Banjo Ghouly Has a Friend for Dinner

When My Ideas Pop

I don't know what the reason is, but I find that many of my best ideas pop into my head early in the morning. At some point in the first hour between waking up and driving to work, there is an epiphany...a eureka moment...when an idea is so clear that it is just burning a hole in my brain. Maybe the act of sleeping allows me to work out details that I am not able to focus on when going about my day to day routine. Maybe the idea has to fester in the dark hours of the nigh, forming an oozing pustule that breaks free into my consciousness upon awakening. Maybe at night my creations slither, crawl, or scuttle up to the side of my bed and whisper the plan into my ear. However it occurs, I absolutely love when it happens.

Today was one of those mornings.

I have a piece I have been working on for a while that I believe is a solid concept, but I have been struggling with the name. I have been running lists of different ideas, consulting my kids and my wife, but nothing felt right. This morning as I was half asleep, eating my breakfast and sipping coffee, the name erupted into my head so clear that I just know it has to be right...almost as if it was always there deep in the grey matter squirming its way to the surface.

In the coming days, watch for a new sculpt entitled "Banjo Ghouly Has a Friend For Dinner"

The Physics of Creativity

Isaac Newton's first law of motion (loosely translated) :
Objects at rest tend to stay at rest, objects in motion tend to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force. These words ring true to the creative process.

Last year prior to Halloween, I was in the the midst of a spurt of creative energy. I had more ideas on new pieces than I could keep up with. There were times that I was literally making half a dozen pieces at a time to sell on Etsy, working on large pieces to display in my yard, and still had more ideas than i could possibly deal with. It was a fantastic time to be an artist, and I found myself in the shop working late nights, getting up early, and spending as much time as possible in between working on art sketching ideas and daydreaming new ideas. Ahhh, it was great, I tell you. I was an object in motion, and there didn't seem to be an end in sight.

Enter the outside force. I do not wish to elaborate on what this force was, but a bad experience with a visitor to my Halloween display served as a metaphorical brick wall in the direct path of my creative inertia. Every bit of energy I had built up was gone, it seemed. Just like that, the ride was over. I waited for the creativity to come back and start flowing again. There were times that it seemed it was nearly back, but I just couldn't get the drive to keep it going. I was an object at rest, and I stayed that was for months and months.

Enter yet another outside force. Yet again, I will not elaborate on what set the wheels in motion, but I finally decided to claw and scrape myself up off the couch and start creating again. The Pumpkin Creature was a very difficult piece for me to make. It took every bit of energy and determination to force myself to stay on task until it was complete. The very act of finishing this piece has turned on the creative flow, and I now have half a dozen projects started. I can't wait to get off work so I can work on the little beasties. All day long, I seem to be thinking of details to add, painting techniques to try, and other critters to add to my 'make this' list. Hopefully I can maintain the inertia and there will be no more forces to slow my progress, because I am truly happiest as a human being when I am creating something.

Pumpkin Creature Sculpture finished

Squirmle Roadkill

I had one of these as a kid in the '70s. It was a pet that I cared for and loved, although I could never seem to teach it the tricks that were shown on the TV between Saturday morning cartoons. There was a list of instructions on how to care for your Squimle and keep it happy and healthy. One thing they never said, but shouldn't have had to say because it is really common sense, was to

NEVER LET YOUR SQUIRMLE ROAM FREE IN A BUSY PARKING LOT!!!

The consequences are so very sad.

When I found this poor creature today in the parking lot after donating blood, it was too late to save it's life. Alas, the string had been severed and was nowhere to be found. I would have done anything to roll back time and save it's poor neon pink, fuzzy hide. Let this image be a lesson to all you Squirmle owners out there to the grave responsibility you accept when you adopt such an exotic and wonderful creature.

Bald Eagles near Indianapolis, In

I visited one of my favorite places today. Only a few miles from my home, and less than 10 miles south of Indianapolis there is a stretch of the White River that is the home to a pair of Bald Eagles. The nest has been in the tall sycamore tree for 5 years now. Each year the pair has raised at least two chicks. Above, the male guards the nest from a nearby perch.
The nest was built almost as if the pair wanted to be viewed and photographed. This view is from across a narrow oxbow of the White River.
Male and female eagles greet each other from the guard perch. Today I was unable to catch a decent shot of the chicks, but viewed two of them as the parents called from above.

Shadow Farm Sale on ETSY!

Hey everyone! I have just reduced all the prices on my current ETSY listings, and am now offering free shipping. This is your chance to purchase that one-of-a-kind strange creature that you have been drooling over for so long.....

