Candy Apple Darkness...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, fall is in full swing, and the wind definitely has a bite to it. I hope this Monday finds you all doing well out there.

I have finally completed the Zom-B-Vex series! With 15 pieces in all, it is my largest (and most popular) series so far. And, due to a number of requests, I have decided to offer a 15 month calendar featuring each piece. I will list this calendar in the coming weeks. It would make a perfect holiday gift for those who like to laugh... and/or kill zombies. Take a look at some of the final pieces!

I posted few weeks back that I sent a Halloween illustration to my sister in Oregon. Well, she's framed the piece and she sent me a pic to share with all of you. I love seeing my pieces framed in their new homes, so if you ever buy a piece I'd love to see what you do with it!

Well, fall means fair season and I look forward every year to one fair in particular up here. The Fryeburg Fair has been around for years and it really offers the full fair experience. (And by fair experience, I mean crowds, food, rides, cheap souvenirs, livestock, music and freaks. And by freaks, I don't mean of the sideshow variety...) I was not disappointed this year on any score. It was a beautiful fall day and I took tons of photos. I will be posting most of them on my Flickr page this week, but here are a few good ones.

So, I have found yet another very creative photographer out here. Oliver Scott's work spans several different subject areas, including still life, cinematic, and people. But one of my favorite series of his, mixes books and 3-dimension elements and cut paper to create photo illustrations. Sort of like Thomas Allen's work. Hard to explain, but some examples are below. Neat stuff.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Dark Dollies...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope this week finds you well and enjoying beautiful fallweather (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere). Things at the Mill are busy as usual. After a brief delay, the final pieces in the Zom-B-Vex series will be released this week! I have a listing for mini prints of this series up now too, if you want certain ones for a little less. I will also be offering the entire set for one price when it's finished.

Every year, I like to send out a Halloween card that I make fromscratch to family, friends and this year, repeat customers. It's a fun little project that helps me celebrate my favorite holiday. Well, I did a little shoot yesterday for the card and it's going to be a doozy! Here are candids of my boy and girl dollies. So fun.

In the Halloween vein, I found a great sculptor I'd like to share with you. Mike Hill (according to his bio), has always loved old horror movies and monsters. The bulk of his work has been sculpting models of great horror film stars like Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff etc. His work really makes these monsters live and breathe. (Which, in the case of Linda Blair in the Exorcist, freaks me right out...)

And for those pulp art lovers out there, Ryan Heshka's work is absolutely stunning. He takes imagery and a technique that was popular in the 30's and 40's and breathes new (and at time humorous) life into it. I want all of his books (he has several) and maybe one day, an original if I'm lucky. Look you guys:

Well, I finally had an opportunity to watch Blacula and man, it was a treat. From the 70's afros, to the random facial hair on Blacula himself, to the cocktail waitress/party photographer who leaves work to develop pictures (and of course... gets killed). It was great. Rent it, or better yet buy it if you find it.

And apparently this is a shot from the movie and I don't remember this scene at all...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

They slice, they dice...

Hello Lovelies!

Well, as usual, things are hopping at the Mill. This week, I am finally releasing the first 5 pieces in the Zom-B-Vex art series that I've been hinting about! Youcan see the first couple below, they're made to look like old ads from the 1940's and they seem to makepeople smile... Keep an eye out for the rest this week. Enlargements are available!

There were several businesses that helped me with this endeavor so if you live in Maine, be sure to patronize them and tell them I sent you. Kevin, owner of Foreside Photography, allowed me the use of his studio and equipment. Thank you Kevin. And Kris at Drapeau's Costumes and Louise at Lyric Theater both provided the costumes. Thank you all!

Speaking of photography, I have found yet another wonderful artist I would like to share. Tessa Beebe's work combines the dark and the tattooed and the ocean and Halloween and mischief and I love it all. It makes me think of old sea chanties and pirates and the movie Goonies for some reason. Take a look!

And on the other end of the spectrum, is Andrew Bannecker. His illustration style looks kid-friendly at first, and then you see the actual subjects and it's very much for an adult audience. I mean, look at that balloon smoking a cigar you guys. Really? And that teeny wee clown in the big top piece? I want it for a pet...

So, I finally received The Abominable Dr. Phibes starring the inimitable Vincent Price in the mail the other day. I promptly watched it. Then, I was promptly both confused and impressed. Confused by the plot in general (which is laughable), and impressed by the colors and sets and costumes of the movie in general. It was $3.99 well spent. Check it out if you can find it... I give it 4 out of 5 corncobs.

Oh, and there's this.

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...