The Red Moon

 This is a speed paining I created during a small painting class the other night right after the lunar eclipse. I only had about an hour and a half, so it is pretty basic. I think for the time invested that it turned out well. 

The Incomplete Works of Ethan Black

 I have not finished this painting and it bothers me. There is just not enough hours in a day. Mainly because the man steals them for his own profit. 

State Fair

 I work the state fair every year. My IT company helps with software and internet issues every year. This year there were a few great Halloween elements I want to share with you. This cup came home with me. 

I loved this Cerberus woodburning. 

Always happy to see pumpkins and there were a lot, but I did not get photos of all of it.

There was a table decorating contest, this one gets my vote. lol

There was a Jack o Lantern themed ride for kids. I did not have time to get closer. 

Shadows

 The folks at work thought my Halloween décor for the office was a little too creepy. lol

The Cat's Meow

 I purchased a plastic cat silhouette pretty cheaply to add to the front yard. It goes great with the witch one on the other side of the porch. 

I keep these out year around. 

Waiting for October

 Soon...

Painting Classes

 I have taught painting classes at Robin's Gallery for fifteen years. Our paintings are rarely of a nature to share here, but this one for September fits the vibe here. I have to keep the subjects simple, as the students are often new to painting and I do not want a lot of tears. (It has happened) Here are some others we have done around this time of year. 

I have always used a lot of blue, and I am trying to stop or at least reduce it. lol

RAW

 

F This Summer Heat!

 By late summer, I am really tired of the summer heat. I have never done well in it. (I come from the land of ice and snow! Well, my ancestors do.) 

It is high time the temp starts dropping so I can get outside and enjoy myself.

The October Born

 I have always had this vison of a witch walking out to a fog covered pumpkin patch just as a big yellow moon rises over the hills on Halloween night. There are only a few gourds remaining, and they are all the twisted and rotten remnants of the harvest. She raises her hands and casts a spell. The pumpkins start to move and crack open, spilling green mist and an eerie glow. From each a different type of monster rises. A skeleton, a ghost, a vampire, a werewolf, a giant spider, and a mummy. The newly formed army of the night follow her into town to fashion a Halloween nobody will ever forget. 

(If a movie producer wants to make this, I can provide storyboards and concept designs.)

A Little Thorny

 I made this fake plant to sit with my real plants. I wanted to add a bit more magic to it all. 

Witch Hat

 I have an upcoming crafting class where we will be making little witch hats. It is kind of cute for my taste, but I can't deny that they are pretty. 

New Friends

 Critters gather in my yard sometimes. Everything else is well mowed, sprayed, and little food can be found. I like to keep a bit of my yard wild, and it makes all the difference. These two showed up on the same night, and I hope to see them return often. The children of the night just want to eat and be safe, I will help if I can. I hope you will too. 

Nightmare Spider

 This time we are getting really creepy. Most of what I draw and paint is pretty tame and not very frightening. I am always trying to improve on that. This creature is pretty frightening. It used the mummified skin and bones of its prey for a kind of shell and place to hide in wait of prey. When prey gets near, it leaps up and attacks. For some reason I imagine that the webbing of the creature is a dull black and hard to see in dark caverns, as well as powerful enough to ensnare a grown man. 

Halloween 2025

 Last year I was paid to decorate a yard for Halloween. This photo is a part of that project. I will try to find more. 

The Gay Blade of Frito Lay

 The last, for now, of our Frito Lay figure inspired illustrations.

The Gay Blade. 

Who seems to be an executioner. This type of subject was a common theme in this era of horror.

Nosferatu

I think I have painted Nosferatu like vampires more than any other monster. 

 

Harry Scary

 

Harry Scary is our next Frito Lay figure. I guess he is a werewolf with real big ears.... I don't know. Drawing him was fun. I hope you like it. Only one more to go. I do not own any of the other three yet, so I do not have them to use for reference. Stay tuned for The Gay Blade...Is that really what he is called? 

Yep. 

CROWS

 I have started building a relationship with the local crows. I have always loved wildlife and wanted to connect with them. I have seeing them gathering under the old maple tree in my front yard to eat the corn I have provided. Once they have gotten familiar with me, I plan to incorporate them in my yard haunt. I am going to put food in a custom built corpse to make it look like they are eating him. 

ALL ARE WELCOME!

 Please join me for spooky shenanigans!

TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE

“Man lives in the sunlit world of what he believes to be reality. But … there is — unseen by most — an underworld. A place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit — a Darkside.”

And now so does my water bottle. I am pretty happy with my TFTDS Ep JACK O LANTERN STICKER. I think they are going to prove to be really durable. Many more fun things to come at my STORE.

Mad Mummy

 

The Mad Mummy from the Frito Lay toys of the 1960s. The third in my series of drawings based on these tiny toys. I was not into this guy when I started. I thought he was pretty boring, but he turned out pretty well, I think. What do you think about him? Mummies are a favorite of mine, but the toy is pretty simple and he is not very detailed. I added a lot more texture than the toy has, and some visible teeth in his mouth slit.