Spitting Image: I Am The Somebody. I’m The Fire.

When invited to go to a 60’s/70’s themed birthday party I didn’t just show up in the requested themed attire, but in the usual Nicole fashion I took it a step further and jumped at the opportunity to show up dressed as my fairy goddess mother (that’s what I call her)… Stevie Nicks. So needless to say I am a big fan of Fleetwood Mac and when I heard Amazon was making a tv show based partially on Fleetwood Mac fan fiction by writer Taylor Jenkins Reid my interest was highly peaked.

I actually counted down the days until Daisy Jones & The Six was streaming on Prime and when the episodes were released I made my husband watch “my rock and roll soap opera” with me every Friday. I’m glad I did because I fell in love with everything about it. The writer’s backstory of the musical influences that inspired the storyline was intriguing (which was much more than Fleetwood Mac and brought me back to the days of helping manage my husband’s band). The talented actors were perfectly casted and incredibly talented (did you know they had to learn how to play music as well as performing together as a band during the pandemic). The fashion was what my 70’s dreams are made of (I love me some bell bottoms, fur edged jackets, and flowing kimonos) and I still can’t stop playing the Aurora album on repeat (they used some heavy hitter song writers to make it as authentic as possible) or singing and humming the songs around the house (my neighbors either love me or hate me at this point). Let Me Down Easy is actually playing on my Mac right now as I type this.

I was excited and sad at the same time the week of the final episode. I wanted to know how they would end it but didn’t want it to end at the same time. To say I have been in engulfed in Daisy Jones & The Six would be an understatement and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Although I loved all the characters in the show I was very fascinated by Daisy Jone herself. Played by Riley Keough (granddaughter of Elvis Presley) I could not help but fall in love with her feisty character. Her struggle to believe in herself after being raised by a family who didn’t support her and her determination to follow her dreams and find true happiness pulled at my heart strings but also motivated me. I picked up my drawing pencils and put all my other projects on hold as soon as the inspiration struck and have been working on this piece ever since.

I call it “I Am The Somebody. I’m The Fire.” inspired by two different Daisy quotes that I feel sum up her journey. It was done in pencil and chalk pastels and I used references from various scenes and photo shoots Riley had done during her career but focused mainly on her look from the Aurora photo shoot episode (above).

I hope one day I will be graced with Riley’s presence and can gift her the original art piece and show her how much her talent has inspired my own. And although Daisy didn’t want to be anyones muse, I will never deny that she was indeed the “inspiration for my next big idea” and I could not be happier with the way it turned out.

If you are a Riley and Daisy fan, I have prints and made-to-order t-shirts featuring this art piece for sale in my online Etsy and Amazon shops and will also have prints available to purchase in store at Closet Collectibles in Crete, IL as soon as I do my next art drop off.

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

Spitting Image: Insect Politics

Did you ever have a movie that sort of freaked you out enough that it has stuck with you over the years? No pun intended, but as a kid in the 80’s, David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly was one of those movies for me. Not only were the special effects both impressive and grotesque, but the empath in me can’t help but feel all the feels when Seth tells Ronnie she can never come back due to “Insect Politics”. Top that off with that precious baboon hug and that shot gun blast and yah.. it sticks with ya.

None of this changes for me no matter how many times I watch the film and being a big fan of Jeff Goldblum this art piece has been on my art bucket list for many years. I knew I wanted to do one of my split face portraits and try to utilize the “Brundlefly” phase that was more obviously insect. I also wanted to utilize that soft, smokey, eerie green glow that I love so much in 80’s movies and is very prominent in the film and it’s branding.

For many months I have been working on this piece on and off. One because I had to figure out a way to make the insect mesh with Seth’s face and two, I have been trying to take more time when working on my art pieces. No rushing. Just letting things flow. Ironically whenever I had not worked on the piece for awhile I would get what I would refer to as “Goldblum Signs” that would inspire me to take time to work on it. This was happening so randomly and timely that even my husband would see Jeff Goldblum on something, point it out and say “it’s a sign… time to get working on your portrait”. Well needless to say, I finally completed it using pencil, charcoal and pastels and of corpse decided to call it “Insect Politics”.

I dream to one day cross paths and meet the legend that is Jeff Goldblum and gift him the original art piece. Are you listening universe? I am putting it out there and would love to manifest this moment that would stick 🪰 with me all of my life.. just like the film does.

Are any of my Freaky Fanatics a fan of this film or Jeff? I have prints and made-to-order t-shirts for sale 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 do my next art drop off.

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

Dead Girl Decay : Jeepers! Jinkies!

Happy Autumn Equinox my Freaky Fanatics! I got a spooky fun treat for you today. Two new Pop Culture Icon Dead Girl Decay barrettes have hit my Etsy shop!

Inspired by my love of Daphne Blake (a past high school nickname of mine) and her ghoulfriend Velma Dinkley I give you “Jeepers!” and “Jinkies!” Fun and colorful wearable art with a touch of spooky cartoon fun!

The centers feature up-cycled plastic Daphne and Velma heads surrounded by a multitude of flower petals and feathers inspired by their iconic cartoon looks in Scooby Doo.

Perfect to wear for Halloween, Comicons or really anytime….these barrettes are limited edition (no one else will have one like you do) pre-made and ready to ship in my online Etsy shop. Love them but don’t wear barrettes? No problem! Many of my customers clip these to things making them unique additions to their home decor!

Like to shop in person and support a small local business at the same time? Then jump into your Mystery Machine and head on over to Closet Collectibles in Crete IL where these two barrettes will be available for purchase if they are not sold by the time I make my next art drop off!

Stay Spooky & Magical!
LDG Nicole

Dead Girl Decay : Game Over Man!

Spooky season is upon us and that is why I spent a majority of my weekend in my art studio working on commission orders. As most of the items I was working on needed time to sit and dry I decided to take the opportunity to make another Horror Villain Icon Dead Girl Decay barrette.

After creating my “Ugly Mofo” Predator barrette I knew I had to make another one inspired by their nemesis. I also decided to make Private Hudson proud and named it “Game Over Man!”

The center features an up-cycled Alien action figure head surrounded by a multitude of flower petals with each representing the color and feel of the Aliens movie franchise.

For those of you that are fans of the film this is a Limited Edition creation so there is only one pre-made and available in my online Etsy shop. It will soon be available to purchase in person when I make my next art drop off at Closet Collectibles in Crete IL. Love it but you don’t wear barrettes? No problem! Many of my customers clip these to things in their home making them unique additions to their horror and sci-fi collections and decor!

Stay Spooky & Magical!
LDG Nicole