Beach Blanket Brain-eating...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope this week finds you all doing well out there! My have I been busy lately. A ton of new work has been shot and is waiting for the editing part. But, I have finished the beauty queen project! I've decided to call it Beauty is the Beast on account of the cat-fighting. I did some normal shots too, but the fight ones really still make me laugh a lot. You can see all 8 final images here.

What else? Oh! I had a friend visiting over the weekend and I did a shoot for her that I am really, really excited about. She came up with a really original idea and I was able to pull it off, which is always nice. Here are some behind the scene candids of her getting into makeup and a sneak peek of her undead counterpart also getting into makeup (I don't want to spoil that AAAAAH! moment, so no face shots yet). I should be posting those shots next week!

And while my friend was visiting we all got together for a BBQ one night out in the garden. Our friends have a beautiful house and garden in the country and it was truly a great night. Here are some shots from that. I wanted to steal her Alice in Wonderland shoes... so cute.

One of my favorite blogs She Walks Softly (which is a constant source of great photos, artwork and miscellany to ogle), recently had a little post about the Milton Bradley Monster Old Maid card game. It's basically Old Maid featuring all of the Universal Monsters. And we're not talking some generic knock-off of Dracula spelled Drakula or anything, these cards have actual photos of the actors who played them, like Bela Lugosi. Yep, it's amazing alright. I immediately fell in love and decided to get a set which was I lucky enough to find on Ebay. I'll take some pics when I get them, the deck is in rough shape, but considering I got the entire game for $30 and replacement cards can cost that much apiece, I think I scored.

And speaking of vintage playing cards (I can't get enough of them, the art is just amazing), the online store Present & Correct is selling sets of Mixies Cards for framing and display. These are obviously repros of the 1956 cards, but who cares? As you can see below, that's 50's cartooning at its best, you guys. Unfortunately, it appears most of them have sold out as only the Cheerleader and Cop appear to be for sale. But, I bet you could find a deck on Ebay. I'm looking...

Let's wrap up with a movie recommendation, shall we? Of course we shall. So, I love the idea of the 1960's era beach movies and having recently done a beach blanket bingo-inspired shoot, I decided to check out one of those flicks and see what all the fuss was about. I watched Bikini Beach starring Anette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and a chick named Candy Johnson, whose dancing is ridiculous but apparently she had a whole side thing going on with records and whatnot. I was not disappointed, what a feast for the eyes if you love bright color and vintage! The plot and music really sucked, but the outfits and the cars were great. Oh, and there was a cameo by Lon Chaney who looked ancient and a cameo by a very young Stevie Wonder. Mind blowing, you guys. Check it out on a summery night and get into the beach zone!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Put on a mask...

Hello Lovelies!

So much to share as usual! First, this will be the last post before the post next Sunday (November 1st), announcing the winner of the giveaway! A ton of great suggestions so far... I'm glad you Poppets get it. For those just coming onboard, the giveaway that ends October 31st is for an entire set of my Alice in Wonderland photo illustrations ($65 value). All you have to do to enter, is give me a movie or book idea you think I'd like and leave your email or shop name so I can notify the winner. Less than a week left!

I went to a superhero themed costume party last night and how much fun was that?! We got all decked out. Here are some pics of us ready to go. (Mystique wasn't messing around, her costume was amazing.)

Oh, and one of the Sword Swallower pieces was featured in a great Treasury this week. So many other neat carnival-themed photos in there too. Love it.

It's no secret I am a big fan of the Morbid Anatomy blog. You wanna know why? Oh, because every post is sheer awesome and talks about things I've never heard of. Case and point, a recent post talked about Cabaret du Néant or Tavern of the Dead in Paris circa 1899. This tavern had a death theme down to the coffin tables and a meander through some catacombs guided by an undertaker. More details at Morbid, but how much does it make me wish I had lived in 1899, in Paris? Awesome.

And, let me wrap up with another favorite movie of mine based on a book by William March; The Bad Seed. The book is very good and pretty astute for its day (1956), and the movie is even better. Like so many movies about sociopathic children, it covers the various nefarious doings of one Rhoda Penmark. Wow. Really. Just watch it. Between the killings and the manipulation and the internal struggles of her mom and the acting, it's first rate gang. Truly. *Shudder* Enjoy.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

I am the clown with the tear-away face...

Hello Lovelies!