The Guardians of Nolin Cemetery

In a rural setting a short distance south of Indianapolis, there lies amongst the gravel roads and cornfields a small cemetery. This ancient resting place is along one of my favorite bike routes, and makes a great place to rest, stretch, and think. Directly across from the graves there is a line of trees, long ago cut and left to weather away their remaining days overlooking the somber hill.
I have felt a presence in these trees as I rode past, a chill wind on a hot summer day. I imagine the wind blowing over the hollowed remains, creating a dissonant chord, an ode to the long departed Nolins.

First pumpkins of the season

and what a pair they are...
I have to admit, this sculpture has me perplexed. Does this scene show the creation of a new Pumpkin Creature, or is it a scene of murder most foul? Is it a pair of siblings locked in a bout of good-natured horseplay? I just don't know. It is odd to have created something that I cannot interpret. If anyone has any ideas as to what we are witnessing here, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Disappointing the kids

Last weekend I was working in the garage while a steady rain poured down. I had the door open and was in a nice mellow groove, sculpting a new pumpkin creature. From across the street, I heard the neighbor lady scream out to her kid "Get over here...NOW!!!!" Looking up from my work, I saw a 5 yr old boy coming up my driveway, halted in his progress by his mom's call.

"But mom..." he yells back, "he's MAKING SOMETHING!"

To me there is nothing quite like knowing that the neighborhood kids are sneaking peeks into my garage in hopes of getting a preview of scary things to come. It makes the hours upon hours of work setting up a yard display worthwhile.



I am a bit sad to think that this year the neighborhood kids will be disappointed. It is looking like my yard haunt won't be happening in 2010 for a variety of reasons. I'll provide more info on this in the coming weeks.

I don't feel so good....

or at least that is what my computer is saying....somehow I have aquired a rather nasty virus on my home computer....probably a worm or trojan horse actually. The point is, I won't be posting much until I get the issue resolved.

hack-cough-sniff

Calamari's Revenge Completed

Goon The Butcher Revisited

Last year I made a rather outrageous little character to sell on Etsy. I have had quite a few comments on this guy, and was asked recently to recreate him as a special order. All of my creations are made in a very free-form manner...almost as a doodle in clay as I sculpt. There is a kind of magic that happens as a personality develops. For this reason, I was hesitant to attempt a duplication. However, I decided to give it a try. It was a fun challenge.

Goon the Butcher 2009Goon The Butcher 2010

Reverend Loman, Bible Salesman

It is said 'never trust a salesman". That phrase was most likely started in response to Reverend Loman. Brother Loman trudges through the night to sell his wares, peddling swift death and an everlasting life. If you hear a gentle knocking at the door when the moon is full and and the dogs are howlin', best to turn off the porch light and let Reverend Loman pass you by.

This is a one of a kind sculpt, rich in detail and fuel for the imagination. The Reverend Loman has so many rich details it is hard to catch them all at first glance, from the pages of his tattered Bible, the aged appearance of his sample bag, to the ground littered with the bones of his customers. He was handpainted with acrylics and powdered pigments to highlight the minute details of the sculpt.

Available for sale on Etsy.

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain: Part 5 Archie's Downfall

Archie had never been with a girl before, and insisted on undressing under the covers. Although he was definitely ready to be with Anne, he was a little self conscious. After they had been satisfied (several times) Archie and Anne lay together, flesh to flesh, and talked of their future until they both fell asleep. He had never been in the same bed with another person, and enjoyed the comfort and warmth of Anne's body, pulling her close and wrapping his arm over her shoulder. As Archie drifted off, he thought of his life and his good fortune , and of the golden foot that had made it all possible. He briefly thought of his father's warning "Don't you mess around with that girl until you sign the contract. Don't change a thing, Archie. " But what harm could it be? The contract was as good as his. His dreams became fitful that night. He dreamed of the first time he kicked a ball over his roof. He dreamed of the old codgers and their stogies and beer, swearing they saw sparks as he kicked the football down Green Street. He dreamed of Redwings and their steel toes. He dreamed of kicking, and of tattered mattresses and shredded sheets. He dreamed of his golden foot and being set for life.

