Nyx – NeferSarco

Drawing Blood: An Inktober Unlucky 14 for Halloween

As shadows lengthen and crispy leaves chase one another down the now-empty streets at dusk, the October People take centerstage, working their special magic upon the season of all things horrific, creepy-cute, and otherworldly. In this spirit, Jake Parker’s annual Inktober event offers a series of prompts for artists to ink their way through the 31 days of October. All you need to do is draw. Paper, inks, graphite, tablet – all are welcome. The flurry of postings tagged #Inktober and #Inktober2018 are all seasonal eye candy – and we don’t mean that stinkin’ kandy korn, either! Nope, this is the good stuff. Full bars. Let the inky phantasmagoria begin with an Unlucky 14 of haunt-worthy IG accounts to follow:

@enginervster

Terry Ramdhany uses a blackwork approach with pencil and ink. Stunning linework often punctuated with blood red or acid green, these beasties are the stuff of nightmares but somehow in the most delicate way. Originals are available directly from the artist if your crypt needs a little spiffing up.

@mrrevenge

Ricky & Richelle Romero’s comix-inspired sketchbook takes some hilariously bloody shots at pop culture cartoon icons like a few bunnies and kitties we could name. If those darlings of childhood just plain give you the creeps, this one’s for you. Their shop at ScaryBearyAndCompany has lots of originals, prints, stickers, and books, too.

@nnyhr

Exquisite detail couples with the blackest of black inkwork to explore the mythos inside FloRhynn‘s head. These nightmares have spawned Encre Nous, a positively delicious crowd-sourced art book, and an array of Lovecraftian clothing with many designs harboring a Tarot card vibe.

@peppa_potter

Lest you forget that Inktober is not limited to stinkin’ ink, the digitally drawn peculiar pets and preternatural spirit animals of Peppa Potter are here to remind you with dancing bats, hairy spiders and melancholy monsters.

@paolopetrangeli

Working with biro pens, Rome, Italy-based Paolo Petrangeli envisions a scary-sweet, color-washed Halloween world of fat little pirate moons, stick-limbed waifs, and teetering mansions that just double-dog dare you to ring the bell and demand your treats. His etsy shop includes prints and original paintings.

@faunwood

Dark meets adorbs in the beautiful and otherworldly denizens of Faunwood where artist Miranda Zimmerman puts pen to paper (or sometimes drink coasters). She is inspired by the prompt lists of many different artists and usually combines several in an October onslaught of inky eeriness.

@blackheartcollection

Well, this is some wretched cuteness right here! Kat’s goulish ladies and their feline friends began their unlife intended as book illustrations but they also wind up on some pretty sweet swag in her etsy shop including tees, prints, and pins, some of which she makes by hand. The admittedly Halloween-obsessed Kat shares her whimsically dark world of original characters, cats, and coffee.

@cwehrle

Drawing upon a childhood filled with campy 80s horror, Chad Wehrle just does what he loves, which he describes as “drawing cool shit.” Damn straight, Chad! His Society6 shop is full of cool shit. His Etsy shop is full of cool shit. There’s even a series of books he created from his previous years of Drawlloween mastery. He keeps it simple with pencil, eraser, and paper blender.

@behemot_crta_stvari

Slavic mythology fuels the creepy-cute weirdness of self-taught Bosnian artist Igor – yes, that’s his real name. He credits the obsession-worthy Tim Burton as one of his earliest influences, along with those horrid fairy tales that scarred our souls and gave us freaking nightmares as children. His threadless shop offers clothing and accessories to complete your otherworldly ensemble.

@animvs

Melancholic ossuaries, tattered bats, and halo’d wraiths are among the dark offerings at Animvs Stvdio with an occultish, dark aesthetic. In page after page of esoteric pointillism, the creeping horrors shamble into view.

@darktownsally

Like dark folk art, inks and watercolors combine in these velvety, shadowy little panels from Dark Town Sally. Every time she releases a new run of prints, they sell out like Halloween candy on the 1st of October (yes, that fast!) so you might want to visit her shop to add a few to your treat or treat bag.

@sorrowgrips

Indonesian artist Sorrow Grips offers exquisite nature studies with an eldritch bent – skulls, bats, snakes, goats, and moths frolic in the darkness of his imagination. His store offers a small selection of prints and original pen & ink drawings for collectors.