So much to share with all of you. Let's start with old business. First, all of my Alice in Wonderland paintings are now complete and dropped off at the gallery! Hooray. Here's the 4 that go with the Queen of Hearts piece from the last post. Oh, I should take this opportunity to tell you all that if you're ever really interested in a gallery piece I post on here, please send me an email and I will gladly give you purchase details.

Speaking of paintings, I just listed 4 original 3 x 3 inch clown paintings in the shop. These little gems would make perfect stocking stuffers for that odd friend or perhaps in a baby's nursery if you're a progressive parent. (The colors are right at least...)

I have also finally listed the buttons in the shop. I have decided to offer these buttons as limited edition sets and not have them reprinted when they run out so I can make new ones and keep it fresh. Get them while you can! They're quite charming...

And exciting news! I am getting ready to list the first male in the Cigar, Creeper & Dark Circus and Sideshow series my Pets! The photo is taken and almost ready... he's going to be a doozy. I'll show it off next time...

I have discovered a wonderful new (to me) blog that I wanted to pass along. Wurzeltod is a quirky, dark, humorous and at times downright disturbing source for wonderful imagery of the bizarre. I don't even know where she finds this stuff, but find it she does, in profusion. Below are just two (creepy) examples of the work she digs up. The piece on the left is by Tari Nakagawa and the piece on the right is untitled by James Jean. Haunting, I love them both!

And let's wrap up with a bit of news, shall we? So did you read about the pilot in Concord, CA who was stalking his ex-girlfriend with a plane?! What the?! Apparently, he was flying low over her subdivision and neighbors called in to complain about it. He was promptly arrested. Apparently this low-flying business had been going on for a year. Really? I just don't know people...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Down the Rabbit Hole...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope this post finds you all doing well. I have so much to share! Whew. So, first, my Hortensia the Bearded Lady piece has been featured over at the Totus Mel blog, center for all cool things steampunk. I was happy to get one of my gals up there! Thank you.

I am also wrapping up my three scratchboard pieces that I mentioned in my last post, part of my Night Revery series. These three gems are perfect for Halloween or anytime and they come framed in letter pressed frames from The Curiosity Shoppe that I just got in the mail today! These pieces truly are great and so is the Curiosity Shoppe, check it out. I will be listing these this week.

I am also working on an exciting series of paintings for the Down the Rabbit Hole curatorial at my gallery. That's right, for October, all the artists of SKG are doing Alice in Wonderland related works! Now, I already have an art photo series based on Alice (because I'm obsessed), so I decided to do some paintings this time. "But on what?" I asked myself. Then I found 5 old shoe forms in a junk shop and they were perfect. Here is a taste of the series, the Queen of Hearts. I will age these so they look like they're years and years old and I will post them all for you next time!

I have also found some fascinating new things I wanted share. You all know I'm a sucker for macro photography so it should come as no surprise that Slinkachu's pieces fascinate me. Go to the site and see the little world that's been created. It's cute and wonderful.

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Morbid Anatomy blog, I regularly mention various wonderful posts that bring to light things I've never even heard of. Well, here we go again with a recent post on the Anatomical Machines of the Prince of Sansevero created between 1763 and 1764. These amazing pieces were meant to be detailed portrayals of the male and female anatomy that at the time was of course a mystery for the most part. Go to the blog to read the tale of scandal and mystery and scientific discovery that surrounds these two amazing pieces.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Show & Tell...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, it was a busy weekend for The Stapelia Company. I did the Picnic Art Show here in Portland and it was wonderful! The people were great, the work was spectacular and the people watching... well needless to say. I took some pics of the booth as promised and my booth-mate Meghan of Meghan Donahue's Jewelry and I even got into the local paper! Check it out...

Also, I am working on a few original pieces for the shop for Halloween. I am delving back into scratchboard because it's perfect for creepy Halloween work. This series will be entitled the Night Revery series. There will be 4 in all and they will come matted in mattes from The Curiosity Shoppe so basically they're going to rock. I'll keep you posted. Here are some preliminary sketches...

I am also working on 5 pieces for my gallery that will be part of the Down the Rabbit Hole exhibit for October which will of course be both Alice in Wonderland inspired and wonderful. These are in the very beginning phases so I will keep you posted my Lambs.

Speaking of wonderful, I have found a new letterpress studio that pretty much embodies my aesthetic in everything they do. I love it all. Aesthetic Apparatus does both design work via letterpress and pieces of limited edition artwork available on their site. If I had unlimited wall space and resources what wouldn't I buy from these kids? Really... Here are some examples. Check them out.