Archie had taken his father's advice as gospel, and ever since he wore out the toes in his first pair of shoes, Archie had refused to cut his toenails. "Don't you change a thing." He could hear his father's voice plain as day. He kicked out in his sleep , pummelling the invisible football that was actually the back of Anne's leg. He believed his foot would turn to gold, because his father had said it would be so. Archie had no idea that it was unnatural to have thick, long, yellowish-brown claws at the end of his toes. "Archie, that foot will turn to gold," His father had said. Archie kicked, the crowds screamed, and the dream football sailed through the goalposts . Anne writhed in pain. His parents had bought him his beloved Redwings, and all these years the steel plate had acted as a whetstone to the thick blade inside, honing his nails to a razor edge. Archie kicked the winning fieldgoal in his dreams as Anne lay bleeding to death beside him.

The next morning he woke late. Anne was still beside him, and as he rolled to kiss her on the shoulder, he immediately knew something was wrong. Her skin was cold and lifeless. Archie sat bolt upright in the bed, and a pool of red caught his eye. Where her calves had once been was now reduced to lacerations and cold lifeless meat. Archie looked to his own feet and saw no gold. "Oh God, what have I done?" he thought to himself. He swabbed off the congealed red of Anne's lower legs to reveal his toenails. As the police carted him away later that morning, Archie stared ahead in disbelief at what had happened, catatonic from the shock. As the cell door closed, Archie heard in his head the hollow thump of a well kicked ball and the echo of his father's voice. "Archie, that foot is turning to gold. Don't you change a thing and you'll be set for life."

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain : Part 4

almost there! If you are just joining in, don't miss the previous parts to this tragic story.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The night before his team got the official announcement that they were bound for the Rose Bowl, Archie tossed and turned in his sleep. He dreamt of his father's advise. "Archie, don't you mess around with that girl until you sign an NFL contract. You have a golden foot, boy. Don't change anything and you'll be set for life." He dreamt of kicking, he dreamt of contracts and mansions, but mostly he dreamt of Anne. Archie truly was in love with her, and would ask her to marry him right after he won the Rose Bowl. It had been an amazing journey, and Archie could hardly believe it had all come true as he walked into the locker room in Pasadena, wearing a pair of nearly worn out Redwings. This was what he had been dreaming of his entire life. Every night filled with dreams of kicking. Every night heeding his father's advice...."Don't change a thing." The world now revolved around him. He had it in the bag. His life was laid out for him and he knew it. The game would come down to seconds and yet another impossible feildgoal. His parents, friends, schoolmates, fans (and even old codgers) would be watching as he kicked the game-winning fieldgoal. Every NFL team would be salivating to own the golden foot. The world now belonged to Archie McCain. And his dreams played out exactly as the script had been written. It all came down to 3 seconds on the clock, and Archie's golden foot was called in to save the day. In the celebration afterwards, Archie knelt down on a knee and proposed to Anne. She immediately accepted, and they embraced, the crowd melting away until there was no one left in the world but his dear sweet Anne. It was a moment like Archie had never felt, and his love swept all thoughts of contracts aside. "I've made it already, he thought to himself. Nothing could change my path now. Every NFL team wants me...the contract is mine with whoever I want. " He gave Anne a knowing wink, and they rushed upstairs to celebrate the win, their engagement and spend the night making sweet, passionate love to each other.

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain : Part 3

The old codgers watched as Archie practiced kicking the ball. They smoked their stogies and drank their Milwaukee's Best. "I swear to ya," one would say to the other," I can see sparks fly when the boy hammers that football. I ain't never seen nothin' like it." They marveled to each other each time the ball went sailing down Green Street.

The scouts took notice of Archie's monumental, game-winning record kick, and now took turns knocking on the McCain's front door. Over the coming month's, Archie had been visited by representatives from every Big 10 college, each extolling the virtues of their particular interest, trying to get a piece of Archie's golden foot. Archie's dad loved the attention, and spent many hours chatting with the scouts and taking advantage of their spending accounts. He never hesitated to suggest that perhaps they should discuss his boy's future over dinner, knowing that each college would try to outspend the next. "Archie, my boy'" his father now said,"you have earned your ticket to college. Now is the time for you to start thinking pro. Keep your mind on kicking and you will be set for life."

It didn't take long before Archie became a sensation in college. The fans now cheered every time he took the field, knowing it meant a sure 3 points no matter what the distance. His followers now made yellow cardboard cutouts to wave like a flag as they chanted his name from the stands. Archie continued to practice, continued to wear holes in his shoes, and continued to dream of kicking the winning fieldgoal in the Rose Bowl. However, in his blossoming manhood, Archie had noticed a particular young lady that soon became his steady girlfriend. They quickly became serious about each other, but Archie still dreamed of kicking and stayed true to his father's advice. He explained to her why they couldn't take their relationship to the next level, and promised that as soon as he kicked the winning fieldgoal in the Rose Bowl and signed a contract with the NFL, they would be married and could do whatever they pleased. "Don't you mess around with that girl." his father's advice still rang true in his ears. " Don't you change a thing Archie, and you will be set for life." His father's advice had been sound all these years, and he had followed and trusted this mantra. It had taken him this far...just a bit longer and he could share his dreams with his new found love.

