The Shining and Tim Curry Tribute Art Shows

Greetings all!

This Saturday, February 24th, 2018 I'll have work on display in two different shows just a couple blocks apart.

Up first, taking place from 6 to ll pm over at Creature Features in Burbank, CA, I'll have a piece in the Tim Curry Tribute Show.  Mr. Curry is rumored to be in attendance, so it's probably going to be rather crowded.

My painting is titled "World's Second Best Terrorist" and pays tribute to his villainous role as Vladakov in McHale's Navy.  Yes I went super obscure, but as some people may know, that pleases me.

My second piece is going to be two blocks over at the Bearded Lady's Mystic Museum Shining tribute show.  (WOW!  Say that three times fast!)  I'm rather pleased with this one because I not only tired painting on wood in acrylics, I FINISHED the painting this time.  Back in June of 2017 I tried for the Twin Peaks show and it was intimidating and I stopped.  After talking to a friend familiar in the methods, I approached it differently (properly) and once I got over a low self esteem issue, finished it and am very happy.

The new Shining painting is called "Danny's Not Here Mrs. Torrance" and will be on display starting at 8pm, Saturday, February 24th, 2018 and running thru April.

Please contact both galleries (click the links) if interested in purchasing either painting.

Monster Squad Tribute Show

"I've Got Nards"; 4"x6" Gouache on Watercolor Paper; 2015

Greetings and Salutations all!!

Yes, it's been forever again.  We all know I'm horrible with updates.  I'll just blame work again.

So, Monster Squad!  The above painting was made for a Monster Squad Art Show taking place at my regular showing spot, Creature Features in Burbank, CA.

Monster Squad Art Show at Creature Features in Burbank, CA
Opening night, Saturday, September 26th, 2015 from 6-9pm

I'm pretty happy to say that I feel like I'm back to my normal self with this one.  I LOVE finding a way to 'do my own thing' when doing piece for tribute shows.  I like challenging myself and I usually have more fun doing pieces this way.

For this one, I had the super simple, cheese ball idea of Ollie the Wolfboy wearing a t-shirt that says "I've Got Nards".  In recent months, Monster Squad has been on everyone's mind and I've been seeing a lot of "Wolfman's Got Nards" shirts over on Etsy (in addition to "Stephen King Rules" shirts and some other Monster Squad versions of the monsters).  The idea of having a Werewolf wear the shirt was too tempting to resist.  Since it was so simple, I was afraid someone else could easily come up with a similar piece, so I decided to throw a few more subtile movie references into the back ground.  Nearly all the stickers on the skate ramp, and even the sunglasses that Ollie holds, are references to the movie.  Most of the stickers are product placement references, but I also threw one of my two favorite monsters from the movie up there, and an inside joke my husband and I have about a sequence from the film that wasn't intended to be funny, but is to us.

Coming up next on your pal the Boogervampire's "To-Do List" is the Heroes & Horror Con in Bakersfield, CA on October 18th.  Entry is $5 and located at the Bakersfield Marriott.  In addition to everything I had at ScareLA in August, the Heroes & Horror Con will be the first place you can get the 2016 Boogervampire Calendar.  If you've been following Instagram or Facebook, you'll know I've had a few printing issues with this year's calendar and it has taken a while iron that stuff out.  I'm happy to say I finally ordered the first batch of 10 calendars and they'll be with me when I vend in Bakersfield.

The week after the Heroes & Horror Con I'll be vending at the Hollows Market.  The Hollows Market will be Saturday, October 24th at the Santa Anita Racetrack and entry for that will also be $5.

Hope to see some of you there!

Atomic Tiki Terrors Post 2

"Go Home Brain, You're Drunk"; 8"x10" Gouache; 2015

Well, if you don't follow me over on my Instagram account, you missed out on all 1,000,000 work in progress photos of this bad boy.  If you do. . .I'm sorry you saw so many work in progress images of this bad boy.  :P

This past weekend, over at Creature Features in Burbank, CA, was the opening of the "Atomic Tiki Terrors!" group art show and the artwork was AWESOME!  I'm always excited and happy to contribute to the shows over at Creature Features, not only because I like supporting small businesses, but also because they come up with some pretty fun themes for their shows.  As I said in the last post, this show was a mash up of Tiki culture and old horror films, both of which with a focus on the 50's and 60's.  Also, if you saw my previous post, you know that I was using characters from 4 different b-movie horror films from that era.  For those that didn't see the last post, I referenced "The Brain That Wouldn't Die", "The Brain From Planet Arous", "The Reptile" and "The Wasp Woman".  The piece was a lot of fun, and although I almost didn't make it, I got the piece in JUST before the deadline.  The show is up and on display over at Creature Features until August 9th, 2015 if you'd like to see it in person.

