John Kenn Mortensen

Danish artist John Kenn Mortensen (also known as Don Kenn) writes and directs television shows for kids, but during his free time he pays tribute to the darker, spookier side of childhood filled with monsters and ghosts. Ugly, terrifying and bone-chilling monsters creep out of the darkest childhood nightmares and right into Kenn’s sticky notes. That’s right - the artist draws his highly imaginative little scenarios, where kids meet ghastly monsters, entirely on yellow post-its. In this contect, the creativity and intricacy of these little drawings truly leaves one in awe.
[from: www.demilked.com/creepy-child...]
John Kenn Mortensen was born in 1978. He is a Danish artist who lives and works in Copenhagen. Mortensen is a master with pen and paper and his imagination is second to none. During the day, he employs these skills as an animator and director of children’s television programmes. But when darkness falls, he lets his imagination run wild, and from the nib of his pen flows a host of monsters, ghosts and ghouls, terrifying enough to give those who are faint of heart cause to double check that their doors are locked at night.
“I write and direct television shows for kids. I have a set of twins and not much time for anything. But when I have time, I draw monsterdrawings on post-it notes… it is a little window into a different world, made on office supplies. People will always be afraid of monsters. For some people, spiders are monsters… just very small monsters.It warms my heart when I am able to scare people or just give them the sense of having experienced a small adventure from something so simple as a drawing on a post-it note.There is this very fine moment right before you realize you are gonna be eaten by something you never thought existed. It is like when you get bad news and you think…I never thought this was gonna happen to me.” - John Kenn Mortensen
[from: wowxwow.com/artist-profile/jo...]
Music: Alio Die & Antonio Testa "Pie in the Sky""

[@gabi4248]

I used to be obsessed with him and his art. I would redraw his art and then add my own little bits and pieces to them. John’s artwork is by far my favorite art ever created.

[@Gobloing]

Honestly, all the monster look as if they are misunderstood, and are just trying to engage with other humans, while the humans just kind of look at them with just some unease, as if it's a normal thing. Looks kinda cute tbh.

[@Cardinalbins]

Micolash, Host of bad boss design Thats nice!

[@flacidfrank8410]

I finally found ya slippery bastard

[@jasoncarto]

Someone said that about a facehugger once.. we lost contact with that colony.

[@mishaka3990]

I don't believe every word from a Stinky Host of Nightmares.

[@this_is_petro1700]

Micolash, Host of bad boss design just hanging out

[@matthewodonnellgavaghan]

I love this. To be perfectly honest I think that the monsters are only trying to hang out with the humans. A lot of the people in the drawings look lonely, isolated and depressed and I think the monsters have noticed this and so they're just trying to befriend them.

[@n0ita]

A cartoon like that would be engagedly interesting.

[@andrehernandez9857]

r0ad288kma8x Indeed, it would be unique compare to the current shows we have.

[@andrehernandez9857]

Daniel Jones I remember seeing that a very long time ago.

[@midarispissfilledgun5273]

YES

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

I would love to see a video game with this type of art, something like Dark Souls or Salt Sanctuary.

[@pasticle]

That would be awesome although i dont see myself killing this creatures in a souls way xd. I would dig a sorta Silent hill game with a kid in a island with this monsters, but the main role in the game will be why the fuck he's there, you know find out searching just like dark souls but in a more psychological way, that it kinda be hard to get all of this and some sick plot twist comes out in every player (sorry for my hkrruble english ;-;)

[@NaneelQueenOfDarknes]

There is a game called Never Ending Nightmares on steam that is much like this i loved it.

[@YungHippie]

Try Don't Starve/Don't Starve Together.

[@mitchellrigney5013]

Fran Bow has art like this in it but it’s a pretty graphic and eye opening game

[@user-wh2jc4qg9i]

Класс 👍👍👍👍

[@dominiciancabatit6012]

It was therapeutic looking at all of his drawings. They'er wonderful! The monsters look scary but you feel like they're not evil. My favorite piece is at 3:01. I feel that the ghost is his best friend who drowned in that river and he's just missing her a lot and the girl is missing him too.

