Scotty ART

Georgie

2012-02-11T17:24:00.000-05:00

A collection of black and white illustrations from Robert Bright’s Georgie published in 1944.

Georgie is the story of a friendly little ghost in search of a new home to haunt.

The delightful text is accompanied by playful black and white drawings that inspire readers of all ages.

Meet Mr. Squiggs

2012-02-11T10:57:00.002-05:00

Mr. Squiggs was a grumpy, grouchy and nasty old man. Mr. Squiggs didn’t like children, animals or grown-ups. The only thing Mr. Squiggs really liked was Halloween and being left alone.

Sounds like my biography.

Mr. Squiggs is the main character in The Magic Pumpkin, a book by Lucille E. Sette and illustrated by Phyllis L. Tildes published in 1984.

Over the years I have found many Halloween themed children’s books at garage sales, thrift stores and used book sales.

These books offer something wonderful to the adult reader, they are like bite sized pieces of candy offering instant gratification when looking for a Halloween fix. The story is the candy shell and the illustrations are the nougat filling.

The next time you feel the need for an inspirational boost try thumbing through the pages of an old Halloween children’s book because you just might find something that sparks your imagination.

This Is What Halloween Looks Like

2012-02-10T17:23:00.002-05:00

When I close my eyes and think of Halloween this is what I see.

Looking at the illustration I can also smell autumn leaves, smoldering candles and hear wind rustling through barren branches.

The illustration is from a children’s book called The Pumpkin Smasher written and illustrated by Anita Benarde.

Published in 1972 this book is a delightful tale of a small town considering cancelling Halloween due to a mysterious vandal smashing all of the town’s pumpkins.

The book is thirty-two pages of Halloween nostalgia, a rare trip to a much simpler time where anything was possible, especially on Halloween night.

The Pumpkin Smasher is currently out of print, I was fortunate enough to find a copy at a local thrift store for a quarter, not a bad price for a trip back in time.

Happy Groundhog Day 2012

2012-02-01T14:56:00.001-05:00

Periodic Table

2012-01-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

Click the photo to enlarge.

100 Pumpkin Templates

2012-01-27T23:26:00.001-05:00

Click the above photo to head over to Tortured Pumpkins where you will find one hundred new pumpkin designs...click each photo on the site and a window containing the template will open. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T20:08:00.003-05:00

A Little Poe

2011-11-10T22:52:00.002-05:00

Helped my youngest son with his English homework tonight, he is reading Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart" and we found this great short on youtube. The animation is fantastic and very entertaining, a very cool interpretation of the story.

Classic.

2011-11-06T21:40:00.000-05:00

Sacrifice

2011-11-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

Out with the old. In with the new.

Don't freak, just got rid of some old props that were damaged beyond repair or no longer needed/wanted/usable.

Sort of a haunting experience to throw props into the fire.

The Rats in the Walls

2011-11-03T19:44:00.000-04:00

Very well done short film depicting H.P. Lovecraft's The Rats in the Walls.

Halloween 2011 Gallery

2011-11-01T10:45:00.000-04:00

Click here to go to the gallery.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T11:54:00.001-04:00

Embrace the Darkness

2011-10-28T20:55:00.000-04:00

We decked out our back yard in a very scary fashion. Saturday, October 29^th will be the only night to view our Halloween display. This year the props are in the back yard along with a roaring fire, s’more fixings and other assorted treats. Dress warm and help us celebrate our favorite holiday.

Please park across the street and use caution crossing the road as it is currently under construction. The display is scheduled to operate from 7pm until 10pm weather permitting. Please email me if you need our address or further information.

Gusty

2011-10-20T12:33:00.001-04:00

Started blocking out the back yard last week in preparation for our October 29^th open house and since this was just an exercise in finding the best location for each prop nothing was anchored.

Two days of high winds taught me to secure everything….even if it will be moved.

Nothing is broken, just needs to be set upright again…..and anchored.

Cat vs. Spider

2011-10-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

Apocalyptic Sale

2011-10-15T13:58:00.003-04:00

Now thru October 21^st, 2011 you can save $21.00 on pieces priced over $100.00.

Also, all items priced under $100.00 have been reduced by ten bucks!

Save before the world ends …after all what are you going to do with your money once you're toast?

Happy Halloween!

Crimson Carpet

2011-10-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

In a month or so all this will be covered with snow.

Blocking The Yard 2011

2011-10-09T17:29:00.000-04:00

stack-o'-lan•tern

2011-10-09T17:12:00.004-04:00

stack-o'-lan·tern
n.pl. stack-o'-lanterns
1. A phenomenon occurring due to overabundance of Halloween props and lack of adequate storage.
2. See seasonal obsessions

Fall Magic

2011-10-04T12:56:00.000-04:00

Again, autumn has sort of crept up on me…as I was going about my day I took a second to glance at our maple tree in the front yard and it shouted that Halloween was around the corner.

Bright golden daylight, crimson leaves and crisp blue sky.

Autumn is magic.

Nice Surprise

2011-10-04T12:55:00.000-04:00

Last week was my birthday and I never get tired of turning 25.

(wink)

A few days after my birthday I was at our local 7-11 when one of the clerks surprised me with this cool ceramic skull and raven that she made for me.

We have known Deb for years and I was very touched that she though enough not only to get me a gift but to actually make something that she knew I would love.