It was a phenomenal year for Archie's team. They won every game, although some did come down to a last ditch fieldgoal from ridiculously long distances. In these games, the coach would laugh and send in the man with the golden foot. It was like money in the bank. Archie sliced the college records, and knew it was all coming true. His future was already written. He was set for life. Knowing this, Archie's dreams now turned to love and sex and marriage.....and kicking with his golden foot.

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain : Part 2

By the time he was in high school, Archie had become very popular because of his golden foot. He was the youngest player ever to make the varsity squad. A gang of girls followed him everywhere, competing for the chance to be his first love. "Don't let them girls distract you Archie, " his dad warned. "If you just keep kicking, you'll get a full scholarship to college. That foot of yours is golden, Archie. Don't you change a thing and you'll be set for life." Archie knew it was true. He could see well beyond high school by now. He dreamt of college and of kicking the winning fieldgoal in the Rose Bowl. Archie also knew that his parents couldn't afford to send him to college, especially now that he was wearing out the toes of his special Redwings at the rate of about a pair each season. Archie spent all his free time kicking the football, ignoring the advances of the entire cheer squad. On Homecoming night, the score was tied with just a few seconds left. Archie's team had the ball and it was 3rd and long. Archie trotted onto the field with confidence, knowing his time had come. Even though it was to be a 62 yard attempt, the coach knew it was in the bag. The ball was snapped, and just as he had dreamed his entire life, Archie floated the ball through the uprights, carving his name in the school record books as having kicked the longest fieldgoal ever. As he prepared to bask in the glory of the homecoming dance and dressed to go meet his date, Archie's dad helped him straighten his tie and said in a solemn tone, "Archie, now you listen to me, boy. Don't you mess around with them girls, Archie. You're almost there, boy. That foot of yours is golden, and there were college scouts watching you tonight. Don't you change a thing, and you'll be set for life. Promise me boy. Don't you mess around with them girls." Archie knew it was true. If he could just make it to college he had plenty of time then for girls. His golden foot would get him there as long as he didn't change a thing.

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain

This is an amusing little story I wrote in September 2007 after awakening from a very fitful night's sleep. I will present it in several parts over the next few days so as not to bore you all at once.
Enjoy!
Dave

The Golden Foot of Archie McCain Part 1

Archie McCain had a golden foot. His father knew it early on. Young Archie, barely able to walk, could kick his SpongeBob ball halfway across the living room. Archie's dad would smile a huge toothy grin and say proudly to his wife, "That boy has a golden foot. If he keeps kicking like that, he'll be set for life." Archie and his dad spent hours playing ball every evening, and by the time Archie was ready for kindergarten he could kick a football over the roof of his house. Every night, Archie's dad tucked him into bed and would say "Archie, that foot of yours in turning to gold. You keep kicking like that and you'll be set for life. Don't you change a thing Archie. You'll be set for life." Archie fell asleep each night dreaming of playing football and kicking the winning fieldgoal in the big game.
The old codgers that lived on Archie's street remember him well. They would sit on their front porches on the hot summer evenings and watch Archie place kick the football up Green Street. "That boy sure can kick" they would say as they smoked their stogies and drank their Milwaukee's Best. "Yep, that foot of his is turnin' to gold." Archie spent hours upon hours kicking that football, dreaming of his chance to win the big game.
By the time he was in junior high school, Archie's parents had to special order steel toed shoes from the Redwing store downtown. Archie spent so much time kicking the football that he kept wearing holes in the toes of his shoes. The special shoes were expensive, but not nearly as expensive as replacing a pair of lesser shoes each week. His parents had very little money, but gladly paid the extra to keep Archie's golden foot protected. "Archie, you just keep kicking," his dad would say as he tucked him into his small bed with its tattered mattress and torn sheets. "That foot of yours is turning to gold. Don't you change a thing and you'll be set for life." Archie fell asleep and dreamed of kicking the winning fieldgoal in the big game.

And the winner is.....

