Hello! I'm Austen Mengler, an award-winning independent concept artist, illustrator, writer and graphic novelist from Perth, Western Australia.

With 15+ years of entertainment industry experience, I've worked freelance with international clients on a variety of projects, as well as self-funded my own publishing projects and national convention tours since 2013.

ART PROCESS (NO AI):
My artwork is 100% hand painted, using both traditional pencil and ink drawing, scanned and painted digitally over many hours and sometimes several years using Photoshop CC and my Wacom Intuos Pro tablet. I will never use Generative AI and am strongly against it, and use Glaze and Nightshade to proof my artwork online from AI Scraping.

BIOGRAPHY:
I’ve always loved drawing and creating characters, creatures, monsters from imagination. Being inspired by my favourite films, videogames, tv series, nature documentaries and also growing up in a household surrounded by pets and animals. Drawing all through primary school in Perth, WA and attending extra after school art and drama class, I then studied the special art program while at Applecross SHS which included Saturday morning art school for 5 years. This included in 2008 an international art trip to Paris, Hong Kong and New York City to study art history and visit the Mona Lisa, Notre Dame, Monet's Garden, The Louve, Empire State Building and many galleries and exhibitions.

High school is where I also first started learning how to make digital artwork on a computer with my first graphics tablet. Then while graduating Curtin University with a Bachelor of Arts: Design (Major in Illustration) 2009 - 2011 I started taking on freelance work as a concept artist & illustrator on a variety of international freelance projects for film, album artwork and comics as university projects. During university on an "Intertextuality" project I first started horrifying childhood characters of Sesame Street icons turned into monsters "B is for BRAINS" 2011 - which I then shared online on art communities like deviantART and gain international viral attention.

It’s been a blast to be able to create artwork for films, video games, album covers, Kickstarter projects, comics, graphic novels & more!

Some of my recent and past clients include: 2025 - Umbrella Entertainment ("BLACK SHEEP" 2006 Official Film 4k Blu-ray Cover) 2018-2019 - Chapter 5 Studios (“The Faceless Man” 2019 horror film.), 2014 - Good Games (Playmat design), 2016 - Posthuman Studios (Creature Design), 2012 - Within Destruction (Album Artwork), 2011-2012 - Rough House Publishing (Comic Colorist), 2016 - Encounter Table Publishing (Creature Design Illustration), 2011 - 2013 - Winterfold (Album Artwork), 2011 - Ferocious Mind (Album Artwork) & more (see below for full resume).

Since 2013 I've also regularly exhibited at pop culture conventions, collector & art events in and around Perth, WA as well all-around Australia at over 170+ Events!

I’ve also performed live demo workshops and talks on panels about my concept art process. I've been developing and releasing my own original horror art projects and collections in print and online:

POP HORROR: a warped horrific parody of my favourite pop culture characters - seen by big name celebrities like George R. R. Martin, Millie Bobby Brown, Jason Momoa, Elijah Wood, Karl Urban, Karen Fukuhara, Robert Englund, David Wenham, Miranda Otto, Adam Savage, Nathan Jones, David Harbour, Jamie Campbell Bower, Kristian Nairn and more!
EXECUTION - An epic science fiction, fantasy and horror post-apocalyptic world building series with over 100 character and creature designs. Collected into the first Volume: "EXECUTION: Volume 01: Awakening" which is a comic story I designed at University and then self published in 2022. It has now sold over 500 copies!
MY SHADOWS - a dark black and white art book collection of personal digital horror paintings, depicting depression, anxiety, grief and other mental health themes. First published in 2014 it has now sold over 1000+ copies self published - and is available as 'MY SHADOWS: Volume 01: Remastered" at my website and convention booth.
SCARY SKETCHES - a look behind the scenes at my traditional pencil, ink and marker sketches - seeing how the artworks go from original to digital. "SCARY SKETCHES: Volume 01: The Originals" is available to order at my website.

AT MY BOOTH:
I have a range of signed artwork printed posters ("prints") where you can buy exclusive artwork directly from me and get them signed. Merchandise like bookmarks, business cards and other items are also available. Signed art books 'MY SHADOWS', 'SCARY SKETCHES' and my self published graphic novel short story 'EXECUTION' is also available. I also have a range of original drawings A3 and A4 available to purchase - one of a kind collector's items.

If you have a business inquiry or question, feel free to message or email me and I’ll reply as soon as I can. Thank you so much for the ongoing support, whether it be in person at a show around Australia, print orders or through sharing and supporting my work on social media.

Please let me know what you have in mind for paid commission work or licensing (using my existing artwork for your project). If you can include your budget, deadline, scope & copyright details for the project this will help me in making the most accurate quote possible. Thank you!