By now you all know how much I love Halloween. But I wanted to do an anonymous poll to see how much YOU enjoy seeing Halloween related updates. Can you never get enough? Do you get sick of the subject?
Please share your honest opinion so I have an idea of how much to focus on the holiday this coming month.
William Basso’s art is the perfect way to usher in the month of October. I can’t put my impressions to words as well as Basso does in his artist statement, so I’ll simply share some of that.
In a lonely field of dry grasses under an overcast sky, sits an abandoned theater where puppets, props and painted backdrops are quietly waiting with peeling paint and thick dust.
My work is a combination of various artistic disciplines including drawing, sculpture, photography, collage and painting. Used together, these allow me to create images of mystery, wonder, delight, sorrow and fear, which often take place in intimate stage-like settings.
The characters in my work exist in a distant, half-remembered, autumnal place where even Halloween can last forever. Images emerge through a cross-referencing of many artistic influences, memories and ideas. Ancient and flickering, monochrome films of the fantastic and macabre play continuously, running through rusted projectors.
Long, silent corridors are hung with varnished, cracked paintings and brittle prints from another age, while rows of tall, wooden cabinets display bones and other arcane specimens behind panes of ancient glass.
Up in a darkened attic, an antique trunk contains time worn books and comics, richly illustrated. It is here in this world of my subconscious that a childlike sense of fantasy and imagination can mingle with adult anxieties or dreams.
See more here.
Kristian Hammerstad’s illustrations are a great way to get in the mood for the barrage of b-movies I try to squeeze into the month of October.
Hell yes! Zombie pulp art!
A lot of this work was originally for band fliers, as you can see in the poster section.
See more here.
It’s almost time for TV stations to start playing retro horror. I hope you’re as excited as I am. To whet your appetite, take a look at The Obscure Hollow, an entire blog devoted to haunting film decor (most of which ranges from 1930-1980).
So many desktop background possibilities…so little time…
Mmmmm…autumn fog.
They even have selections from the silent era (the visuals of silent horror are absolutely swoon-worthy).
Feed your eyes with classic screen caps here.
Count Chocula and Frankenberry have carved out quite a niche for themselves in the realm of sugary themed breakfast treats. But I find the third General Mills monster cereal, Boo Berry, to be tragically underrepresented.
This is how it all began in the early 70’s:
From the very start, this character was ostracized and poorly treated:
Stoners across the world may be disappointed to discover that the ghost (despite being created in the 70’s) is not supposed to be high. He is based on actor Peter Lorre, hence the heavy lids and off-kilter grin. Though Boo does often appear to be under the influence, I prefer to think of him as chronically relaxed. Ghosts can be so uppity sometimes.
Besides, mixing Boo Berry and drugs may cause severe impairment of judgment:
There were some stellar toys as well. Presenting the LEAST scary ghost on earth! You WANT this guy haunting your house, because it would basically be like having a quiet, agreeable friend over. Don’t you just want to ask him to bring over a video and some popcorn?
You can also dress up as Boo (I was surprised to see this on the Spirit store website, since my Halloween partner in crime and I recently combed every inch of the place and surely would have noticed this in stock).
I originally saw this box on a mislabeled site, claiming it was from the 80’s. Turns out it’s a 2008 incarnation (thanks, Brian!). Time for a close-up!
Naturally, the most recent version of the box has fallen victim to the pristine, homogenized, airbrushed artistic tendencies of our current decade. Boo appears younger and thinner, as if he’s had an eye lift procedure and taken up amphetamines.
In my opinion, the modern design is soul-less by comparison. Part of Boo’s charm was his simplicity. He doesn’t need bright, shiny eyes or castles emerging from his head.
Boo, if you’re reading this, we loved you the way you were: dazed, lethargic, and packed with delicious blue crunchy pellets.
Do they still sell this cereal anywhere? Let me know if you’ve seen it in stores near you, because I haven’t in years.
Over the past few years I’ve been on the West coast as autumn began, but this year I’ll be home in NY and I find myself wildly excited about the impending season.
After an exhausting day, I told myself I was going to take a “quick look” online for Halloween things. An hour later I realized that I had been lured in by the siren song of Martha Stewart design galleries and probably clicked on about 500 things.
But at least I’ve got something to show for it; a selection of pumpkins for my fellow Halloween lovers.
Amazing style on this one:
The lips look so…natural…a bit unnerving, no?
Victorian design on white pumpkins. Nice!
Great concept…
This one reminds me of historical illustration:
Wow…great job, great painting. Anyone want to attempt Van Gogh’s Starry Night?
I can’t even believe this is a carving:
If you want to see more, Martha is calling…
I recently posted about artist/sculptor William Bezek’s commission for the greatest wedding proposal of all time, but I love his new “crop” of pumpkin creations.
Each one is about 4 1/2″ in diameter, made from Paperclay. Each on has an eerily human face with distinct personality…
And from last year, conjoined twins!
A few more in this post.
It’s still August, and I’ve been overtaken by a wave of serious Halloween excitement (amplified by project brainstorming with a fellow Halloween enthusiast).
The always wonderful Creepy Cupcakes directed to the work of Shain Erin.
His dolls are wonderfully crafted undead; zombies, mummies, skeletons.
And a few “living” freaks.
See more in his galleries.
One unfathomably lucky woman out there is now the beholder of this Zombie Gypsy fortune teller sculpture, commissioned by William Bezek…and beholder of a new husband, presumably.
Not only is the sculpture amazingly crafted, but the bottom drawer opens to present an engagement ring!
This sculpture appeals to both the zombie lover AND the romantic in me…few objects pull off that harmonious contradiction so exquisitely.
Go take a look at the rest of Bezek’s exceptional work here (especially those who love Halloween, macabre props, and vintage funeral decor).
Found on the awesome Ghoul Friday
Yes, Dia de los Muertos passed nearly two months ago and we’re in the thick of December holiday madness, but I can’t resist posting these wonderful Day of the Dead paper cutout projects.
In Mexico, papel picado (perforated paper), refers to the traditional art of decorative cut paper banners. Papel picado are usually cut with sharp fierritos (small chisels) from as many as fifty layers of colored tissue paper at a time. Designs may incorporate lattice-work, images of human and animal figures, flowers, and lettering. Many papel picado are made especially for the Mexican festival of the Days of the Dead and include skeletal figures engaged in the everyday activities of the living.
I’m a big fan of autumn weddings. I can’t help thinking these would make nice “til death do us part” themed invitations!
See the rest of the collection here.
Thanks to Neatorama for featuring these and reminding me to post them!
SheWalksSoftly 