The Seven Deadly Sinners

Guest Sinner: Robert Hardgrave

Let me introduce you to Robert Hardgrave, who is not only an incredibly talented artist with a unique vision, but a super great guy as well. Whenever I get tired of all the Kustom Kulture Kliches, I go look at Robert's page for a refreshing reminder that there are people out there who are doing Something Different.

Robert Hardgrave has inhabited the city of Seattle, WA for the past 14 years. He adores coffee, delicious breakfasts, and listening to Black metal. He spends his days, adorned with headphones, drawing and painting detailed creatures and evironments. The Internet is his friend and he likes to go to the mailbox to get his mail. Robert has a duo show coming up in November with Warren Dykeman at BLVD Gallery in Seattle. Next year he has his first solo show at BLK/MRKT Gallery in Culver City, CA.

As promised, a picture of piles of boxes

Ugghh

Head like a Hole

Here's an interesting ebay auction: Antique Medical Instruments - Trepan Skull Drill

This unique set inculdes the following:
Trepan - Hand tool for drilling holes in the skull (with 2 extra bits)
Scalp Retractor
2 Hemostats - 1 stright, 1 curved
Jaw Opener
Metal case with Van Horn Sterilized Silkworm Gut. (Glass viles are intact)

This is definitely the sort of thing you need when attending a Trepanation Party.
(painting by Andrew Brandou)

Gross Anatomy #2: Ejaculatory Ducts

From Textbook of anatomy and physiology, 8th Edition, The C.V.Mosby Company 1971

Fig. 14-4 Formation of the ejaculatory ducts by union of the seminal vesicles with the seminal duct just before entrance into the prostate gland. The ejaculatory ducts open into the prostatic portion of the urethra.

Well, to me it looked like a big old bug, so I painted it that way. (acrylic on paper)

Sorry boys, if this makes you squirm. Here's Gross Anatomy #1: Uterus Monster.

Welcome To Wide Open City

Yes, I heart Vancouver. I am compelled to pay tribute to it as often as humanly possible.

You'll come for the 99-cent pizza slices, but stay for the smack!

OH MY EYES

I love this sort of optical fun, even though it does make my head hurt after a while. It was sent by a friend who included two other images and this writeup:

Are these patterns moving or completely stationary? The patterns are used to test the level of stress a person can handle. The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress. Alleged criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly. However, senior citizens and kids see them standing still. None of these images are animated - they are perfectly still.

I did a bit of digging around and found some more information on Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena, including the dizzy-making Rotating Snake image. Dr. Michael Bach debunks the stress test story, but goes on to scour your eyes with tidbits like the Enigma, the Waterfall Illusion, and the terrifyingly named Eye Jitter.

If you now need a fistful of aspirin, go here for a little soothing eye candy. (Thanks, Kelly!)

Ghost Photos

Another late night working and while I'm waiting for the designs to upload I decide to look up a little ghostly fun. Here's an eerie image I found taken in 1919.

"This intriguing photo, taken in 1919, was first published in 1975 by Sir Victor Goddard, a retired R.A.F. officer. The photo is a group portrait of Goddard's squadron, which had served in World War I aboard the HMS Daedalus. An extra ghostly face appears in the photo. In back of the airman positioned on the top row, fourth from the left, can clearly be seen the face of another man. It is said to be the face of Freddy Jackson, an air mechanic who had been accidentally killed by an airplane propeller two days earlier. His funeral had taken place on the day this photograph was snapped. Members of the squadron easily recognized the face as Jackson's. It has been suggested that Jackson, unaware of his death, decided to show up for the group photo." Link

Then I came across this site with the Best Top Ten Ghost Photos. Great, now I'm totally creeped out. I keep looking over at the dark window right next to me...

Cute Pink Baby Deer kisses Bob Ross

Here's a shot from our recent drive from Pt. Arena, CA (my illustrious home town) back up to Portland, OR.

Long, hot, grueling I-5. So many semi's and religious talk radio and pee stops. Yea though; our spirits were mightily lifted by the cheery trinkets entrenched upon our dashboard- an adorable little felt deer creature by Haruko Nishimura (of Degenerate Art Ensemble and Buttersprites fame) and the always intriguing foam Bob Ross head that Kipling brought me all the way from olde Canadia, joined by a dead Dahlia from our new yard, some plastic worms, and an Otis easter card. Touched by precious objects of such delight how can one not witness a great rapture and zest of joie de vivre yet the forces of Satan surround us at all turns?

2006 Calgary Zombie Walk

Today I walked with a zombie. I walked with a lot of zombies. It was the Second Annual Calgary Zombie Walk, and it was a thing of beauty. Zombies rushed restaurants with plate glass windows, freaking out the squares within; zombies held up traffic, zombies were befuddled by barricades, and a Michael Jackson Thriller zombie scared at least one small child (that I saw). Zombie blood dribbled down the sidewalks, and bloody handprints appeared on department store windows, banks, and bus kiosks.

Here are a few pictures I took, here is a nice Flickr set by someone else, and here's a link to the official zombie walk site. Now they just need to add a bit of music at the end of the road...

Edited to add: I was playing on Flickr, and here are more pictures!

Apparitions at Lunar Boy

Saturday, October 14, 2006 6-9 PM
"Apparitions" a Halloween-themed Group Show
LUNAR BOY GALLERY
1133 Commercial Street
Astoria, Oregon

An Event Not To Miss!

The Jack-O-Lanterns were hung by the hay bales with care, in hopes that something frightening soon would be there...

Mark your calendars for the event of the season, "Apparitions" the Halloween themed show opening at Lunar Boy Gallery. This exhibit will feature works by over twenty of our Lunar Boy artists including Jimmy Pickering, Chris Bivins, Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley, Kendra Bayer and Don Frank. "The fun of a group show is to see how different artists interpret a consistent theme." says Starr, owner of Lunar Boy. In one evening and at one venue, it will be possible to view a cross section of styles and media, many incorporating the wit, irony and unexpected surprises for which this gallery is known with pieces ranging from simply delightful to almost wicked.

Lunar Boy is proud to feature artists from around the country, bringing views and creative visions from other places to our beautiful little corner of the country for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. For example, a cackling witch, brewing a pot of potion that conjures images of confections rather than the intended ... a true love. Or a gray suited executive of greed, running from the grim reaper while refusing to loosen the grip on his bag of gold.

The opening party will be Saturday, October 14th from 6-9 PM at the Lunar Boy Gallery located at 1133 Commercial Street in charming downtown Astoria. In addition to the standard fare of unique fine art and lively conversation, we will be brewing our own batch of festive punch and spooky food. Door prizes will abound and everyone brave enough to attend in costume will receive a special, spooky treat! For more information please call 503.325.1566 or visit our website www.lunarboygallery.com.