Ohio based artist who’s been chasing his dream to being an entreprenartist for the past 9 years. He’s co-owner of Any Means Necessary clothing, creator of the Inktober Illness Series, and got his start into the craziness of professional art while working with Cyanide and Happiness. He's also achieved his dream gig of working with Stephen King on the movie Cell, as well as create the album art for bands such as Seether and Sadistik. He refuses to leave Ohio because he doesn’t know any better.
Shipping internationally is always a painful process because I feel like so many are gouged due to the country they live in. I tried to make it as cheap as I possibly could without being in the red and hope many of my international friends will understand. Canada was able to get away with a little bit cheaper option due to being the U.S. neighbor. Hopefully all of the extras that come with the book will ease up some of that shipping cost pain.
Risks and challenges
With all projects, there are always risks. I've learned alot from my previous Kickstarter ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shawncoss/kindergarten-a-collection-of-creepy-stories-by-sha)and by launching this project so early in the year, it should hopefully avoid any delays. But, as always, when multiple hands are in the pot of making a project, there's bound to be mishaps. If the project funds, I plan on having everything ready to head to the printer within 2 weeks. Shipping time will obviously be slower than if I have a fulfillment company doing it for me, but it'll just be me and my buddy Michael who owns Any Means Necessary (Amnclothing.com) with me. I want to have my hands all over your books. Thank you for understanding ahead of time!
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Funding period
- (30 days)