Days of The Dead Indy 2022

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Is our extended weekend already over? That’s how I am feeling right now as I type this. Since the pandemic, my husband and I have not enjoyed one of our full blown horror con weekend getaways. We did a random one day drive to Flashback Weekend last year and prior to that we hadn’t enjoyed a full horror con weekend since Days of the Dead in 2019. That was until this past weekend when we decided to take some days off work, extend our weekend and take a road tip back to Indy for another Days Of The Dead con.

As in the past, I was especially excited to gift some of my original art pieces to those who who would be attending and inspired my work. Unfortunately Lori Petty cancelled at the last minute so this Tank Girl fanatic will have to wait until our paths hopefully cross one day in the future. However the guests who did attend that received my work were incredible and made the experience and road trip so well worth it.

First was John Kassir. It felt so great to be in his presence again (we met him in 2018 in Chicago). There are just some people in this world that you encounter that you get all the good vibes from and John is definitely one of those people. I had shared my “Deadtime Stories” art piece with him via the link to my blog post which he was so kind to stop by and comment on. He recognized it right away when I approached his table with the original and told me how impressed he was with my work and that not all things “Tales From the Crypt” that he collects/owns get put up on full display in his home. However, my piece most definitely will be. He gifted me a 8×10 signed Crypt Keeper picture and took this great photo with Frank and I. Later on we even had the honor of enjoying his company in the hotel bistro and he displayed my work on his table all weekend long. Seriously.. I can’t say it enough.. John really is the greatest!

Later after Patty Mullen arrived and was settled in at her table we visited her and I was able to gift her my “Tossed Human Salad” art piece. She also recognized my work and told me that she had seen it posted on Instagram. She said she was impressed with the way I captured her likeness in such a unique way. Especially her eyes. She said for some reason people have difficulty getting them right but I got her spot on. She was a blast to talk to. Even her interacting with the fans before us in line was a trip to watch. Especially when she was in full Frankenhooker inspired fashion from head to toe! So much purple I was loving it. She too gifted us a 8×10 signed Frankenhooker print and took this adorable photo with me. She was so sweet and so much fun to meet!

If that was not memorable enough. Frank and I decided to enter the That Damn Tattoo Contest that was taking place at the convention. Originally I talked Frank into entering his new They Live tattoo and the people hosting the event insisted I enter my Pee Wee’s Playhouse tattoo as well. We BOTH ended up winning in different categories. Frank took home Best Horror Sci Fi Tattoo and I won Best Small Color Tattoo. The judges who we met on stage during the show had nothing but great things to say about our work. We are now so excited to be able to share these plaques with our tattoo artist Luke Reubelt when we see him next.

It felt all around great to finally have a horror con weekend away just the two of us and experience such lasting memories in the process. An all around great weekend that went by way too fast. Thank you again Days of The Dead for another killer event and to John and Patty for being so kick ass!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Spitting Image Portraits: Tossed Human Salad

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My Dad was the one who first introduced me to the work of Frank Henenlotter and his cult classic Basketcase. As someone that loves a good campy horror film it was no surprise that Frank’s other movies such as Frankenhooker would end up on my list of what I personally consider a 90’s horror cult classic.

For those not familiar with the film, it is about a medical school dropout named Jeffrey who loses his weight loss struggling fiancĂ©e Elizabeth in a tragic lawnmower accident, and wants to bring her back to life. Using her saved head, he goes to the red light district in the city to find the perfect additional body parts he needs to recreate her….because “naturally I had to make some changes”.

Inspired by Patty Mullen, I drew a split face portrait of her as Elizabeth before and after the accident. It was done in pencil and chalk pastels. I call it “Tossed Human Salad”….

If you are familiar with the film you know that it was pretty much mandatory to do Elizabeth’s famous short circuit “Wanna date?” “Got any money?” facial expressions or it just would not be Frankenhooker.

If you are a fan of this wild horror movie I have prints and t-shirts now available for purchase in my Etsy Shop! Don’t forget to visit my portfolio site to check out more of my Spitting Image Portraits!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole