Ol' Scratch

Hey all! Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. It's been a hectic couple of weeks. I'm still on the job hunt. It's a little appalling that no one seems to ever want to write back or acknowledge an email or CV. Just getting an automated response these days is a good sign. No matter, it's frustrating, but livable. And I still get to draw. Case in point, here's something I threw together yesterday.
I've been endeavoring to strengthen my style and technique. I've been experimenting with bolder lines, less "petting the line" as I've seen it described, and more solid strokes. Also, I've been really getting back to my first love; monsters. I've been digging through folklore, mythology, cryptozoology and my old sketchbooks for anything worth expanding on. So, here we have a character I created a number of years ago who I've always had a bit of a soft spot for: Ol' Scratch.
If you do a little homework (wikipedia is acceptable) he's one of the many names given to The Devil. Specifically, he's the Southern U.S.'s depiction of The Devil. The guy who's be waiting at a crossroads to barter your soul for some gift or other. Descriptions are usually pretty vague, since it seems to be assumed you'd know he's The Devil as soon as you saw him. I wanted to go with something that looked like something between a wealthy gentleman and the typical Southern hangin' judge: the kind of guy who's feared and respected all over. Black eyes, gnarled hands and a hideous, contemptuous sneer complete the package as one evil bastard, willing to give you your heart's desire for one hefty price.