Saucy Little Chick

Looks like I can add "Boudoir Photographer" to my resume. This temptress is now available on Etsy.

The Silence

There was no logic that could explain the sequence of events that had brought him to park along the side of this desolate road. The snow fell steadily as he listened to his engine tick and pop, the cold night air quickly cooling the hot metal. His headlights illuminated cones of snow over the icy corn field. The voices had brought him here. He knew it but could not explain it. The voices. What were they anyway? He lay his head back and closed his eyes, breathing slowly in an effort to tap into the white noise that had guided him over the past few months. The journey had been long and confusing, but tonight all would be revealed if he could only concentrate.

In the distance, he could hear the flat, modulating whine of tires as countless travelers drove down the interstate highway. The noise was soothing and hypnotic. He allowed himself a small smirk as he thought of the drivers speeding by his spot, oblivious to the wonderful truth he was about to discover. The wind whispered its secrets to the dead corn, blowing the new snow in ghostly waves over the furrows, valleys and scrub left behind from the year's harvest. The insulating blanket of white muffled the night sounds, but he knew this is where his focus must lie.

He listened. Below the wind he heard the soft accumulation of snow on his wet windshield. Miniature avalanches slid across his view as they melted against the car's quickly dissipating internal heat. He listened. He heard his breathing, slow and deep and deliberate. He listened. He heard his own heartbeat pulsing in his ears.

He listened. Quieter than the snowflakes and his own heartache he began to hear what had brought him here. He began to hear the voices.

Shadow Farm Contest: and the winner is....

Thanks to the few followers who entered my off-season contest! Four of you took the time to go on my little trivia hunt, and since the number of entries is so few I would feel bad about choosing just one winner....so here's how it is going to work:

Everybody wins!

Each of the entrants will receive an email in order of their entry. You will then get to choose your prize from the above picture. The next person will get to choose from the remaining items and so on.
I will post the final results as soon as the prizes have been divvied up.
Thanks so much for following and for taking the time to dig thru my archives! I really appreciate it!

A pair of 'Steins

Two versions of the Frankenstein Monster mugging for the camera.

Thug

Brute, Goon, Gorilla, Tough.

It seems "the Monster" may have associations with the mafia.

A Shadow Farm contest

Presenting the Shadow Farm trivia hunt! All you need to enter is right here on this blog. Use the italicized words to search my Tags for the answers.

Two steps to enter:

1. send me an email with the answers to the following six questions. theshadowfarm-at-gmail-dot-com
2. comment on this blog post to let me ( and everyone else) know you have entered (don't answer the questions here!!!)

The winner will be chosen at random from all entrants who correctly answer the six questions, and will receive the 2 1/2 inch tall hand sculpted pumpkin shown above plus a variety of spooky stocking stuffers.

Contest ends December 9th at midnight...now get searching!

1. What medium did YOUNG ARTIST Fox G use to sculpt a reaper?
2. Which of my PHOBIAS keep me on guard while walking on the sidewalk?
3. What CHARACTER of mine had a friend for dinner?
4. Which ANIMATED character is the groundskeeper of my cemetery?
5. What childhood characters are pictured beheaded on the Parade Float (of Death) (December 2009)?
   
6. What is the name of the female reaper I made with LATEX and MONSTER MUD?
   

Three Monks

Despair

My head hurts.

The world is dark and cold.

Wallowing in an invisible sack of self loathing
one can only wonder why
the world seems so
oblivious to my pain.

What is the point in it all anyway?

Professor Phynn, WIP conitnued

Phynn wormed his way onto the bench this weekend for some long awaited tweaking. I have added some years to his robe, added a second scroll, and worked out placement of the belt that will eventually carry a variety of instruments for his scientific explorations. Still a bunch to do, but I feel pretty good about the base and direction he is going.

I need to now start thinking of brass telescopes, compasses, and indescribable steam-punk-ish accoutrement's.

