Happy Halloween

Halloween 2011 W.I.P.

And you were worried about the wolves....

I love Halloween! Sharing this year's spooky doodle. The shading still needs a little work, but I'm pretty happy overall. Click the image for a closer look.

Many thanks to these talent Deviant Art stock photo providers:

sd-stock

Tassastock

AshenSorrow

Happy Halloween!

New Giveaway Art Print & Monstrous Interview

Original Monster # 72 (Zombie Cat) by Harry Boardman

Weeeellllcome....muhahaha.....

Oops - sorry- my Evil Twin took over for a moment there.

Do you like creepies and crawlies and things that go bump in the night? If so, you've come to the right place! Today's featured artist is Harry Boardman of 365Monsters. I stumbled into one of Harry's Etsy shops (365Monsters.etsy.com) a couple of weeks ago and was instantly bitten smitten!


Lucky us! Harry decided to stop by with some of his menagerie. He's also generously donated a matted print, Sunset Parking Lot, for the new Thursday Giveaway. For more about this prize & how to enter the random drawing, see end of this post.

I noticed a few things while making my way through Harry's world. First, these monsters are born of a variety of mediums.

#362 - Original Monster Art by Harry

Also, each one has its own distinct personality. And habitat. For instance, #362 likes to hide by the bed, all the better to catch a pair of unsuspecting toes. You can find out more about individual beasties in both the Etsy listings and on the 365 Monster blog. And you can find out more about Harry right here:

So Harry, why monsters?

HB: "I’m just a regular guy who poses as an artist and who also happens to love monsters. While working as an artist, I usually base my pieces on traditional subjects like landscapes and portraits. But I’ve always created monster-related artwork for fun and wanted to share that on my blog 365 Monsters"

#334 Original Monster Art by Harry

HB: "A little more than a year ago I wanted to challenge myself and exercise my creative muscle. The point was to put myself on edge and take on the sort of task that normal sane people wouldn't attempt. Aside from doing all of that, this project looked simple as a whole but became difficult fast."

Readers, pop back on Halloween to hear more about Harry's past year of living with monsters. He will also give us a tour of his Lair Studio. To tide you over, here are a few more of his creations. And remember Not ...All ...Monsters ...Hide ... Under ...The ...Bed

#285 - Original Monster Art by Harry

HB: "When the hot summer sun rises to a mere 50 feet over the ground in August, my body is drawn to the air conditioning like a moth to flame. Having done this for too too long, the yard is reaching (what we in the biz like to call) meadow status. As I attempted to cut the grass, I found that the shaggedy greenery had taken on a mind of its own and wasn't about to sit idly by and be mowed."

Some...May...Be...Closer...Than...You...Think

#136 Original Monster Art by Harry

HB: "I've used the same ink bottle to create nearly every single monster chronicled here in this blog. When I walked into the studio tonight I found that the ink had taken on a hideous and evil form of its own. As I backed out of the studio I kept my eyes on the rallying ink monsters and focused my sights on survival."

#74 - Original Monster Art By Harry

Harry, any last thoughts on Monsters today?

#274 0 Original Monster by Harry Boardman

HB: "Sometimes all it takes is the right suit."

Like, ehem, most of us Harry has a "normal" side too. You can can catch a glimpse of it while perusing the fine art & portraits in his other online shop, HarryBoardman.etsy.com. He has a variety of originals and prints available and works in several different mediums.


Now onto the Giveaway! Harry has generously donated a matted print of his painting Sunset Parking Lot. The print measures about 5.5" x 7". The Mat measures 8" x10" and will fit in a standard frame.

HB: "I was painting a giant mural in an Italian restaurant not far from where we live. On the last day I finished up and walked outside for a breath of cool air and a much needed break. I looked up at the sky and ran to my car for the camera. I started painting this piece a day later.

That’s what’s so great about painting sunsets. They’re full of color, life, and motion. No matter how similar they may be to each other at times, they are all unique and different. Including the touch of humans is part of my aesthetic.