And let's wrap up with a new story, shall we? Of course we shall. Did you all read about the new drug Latisse that's supposedly able to thicken your eyelashes? Originally intended to help burn victims recover and thicken their eyelashes, this drug is now being purchased by women who feel their eyelashes are "inadequate." And speaking of facial hair, Brian Peterkin-Vertanesian recently petitioned the Guinness Book of World Records to recognize "Wally" his 6 3/8 inch eyebrows as the world's longest... Come on folks. Really? All the issues in the world and we have this? Unbelievable...

And let me say to wrap up, I just learned that Patrick Swayze has succumbed to cancer. What a damn shame. Poor thing. A great actor and a good person, he will be missed.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Alice and the Dust Train...

Well Hello Lovelies!

Whew, the weather here in Maine has been misty and rainy for almost two weeks and while it does wonders for my work (because I always imagine my characters in this sort of setting), it doesn't do wonders for my mood. But alas, I'm grateful for the inspiration. Let me start off by sharing a little bit of excitement, one of my photographs made it to the front page of Etsy! Yep, my Skydiver print has done me proud and it has convinced me to keep taking those photos and listing them for you fine folks.

Moving on, as I mentioned in my last post, I have been busy working on a new painting for the gallery and July's First Friday Art Walk in Portland. It is finally done so take a peek at From the Dust to the Grave, a fun little romp inspired by the art of Joseph Mugnaini. Joseph collaborated a lot with Ray Bradbury, illustrating some of his most famous book covers including Fahrenheit 451 among others. Both are favorites of mine. Make up any story you wish when you see this. I like to think that this run-down and eccentric train is taking these monsters to a ball far out in a barren wasteland where ghosts and witches and creatures of all kinds dance and celebrate in a dark mansion until dawn.

And, as many of you faithful followers know, I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland. I did a photo illustration series based on this story and I find the imagery and characters in general one of my biggest inspirations. I also adore Tim Burton's work so you can imagine how overjoyed I was when I found out he was doing Alice in Wonderland slated for release next year. Well, some promo shots have been released and uh... IT LOOKS AWESOME! Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously. Johnny Depp's makeup? Needless to say, this is going to be a version that resembles none of its predecessors. Sigh. Love all of them.

And let's wrap up with some more strange news folks, shall we? Sigh. You are not going to believe this one kids. Apparently, a couple in Shelbyville, Tennessee has been charged with assault against each other... using Cheetos as weapons. (For those of you not from the US, Cheetos are puffed cheese snacks.) Now, I don't know how one commits assault on another person using a snack but it can be done because both were arrested and charged. I don't think that's what they meant when health experts said excessive snacking wasn't good for you.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams!

Mission Accomplished...

Hello Lovelies!

A whole lot to cover... first of all, the Alice in Wonderland series is finally complete and the final piece entitled Mad as a Hatter is listed in both shops. I'm really happy with how it came out (and yes, those are skulls in the vase):

MAJOR BLOG FOLLOWER DISCOUNT: I have decided to give you loyal followers a break on the whole set. From April 13-20th, if you buy the set (it has its own listing), mention "BLOG" at check out, and I will reduce the price down to $55 for all 4. 

The Cabinet of Curiosities Team on Etsy (of which I am a member) has a Facebook fan page now. (For those not familiar with the COC Team, it's comprised of  "purveyors of wonderful, whimsical, odd and obsure delights" that really can't be found anywhere else.) Stop by the page and become a fan to keep up with all the wonderful doings of the Cabinet.

This past week I was featured in an Alice in Wonderland themed treasury. It sure is a handsome group of items (especially that leather rabbit mask that I'm now coveting).

Small world story for you folks. Last week, I found a wonderful web gallery of affordable and top-knotch original art called Enormous Tiny Art. I was so impressed I tweeted the link to let people know about this great discovery. Last weekend, I went down to Portsmouth for my birthday and I wandered into a gallery and things looked familiar and darned if it wasn't the actual gallery itself! I didn't even know it was that close. After seeing all these great pieces up close, I fell in love even more. Stop by folks.

And while in Portsmouth I picked up the cutest sticker and I thought I'd share. It looks like Camilla Rose Garcia's work (which I love), but it isn't. I don't think I can bring myself to actually stick it on something... 

Until next time: unpleasant dreams