@findnatatat

Graphite artist Natalie B. has an eye for that cool retro 40s/50s style complete with hand lettering, creepy kiddies, and bodacious Halloween babes. Plus, prints and originals are available in her shop if you need a sugar-free hit of Halloween before the big event.

@austinpardunart

If your twisted childhood included paging in bug-eyed terror through stacks of horror comic books by flashlight, you’ll scream with delight – for it’s surely Eternal Halloween in the world of Austin Pardun. With campy cats, lowbrow ladies and cryptid dance parties, the halftone Halloween horror show conjures pulpy memories of Tales From the Crypt.

The gory granddaddy of October Ink remains Inktober, but the permutations are myriad. Quite a few variants are gathered at Inktoberprompts on IG but a favorite around here remains the glorious Mab Graves’ Drawlloween. Her list has been thematically organized to allow time-crunched inkies to combine several prompts into one larger drawing if you can’t keep up daily. You really can’t go wrong with any of these prompt lists – there’s one for every taste from the horrific to the creepy-sweet. So grab a pen and splash some ink! And tag that shit for everyone to see!

Featured image via @austinpardunart

A Cyborg Utopia: The Art of Shichigoro

Shichigoro imagines a world populated by fearless cyber-heroines, wistful robots, and strange, anthropomorphized creatures. He brings these visions to life through digital painting techniques. Influenced by anime, manga, and Japanese film, the artist mixes a cyberpunk-ish future with organic elements, envisioning his own odd reality where panda bears play with mechanized giants, and winsome girls — bandaged and goggled — tote deadly weapons.

“Kopanda In The Mech” (Digital Painting)

Shichigoro-Shingo Matsunuma began as an oil painter, studying at Tama Art University in Tokyo. Finding the tools of the trade prohibitively expensive, he moved toward digital painting solely as a way to keep creating without constantly spending money for supplies. He found a ready partner in these digital tools, furthering his visions with layer upon layer of texture. Starting with sketches, Shichigoro’s technique involves going over the same areas repeatedly with both brushes and erasers, preferring a fairly limited tool-set. He started his digital world with an old version of Photoshop but, more recently, I’ve seen him working in Clip Studio, a Japanese paint program. The following image, “f-drawing,” has a speedpaint on youtube that is just mesmerizing to watch!

“One process works for me. I work with a pen tablet and Photoshop to complete everything after beginning with a rough underdrawing. Most of the pictures are painted from a motif and biology that combines organic machines and robots, Kuricha, and minerals.” – Shichigoro (DigitalMeetsCulture.net)

While Shichigoro has thought about the world his beings inhabit, he prefers to leave these questions up to the viewer to answer. He muses the possibilities of a ruined Earth, a planet in a distant future, or possibly a parallel universe. In a guest interview with DeviantArt he offered, “Although this element might not be settled, there is no denying that many of my works address our coping with our humanity. There are many robots and strange living creatures fused with inorganic substances in my work, but I never imbue these creatures with negative feelings like unhappiness, sadness, fear, or anger.”

The artist has often repeated this statement that although his images may seem dark and menacing, he sees no sadness or fear in them. Rather, he imbues them with positive emotions, thinking of them as beautiful, gentle creatures that live in dark, strange worlds. At DA he says, “Little glimmers of light in the dark world are very important to me. It might look like I am only drawing dark worlds, but the substance of my work is actually the light in the world.” That seems very true of his earlier work but many of the more recent pieces seem decidedly more menacing, almost horror-centric, a departure from his earliest beasties which were outlandish but somehow charming. These later pieces evoke much more of the post-apocalyptic vibe so often ascribed to his works.

Shichigoro seems, at times, to be channeling everything from Tim Burton to Hayo Miyazaki, from H.R. Giger and M.C. Escher to Maurice Sendak, Naoto Hattori, and Manga comic books. This ability to draw from disparate sources and come back with something utterly unique, compelling, and playfully dark is an inspiring talent. It is, however, central to Shichigoro that his beloved mechs and monsters are pure of heart, no matter what inspires them.

