Erich Claude Polnow (pronounced /paul-no/ born Sept. 2 1982) is an American illustrator, painter, sculptor and writer who lives in his native state of Wisconsin.

Interested in art as soon as he could pick up a utensil to make some, he began drawing at an early age. Becoming engrossed in comic books and horror movies, before exploring deeper literacy and then returning to comics and horror hoping to create what he referred to as "horror literature".

Early on, he worked primarily in pen and ink before losing a collection of works. Years later he began to fall in love with color and depth. He moved from black and white inks to full color pastels and paintings. After becoming comfortable with these he expanded into sculpture. He made action figures and moved toward pez dispensers to critique his technique before allowing his art to grow in size.

During all of this time another deep interest of his had been language, expression and prose. He combined his teenage poetry and punk-rock songwriting with his verbal story telling before comprising what could be considered legitimate writing.

He finished writing his first  novel in 2009. He is currently drawing illustrations for it before attempting to get it published and hopes to one day adapt that into a film. He is also writing a comedy book and working on another focusing on philosophy.

He still resides in his Fox Valley home with his wife and occasionally writes dirty jokes and limmericks for various smut magazines.

His Joe-job is working at a corrugated shipping material factory and does freelance stone masonry on the side.