Spitting Image: “Life Is Trouble. Only Death Is Not.”

Opa! I just completed this custom portrait of Anthony Quinn that I was commissioned to do. It is inspired by his character Zorba The Greek and at the same time a memorial tribute (hence the pin on his jacket).

I truly love when someone presents their visions to me and at the same time trusts me to use my creativity to incorporate such ideas into the piece how I choose. It allows me to get my creative blood flowing and at the same time put a little piece of myself into the artwork.

Want to see more of my custom portrait work? Check out the Spitting Image Portrait section of my portfolio website. Have a vision you would like me to bring to life through my art? Contact me to discuss the details.

Stay Spooky & Magical!
LDG Nicole

Freaky Fanatics: Howie Mandel

So what started as me sharing my “Walk On The Wild Side” portrait with Howie Mandel turned into him featuring it on his Instagram account captioned “This fan art gets my golden buzzer”.

But if that is not exciting enough, I got contacted by Howie’s Manager/Producer Rich, who reached out to me to tell me how much Howie loved the art and helped me get the original sent out to him. Rich did not tell Howie it was coming and surprised him with it today! I received this picture that is now also posted on Howie’s Instagram account giving me a shoutout for gifting it to him

Howie Mandel holding Living Dead Girl Nicole’s Original “Walk On The Wild Side” portrait inspired by him and his character Maurice in the 1989 movie Little Monsters

It feels great knowing the man who inspired my vision now has it in his hands (literally) and didn’t have to wait until our paths crossed to receive it (although I am still hopeful to meet him one day). I am so glad I took the risk to send it and trusted the divine that it would arrive safely. Feeling so many good vibes right now!

Check out Howie and others in the Freaky Fanatics slideshow on my official portfolio website!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Spitting Image: It’s Gonna Be That Kind Of Mornin’

Been working hard at checking another drawing off my art bucket list. Being a kid in the 80s sure had its advantages. Everything was a lot more original back then and people were not offended over every stupid little thing. This made things a lot more adventurous and fun. Wacky, nutty and cuckoo! Just the way I still like it!

It will come as no surprise to the people who already know of my Pee Wee Herman obsession why I chose this subject matter that I did. To me, Paul Reubens created an iconic character with Pee Wee. From his stand up comedy, the unforgettable movies and of course the show Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Which might I add also contributed to my well-known puppet obsession. I mean the playhouse was in Puppetland! Can it get any better than that?

Well…. actually it does! Did you know he went to improv comedy school with my idol Elvira (Cassandra Peterson). And did you know Rob Zombie was a Production Assistant on Pee Wee’s Playhouse when he first moved to L.A.? Let’s not forget that Cowboy Curtis ended up in the Matrix, Miss Yvonne ended up mothering Charlie Kelly and Opal now rocks that famous orange jumpsuit on Netflix. These are the types of things that put everything you loved as a child and everything you love as an adult into full perspective. Ha Ha!

So, of course, Pee Wee, in general, has been on my art bucket list and I have seen so many art pieces done of him from his movies that I decided to focus mine on the show and I had a blast drawing it. Especially because I tend to watch and listen to whatever inspires the piece while I am creating it. So here it is.

I call this one “It’s Gonna Be That Kind Of Mornin'” A line from the theme song (done by Cyndi Lauper under a stage name) I felt it fits the vibe of the drawing and the inspiration behind it. Pee Wee’s Playhouse was one of my Saturday morning escapes as a kid. It might not be on Saturday mornings anymore, but I still watch the show as an adult and it never gets old to me. I could be having the worst day of adulting and then come home and watch the show and it lifts my spirits back up. Judge me if you will but it works for me and I dig it. I mean how can you not enjoy screaming real loud when you hear the word of the day?

So if you are just as big of a fan of Pee Wee as I am or you just love 80s nostalgia, you can get prints and t-shirts of this piece in my Amazon shop! And don’t forget to check out more of my portrait work on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website.

Stay Spooky & Wacky!

LDG Nicole

Loves: Happy Birthday Sid!

Thank you Sid for making all these memorable moments a reality for Frank and I. We are honored to call you our friend. Happy Birthday!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole