Haunt Dreaming 2013

I've been thinking about what I should do for my haunt this year. I really enjoyed last year's haunt, I didn't do a lot of planning or have a prior intention for the haunt, I just used what I already had to its best effect.

This year I've been thinking a lot about doing more of a show than a walk-through display. Oregon tends to be rainy and cold by the end of October, and it shore would be nice to offer my cozy little carport as a shelter for the trick or treaters bold enough to brave the elements. You know, hot cider, doughnut holes, and spook stuff.

What I've been thinking is, adapting those projector based singing jack'o'lantern effects, but instead of just a pumpkin, it would be some kind of a pumpkin monster.

Of course, old Jack 'o' the Lantern leaps immediately to mind, but I haven't been able to come up with an interesting enough twist on him. Then I discovered El Cuco, the latin American pumpkinheaded boogeyman. It offers an interesting twist for sure. Perhaps, El Gordo, the gourd headed ghoul? I dunno.

I thought I would throw the conundrum out to you folks.  Whaddayou think? In your minds eye, how do you imagine Stingy Jack or El Cuco would look?

Did you ever have a monster under the bed, or lurking in the closet? What did it look like? What was the more frightening monster that ever haunted your nightmares?

Support Practical FX!

So, I am a great fan of practical effects. From Jack Pierce to Ray Harryhausen to Tom Savini, practical makeup and FX have been a huge part of some of my favorite movies. If you're not hip to the jive, a "practical effect" is any special movie effect that is made of real stuff and filmed in camera, rather than added digitally. In recent years the old standbys, latex rubber and corn syrup, have been supplanted by green screen and AfterEffects. And even then, much of this work is being "outsourced" to Korea where labor is cheaper. In many ways, it's a sad time for cinema.

But, BEHOLD, there is a growing movement of fans who love practical effects, who recognize the immense talent, skill, care, and passion that goes into becoming a Rick Baker or Chiodo Bros.  In fact, our own feature length independent horror movie, "Blackbird Pie" features effects achieved with latex, corn syrup, and tissue paper. And lots of red food coloring.

Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. is an established practical FX house that has worked on a number of big Hollywood productions. When their work was excised or augmented with digital FX, they put their original work online, and discovered this burgeoning fanbase of practical FX fans.

So they've decided to make a movie that will pay homage to practical FX, and they're seeking funding through Kickstarter. If you love the work of these talented craftsmen, and want to show support for their craft, consider throwing a couple of bones their way! Click the image below to visit their Kickstarter page and check out the video promoting their project. It's worth it for the entertainment value alone!

May Monster Madess 2013 ~ Belated Day Seven ~ The Unnamable

You thought it was all over, you thought you were safe, but behold, my belated blasphemous behemoth for day seven of May Monster Madness: Alyda Winthrop, the titular inconceivable beast from the film The Unnamable! This monster of the day was requested by the diabolical doll maker of The Dreamspiration blog.

What a great and unique monster! Well that wraps things up for May Monster Madness I suppose. I had fun, and it was a great challenge bringing you a new monster each day!

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MMM ~ Small Update

This is just a small update to let everyone know that, strapped for time as I am today I can't do a sculpture. So I'm going to hold May Monster Madness one extra day and deliver the final monster tomorrow! See you then!

MMM ~ Day Six ~ Oyá

Good grievening you denizens of the dungeon dimensions, and welcome to Day Six of May Monster Madness 2013! We're in the homestretch, and today's monster is none other than Oyá, the voodoo goddess of chaos and destruction! Oyá was requested by Magalay Guerero of the Pagan Culture blog! Thank you Magalay, a great selection. I'm a great fan of vodun theology, with its roots in African Yoruba! Like many of the entities in the vodun pantheon, I noticed some similarities with deities of other faiths, particularly Kali the Hindu goddess of chaos destruction and transition (Hence the addition of tusks!).

Click the image for a larger version!

"I would love to see a sculpture of Oyá, beautiful and lethal maybe covered in gore from the last zombies who tried to defy her"

-Magalay Guerrero

Well, that's day six sorted. What malignant monstrosity will round out the week on the morrow? Visit us then to see!

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MMM ~ DAYFIVE ~ ¡The Weird-Oh!

Grim evening ladies and gents! Welcome to day FIVE of May Monster Madness 2013. Mua ha ha, today's little monster is the Weird-Oh, the iconic cousin of Rat Fink, both the madcap inventions of the disordered mind of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.

 Click the image for a larger version

For a time there was a whole set of Weird-Oh's model kits. They're all really cool. You've just got to love that classic Weird Art style.

Mo' monsters coming soon! My energy is starting to flag a little... will I make it to Day Seven? You'll just have to tune in to see! Until next time, kiddies!

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MMM ~ Día Cuatro ~ Chupacabras!

Welcome, welcome, to day FOUR of May Monster Madness 2013, the day of the deadly goat sucker, El Chupacabras, as requested by Justine of Justine's Halloween blog.

 Click on the image to see a larger version.

"How ambitious! I'd like to see you create a Chupacabra type creature. At least in my mind, those are monsters. You could get creative with that one, since everyone seems to have a different idea of what those look like!"

-Justine

Thank you, Justine, for your suggestion! So what malicious monstrosity will be next? Only time will tell, but if you have a monster that you'd like to see sculpted in glorious 3D, post it in the comments and maybe your lucky monster will come up! In the meantime, may I entice you to peruse the other blasphemous blogs participating in May Monster Madness this year:

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MMM ~Day Three~ Poor Erik

Greetings my fine fuliginous fiends, and welcome to Day 3 of May Monster Madness 2003. The day of poor Erik, also known as The Phantom of the Opera! The Phantom was requested by Doc Theda, of Theda's Crypt, a most excellent repository of horror ephemera!

Loosely based on Lon Chaney Sr's iconic Phantom makeup, but with a few of my own twists. Click on the image to see a larger image.

Here are a couple of renders with alternate shaders to show off the contour.

 

Well, what monster is in store for tomorrow? Wait and see kiddies, wait and see. And while you wait, why not browse some of the other blogs participating in May Monster Madness?

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MMM ~ Day Two ~ The Batboy (No Relation)

Hello boils and ghouls, and welcome to Day Two of May Monster Madness 2013. Today's monster is, The bilious Batboy (no relation)

Batboy comes from the stygian deeps of my own imagination (I like to draw monsters). More new monsters tomorrow! In the meanwhile, why not explore the other abominable blogs participating in May Monster Madness?

May Monster Madness 2013 ~ Day1 ~ The Grotesque Glass Man

Hello dear fiends and welcome to day one of May Monster Madness 2013, and our very first monster, the Grotesque Glass Man, suggested by Wicked Ked of the WicKED Ways Blog!

"I would like to see a ghostly visage comprised of broken glass. The face being distorted in total anguish and the glass speaking of some horrible accident that helped form the lost soul."

-KED

So, day two coming up tomorrow. Which monster will be next? And I still have slots, so if you have a monster that you'd like to see sculpted in glorious 3D, post in the comments and maybe the next monster will be YOURS!

And by all means, check out the other blogs that are participating in May Monster Madness, below!

May Monster Madness - Sneak Peak

Since I've committed to make 7 solid days of May Monster Madness artwork, I've been practicing in Sculptris ahead of time. Made this last night, it's a corpse in progress...

And there's more, I'm taking requests. If you have a monster of choice that you'd like to see rendered in glorious 3DIMENSIONS post below!  Submit your monsters now!