Spitting Image: Deadtime Stories

When I was a “kiddie” my Aunt gifted me a small tv for my bedroom. Late at night when I was supposed to be sleeping, I would turn on Tales From The Crypt. My Grandma who I lived with at the time was very religious and anything horror was considered “of the devil” so I would make sure to turn the volume down low as I curled up in my bedding for “deadtime” story time with the Crypt Keeper.

My Mom had introduced me to horror and these moments of young-ghoul-rebellion were very freeing from the life I was forced to live after she had passed away. They gave me something to look forward to late at night. It was a time by myself away from the hell I was living during the day.

In 2009 when Frank and I got married I designed a Tales From the Crypt comic inspired wedding program that we passed out to all of our guests.

In 2018 we had the honor of meeting John Kassir at Days of the Dead and we shared stories with him and told him how much the show meant to us. He told us how he loves hearing these stories and how amazed he still is knowing how determined so many “kiddies” were to watch the show.

Needless to say as a part of that special late night Kiddie Crypt Club, it was only a matter of time that I would be checking this art piece off my art bucket list. I present to you “Deadside Stories” a split face portrait done in pencil and chalk pastels in tribute to John Kassir and the Crypt Keeper…..

I can’t wait to cross paths with John once again so I can gift him the original art piece.

For any Boils and Ghouls who are interested in purchasing prints or wearing this art piece on a shirt, you can find them listed in my Etsy and Amazon shops. Prints will also be made available to purchase in store at Closet Collectibles in Crete, IL as soon as I make my next art drop.

Want to see more of my portrait drawings? You can find them on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website!

Stay Spooky & Magical!
LDG Nicole

Closet Collectibles 4 Year Anniversary Raffle!

This week at Closet Collectibles in Crete IL visit their store and enter their 4 Year Anniversary raffle!

This includes the chance to win my Limited Edition “Toxic” Resurrected Poison Ivy Framed Print!

Winners will be announced by the store on Sunday, March 13th after their week long celebration! 🥳

Go show them some love, support this amazing small business and tell them their resident artist, Living Dead Girl Nicole sent ya!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Spitting Image: 2 Dollars And 15 Cents

Back in 1995 when I was about to become a Freshman in high school, the movie Tank Girl came out. Not having read the comics I went into watching it with a clear mind and although some didn’t like it, I loved it! I know, I know I obsess over 90’s nostalgia from my teen years but this film had a little bit of so many things I love and well it still does.

From the raddest soundtrack (which was compiled by Courtney Love) to the campy fun of surviving the apocalypse (in 2033) while also befriending Mutant Kangaroos aka Rippers (one played by Doug Jones whom we all know I adore) to fighting off Malcom McDowell as the evil villain… I mean it really is my apocalyptic dream come true. It also made me discover the incredible artwork of Jamie Hewlett that created the characters that the movie was inspired by.

However the part I love most about Tank Girl is Rebecca Buck aka Tank Girl herself played by the wild and wonderful Lori Petty! I don’t know what I love more..her hilarious smart ass remarks, her I will kick your ass, can and will attitude or her incredible collection of thrown together outfits and hair styles that change every time she appears in the movie. So I decided to take all those things I love about her character and wrap them into one art piece. I guess you can say 2020 also inspired me as the perfect time to knock this one off my art bucket list. I call it “2 Dollars And 15 Cents”….

This art piece was done in pencil, charcoal, colored pencil and chalk pastels. My dream now is to one day meet Lori and be able to gift it to her.

Are you a fan of Tank Girl the movie and comics? Then pick yourself up a print of this art piece or even a custom made to order t-shirt in my Amazon shop. Prints will soon be available at Closet Collectibles in Crete IL one I do a restock and drop off. Be sure to also see more of my portrait work in the Spitting Image section of my Portfolio site!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Spitting Image: Maybe Today Satan

I will start off by saying (once again) that I have never really been a fan of re-makes and re-boots. However, I will allow you to quote me as saying that the “re-boot” of Sabrina The Teenage Witch is quite the exception. Those of us who grew up on the Archie comics, the cartoon and even embraced the 90s TV sitcom got to enjoy the cutesy version of Sabrina Spellman.

Now as adults we get to bask in the sinful glory of a MUCH darker side of what it could have been like to be in Sabrina’s half-witch half-mortal shoes. So in other words, The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina on Netflix is the version I had always hoped for but never got (sorry Melissa Joan Hart but I did love you in Clarissa Explains It All!). The first time I laid eyes on The Academy of Unseen Arts I was like “Screw Hogwarts! Sign me up here!” (I even have an alumni sweatshirt cause I am a dork like that). So I guess what I am trying to say is that I really dig this show. I think a lot of it has to do with all the incredible Biblical, Pagen, Horror Movie, Archie and Riverdale references that they incorporate and cross reference on top of the story line. Some being super obvious and others as hidden Easter Eggs for fans who really “get it”.

That leads me to my latest art piece inspired by the beautifully talented Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina. I didn’t want to just draw her in her everyday look. If you know a thing or two about the show you will definitely get the play on words that I am using for the title as you take in what I have drawn. I call it “Maybe Today Satan”…

For those who have not started watching this show yet, I will not give away too much. What I will say is that this split face portrait is inspired by Sabrina’s two royalty looks as the Queen of Hell aka Sabrina Spellman – Morningstar! This piece was done in pencils and chalk pastels.

Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Either way prints and shirts of this art piece are now available in my Amazon shop for you to rock proudly as either! You can also see more of my portrait work in the Spitting Image section of my portfolio website!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole