Spitting Image: In Memory Of Danny T.

As some of you know from my previously shared Axe Man’s Bridge post or from just knowing us personally, we recently lost our close friend Danny T. I wanted to do something special in his memory that I could also gift to his parents. Danny and I shared a love of creating art so what better way to pay tribute to him than to create a piece of art inspired by him.

It was one of the hardest portraits I have ever had to do. Not just because it was done from various photos to create one unique image (I didn’t want to just replicate a photo of him that everyone had seen, I wanted it to be unique just like Danny).  There were many times I literally asked Danny to help guide my pencil and there were many breakdowns where I had to walk away from it because it would hit me what I was drawing and why. But in the end, it came out exactly how I had hoped. Danny in his hat that he always wore, a tiny smirk on his face and his favorite Gibson Les Paul Sunburst guitar. A guitar not only that he loved dearly but played many shows with it on stage with Frank. Even up until the week he passed he and Frank were still jamming out for fun and making new music together. So it was important for me to incorporate that.

Yesterday was his “celebration of life” memorial so I brought it to give to his parents and they put it on display surrounded by his own art pieces. Frank and I specifically picked out the frame because it actually reminded us of something Danny would’ve made. He was actively working on a lot of art projects that involved upcycling items and making them cooler than the life they had once before. On Memorial Day weekend he showed me a table he had been working on and he had burned the wood to give it this same effect. So even the frame had meaning behind it.

I am happy to finally be able to share this with the rest of the world. Not just to showcase what I have been working on but to pay tribute to such a great person. I think it was the beginning stages of healing for me and now that I have given it to his parents I feel a sense of closure. Danny T. was an incredible human being and inspired so many of us. Not only to just be better people but to keep creating. I just hope he realizes how many lives he has touched. Yesterday was a huge reminder of that for all of us but I just hope he knows how much he impacted the lives of so many people.

I know my artwork in the past has helped others heal. So if you would like a print of this piece, please feel free to reach out to me. I had been asked by a few people yesterday and I am sorry that I didn’t think to bring prints to the memorial. My main goal was to just get it there safely, in one piece and be able to gift it to Danny’s parents.

In Memory of Danny Thornton May 15, 1980 – June 11, 2018

LDG Nicole

See more of my portrait work on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio site.

Hardcore Hearse Club’s 5th Annual Show!

The Hardcore Hearse Club’s 5th Annual Hearse show is just around the corner! Not only will we have Frankenhearse on display, but I will be vending my artwork again as well!

Each year I mark down my prices for in-person purchases at this event! So if you ever wanted to purchase from me this is the best time to stock up and save! Creep up your home or wardrobe or get ready for Halloween! All while having a ghoulishly good time doing it!

Order forms will be available for one of a kind custom orders. This is a great time to talk to me in person about making you a one of a kind creation. This includes Adopt The Undead Zombie props, Custom Dead Girl Decay Accessories and Ghoulish Garments! I will also have some unique creations not currently for sale online! They will be available at this event only. They will only be up for sale online if they do not sell at this event. So come get first dibs!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole

Creature Feature: Chase The Morning For Beautiful Freaks Fest Day 2!

So I was not sure what or who I would talk about today for Day 2 of the #beautifulfreaksfest2017 and then it hit me. I was getting all my paint supplies together to work on a commission piece and thought hmmm what am I in the mood to listen to…. and of course I pulled out the Repo The Genetic Opera soundtrack.

Now if you have seen this movie you know that it’s filled with tons of beautiful freaks. But if you know me personally then you also know that there is one beautiful freak that pulls on my heart strings …. Blind Mag (played by the stunning and amazing talented Sarah Brightman). So much that she inspired my art piece that I call “It’s Too Late For Me”. Call me a Genco Junkie but I absolutely LOVE this movie. From the dark horror story line, the visual artistry and the heavy rock ballads it’s a sum of so many things I love.

So I am dedicating this post to the beautiful freak that is Blind Mag and giving a little more background on the scene that inspired the NAME of my art piece. Now if you read my past post when I completed this piece you know that it was drawn inspired by the scene (that kills me every time) of Mag right before her final performance. But the name of the piece comes from a specific scene that goes along with that. So here it goes…..