“I personally think they draw on the themes of silence, peace, kindness, and joy within the feelings of a small alien figure.” – Shichigoro (DigitalMeetsCulture.net)

Currently a freelance illustrator, Shichigoro believes that digital media will continue to grow in acceptance and importance in the contemporary art world. His work embellishes a veritable horde of book jackets, CD covers, and magazines even as he continues to show his work in group and individual exhibitions. He has done many collaborations with Black Milk Clothing, several oddly endearing toys, and, just recently, a few silver and black plated jewelry items were featured on his facebook page. A glossy and delicious compendium, The Art of Shichigoro is now available in paperback:

“re-robo” (Digital Painting – basis for re-robo toy)

“I want to create original art work that I imagine in my created world. In my world there is no fear; no fear of creatures and no fear of machines, just no fear!” – Shichigoro

It’s pretty easy to keep up with Shichigoro’s steady output; this media-savvy artist can be found on DeviantArt, facebook, and twitter where he has a loyal following of admirers fascinated with his strangely uplifting world of dark creatures, hopeful robots and post-apocalyptic cyberpunk heroines.

A few of my own little treasures, including a handmade pop-up Xmas card Shichigoro made for me! (Image via Sami Nyx)

Unless otherwise noted, all images via Shichigoro.com

Words & Wonders:
The Artwork Of Jason Limon

In Jason Limon’s eccentric menagerie, quizzical creatures pose for us in their own strange world of words. They have the air of an odd and desperately whimsical circus, with typography spelling out a single word juxtaposed against oddly smiling critters and their elements of magic and wonder. Limon’s early career as an award-winning commercial graphic designer now serves him well as a painter and sculptor. His love of type, color, and composition are on full display in his paintings, often presented in a series of interconnected works. Every time I look through his work I see even more details, more quiet little jokes or a new play on words. A recent series entitled “Three Letter Words” explores the idea that a single word can be a complete statement with layers of meaning:

“Three Letter Words: Ask” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

“Three Letter Words: Key” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

“Three Letter Words: Sin” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

Wow x Wow Gallery notes that Limon had always sought out art and artists as inspiration, dreaming of a place in that milieu while still remaining safely within the graphic design arena: “I used to spend my days sitting behind a computer working in the graphic design biz and almost every single day I’d scour through illustration annuals and art books. For the longest time it was a place where I always felt I belonged, but was frightened to jump into.”

Limon creates a world of strangely beautiful creatures that meld an odd cryptid sweetness with the artist’s love of packaging and design. His “Three Letter Words” series embodies packaged ideas, to my mind. I desperately wish for the strange “products” he has envisioned to be real things that I could scoop right off the panel and tinker with, turning things over in my hands to explore and play with these strange and wonderful toys. The details, the rich yet chalky colors, the charming smiles of his weird little friends, the words and symbols — every facet makes me want to peruse further, perhaps starting up a guileless conversation with these little one-word-wonders.

“Three Letter Words: Car” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

“Three Letter Words: Bee” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

In his Artist’s Statement, Limon shares his thoughts about old commercial pieces and how that inspires his current work: “Within the elements that surround us every day are bits of someone else – a record of thoughts made up of color, typography and symbols marked onto paper and metal to represent products throughout time. As an artist I’ve grown to value these pieces of history; to survey and connect them to craft my own thoughts and feelings.”

I readily admit to having kind of a thing for old toys. Limon’s images often make me think of those “misfit toys” who endure in their own preternatural realm between real and not-real, alone but not lonely, waiting for a child-like soul to come play with them.

“Hideaway” (Acrylic on Panel) Image via Limon Art

“Calling All Numbskulls” (Acrylic on Panel) Image via Limon Art

In his Artist’s Statement, Limon also touches upon the fact that his earlier work was based more on nature and magical creatures: “Over time I have explored a range of subjects, from ideas based on nature to otherworldly beings. As I progress through my work there is one field where I started and tend to gravitate toward the most: history. History is all around.”

Personally, I am very drawn to many of Limon’s earlier works. They have a very loose and organic feel compared to his later works, almost worshipful of nature and magic. Many are are large canvasses rather than the panels he began utilizing in later pieces. The texture and tactility this lends also feels very natural with the subjects which have a fantastical vibe and a certain quality of light and depth that feel very different from the harder edges of his later, and equally fascinating, work.

“Entangled Swarm” (Acrylic on Canvas) – Image via Limon Art

“Light” (Acrylic on Panel) – Image via Limon Art

In 2007, Limon took the leap from a successful career in graphic design to begin painting full time, exhibiting his work in galleries across the United States and Europe. Dozens of group shows, solo exhibitions, publications, and awards have also spawned a squee-inducing array of toys, tee shirts, pins, and stickers. All are available on his website along with prints, very affordable print sets, and original paintings. I dare you to come away with only a single treasure! I have dozens already and have just found a few more vital acquisitions because I never seem to have enough artwork, screamingly weird-cute tee shirts, and enamel pins. I have been known to buy art instead of food so Limon’s shopify site is dangerous for me. There is seriously no saturation level for this stuff and no end in sight for Limon’s output, either. Check the blog on his site for a steady stream of updates that will send you running for your credit card and clearing space on your walls.