Prints of this piece in varying sizes are available in my etsy store www.harryboardman.etsy.com or from me directly. I can be reached by phone, email, or snail mail from the “contact me” section of my site www.harryboardman.com."

Sunset Parking Lot by Harry Boardman

Next Thursday (Nov 5) 1 lucky winner will be selected by Random.org to take home this fabulous print. Everyone who leaves a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on 11/5 will be entered into the random drawing. It is that simple.

Please be sure to come back on Halloween to see Harry's laboratory, I mean, studio and hear more about his life with monsters. See you Saturday....muhahahaha.....

You can see more of Harry's art in these places:

http://365monsters.blogspot.com
http://365monsters.etsy.com
http://HarryBoardman.etsy.com
http://www.portraitsbyharry.com/
http://www.harryboardman.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harry-Boardman/9012343994

ALSO, if you're in Doylestown, PA Friday 10/30 drop by Estetiks on 5 Main St. for free music, food & to see Harry draw Monster #365. Info on the event is on Harry's facebook page.

Misc. thoughts & digital collages

..Nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose — a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

- Robert Walton in Frankenstein


1890 meets 1990 in this altered self portrait.

It amazes me just how lost I was for most of my life (but especially back when this photo was taken). The creative urge was present yet I was fragmented & easily distracted. It was only about a year ago that I started feeling comfortable in my own creative skin. I wake up each day with new images to make. (For more info on my "jump start" click HERE)

Don't get me wrong, I am far from found & still searching. But now I seem to have a map, albeit an invisible, intuitive one. The last 15+ years have brought many responsibilities. I am still easily distracted and can get frustrated by the lack of studio time. But something has clicked & I feel lucky to realize just how much I'm enjoying the journey.

Where is all this coming from? Some talented wonderful people I "know" are having challenges of their own just now. It has caused me to step back from my grumbling & appreciate how fortunate I am. I too have been lost in the dark and in despair. I guess this is my awkward attempt to let them know that they are special, they are loved & that this too shall pass. Your friends, family (& fans) really are here for you.

Ok, switching gears. When I started typing today, I intended to post about a few new pieces in my etsy shop, ArtSnark's Artifacts. This is my 1st attempt at selling prints. I generally prefer to make one of a kind pieces but decided it was time to get some of my digital collages out of the computer & into the world. Please let me know what you think. They are being sold matted but I'm still a little vague on what pricing should be.

I was a child and she was a child, in the kingdom by the sea...
- from Annabel Lee by E.A. Poe

Poe's Muse

Edgar Allan Poe's wife (& cousin) Virginia died of tuberculosis at age 24. When she died Poe is said to have realized that he had no images of her & had a watercolor portrait made of her corpse. This is the only image of Virginia known to exist. She is thought to be the inspiration for the many tragic women found in his writings. Poe's Muse is a blending of Virginia's image and a 1848 daguerreotype of the author.

You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been

- From Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley's Portrait

In the summer of 1816 a group of friends were forced indoors due to inclement weather. They entertained themselves by reading ghost stories. The host, Lord Byron, challenged his guests to write their own frightful tales. Mary Shelley, then 19 years old, created Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley's Portrait fuses an 1840 portrait of Mary with a page of her original manuscript and an illustration from the 1831 novel.

Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough...

-George Washington Carver

Lady Slipper Orchid

One of my 1st memories is of the lady slippers which grew in the dark woods behind my grandmother's house. I remember reaching for the lush pinkness & being told not to touch. Somehow I was made to understand that these flowers were special. Almost sacred, although that word came much later.

Decided to play around with drawing & painting on this print. I digitally altered my photo of a Paphiopedilum Orchid. After printing, I went over it with watercolors and colored pencil. You can't really see the details in the above pic so here's a closeup:


Hey, if you've made it this far, thanks for your patience today! Seems I had a lot more to say than I realized ;-D Though I don't always get back to you, all comments are read and greatly appreciated. Also if you leave a comment before noon (EST) Thursday May 28, you will be entered in this week's random drawing. This Thursday's amazing prize has been generously donated by Etsy seller SlyViolet. For details and photos of this fabulous prize CLICK HERE. Thanks again for popping by