Congratulations to Phil from http://halloweentinkering.blogspot.com/. The mighty brains at Random.org have chosen him from the many entries of the Shadow Farm 2010 Easter Giveaway.
Phil will get his choice of one of my Gruesome Easter Eggs, and will also get to choose an item from my etsy shop to call his own. ($40 or less Phil....)

Thanks to everyone who entered this contest and have joined on to follow me on this blog and / or Twitter.

Last week for the Easter Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who has entered already...rest assured I know who you are and your entries will be counted...

If you haven't entered yet...what are you waiting on???? Go to this post to enter...do it now!


make sure to check out the rules so you get the maximum chances at the prize!

Going Herping tonight!

For those who are unfamiliar, "Herping"is a term used for going out searcing for amphibians. Specifically, I am looking for frogs and salamanders, who like to spawn in the cold waters of the early spring. A typical Herping adventure involves going out in the dark, wading into a likely pool or swampy spot, and observing creatures with a bright flashlight. It is easy to spot the liitle beasties because their eyes reflect the flashlight....but don't be fooled into thinking that all shiny eyes belong to frogs and salamanders...spiders eyes will shine back too!

Don't forget to enter the Shadow Farm Easter giveaway ( see post below!)

The Shadow Farm 2010 Easter Giveaway!

Here it is folks, My first ever giveaway! Thanks to everyone who has joined me over the past year ( well, almost a year) Without further ado, here's how this contest will work:

To participate, you must be a follower of The Shadow Farm Blog or follow theshadowfarm on Twitter. If you already are, thanks. If not, join up and let me know.

Write a Blog entry about this Giveaway = 1 entry

Tweet about this Giveaway = 1 entry

Write a new blog entry about your favorite Shadow Farm post = 1 entry

You may accumulate as many as 4 Entries. "How is this possible?", you ask...well, to have your entries counted, you must tell me as a comment on this blog post what you have done to earn the above 3 entries. Then, follow the person who has commented above you ( and tell me) to earn the 4th entry. The first person to comment, gets the 4th entry as a freebie, since there is nobody above them.

Here's the prize! I am making Gruesome Easter Eggs to sell on Etsy this year. You will win one egg in your choice of color PLUS your choice of any Shadow Farm on Etsy item $40 or less.( item must be available for sale at the end of this contest.)

Contest will run until midnight, March 27th (central) Valid entries will be chosen at random on Random.org

Good Luck, and thanks again for being a part of The Shadow Farm!

Recent Projects before I go on Vacation

Just stopping in before I go AWOL for a week or so. I am getting ready to travel to Washington DC with my son's high school robotics team to compete in the FIRST Robotic's Breakaway competition. Should be a great time, and a fantastic experience for the kids to travel and compete in our nation's capitol ( can't say that without sounding like Forest Gump...lol)
So in the meantime, here's a few projects I have wrapped up, and will be listing on Etsy
when I return.




Here's the first peek at the Creepy Easter Egg project I have been working on. Somebody's going to win one of these horrible eggs.

Calamari's Revenge: nearing completion

Painting of the body and exterior 'device' nearly complete now. I still need to paint the eyes, but am putting this off knowing that this one detail will make or break this sculpt. I will most likely go back and intensify some of the body highlighting...I have a tendency to hold back while painting in the early stages. The aging and general crustiness of the outer shell will get some highlighting, and I have begun the natural aging of the copper legs. A mixture of ammonia, vinegar, and salt will bring out a greenish-whitish patina to the copper. I will attempt to match this on some of the electrical components on the top shell to provide some contrast to the piece.

Shadow Farm Giveaway coming soon!

I've been slowly getting back into the groove of creating creepy little things, and have some cool Easter items on the bench right now. Just thought I'd throw out a little teaser that I will be having my first ever giveaway contest in the next few days ( or weeks...depending on how soon I get the first batch done)



Thanks a bunch to everyone who has signed on as followers since I started this blog nearly a year ago...now let the excitement and suspense build as we approach the creepy holiday that is know as Easter.

Squid Update

Tweaked the sculpt a bit...more attitude with a heavier eyebrow...more tentacles for abundant menacing joy. This guy is ready for some paint if I can ever find the time.

On a side note, I have some plans for a series of creepy Easter projects...stay tuned as I get a little further along with that project.

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

What better way to spend a Sunday than fine-tuning a bio-mechanical squid-thing?

Calamari's Revenge:
Offshore drilling. Pollution. Overfishing. Humans have finally tipped the scales and pissed off the ocean's inhabitants. The resourcefulness and intelligence of the humble cephalopod has long been underestimated. Call it an alien invasion if you like. Call it revenge. Whatever you call it, prepare for a drastic change in the order of things. The meek are ready to claim their inheritance.