[@TheFlamingPike]

5:15 The monster is like "I SWEAR TO GOD TIMMY, THERE'S A MOUSE IN YOUR ROOM!!!"

[@lazchurchyard1229]

The Flaming Pike -- "Samuel Spiderbody I swear to God, if you poke me again, I'm getting the bug spray."

[@somestrangeasrandomaccount8482]

The Flaming Pike Timmy and a prostitute.

[@dawidek4267]

he is the mouse

[@johanneshaukanes4531]

It seems like the persons is unaware of the horrors, most of the time. And when they are looking at the monsters, they doesent seem frightened. Just a little uneasy, or thought full... Maybe that is because it's just a part of their imagination... Or are they real? It could also be that it is all cliffhangers and this is the last shot you get before they die. But the monsters just seems curious and not wanting to kill. Anyway, this is creapy looking, and very special, simpel, detailed, original art style. Cheers from Norway

[@TheAsylumCat]

Johannes Haukanes you could say it's a metaphor for the horrors we either ignore or don't see as horrors.

[@omk573]

I feel like its more that they have accepted there fears

[@Filip6754]

It almost seems like a world where these things are natural and perfectly normal and people percieve them as such. A picture of a man looking at a bear would probably seem pretty creepy in a world where large animals don't exist.

[@lazchurchyard1229]

Most of the people seem to be 1000% done with the monsters'bullshit.

[@mre6201]

Or they share the same space (relative location "x y z and time are the same" ) but different layers of reality /dimensions

[@asthmostheseaserpent9956]

1:09 "hey billy, whatcha readin'?"

[@Trigger__Happy]

asthmos [the sea serpent] haha!!

[@willie4093]

Hentai

[@hghghghghghghghghgh]

ААА

[@winglingdawn]

XD

[@dawidek4267]

Playboy

[@osbely]

2:50 I like to imagine the boat is actually the monster’s hand.

[@imaginethat8673]

It is

[@roguelancer8998]

Kinky

[@magicmanhs7718]

Hes grabbing them up to save em'

[@2ndcomingofFritz]

It is its hand

[@Pope_Rural_I5184]

Yes

[@Delojos]

This is why you dont live in the middle of nowhere by a lake....

[@therustedshank9995]

Xisckeril well also let you keep the monsters!

[@RisingSun03]

Its better to live in this place than crystal lake.

[@cedricburkhart3738]

I lived in the middle of nowhere and I have lived by a Lake.

[@onthuiyoutygh6021]

This is why you should!

[@_knightsbane_3615]

I live near a dense forest in Northern Canada. its fits the themes of John kenns work very well. especially if it gets foggy. long story short, pack Bear mace

[@user-vx2up4ze4d]

0:48 This thing is kinda cute.

[@glorinaparong2444]

Polecat

[@glorinaparong2444]

Polecat

[@user-vx2up4ze4d]

Glorina Parong Yes, that's me, Polecat.

[@noxthecat1356]

Polecat it's very cute there litterally cute animals with ugly faces and I love pugs so I really love these bois

[@user-vx2up4ze4d]

nox the cat Lol, OK.

[@NaneelQueenOfDarknes]

Wow, there is a game called never ending nightmares that seems to have taken much insperation from this artists work, i loved the game and now this artwork, thank you so much for all the new art you put into my life ^_^

[@DistantMirrors]

I'm happy to hear you discovered something you like :)

[@NaneelQueenOfDarknes]

Honestly i have enjoyed everything you have shown, but saying the same over and over could get repetative lol

[@DistantMirrors]

I understand that perfectly, but I'm always happy to see comments under my videos. It's nice to read about people's personal interpretations and how they feel about the art that's being shown.

