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Archive for monsters

Halloween Countdown: Monster Vitamins (Starring Vincent Price)

Posted in absurd, advertising, animation, halloween, monsters, music, video with tags absurd, advertising, animation, halloween, monsters, music, video, vincent price on October 14, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Vincent Price’s voice can make absolutely anything sound ominous with a twist of undeniable sophistication, as evidenced by this 1974 commercial for children’s vitamins.

Some might say he “sold out” with product endorsements like these. But I think he knew how (comically) amazing various products would be with his iconic presence behind them. I like to believe he enjoyed the irony.

If you’re feeling particularly masochistic today, you can listen to one side of the “Monster Vitamins Record.” But…you’ve been warned.

Source

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Halloween Countdown: Chad Wehrle

Posted in art, illustration, monsters, undead with tags art, illustration, monsters, undead teds on October 11, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Chad Wehrle sites the “masters of spook” Stephen Gammell, Edward Gorey and Donn Kenn among his influences.

I see Gammell’s spirit most of all in this work (which is great because he’s one of my all time favorite illustrators).

I just love the effect of broad, skillful smudging/erasing combined with very fine line work.

Chad Wehrle

Halloween Countdown: Undead Teds

Posted in horror, monsters, plush, toys, undead with tags horror, macabre, monsters, plush, toys, undead, undead teds, zombie on October 9, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

It’s pretty easy to find a variety of plush zombie creatures these days, but Undead Teds are a cut above (pun intended).

Watch one in action first:

Each UndeadTed is painstakingly made with individually custom-sculpted parts and hand-painted for a unique, grisly finish.

My favorite part of the descriptive text on the site is the following disclaimer:
Please note this is NOT intended as a toy and as such is NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.

Undead Teds

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Halloween Countdown: Spooky SheWalksSoftly Jewelry

Posted in cats, etsy, horror, jewelry, kitsch, monsters, shewalkssoftlyetsy, skulls and skeletons, vintage with tags cats, etsy, film, horror, jewelry, kitsch, lover's eye, monsters, skulls and skeletons, vintage on October 7, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

My Etsy shop now has plenty of goodies that would be perfect accessories for Halloween season attire. They range from silly and spooky to sophisticated yet haunting.

Silent horror, spookshows, vintage illustration!

Skull cameos, Beistle classics, kitsch!

Lover’s Eyes (of man and beast)!

…and much more.

There is also a giveaway running this week, so be sure to check that out.

SheWalksSoftly Etsy Shop

Halloween Countdown: Universal Monster Keychain Flashlight Portraits

Posted in kitsch, monsters, retro, toys, vintage with tags bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein, John Purlia, kitsch, monsters, retro, toys, vampire, vintage, wolfman on October 4, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

This series of Universal Monsters keychain flashlights released in 1995 (on which you press a button on the back to illuminate the heads) are kind of cool. BUT…

I’m posting them here because they were made in “portraits” by John Purlia, the master of elevating and imbuing all forms of kitsch with a life force via meticulous staging and photography.

Most of Purlia’s scenes are quite elaborate and rich with symbolism (you should really check out his website), but I love the color choices and singular focus in these shots.

Look at those cold, dead eyes!

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think the Wolfman, with his shifty sideways glance, might be my mine. Which one is yours?

John Purlia

4 Comments »

Halloween Countdown: Dennis Carlsson

Posted in anatomy, art, halloween, macabre, monsters with tags anatomy, art, cartoon, halloween, horror, macabre, monsters on October 3, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Dennis Carlsson gives beloved pop culture cartoon characters a horror makeover.

I particularly love the way he does teeth and shining viscera.

Which cartoon would you like to see Carlsson reimagine?

Dennis Carlsson

2 Comments »

Halloween Countdown: Peeping Thomas Vampire

Posted in decoration, halloween, monsters, undead with tags decoration, halloween, monsters, undead on October 1, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Welcome to the Halloween Countdown! I couldn’t wait to post this window decoration from Victorian Trading Co. But I found the link was gone, and the original Peeping Thomas product had been replaced with a Peeping Thomas “vampire.” I feel it’s a major downgrade.

Here is the first version:

This has be to be the most legitimately creepy Halloween decoration I’ve seen. It’s not over the top ghoulish, and the face looks almost real from a distance.

Here is the new version:

Come on…did that figure really need BLOOD? Now it’s closer to a Halloween superstore item. Do you agree, or do you think the blood works?

Peeping Thomas Vampire

3 Comments »

Subway Doodle

Posted in art, monsters, street art with tags art, monsters, street art on August 30, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I don’t know anything about the identity of Subway Doodle since I only have an Instagram handle (@subwaydoodle).

The artist takes photos and draws over them with his iPad. The results are rather brilliant, and often hilarious.

Keep in mind, our eyes and ears can only perceive a relatively narrow range of stimuli. Can we really be certain these creatures aren’t sitting next to (or looming over) us? 😉

Subway Doodle

2 Comments »

Desktop Goodies 8/24

Posted in absurd, anthropomorphic, Books, cats, comics, humor, illustration, nature, puppets, robots, sci-fi with tags absurd, anthropomorphic, antiques, Books, cats, comics, creatures, humor, illustration, monsters, nature, pulp, puppets, robots, sci-fi, sea on August 24, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I’ve been looking at a lot of historical nautical maps lately. What maps lacked in accuracy 500 years ago, they sure made up for with extravagant design. I’d be pretty thrilled if this guy showed up on my GPS.

Sadly, it’s pretty clear that “solitudes” has a double meaning here.

I don’t think this is what she meant by “Calgon, take me away!”

Actually, he said you guys were more like acquaintances. Just sayin’.

Breathtaking…

DY-NO-MITE! Actual mites, I mean.

You mean cats can saw wood and build things while mine have been eating and sleeping all day? Freaking freeloaders.

Speaking of cats…

That new fertilizer did wonders for the harvest.

Ugh. One of those evenings.

This requires careful planning.

I stared at this for like five minutes in a futile attempt to decide which one is creepier.

Juan Jose Surace

Posted in art, monsters, sea with tags art, Juan Jose Surace, lowbrow, monsters, pop surrealism, sea on August 13, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

How about some marvelous monsters and other strange goodies? Today I bring you the captivating creatures of Juan Jose Surace.

At least on my computer screen, these are showing up very small, so definitely click to enlarge. You don’t want to miss the details of these…aquatic bereaved.