Anyway, I hope you like it.

Coming up, in just two and a half weeks, is ScareLA 2015.  I'll be vending again and am really excited that it's going to be at the Pasadena Convention Center this year.  I'm working on some new stuff, not a whole lot, but some new stuff.  I announced on Instagram two nights ago that I had some purses made that have 11 different designs on them from my painting and sticker catalogue.  I'll be slowly previewing them over the next two weeks over on Instagram and the Facebook Page, so if you don't follow me there, and you're interested, you may want to check those pages out.  Also in the works for ScareLA a new pillow design.  I'm turning the Monster Date painting, who's actual title is "IceScream Social", into a pillow.  It'll be cropped slightly and have a pink stripe backing.  Unlike the other pillows this one will be more like a pillow slip and will be removable so you can wash it if it gets dirty.  I'm also going to try to restock some of the necklaces from last year that had Prudence and Frannie on them.

That's all for now.  Catch you next month!

Atomic Tiki Terrors WIP Post #1

Sketch for my new, yet untitled, painting for Creature Feature's Atomic Tiki Terrors show.

Greetings again, all!

Well, as I mentioned in the last Bats Day follow up post, I'm getting to work on my new painting for Creature Feature's next group art show taking place in July over in Burbank,  CA.  I just wrapped up the sketch Sunday night/EARLY Monday morning and am chomping at the bit to get to work on the color comp.  I've only got about two and a half weeks to paint this one, so I'm already getting nervous.  Thankfully I've learned from my Sushi Gremlin painting how to handle bamboo so hopefully it goes smoothly.

The 4 movies I reference in my painting.

If you're curious, I'm referencing 4 different movies made during the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties in this piece:  Anna from Hammer Film's The Reptile, Janice from The Wasp Woman, Jan from The Brain that Wouldn't Die, and Gor from The Brain from Planet Arous.

I'm not sure if it's the weather over here in Southern Cali, or what, but there seems to be a lot of Tiki themed shows popping up here over the last couple of months.  Creature Feature's has decided to do a Monster/Tiki mash-up show and their description of the event is as follows from their event page over on Facebook:

The flier artwork for Creature Feature's Atomic Tiki Terrors show.  Opening takes place Saturday, July 19th from 12-5pm.

This summer, Creature Features presents Atomic Tiki Terrors!, a group art show that focuses on 50's and 60's monster movies, and vintage Tiki Culture, two seemingly disparate subjects...

Mid-century America, at the dawn of the Atomic Age... to dodge the concept of nuclear annihilation, our fine citizens found refuge in exotic worlds and fantastical situations:

Kids thrilled to Monster Monster movie matinees and collected Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, where mutants, giant bugs, and space invaders all tempered (and fed on) the fear of atomic armageddon. 

Adults escaped into an exotic, make-believe world of tiki bars and backyard luaus, where Polynesian trappings and rum-based cocktails took them away from their urban surroundings and allowed them to forget their radioactive reality.

Atomic Tiki Terrors! pays tribute to this fascinating era of fads and crazes, of tikis and terrors with artwork from over 50 artists in the fields of film & TV, fine art, comics, make-up & visual FX, children’s book illustration and more!

The show will also feature a Tiki Trading Post vending area in the lot behind the gallery, live tiki-inspired music, a special tiki cocktail provided by Tonga Hut (LA’s oldest Tiki Bar!), and more surprises to be announced.

The opening reception for the show is Sunday, July 19th, from noon until 5pm. The show will be on exhibit until August 9th, during regular business hours.

This event is free, and open to the public!

Exhibiting artists include:
Abbybelle
Atomikitty
Baï
Christine Benjamin
BigToe
Robert Bowen
Kevin Cannarile
Anthony Carpenter
Ken Daly
Eric Diaz
John Eaves
Kimber Grobman
El Gato Gomez
Gris Grimly
Michael Flemming
Dawn Frasier
Thomas Fernandez
Jake Geiger
Kenneth J. Hall
Mary J. Hoffman
Doug Horne
Robert Jimenez
Phil Joyce
Junkhauler
Lake Tiki
Rebecca Lord
MP
Scott Mabbutt
Chris Mason
Woody Miller
Ken Mitchroney
Ken Morgan
John Mulder
Nesshead
Eric October
Brad Tiki Shark Parker
Doug P’Gosh
Alex Quintero
Ken Ruzic
Matt Reese
Mireya Romo-Bowen
Michael Sbicca
Ethan Spaulding
Eric Swartz
Mark Tavares
Tiki Diablo
Tiki tOny
Michael Uhlenkott
Amy Watson
Paul Wee
Woody Welch
and More!

Hope some of you can make it out for the event!  If not, have no fear, you know I'll blog the final painting (once finished).