[@NaneelQueenOfDarknes]

Well, i felt awe and a little unsettled lol like reading a horror show seeing the things stalking the subject yet they are most times oblivious was fun. I love the simplicity of the drawings while at the same time being vary complex, they also made me want to try and draw some of them. ^_^ always nice to be inspired.

[@DistantMirrors]

There's definitely some magic and mysteriousness in his art too! :) It makes you feel uneasy at times but you want to see more. Thank you for leaving your opinion!

[@unapersonamuyespecial8136]

I'm so happy to have found this channel

[@sev343]

So true

[@thesovietowl7145]

A very special person yeah, true.

[@vinosbibendum1923]

Word

[@jacobcooper4271]

Love the ambient music creates a calm atmosphere which contrasts with the almost unsettling but breathtaking art, this is the first artist I've actually taken a liking to, thank you.

[@willbunyan]

The music along with the art really reminds me of going to the woods as a kid, I'm really not sure why though. The woods I used to go to just have that eerie, lost feeling I guess.

[@noahdamoiseaux5606]

This is a pretty nice art style, most of the monsters are cute enough for kids imo

[@tastyinksacs]

3:12 HORRIFIES me

[@lilfreak3382]

Me to

[@SamTheUndying]

DJHGaming You should watch a movie called The Mist (In case you havn't already)

[@user-vb9ww3rx2k]

3:51 me

[@ultradragon999]

1:14 terrifies me

[@onthuiyoutygh6021]

Everything is in *My world* I must agree with you my friend, they're quite remarkable.

[@drixthunder6555]

Creepy but beautiful and calm music

[@flippingpenguin9049]

5:15 the monsters like, "Timmy check under the bed for monsters"

[@jmpsthrufyre]

Flipping Penguin do monsters check under their beds for humans?

[@bigpigeon2384]

These are actually kind of cute. No one ever really seems scared of the monsters and the monsters don’t look to evil either maybe they’re just normal in this world and just show up from time to time. the whole thing is giving me Peterson and findus vibes

[@Hughmong_Us]

5:49 Damn it, Jeff! You always get like this when you're drunk! Why are you the way that you are?

[@BlueDog241]

4:19 OK,who decided to let Lovecraft plan the bar mitzvah?

[@rjmantis]

I always loved whenever someone does creepy pencil drawings that look like childhood nightmares.

[@mexa_t6534]

I’d really like some kind of cartoon with this style and aesthetic. Something like Over the Garden Wall but a tad bit more grotesque to be able to feature these creatures. That would be awesome.

[@Emi-zm6wd]

galaxy hitchhiker72 I see ur noodle profile pic

[@user-catghost]

The work from John is dark, creepy, and bone-chilling...I love it

[@ANFeuerstahl]

If our human eyes could see the demons that surround us life would be unbearable.

[@ihavenoidea4317]

AN Feuerstahl wouldn't we just get used to it? (If they exist)

[@aidanana4159]

6:36 Causally walking my pet demon

[@glorinaparong2444]

Aidanana

[@nvrlrn]

Aidanana yeah, dont mind me

[@Ninjaman156]

*casually

[@fulcrum2951]

Planning on getting one, what do you guys usually feed it? And what's its like taking care of one?

[@ollienix3285]

5:14 “Are you sure?” “Yes I’m positive that nothing is under your bed.”

[@trico-thelastguardian9258]

4:05 That thing kinda looks like the Devil from Cuphead, tbh.

[@ultradragon999]

Yeah and now people look at him as some kind of Dragon like creature

[@gabo4850]

Hhahaha i love how people sat things along the lines of "they made the (thing) from (popular game)" while it's just how it's always been depicted

[@Aizy_IceShear]

Soooo true

[@dawidek4267]

And now the devil is a club owner in Los Angeles and he works for police as a detective

[@sethm8432]

0:50 that dude is actually really cute

[@lb3d257]

This is very original

[@jimsigs2108]

What a beautiful video! @1:18 is the best I believe, there's humans on one side and monsters on another with the single human in the middle. First contact, bridging a gap between species.

