Raffaele's Bafefit's biography describes the creatures in his portraits as "characters caught in between the thin line between life and death." This ceaseless purgatory, where even the smoothest of curves feel as sharp as Fugubiki knives, binds the personalities of each piece in a state of agony. And although you might not hear their caterwaul, you can certainly feel their desperation.

Everyone has played the game: what would you take with you if you could only bring along one thing? We all have something, something essential or entirely superfluous, something kinky or sentimental, something cerebral or trashy. Out with it. What's your thing?

In this challenge we ask that you draw something you wouldn't leave behind. Wait! Before you get to it, it MUST be something that could fit in a backpack. You're confined only by the size of your item, nothing else. Deadline May 23rd by 4pm EST, go here for complete submission details »



Draw your thing, your take-along, and win this incredible backpack to hold it. Trust me, you'll want to get your hands on this, because the folks at TOM BIHN design and make each product with tremendous craftsmanship, and all within the U.S.

How do you get from A to B and everywhere in between? Showcase #17 challenges you to share your mode of transport -- doodle your ride! Skateboard, segway, scooter, canoe, minivan, sports car, bicycle, whatever! You ride it, you draw it.

Thanks to the folks at Thumbtack Press, and their incredible online store of wall to wall art prints for sponsoring this month's showcase.

Deadline fast approaching (April 25th). Go here for prize and submission details »

Born in Moscow, brought up in Milwaukee, and now based in Manhattan, Sonya Kozlova (at the early age of twenty) is known for her photography. Her photos are experimental and visceral, and it's obvious she has a keen eye for lighting and cropping her subjects just right.

She's recently mustered up the courage to share a few of her sketchbook drawings and they've captured my attention as much as her camera pictures have. Here are a few of my favorite pages.

I met Miju short after I moved to Barcelona through an exhibition at Duduá and I was blown away.

I don't really know how she does it, but in her drawings there is no noise, just peace. It's just her and her imaginary friends. It's so special and different from everything nowadays. When you meet her, you understand her illustrations are just an extension of her own personality.



Born in Busan (Korea), studied Product Design in Seoul and then moved to Barcelona to make a living out of her illustrations. She also has a trademark called Mee and Zoo where she sells handmade cushions from Busan.

And please, don't forget to check out her animated gifs.

James Gulliver Hancock, an illustrator from Australia (now living in New York), seems to be on a quest to draw and catalog almost everything that comes his way, from bicycles and snow to scooters and mountain tops. He's even launched a micro-site titled All The Buildings In New York, where you'll find them sorted by building type or borough.

I especially love the compositions where he stacks each of the elements onto one large sheet of paper. Here's hoping he keeps this effort going forever.

A tear-shaped mountainous road in which to travel and wondrous beasts to encounter. I can't help but dream of adventures in the drawn world of Niclas Boman's imagination.