“Feast” (Fine Art Print) – Image via Jason Limon Art – Shopify

“Particles Print Set” – Image via Jason Limon Art – Shopify

Stinkbox (Blindbox Mini Series) – Image via Jason Limon Art – Shopify

“Gumball,” “Drop,” “Shitface” (Hard Enamel Pins) – Image via Limon Art

“Guppy” (Cotton Tee Shirt) – Image via Jason Limon Art – Shopify

Follow Jason Limon on Instagram and Twitter for a seemingly endless barrage of incredible imagery. It is seriously page after page of wonderful stuff! A rather staggering archive of Limon’s work is currently available via his flickr stream where his quirky humor and obvious love for his bizarre little giggling creatures and cryptids is on full display. I always see a few images here that I haven’t caught elsewhere so it’s worth scrolling through the entire stream if you find yourself drawn into his juicy little world. Then head back to his shop and score a few treasures for your own juicy little world!

Featured Image via Jason Limon Art – Shopify

Art Shrines for Beloved Familiars

The terms are often used interchangeably: Altar, Shrine, Memento Mori. They may be as simple as a tiny matchbox or a Sacred Circle — or as elaborate as the Taj Mahal or the Great Pyramid. Altars and Shrines have been created in nearly every culture and place where humans have lived. On a very personal level, they may be about solitude, reflection, and memory, but they may also be whimsical or even gaudy. The trappings of mourning and loss are the external representations and expressions of interior dialogues, offering a tangible form to our thoughts and memories.

Why Do It?

The act of creating a little handmade Altar or Art Shrine may offer a way to work through feelings about the loss of a beloved pet, familiar, and friend. As you create, your feelings become entangled with your efforts, giving way to very powerful expressions. It is a very intentional way of casting your sorrow out into the universe.

Where Do I Start?

Like grieving, creating a Shrine is a completely individual process. The materials you choose will reflect your own feelings and the personality of your pet. You might start by writing down words, phrases, or nicknames that come to mind when you think about your friend. Gather favorite toys or objects. Note the little quirks you associate with them. You might create your own unique artwork or research images that speak to you.

My Art Shrine for a Lost One:

“Shrine” is from the Latin scrinium, and refers simply to a box which holds something precious. With this is mind, I will create a small Art Shrine for one of my own beloved friends. I will consider the box itself, the objects it contains, and the story it tells. Your own Art Shrine will be a personal reflection as well and should take any form you choose. I find the tripartite approach of “box, contents, story” to be a helpful place to start.

Part One: The Box

I have an affinity for old clock cases are there are always a half dozen crouching in the odd spaces of my studio. They feel like a natural place for me to start. If these interest you as well, try searching Etsy or auction sites for vintage mantel clock parts.

Part Two: The Contents

I collect detritus of all kinds, odd bits of woodwork, bone, metal, paper ephemera, jewelry findings, old hardware and glassware, etc., for my assemblage projects. Some of these will be incorporated into this Art Shrine along with some original artwork I created just after his passing.

I prefer connecting pieces without glue but if there’s no other way to do it, I can recommend Tombow Mono Metal Liquid Glue among others. For this project, I also employed Liquitex Modeling Paste, some watercolor pencils, and acrylic paints.

I think the voice in the back of my head was jabbering about patina while I was working on this so I went for colors that remind me of old verdigris.

I found this vintage paste necklace with three drops which reminded me of tears. I knew it would have a place in this piece.

I am using an ornate old silver box as a reliquary. If you want to use this type of box, try searching Etsy for vintage silver jewelry caskets. I find them to be rather beautiful little resting places. If you are using them for ashes, also consider the bag that holds the ashes. You might want something velvety and lush, or something happy and playful. It can reflect the personality of its new owner.

Part Three: The Story

My completed Art Shrine is entitled “Constant Heart” and is in memory of the most steadfastly loving heart I have ever known. Among other things, it incorporates a piece of original artwork placed behind a clouded mirror, cradled by bound hands. In the center is an image of his eye from one of my favorite photographs. I caught him looking up at me with pure happiness and later realized that my image was reflected in his eyes. The image is enshrined here as a paean to Georgian miniature images known as “lover’s eyes.” I left some of the clockwork parts in place because they can be wound and released to create a sound like a quickly beating heart. At the bottom I left room for a silver casket.