[@srenposthumus2648]

I Absolutely LOVE these dawings, they would be great for creating movies,games or for you own imaginative world. I think more people should know about his artwork, and how stunningly powerful they feel and look

[@SleepyPrincess3002]

This is really beautiful. I love the art style, music, and creepy element. It's just really beautiful and so creative.

[@zerolavo13]

3:25 Now that, is a awesome image right there. I need a poster of this.

[@aa-to6ws]

Into the mist of the dark wood Some where a kid is running with his hood Into the wood of darkness and threes The monsters hide under your knees Come with me into the forest Where no one lives even the strongest. Beautiful beast following you You will not even notice if they were two Guardians or ghost Doesn't matter because they are just lost Into the mist of the dark wood They are just creatures who wants to play with you.

[@geraltoofrivia7915]

5:28 Bob: hey leo what's that creature Leo: i think he's a human kid Bob: he looks delicious Leo: you can't eat a Human kid Bob: why Leo: it's just wrong Bob: I HAVEN'T EATEN IN DAYS Leo: please your last meal was two minutes ago and you devoured your Grandma yeste- Mr. Insecto: guys i think this kid pissed his pants

[@deltatrixter4787]

Creepingly beautiful I love it

[@tannerq8900]

I love his work, cause each picture has a story. A mystery of sorts.

[@roiroije243]

John's work is both inspiring and terrifying. But in a beautiful way.

[@taydbl2487]

Reminds me of the game Neverending Nightmares. I love the details in your art. It's refreshing.

[@Slomurr]

I love styles like this. I don't know, these types of styles have a haunting vibe about them.

[@detectoplasm]

The spider one is surprisingly cute. He's like "Oh, he slep. Imma poke him >:3"

[@missycitty9478]

Absolutely Amazing.

[@rhizelkhiangte1570]

You have no idea how much this has inspired me i really need to thank the artist

[@saintgarluth]

*MASTERPIECE* .....in word's purest way.

[@joaogabrielguimaraesgalvao5622]

These video makes me feel special and happy, these drawns ressonate within me idk how 2 explain

[@mcbone2178]

Seeing the humans looking at the monsters is like they're about to experience death on themselves, not from the monsters, but something else that would realistically make sense. Intresting video and very amazing detailed drawing of those creatures.

[@Arrigo888]

Thank you again for this superb video and soundtrack.

[@DistantMirrors]

Thank you for watching!

[@evablueorange3605]

Znam jego prace..Swietnie zrobione z doskonale dobrana muzyka..:)

[@Patty-P]

Oh my gosh. He is one of my favorite artists. I’ve been following him since high school. Thought sometimes he would go by don kenn tho

[@twm1212]

What if instead of the monsters trying to kill the person Maybe they are just the normal inhabitants of where the boy lives And they are his friends which follow the boy Probably keeping him safe To others,the monsters are scary but to the child,they are his friends

[@jacobkilby3533]

Dindo Russetine San Antonio the very fact that you have thought of a circumstance to justify the monsters existence beyond malicious intent suggests you have already considered them to have possible malicious intent with nothing but their appearance to suggest that

[@thesovietowl7145]

Jacob Kilby interesting thoughts from both of you.

[@gabo4850]

I thought the same thing! They look absolutely deceiving and intimidating but they don't look evil, they look curious and helpless and, maybe, the children knew that, and that's why they act indiferently.

[@waterdoggo4998]

Jacob Kilby actually he just assumed people thought that due to all the comments about this being creepy and scary.

[@magicmanhs7718]

Watch:don kenn spider animation

[@analienfromouterspace]

A great pieces shows the unspeakable unknown laying ahead of mankind.

[@MrLlama-bw3gg]

This is so relaxing

[@aidantelford9059]

How I had dreams about these monsters 😱😱😢😢😢😢

[@mbee-xm4zt]

Wtf

[@mbee-xm4zt]

Are you okay

[@wolup]

Me too the music is so relaxing

[@ninafuahala7606]

Why do i love this so much

[@aryaprincess2479]

We need full hand drawn animations with this style.

