With all the beautiful illustrations Carson Ellis has made for The Decemberists’ albums, EPs, posters, backdrops, and nighties (here I am, on the road again)… an extra dose of December-art seems over the top. Luckily for us, some of the most talented artists in cyberworld frequent the official Decemberists board.

Julie Hill ( www.80percent.com )

Julie’s rendition of “Shiny” befits the uncertainty, poignancy, and urgency of the song. You can almost picture someone peeking round that tilt-a-whirl at the teens fumbling with each other, but it is you who have caught them.

Chris Turnham ( www.christurnham.com )

Chris has this magnificent handling of digital media, namely Photoshop. He creates his own brushes and makes inspiring art. There’s a sort of characterization of each piece that befits the respective song. In this case, it’s “Eli, the Barrowboy.”

I strongly urge you to check out both artists’ sites, as they are filled with much more beautiful art inspired by The Decemberists, as well as the rest of their superior portfolios. Cheers!