Bright Lights, Dark Tees...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all well. Boy howdy (I've always wanted to say that), do I have a lot to share with you Lovelies. First, you may have noticed that little skull animation over there to the right. Like it? It was my first foray into the world of GIF images. Thought I'd spice things up for you here on the blog.

Also, if you'll notice below that, a link to my first Threadless t-shirt submission entitled Chasing Pirates. I plan to do regular submissions to Threadless to bring some beautiful darkness to the masses (haha) and they will all be posted here if you want to score them. This tee is up for scoring all week, so hop on over and score it really quickly if you have a second. Thank you. Oh, and here are some process shots just for you followers:

What else? Oh! My Dark Playland piece was featured on the front page of Etsy, which is exciting! It's kind of a dark piece for Etsy, and it's great to see it up there. Coming up this week, I will be posting a new Cigar, Creeper & Dark shot (that's really creepy), as well as some new mini cards I'm excited about, so keep an eye out!

Are you all familiar with The Little Friends of Printmaking? I've posted about them here a few times. They are wonderful. The other day, I ordered their 2010 calendar because it was on sale, and any opportunity to get some letter press goodness, I'm there. Well, I got it, and it is wonderful! The artwork? The quality? Look at the imprint depth in these shots I took. I am now a huge fan!

I have found another wonderful design studio I wanted to share. I Love Dust is based out of the UK and even their flash intro is beautiful. I really like the way they mix the old with a new sense of aesthetic, oh, and those circus themed milk cartons? Sigh.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Stuffed things...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, here we are again back at Monday, eh? I have some things to share that are pretty exciting. Well, first, the Hortensia the Bearded Lady piece was featured in a great treasury revolving around running away to join the circus. Now that's something I can get behind! Some creepy cool stuff here...

I have started a pretty neat project I want to share. In a couple of months, I will be starting an e-comic in weekly installments. I think I will probably give it a blog space of its own, but I'll fill you in when the time comes. I've gotten some initial sketches going and I'm starting to get pretty excited about it. Here are a couple of characters you may see soon. This should prove to be weird, witty and wonderful. Stay tuned!

And I went on an exploratory mission the other day to the new super-sized Goodwill that opened down the street and I was not disappointed! I found all the plaques pictured below (that I love painting on) for a dollar each (that circa '83 Welcome sign is getting the royal treatment) and a great needlepoint Yale bulldog piece that I may make into a pillow... as soon as I learn how to sew. I love junking!

Have you ever heard of Andy Gonsalves? I found him over at Threadless and his work is bright, but has this dark edge that really makes me laugh for some reason. The pieces below? The one with step on a crack, break your Mother's back? Crazy. I love it.

I have found (via the front page), the neatest shop on Etsy full of things that are exquisitely beautiful, and I will never be able to justify buying. But still. Magenta Fabulous is a hattery that uses such wonderful materials. Just look at some of these hats, y'all. Wow.

Have you all heard of Mutt Ink? If not, click on that link because they do some beautiful work and the site itself is so neatly laid out yet has so much mood and feeling. I find this a difficult thing to do when putting a site together, so it was a pleasant surprise. I mean look at those illustrations!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Coney Island Jewels

Hello Lovelies!

I hope this Monday finds you all doing well wherever you are. I have been busy as usual in the old Mill, making some great things for you all and for various other endeavors.

First, I did a little spring cleaning and re-organized my shop by subject so it's easier to find the things you seek. I have also added a "Soon to be discontinued" section to phase some older stuff out and make room for the new. When these items expire, they're gone for good! And lastly, I also re-organized my website so you can more quickly and easily view my photography and paintings! It's all about you Dearies.

To complete the business portion of our programming, I have listed some great new photos from my New York trip that I think you'll appreciate. Picture below are just a few: Coney Island Mural, a new Facon de Parler entitled Dark Playland, and Nathan's Hot Dogs

Ooo! I have to tell you all about a book my Sweetie gave to me recently. As you know, I am a huge Camille Rose Garcia fan. Like, huge. I would like to eventually own all of her books (in lieu of an actual print or piece of work... sigh). I just added Saddest Place on Earth to my collection! It covers some of her earlier work and discusses the philosophy behind some of her exhibitions. Not only is the work top-knotch, but the feelings she describes trying to illicit from her viewer were in fact elicited from me while I was viewing... which is rare I find. Check it out!

Speaking of original work that I'm coveting, I have recently stumbled upon a clearing house for original art and illustration I want to share! The Inkwell Art House site has a little bit of everything; Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Jack Davis, Al Jaffee and a ton of other illustrators I love, all for sale! Now, some are nutso price-wise, but there are a few romance novel covers (I know, I can't believe it either), that I really like and may buy. I mean, Jack Davis?! For a Mad Magazine/EC Comics dork like myself, this is big.

I have also found a wonderful illustrator via Threadless who I want to point out. Esther Arrts' shirts fly right off the shelves over there and I managed to nab two and felt lucky. Her portfolio is even better. Check it out y'all! Very neat sort of 60's mod-inspired stuff.

Let's wrap up with a weird news story, shall we? I have a doozy this week. Did you kids read about the Berlin woman who was arrested for trying to smuggle her deceased husband onto a plane in Liverpool? Yeah, she claims he was "alive when she left the house" but then, upon arriving at the airport, "he suddenly appeared so lifeless, like a wax figure"... This did not however, keep her from pushing him around the airport Weekend at Bernie's style with sunglasses on until she was in fact, arrested. Yiiikes, yikes people. Whew.

Life of the party indeed...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Warm Weather & Dark Thoughts

Hello Lovelies!

Well, Easter weekend was busy, busy. I spent some time with my Sweetie's family and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. I think I actually broke a sweat for about 2 minutes, which is highly unusual for Maine in April.

I have a lot of fun things coming, but nothing to show yet, except this very nice treasury that my Dark Car print was a part of. Some very beautiful pieces here.

Oh, and I am donating a piece to the Ronald McDonald House of Portland's Purses with Purpose event. Money raised will of course benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Portland. Such a great cause, if you're local and an artist/crafter, you may consider donating a piece!

I found the neatest tutorial over at Go Media Arsenal that I thought I would share for those of you who may draw or paint like I do and want to start using the Wacom Tablet as an additional medium. This is a 2-hour tutorial put together by Go Media's Jeff Finley and it discusses how to create work and then add texture and effects via Photoshop. I mean, check out that rad skull! I love it.

I have found a couple of artists who I want to share with you Lovelies. First, Mark Weaver. Take a look below and at his photo stream and I'm hoping you'll see what I do; very unique, beautiful and elegant collage work with a retro mid-century vibe. Each piece has common color schemes and shapes that bring his body of work together, but each one is also so unique, I personally could own every one. The little boy below is a self portrait and it's my favorite.

Seb Lester is another artist and type designer whose work is amazing. You've probably seen his work around, but on his site, he shows some process shots and it's amazing to think that such elegant type was created by hand. This is where the artistry comes in... lovely work.

Let's wrap up with some crazy news, shall we? Did you read about the 82 year old Michigan woman who arrived at her hair salon and proceeded to crash right through the front window? No one was injured, and here's the crazy part: when the police finished processing the scene... she got her hair done. What?!

And she probably looked like this after the crash.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...