October Shadows VII: A Celebration of Halloween in Art

October Shadows Facebook Banner,  artwork by Eric October

Just when you thought it was going to be awhile before my next art show pimp out blog, you get another one!  I'll be participating in Creature Features 7th annual October Shadows Halloween Art Show, with opening night festivities set for Saturday, October 11th, 2014 from 6-10pm.  You read more about the event over on their Facebook Event Page.

"Tech or Treat"; 7"x6" Gouache; 2012

I'll be submitting two pieces to this show.  The first one is one you've seen before.  Since my "Tech or Treat" painting (the Robotech Trick or Treaters) piece was only on display for one weekend at an exclusive Macross convention, I thought it might be nice to let them see the light of day at another venue.  The second is a new little trick or treater!  She doesn't get a fancy title, just a number since she's the 5th trick or treater I've painted.  I'm pretty proud of how she turned out and excited that I made a 'less cute' skull for the mask.  It seems to make her look cuter over all as a added side bonus.

"Trick or Treater #5"; 4"x6" Gouache; 2014

So!  If you're a Los Angeles area resident and have nothing better to do with your selves on Saturday, October 11th, 2014 (or if you're on your way to Halloween Horror Nights), swing by Creature Features and check out the Halloween themed artwork between 6-10pm!  Can't make it that day, have no fear, just come by during regular business hours all thru October!

Can I Help You?

"Can I Help You?"; 5"x7" gouache; 2014

Well, the Rolly Crump/Museum of the Weird show at Creature Features has come and gone.  It was the first time in a very long time that I'd been asked to participate in an art show that had a line going around the corner to get into the joint.  Although my finished piece was not exactly what the curator or the audience attending was looking for I'm really proud of how it turned out.  I'm actually contemplating posting the original for sale over in the Crypt of DOOM, along with prints, if you're interested.

Speaking of the Crypt of DOOM!!  I'll be returning to my regularly scheduled day job on October 6th and will try to leave the Crypt open as long as my work schedule allows.  That being said, do not be surprised if the Crypt of DOOM!! Closes for a couple of months starting October 13th, 2014.  Once I do close it, I am thinking of opening it for a week at the beginning of December for anyone who needs Christmas gifts.

Museum of the Weird Tribute Show at Creature Features

The newest flier for the Museum of the Weird show at Creature Features in Burbank, CA.

Well, it's nearly here!  The Museum of the Weird Tribute Show, with special guest Rolly Crump (one of the original Imagineers behind the project) will be this coming Saturday, September 13th, 2014 from 6-10pm at Creature Features in Burbank, CA.  If you've been following over on my Facebook or Instagram you've probably had your fill of sneak peeks and work in progress posts and if you actually follow my Deviant Art account you've seen just a little bit more. . . but if you've seen NONE of that, then here's a sneak peek for you!

Lousy Cell phone pic of the upper Left corner of my new painting, "Can I Help You?"

The title of my piece is called "Can I Help You?" which I'm sure you can see is derived from the expression on her face.  As I said in the last post, she came from the first round of the tumblr "Monster Girl Challenge" last year and had been created as the solution to the "true monster" challenge.  Basically, it's Cthulhu's daughter or something like that.  Not officially of course, but since people saw it I've been getting 'Is that Cthulhu?" a lot.  So yeah, she turned out pretty much just the way I wanted her to.  I'll post the full, finished piece here next Sunday.

Use Coupon Code WhyNot20 for 20% off until 09/13/14!

Also, in honor of the opening, which I inexplicably seem to become more excited about every day (it's honestly a bit out of character) I'm having a one week only sale over in the Crypt of DOOM!!  Just enter the code WhyNot20 during check out and you'll receive 20% off on orders over $4.  The code automatically will expire on Saturday (I believe at 9pm PST) so enjoy it while it lasts!  I recently got a small restock of cosmetic bags and coin purses that sold out at ScareLA last month, so if you've been waiting on any of those, now's your chance!

Weird Things Are Happening

WIP of my Museum of the Weird painting for Creature Features Rolly Crump tribute show.

So, as I mentioned at the tail end of my last blog update, I'm taking part in Creature Features "Museum of the Weird" tribute show on September 13th.  The piece is due in a couple of weeks and I thought I'd post a BLOG EXCLUSIVE (which will then be shared to the Facebook Page via Networked Blogs) of my progress!  I'm excited about this piece because I'm going to incorporate a monster girl from last February's Monster Girl Challenge #1 in it.  She was by far the strangest of both Monster Girl Challenges and I tried to start a vector based illustration of her last  summer that never saw the light of day.

Online flier for the Museum of the Weird Show at Creature Features next month.