The White Death

Nine inches of snow fell last night, coating everything with a heavy layer of white death.
It is quite beautiful this morning.

The Stickman bends low with his new burden. he awaits the arrival of the birds,
anxious to provide shelter as they forage for seeds.

A stunned face has emerged,
an ordinary object transformed by the heavy blanket of snow.

Phobias

Phobia: an anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situations

Let me stress "irrational". Knowing the phobia is irrational doesn't help a bit. The fear is real. I have never encountered another person with the following set of fears, but was wondering if by chance anyone else out there can relate.

Fear of metal awnings. Not the entire awning, just the scalloped edge that hangs down in the front. They always seem to be some shade of green or white, weathered to a dull powdery finish, streaks of brownish orange running downward to a rusty-sharp terminus. The awning taunts me as I walk along an otherwise welcoming sidewalk, projecting its razor edge downward, waiting for the opportunity to open up a laceration in my forehead. Put me next to the buildings...put me out in the street...I cannot walk under the front edge of a metal awning.

Cuttle bones. These are the internal framework of the alien creature known as a cuttlefish. They are commonly sold as a chew-toy for parakeets. I cannot touch them...they give me the creeps. I know that as soon as would try to pick it up, a splinter will jut out and embed itself deep underneath my fingernail...no, I'm not guessing. I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN! As I type this, I have actual pain running up my arms just thinking about the evil, evil little torture device known as a cuttle bone.

Emery Boards. A device specifically designed for smoothing one's fingernails. Oh yes, please oh please remove my fingernails by means of the slow arduous torture of repeated abrasion...GAH! I cannot reach into my wife's purse for fear of grabbing one by mistake. Sandpaper? no problem. I can ( and often do) use sandpaper all day long. I have no aversion to sandpaper...but adhere it to a popsicle stick and you can watch me wet myself in fear. Oh God....emery board inside of a popsicle? That would be the end-all torture prank of all time....licking down to the stick of a popsicle to find the abrasive gratings of an emery board hidden within, silently waiting for your teeth.

Ok, so I have bravely exposed my phobias for the world to see and ridicule. It hasn't helped a bit to admit these things. So who else wants to step up to the plate and talk about what truly scares you?

Gobb the Corpulent: finished pix

All of a Sudden.....

What a strange phrase.

"ALL OF A SUDDEN"...also known as Suddenly : . 1. Happening without previous notice or with very brief notice; coming unexpectedly, or without the common preparation; immediate; instant; speedy.


Question:

If something happens with limited notice, is it appropriate to say it happened 'SOME of a sudden'? If more than adequate notice has been given, would that be 'NONE of a sudden'?


Suddenly I have a headache behind my eye.

Gobb, the Corpulent Vampire

Nearly ready for paint.

on Vampires...

It may come as a shock to people who have followed my work, but I really don't watch many horror movies. I enjoy a good suspenseful thriller, don't get me wrong, but horror for the sake of horror has never been my thing. A strange thought has just crossed my mind, though. I do not remember ever seeing a portrayal of a fat vampire. Hollywood tends to cast the dirty bloodsuckers as muscular beings with sexy bodies...all chiseled and cool, with perfect hair and expensive fashionable clothing. Has there ever been a portrayal of a morbidly obese vampire? Seriously, what would keep a vampire from falling victim to the sins of gluttony, particularly in a world where the blood supply is already tainted with cholesterol and fatty deposits? If a vampire ravenously feasts on fatty blood, does he in turn become a mound of flesh?

Hmmmmm....

Hibernation

Wow, it has been a while since I have posted anything new here...mostly because I have not had anything new to post. Here's a quick update:

Mr. Sandman fell over on Christmas eve. Logic tells me it was because of the heavy wind we had that night, but the kid in me says I should look for sleigh tracks and aggressive hoof prints across his robes. I got nothing for Christmas...not even a lump of coal. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to put the grim grinning reaper up during Christmas after all.

New Year's Eve was alot of fun. I spent two nights camping with family, and observed about 300 insane people taking a New Year's Day swim in near freezing water. Winter camping is a challenge, even when camping in a heated trailer.

Yesterday was my 43rd birthday. I celebrated by starting a few new sculptures that will end up on Etsy. I am exploring a new line of thought in my creations this time....I have never sculpted large-boned beings with ample flesh. I am enjoying the challenge very much, and am looking forward to seeing my morbidly obese vision come to life.