His would-be sidekick has been banished to "The Shelf". I was getting absolutely no cooperation out of the guy and felt it would be better to set him aside rather than continue the frustration of seeing him mock me from prime bench-top space.
Take that, Bernoulli! ( yes, the unfinished thing has a name already)

Captain Lobotomy

Fronkensteen

Sometimes the clay knows best. I started this piece a week ago with no direction or premise. It was just a lump of clay over a foil armature. As I do many times, I pushed and pulled at the clay until a character began to form. I had no idea I was about to visit the realms of one of the most iconic movie monsters ever, but what the heck, right? So anyway, I give to you my interpretation of The Frankenstein Monster.( with a definite steampunk vibe)

Oh wait....it is pronounced Fronkensteen!

Thatcher

Thatcher was once a strong and agile young man. He had a thriving business mending roofs for the townsfolk, farmers, and the dwellers of the woods. One day while he traveled deep into the forest, he happened across the small untidy hut of a feeble old lady. She beckoned to him.

"Thatcher,' she called out as he approached, "There is a hole in my roof. I have no money to pay, but can grant you a wish if you will fix my leaky roof."

Thatcher was familiar with bartering, but was woefully unaware of the underhanded dealings of the crazy old "bottle lady". He kindheartedly agreed, knowing he would collect no payment this day, and started the repairs. Upon completion of the task, the old hag asked Thatcher what his wish was. Jokingly, he chuckled that he wished that hers was the last rooftop he ever saw.

As Thatcher lay down for the night, huddled under his cart, he thought of the old lady and his wish. When he woke the next morning, he found his wish had been granted. Thatcher was blind, and as requested, would never see another rooftop.

Props of the Past : Dr. Spew the Puking prop

I was browsing through some old pix and came across this puking prop I made sometime around 2007. This project was one that I was coerced into making. My Uncle Dan dropped the barrel off and in no uncertain terms stated that I needed to make a puking guy...so I did, leaving Dan to figure out how to automate the puking process so the good doctor didn't hurt himself spewing forth a solid stream all night long. The mechanism Dan developed was actually quite ingenious. It utilized a float valve and a regulated water return to make the animation 100% autonomous. When Dr. Spew first chucks, he fills a reservoir that, when full, trips the float valve to turn the sump pump off. The reservoir slowly drains until the float turns the pump back on, and the cycle is repeated....hours of vomitous entertainment ensue. The massive volume you see in these pictures eventually was fine-tuned to a controlled and contained upchuck.

Dr. Spew is still operational to this day, and has been everything from a mad scientist to an unfortunate potion master/ wizard. (and even an impromptu political protest....but that's another story)

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has had a terrific Halloween filled with Trick or Treats, scary movies, cool night air and warm apple cider. Thoughts now turn to packing away the ghouls and nightmares to make way for new and equally strange and dark projects.

There is beauty in the bizarre and warmth in the weird.

Thank you all for sharing this strangeness with me.

Dave

The Shadow Farm goes public!

The Shadow Farm attended the 65th Annual Irvington Halloween Festival yesterday. It was a great event to mark my 'coming out'...my first major event to set up as a shop in person. I was completely blown away by the organization and attendance of this event. I suppose after 65 years you tend to get things right...and The Irvington Halloween Festival certainly did! Yesterday's weather was near perfect for a late October outdoor event, and record breaking crowds came out to partake in the festivities.

Today is the Day...

Finally time to set up the yard display. Ephram Vessell has found himself forlorn, waiting an unusually deep sentence into "THE month". This year's display will be significantly scaled back in comparison to years past, but I am hoping to capture the spirit of the season nonetheless.

Let the games begin....

Assassin Bug

My son found this creepy bug in the yard today. It is known as as Assassin Bug (or Wheel bug), and is apparently a beneficial insect feeding on other insects.

Looks like something that would make a great B movie, huh?

Early Trick or Treat

Just a few of the THOUSANDS that attended the 2011 Fall Campout at Cowan Lake State Park in Southern Ohio

A break before the madness...

I am spending a week out camping before the mad rush to Halloween. There is a huge flock of vultures that have been roosting near our campsite...very cool to watch these masters of flight throughout the day.