[@cadehicks8138]

I get such a beautiful tranquility with a hint of loneliness from this. It's so inspirational.

[@kokomokoko7679]

Ah, the amazing surreal creepy arts of my man Johnny.

[@appplejoose2227]

I really like this guy’s art style and I think there are many things to make of it.

[@edgy_san666]

This just looks stunning, yet eerie af

[@jikajacksondeepluyka]

Great illustration 👍

[@TakoyuckyTheGross]

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR A WHILE I found it again now I’m happy

[@PlasticDoll.]

This is hauntingly beautiful? like it's creepy afff but also somehow just calming. Maybe the combination of music and art together gives out this affect? Also the creatures give out this misunderstood vibes? Maybe to themselves they're not so weird and freaky after all.

[@SolarisOnyx]

These are just beautiful, Some monster looks pretty cute :3

[@fulcrum2951]

The picture at 8:33 reminds me of 'when day breaks'

[@Tonnyboi]

Oh yea 001

[@markjutwa8866]

Ty for giving me nightmares!

[@chinchillahats4907]

This reminds me of my anxiety. Where ever I go it follows. These are beautiful.

[@cookiesamaraiseyt9546]

Wow such brilliant work

[@goldbyrd3667]

The greatest part about these is how unsettling they are

[@gennaveve2354]

one of my favourite artists :]

[@deanandreoli1530]

fantastic job on this.

[@leg0sam555]

I really love this drawings.

[@sev343]

I feel lonely

[@onthuiyoutygh6021]

eXXodus K oh yeah, I guess you're right. Huh Weird.

[@fulcrum2951]

Don't worry, you are always accompanied by abominations from another world watching and judging you from the shadows

[@nooneq217]

so creepy but beautiful

[@TheOfficialGarr]

7:02 literally the world's most terrifying Jack-in-the-box

[@alem2923]

4:49 me trying to convince a fly im nice

[@erickbarradashernandez1693]

Just the same paradox that Nicoletta Ceccoli deals with: simple and complex. Actually, in the way you edit, I would like to see her work posted by you.

[@DistantMirrors]

Thank you for the suggestion!I will definitely consider showing her work.

[@ehcko.]

Very peaceful, yet surreal and ominous. This invokes unusual feelings within me..

[@aidankoch4868]

Thank you Kanye, very cool!

[@Zanthxs]

Wickedly good

[@inessa5923]

I wish creatures like these actually existed.

[@sethbullersvlog0161]

This is oddly peaceful

[@user-yl8ry6my2g]

amazing

[@pifflesomepuffnadder855]

I love... *Everything* about this. O_O

[@blizzardthedragon7210]

8:24 that "monster" looks like its having a good time with its human friend,and not a nightmarish beast, I WANT ONE

[@magicmanhs7718]

It looks like the monster wants that guotar

[@72streeting]

I’d KILL to have this man’s talents. Literally.

[@sinafoebicz4677]

I totally get it. Whether the monsters are a metaphor for fear or a literal representation of the things we cannot see this is a surreal and accurate depiction of people's senses. I admire this.

[@OhNoItsExpiredMilk]

thanks for the inspiration :D

[@brainfornothing]

I just visited her website, is a very talented artist. Thanks for sharing !

[@marcielmendez6871]

Just impossible not to love this art🫶👏

[@zerealtwoloshka1408]

Spirited Away deleted scenes

[@nisargvaghela8974]

Holy shit..this artwork is amazing...!!! Such an original concept..! Great job bud..!

[@emeneldrayrolando4923]

I really like the art style

[@samuraikyo3037]

These are some pretty scary images but i don't know why I keep looking at them.

[@sketchcomics4140]

It's... beautiful.

[@boolin6868]

this is weirdly calming

[@ALEATORIO-rf7gn]

This video makes me calm

[@youpo1]

Intresting art style

[@sinth6272]

This is oddly relaxing