“Constant Heart” – Mixed media assemblage

NOTE: If you don’t feel the need to create an Art Shrine of your own, take a look at the Pet Memorials gathered here: Pet Memorials For Your Beloved Familiar

All images via Sami Nyx

Dark Hearts & Pale Moonlight:
A Moon Garden Primer

As bats arc low along the treeline, as moonlight entangles itself in high branches, sparkling on water, I feel myself drawn out into the still night world, into the Moon Garden. Pale blooms of silver and white seem to glow, cupping the moon, catching and reflecting its light. Textures and dusky silhouettes rustle against one another. Fragrant night blossoms spill scent into the darkness, drawing moths and bats out to play as cicadas chirr softly in the distance.

Image via wojciechdziadosz.deviantart.com

If the night speaks to you, consider creating a Moon Garden for yourself. They can be mysterious and magical, filled with pale blooms, deep shadows, and fragrant blossoms that appeal to night pollinators like bats and moths. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, pale colors take on a new glow. Pure white blooms appear to float above their deep green stems, fading into the shadows. Lighter shades of lavender, chartreuse, or soft pink mingle quietly with foliage in shades of silver and grey, adding a light contrast to a Moon Garden as twilight deepens into full dark. Masses of low-growing bloomers blanket the ground beneath taller plants like snapdragon, foxglove, phlox, or rose of Sharon as a pale clematis vine knots itself about a beautiful arbor. Pale-barked trees like birch help anchor the garden and offer a beautiful silhouette, drenched in moonlight.

Flowering tobacco, angel’s trumpet, night jasmine, night phlox, and four o’clocks are just a few of the fragrant flowers that release their scent in the evening or at night and may entice moths and bats to visit. New Guinea impatiens, evening primrose, petunias, dahlias, clematis, white wisteria, white Japanese lilac, and bellflowers will all find a home in the moonlight garden. And no Moon Garden would be complete without the iconic moonflower, of course. Choose your favorites, suited to your climate and soil, and plant them in masses, varying the heights, shapes, and textures. If scattered broadly, small pale flowers tend to be lost in the darkness; instead, repeat a favorite flower in multitudes and watch it fill the spaces in your garden with grace and power.

Hardscaping

Hardscaping elements such as pathways, fencing, and arbors offer anchoring elements to the nocturnal garden. You could build a cairn of pale stones as a centerpiece or place a worn bench beneath a flowering tree to invite a quiet moment. Similarly, plants with unique architectural forms, such as Harry Lauder’s walking stick, create interesting shadows at night and all such elements are striking when iced with snow or frost in the dead of winter.

Reflections

Reflective surfaces capture glimmering moonlight and cast it like a magic lantern. Glass objects, scrying mirrors, gazing balls, small ponds and bird baths all offer ways to scatter and reflect soft light. Add tiny garden lights or solar lighting for new moon nights. If you are lucky enough to have a pond, a well-placed light source will shimmer like a tiny moon in the dark waters. There are even varieties of night-blooming water lilies such as Red Flare and Charles Tricker.

Sound and Silence:

In the darkness, sound takes on a new dimension. The soft rustle of tall grasses, bamboos, and leaves; the soft tone of a well-placed wind chime or water chime; the burble of water in a fountain; the soft hum of insects, waking for the evening.

A List of Pale Flowers and Plants:

The selection of pale flowers may be broken down by season. This list focuses on the Northeastern US, where I happen to live. You will need to consider the blooming season of any flowers you choose for your own area.

Foliage

Pale foliage can be absolutely luminous on a moonlit night. Foliage also requires less maintenance and will last longer than blooms which come and go throughout the season.

Those perfect for a Moon Garden include:

Variegated dogwood
Silver lamb’s ear
Dusty miller
Silver artemisia
Hosta

Fragrance

Image via Aswin KP (Night Blooming Cereus)

Adding fragrance to the Moon Garden, you may want to use more typical fragrant blossoms coupled with the enticing secret of those which release their scent only at night:

Fragrant Night Bloomers

Evening primrose
Angel’s trumpet
Moonflower

Plants with Fragrant Blossoms

Peony
Bearded iris
Korean spice viburnum
Rose
Lilac
Lily

Featured image via totallandscapecare.com (Moonflower)