Purveyors of contemporary art are aware that cartoonish, monsterish characters are all the rage. A standout in this movement is Matt Leines, whose tribalistic lions, warriors and skeletons have earned him shows in galleries all over the world.

Leinesย’s process is, no doubt, a painstaking lesson in patience. For his drawings and paintings, he utilizes highly detailed (and at times almost microscopic) patterns as filler for the skins, blood and guts, clothes, landscapes, weapons and skies of his self-created civilizations. In one work, thin lines intersect over and over to form a tigerย’s fur and a maze-like pattern creates the grain for a slat of wood. In another piece, hundreds of circles intersect to form a manย’s hair. Ask Leines how he fights hand cramps when he signs copies of his book You Are Forgiven, a collection of selections from his lifeย’s work, from 7 to 9 p.m. today. Domy, 1709 Westheimer. For information, call 713-523-3669 or visit www.domystore.com. Free.

Fri., Dec. 12, 7-9 p.m., 2008