Mag’s most striking characteristic is of course her eyes, unnaturally blue and marked in a pinwheel pattern. But of course they came with a price. See Mag was born blind and was given her sight back through Rotti Largo owner of GeneCo and also the then fiance of Mag’s best friend Marni. To cure her blindness she received an operation which gives her back her vision in a very unique way. They are capable of not only vision, but projecting things she has seen. However the terms of her operation was she was obligated to work as a singer for GeneCo forever. A small price to pay at first until she starts to feel she is “owned” by them. When Mag is reconnected with her goddaughter Shilo (Marni’s daughter) she tries to warn her to stay away from GeneCo and to not follow the same mistake she made… “It’s Too Late For Me” and to “Chase The Morning”. Here is that very scene…

If you have not seen the movie I highly recommend it. It’s truly a masterpiece on film and of course the most unique soundtrack you can own. My husband who is not a big fan of musicals even loves this movie. If you are already a GeneCo junkie you can purchase It’s Too Late For Me as prints and on customizable t-shirts. AND don’t forget! As announced in yesterday’s post I am offering a coupon code to celebrate this online freak fest! Just put in code BEAUTIFULFREAKS17 at check out in my Etsy shop and watch 13% get slashed off your orders (of $5 or more)! This code is only good during the Beautiful Freaks Fest so make sure to place your orders before Monday!

I am now on my way to chase my morning with a smoothie, my Repo soundtrack and a canvas! Don’t forget to visit all the other blogs participating in the Beautiful Freaks Fest this weekend! So many amazing posts yesterday and I can’t wait to go through today’s posts from everyone later today!

Stay Spooky Freaks!
LDG NIcole

Everclear 20 Years – Still Sparkling Never Fading

This post might not be directly about a piece of my art work but it’s something I want to share because like art, music has gotten me through life’s hurdles. I might not create music but I appreciate the ones that do.  And as you know part of my experience as an artist has also been being a promotional and merch band guru…. so for me music and art go hand in hand. So with that… lets talk about the incredible night we had on Friday!

I can go on and on here and tell you how Everclear’s music has affected me since I was in junior high. How seeing them for the first time in 1995 was one of the best shows I had seen when I was younger. How I use to have stacks of Spin and other rock magazines that either had Art Alexakis on the cover or just had a little interview article inside . How even at the age of 36 I still rock out to their albums like I am in my high school bedroom. But being able to tell the band that myself was the ultimate for me!

We went to the Sparkle and Fade 20th Anniversary Show at H.O.M.E Bar and it was incredible. They played the ENTIRE album and then some. I am surprise I had a voice the next day as I was screaming along word for word. When I told my friend Trisha (who has known me since high school) about the show she told me she could imagine it cause every time she hears Everclear she still always thinks of me.

This is a photo Frank took of me from our booth. I am literally standing on the platform over the crowd ha ha. Not about to miss a second of it.

Needless to say I was in my glory like I was the first time I saw them back in 1995 and it was even cooler to be able to tell them that. They decided to hang out at their merch table after the show to say hi to fans. I had already gotten a shirt earlier before the show started (made sure to get the one with all the tour dates on the back so it was nostalgic 90’s “I rock this shirt proudly because I was at the show” ha ha. Remember those days?) but was not going to miss the chance to at least say hi to them. And on a splurge I totally bought the Sparkle and Fade record despite already owning the CD. I really wanted to have something for them to sign and since this was so unexpected I was not my normal prepared self. They also don’t do ticket stubs the way they use to back in the day and I wanted to be able to wear my shirt so no go for signatures there. So I thought this is something I have dreamt of since I was younger and despite the mark up on the album I told myself “buy it or you will regret it”. So I did. I also knew it would be a great way to remember the unforgettable time I got to hear this entire album live.

As cool as the signatures are to have as memorabilia nothing will compare to the photo my friend Ellie captured or me with Art!!!!!!!!

If only I could go back in time to tell my younger self “be patient” that this would happen to me in my 30’s. Even so I don’t think I would’ve believed myself. I know sometimes we get star struck but this actually meant so much to me to be able to tell the band how much their music has gotten me through some of the toughest and greatest times of my youth. They also really loved my Jane Lane shirt ha ha.

Me and my handsome husband at the show

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole