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

Days of The Dead Indy 2022

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: 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

Spitting Image: The Lovers. The Dreamers. And Me.

Anyone who knows me or even just follows my artistic journey knows how much Jim Henson has influenced and continues to inspire me. That is why I am very excited to finally share a new art piece that has been on my art bucket list for way too long.

I have always wanted to draw Jim Henson but was not sure how I would come up with what I considered a good enough tribute to someone that has brought so magic into my world. Then last September when his 85th Birthday was upon us, I got a vision of what I wanted to do and I started planning it out. Work, life and filling art orders got in the way but I continued to work on it slowly but surely. I am so happy I did not rush myself to complete it. I took my time because this piece is truly very special to me.

The vision I had for this piece was to pay tribute to the joy he brought into this world from the beginning of his career from the Sam and Friends days to his time on Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. And it was not just Jim’s look I wanted to show that had transitioned over the years but also wanted to incorporate the old and new looks of Kermit. From an abstract lizard made out of his Mother’s coat to the iconic frog we all love and recognize today.

I am so happy to finally be able to share this split face portrait done in pencil and chalk pastels that I call “The Lovers. The Dreamers. And Me.”

You can see this art piece and my other portrait drawings showcased on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website.

For those 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 at at Closet Collectibles in Crete, IL as soon as I make my next art drop to replenish my store shelves.

Stay Spooky & Magical!

LDG Nicole