Anyway, I'm going to try to not post any in progress pics of this one after this.  I'll more than likely fail, but for now revel in your blog exclusive and come see the finished piece September 13th!

ScareLA Weekend Recap

Greetings Boils and Ghouls!

The last few weeks leading up to the ScareLA (or Scare Los Angeles) convention have been full of wild craziness.  Most anticipated (making new product and restocking stuff) and some was unexpected (my car breaking down while out purchasing last minute supplies for the convention).  But after all was said and done, ScareLA was just as wonderful, fun, stressful and tiring as I had been told it would be.

My always wacky and supportive husband posing at the table  on the morning of Day 2.

Let's get strait to business in this post first (that way if you get bored and decided to stop reading you'll at least get the important news first)!

If you had been patiently waiting for the "Help Us Master Gracey, You're Our Only Hope" (a.k.a. R2D2) coin purse and cosmetic bag restock, I do have bad news.  I sold out of the coin purses over the weekend and need to order new ones, again (it'll be about a month).  I do have ONE cosmetics bag left after the weekend and it's live, in the shop, right now.  I've reordered some of those as well and should expect them at the same time the new coin purses come in.  I also sold out of the "Kissing Bats" coin purses, the BRAND NEW "Wee Emily Dover" coin purses (still ONE cosmetics bag of that left, btw), the "Truly Outrageous" cosmetics bags, and quite a few necklaces.  I'll be gradually listing the new product that was made for ScareLA thru out the week, so check the Crypt of DOOM! frequently to see what's popped up!

One of the many new necklaces I made for ScareLA.

My newest cosmetic bag and coin purse design went over so well I have to reorder!  At the time of writing this, there is one Cosmetics bag left available over in the Crypt of DOOM!

This little guy found a new home this weekend!  Goodbye my little Batty friend!

Decided to offer a new, larger size option for the "Master Gracey" prints.  They were popular.

One of 3 sketch cards made for the event.  The left overs will be listed in the Crypt of DOOM by the end of the week.

Business done, now is time to wax poetic about the weekend!  I had a wonderful time.  It was my first two day event and it was overwhelming, at times, how many people would be at the booth at once.  I ran out of one of my more popular business card designs and almost ran out of a second (I now have 6 design options for people to choose from at events).  If I can judge by the amount of Prudence post cards I have left over, since I was giving them out to people who bought something, I made a lot of sales because there is barely any left of the 100 I had made.  I discovered that I'm not the only one that loves Prudence, the Boogervampire's sassy older sister because she had a LOT of new merchandise with her on it sell this weekend.  I tried making sketch cards for the first time on this outing, and although none sold, people's reaction to them was positive.  I got to meet a BUNCH of my Instagram and Facebook followers, and fellow artist Lupe Flores came out to say hello and brought me a beautiful print of her work!  (Thank you, Lupe!!)  I got super socially awkward when artist Gris Grimly stopped and looked at my "Little Leota's Fortune Telling Kit for Beginners" painting, and at one point Director John Landis was walking the floor and leaned in to look at my table and smiled.  It was so exciting.  As usual though, I only ever left the table to use the Ladies Room so I didn't see too much.  Thankfully that's where my husband comes in.  He runs all over these events taking photos and showing them to me later.  I hope that one day, after I've gotten used to going to these kinds of things, I'll feel confident enough to leave the booth and go take a look at my surroundings more.

The print that the talented Lupe Flores brought to me on the 2nd day of ScareLA.  Thank you again Lupe!

This show will be up and on display until August 23rd, 2014

Saturday night, in addition to the all day convention, I headed over to Creature Features in Burbank, CA to check out the Creature from the Black Lagoon 60th Anniversary Tribute Show.  I had submitted my painting "He's So Dreamy!" into the show when I realized I didn't have time to create anything new.  I was overjoyed (and a bit sad at first) to discover that my "baby" had sold.  I only hope that whomever purchased her finds joy every time they look at it and love it as much as I do/did.

Green dots are bittersweet things!  Goodbye my friend, you'll be missed.

A pic from just after He's So Dreamy was completed from November of 2012.

There were many amazing, fun and nostalgic pieces in the Creature show, in addition to mine.   My inner geek loved the Uncle Gilbert costume from the Munsters TV show!  If you're in the Southern California region you might want to head over to the shop and check the show out before it ends on August 23rd (2014)!

Come on out and see my latest creation September 6th, 2014!

Up next?  Well, against my better judgment I couldn't pass up an opportunity to take part in the Museum of the Weird Tribute show for Imagineer and Animator Rolly Crump that will be taking place at Creature Features next month.  I hopped on board a little late so I only have until September 6th to conceptualize and create the piece.  Wish me luck!

That's it for now.  I'm going to go crawl into bed for about a week.  Until the next update, LATER GATORS!