SheWalksSoftly

The Odd Portrait

November 24th, 2015

I just received a very special custom piece from The Odd Portrait: a wrist cuff engraved with a phrase that holds deep meaning for me.

Solve et Coagula is Latin for “dissolve and rebuild.” It is an ancient term that represents complete alchemical transformation, mind body and spirit. After spending 20 years increasingly occupying beds and hospitals with misdiagnosed health issues, a couple of months ago I was finally diagnosed with a genetic immune disorder for which the treatment involves injecting a substance to break down my own tissue and following it with a substance to rebuild my immune system. It is literally a process of Solve et Coagula! But the emotional, mental and spiritual alchemy of this illness has been far more striking. I now have a beautiful reminder (which I’ll wear to treatment!) when I have trouble motivating myself to keep shooting for recovery.

As for the other designs you’ll find on the site, influences include “80’s punk and glam to 90’s grunge and rock n roll. Outdoor music festivals, urban graffiti art, and post apocalyptic dystopian movies.” I love the spirit and independence of this shop!

rock n roll spiked leather fashion

The Odd Portrait was founded when the creators got tired of selling factory made jewelry with huge seller fees and limited creativity. They went their own way, and now every piece is handmade and unique! No two are ever exactly the same. My kind of rebels.

Check out The Odd Portrait!
Jacqueline Gallagher

November 23rd, 2015

Jacqueline Gallagher skillfully mixes vivid beauty with a sense of revulsion in her lovely ladies (and animals) of the undead persuasion.

She states:
I’m painter of Zombies and the Disturbed. Or Disturbed Zombie Painter…I forget which. These figures are contractions, beautiful and grotesque at the same time.

They float through their worlds driven by craving, vanity, and addiction, caught in moments of comedic indulgence. They put themselves on display for the world as their bodies and minds slowly decay. This is how I see myself and most everyone around me. We are the Dead Living, but we sure do look good.

The paintings above are done in oil, but here’s a random bonus selection from the pencil/gauche section! Isn’t he great?

Jacqueline Gallagher
Alvin and the Chipmunks…Goth Style

November 22nd, 2015

Chipmunkson16speed is exactly what it sounds like: Chipmunks, slowed to…well, a perfect Goth album.

Should I be embarrassed that I totally would’ve bought this album in high school or college? (Fine, who am I kidding, I love this…unfortunately, pretty genuinely and unironically…right now in my 30’s.)

You don’t see these tags together every day:

Listen to Chipmunkson16speed!
Haven Gallery: Little Big

November 21st, 2015

When I was growing up, people often spouted the old adage “good things come in small packages” at me. For those of average stature who may not be aware, this is what well-meaning folks say to short kids. I did grow, no pun intended, to appreciate the intent behind the (albeit mildly patronizing) statement.

But in the art world, this adage rings true. Some artists are masters at depicting an impressive amount of detail on impossibly small canvases (who remember’s Mark Ryden’s Blood Show years ago?). Haven Gallery has rounded up a brilliant team of such artists in the Little Big group show, opening tonight.

All pieces in the show are 8″ X 8″ or smaller. I hope some of you can see the exhibition, as pictures don’t do justice to the skill required to create these works.

View the entire show online here, or stop by in person if you can!
Haruko Maeda

November 20th, 2015

Born in Japan, now based in Austria Haruko Maeda draws from the Shinto traditions of her homeland, the baroque architecture that abounds in her current location, and produces luxuriant Vanitas with a twist. A sizable twist.

Although she depicts a great deal of death, it is often counterbalanced by profusions of beautiful life.

Some of her work also includes technology…

…or Hieronymus Bosch-ian modern/futuristic dystopian scenes. I wish I could find large, HQ versions of her pieces online!

Haruko Maeda
Galaxy Bedding

November 18th, 2015

I’m not even sure how I’d choose among all of these beautiful Galaxy Bedding sets.

They have pretty much any color scheme you can imagine. So many choices! Unfortunately, the price and shipping are a bit steep ($33 shipping for a flat sheet! Yikes!).

Still, a girl can dream…hopefully on galaxy sheets one day.

Galaxy Bedding
David Griessel

November 17th, 2015

I love David Griessel’s quizzical vingettes…

Most of these whimsical creatures and the various contraptions that accompany them are drawn in ball point pen!

The titles and descriptions are fun to read as well. For example, this one is entitled “Tea Party for the Perplexed.”

I’m particularly fond of the texture he achieves in his Fynbos Animal Hybrid series (click to enlarge these next two images, so you can see what they are made of!).

Truly beautiful…

David Griessel’s
Peter Goode

November 16th, 2015

Today, I bring you the creatures of Peter Goode.

From the excellent description in the artist bio:
His rich and detailed paintings depict emotive creatures in various stages of self reflection and spiritual illumination.

They are neurotic do-gooders, abandoned explorers and sentinels, estranged lovers, wooly bodhisattvas, aimless angelic oracles, whispering wratihs, reformed scoundrels, weathered widows, impish frolickers, and hungry ghosts.

I really should start a “monster pathos” tag on this blog, for the sweet, forlorn, misunderstood monsters who make their way onto these pages.

Peter Goode
Courtney Brown: Tentacle Typewriter

November 15th, 2015

This sculpture has been showing up everywhere (in my circle of sources, anyway)…for good reason. Who wouldn’t love a 1938 Underwood typewriter bursting with sculpted bronze tentacles?

She does a beautiful job of matching the suckers on the tentacles to the typewriter keys. It’s a very cohesive creature.

Courtney Brown
Museum Oddities

November 14th, 2015

I first posted about “exploded” articulated human skulls years ago during Ryan Matthew theme week, but here is another fine example from Brian Kubasco (aka Museum Oddities).

Kubasco is a sculptor specializing in masks, props, reproductions, prosthetics, character design, creatures, monsters and figurines. His website is a combination of personal creations and intriguing artifacts.

For example, here is a 1930’s dental phantom with five gold fillings and removable teeth.

And here is a creative variation inspired by these models:

There is some really great stuff on the site. Have a look at Museum Oddities.