Thanks Deb, you are awesome!

Great Pumpkin Workshop Fun

2011-10-04T12:53:00.000-04:00

I’ve been a really crappy blogger the last couple of months, seems that I’ve had to many irons in the fire.

October is our month and I promise to get off my ass and start sharing all the cool things that surround us this time of year.

We are halfway through The Great Pumpkin papier mache workshop.

Everybody seems to be having a good time and there are some very cool pumpkins in the works.

I will do a follow up blog once the workshop wraps.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2011-09-15T17:07:00.000-04:00

American Horror Story

2011-09-06T21:44:00.000-04:00

Looks interesting.

Where's Rick Baker When You Need Him?

2011-09-05T22:55:00.000-04:00

10%-WTF

2011-09-03T21:17:00.006-04:00

Watched “Season of the Witch” last night with Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman on DVD and expected a train wreck of a movie based on reviews.

Rottentomatoes.com gave the film a 10% positive which means that 90% of reviewers found the film rotten.

Nine out of ten people found this film unworthy.

Really.

Ninety percent?

For some unknown reason I feel a need to defend this movie.

It’s not terrible and it hardly deserved the onslaught of negative reviews.

With that said I will state that the film is no award winning piece of work but it is entertaining, it has some great sets and locations and some decent FX work.

The movie did what it needed to do and that was to entertain me for one and a half hours.

Do reviewers really hate Nicolas Cage so much that they trash anything he touches?

I liked “Con Air,” “National Treasure,” and “The Sorceress Apprentice” as well and these all received less than glorious reviews.

Back to “Season of the Witch,” the film is the story of two Crusaders that leave the church and find themselves charged with transporting an accused witch to a monastery for trial.

Simple premise but the film gives you plenty of eye candy.

-“300” style battle sequences.

- Plague doctors.

- Nasty black plague make-up effects.

- A cool dilapidated bridge sequence.

- Unique “transforming” wolves.

- Scary fog filled forest.

- A decent looking demon character.

- And a gorgeous looking “accused” witch.

Plus a bunch of other little touches that makes “Season of the Witch” a satisfying medieval romp with a touch of horror and supernatural thrown in for good measure, it’s an entertaining mix that in no way deserved the bad rap.

Abstract (EPIC)

2011-08-26T20:01:00.001-04:00

The Art of War.

If you have boys you probably know the term “Airsoft,” as in Airsoft guns…the modern equivalent of the BB gun.

Anyway part of this summer’s activity for both of my sons has been staging EPIC Airsoft Wars.

The definition of an Airsoft War is getting a bunch of your best buds together and shooting each other with little plastic balls.

(Proper eye protection required)

Part of the fun comes in creating elaborate Airsoft courses complete with barricades and fortresses to protect oneself against the barrage of flying plastic stingers.

Yesterday my youngest son staged another EPIC Airsoft War in our backyard and it was quite a sight to see.

Pallets, wheelbarrows and crates were all utilized to create the most EPIC warzone imaginable.

Then Kyle decided to make some shields out of cardboard.

He also decided to paint them.

And this was the result.

An EPIC abstract painting.

I’m tempted to frame the dang thing and put it up on Etsy.com for $3,000.

Somebody would buy it.

“EPIC”, an acrylic abstract painting by Kyle A. Stoll.

Good job for a kid that thinks he has no creative juice whatsoever.

EPIC indeed.

Great Pumpkin Workshop

2011-08-19T12:44:00.003-04:00

Class Description:

Spend four fun filled evenings at Legacy Art Studio and Gallery in Midland Michigan creating your very own papier mache pumpkin.

Scott A. Stoll will teach you a variety of techniques and lead you through the process of building an incredible pumpkin using your own design.

The class is fun, fast paced and chances are good you will make a few new friends during the process.

All tools and materials are supplied and no experience is required.

Time and Dates:

Tuesday, September 27^th 6-9pm

Thursday, September 29^th6-9pm

Tuesday, October 4^th 6-9pm

Thursday, October 6^th 6-9pm

Cost: $95.00 per person.

Registration:

To register please contact Hannah Manges at 989-835-1655

Legacy Art Studio and Gallery, 716 George Street, Midland, Michigan

Disclaimer:

The Great Pumpkin Workshop is recommended for ages 12 and older. Participants will need to use a variety of tools such as scissors, sharp blades and hot glue guns. The class is physical requiring standing, bending and lifting during each three hour session. Please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing. The workshop uses wheat flour, drywall joint compound, white glue and latex paint and may be unsuitable for those sensitive to these materials.

Random Sightings

2011-08-17T17:56:00.000-04:00

The Midland County Fair is going on this week and while browsing the 4-H Pavillion a few things caught my eye.

Tucked amid the thousands of items on display were some Halloween goodies as well as a few pieces made from papier mache….a little bit of October in the dog days of August.

The trolls even made it to the fair.

Spooky gingerbread house.

Lots of Halloween crafts.

Papier mache something.

Gourd carving.

Real pumpkins.

Papier mache "Despicable Me" guy.

Cool T-shirt.

More miscellaneous Halloween.

Papier mache piggie.

Some New Pumpkins

2011-08-10T22:35:00.000-04:00

Just finished three new pumpkins to be displayed at a local art gallery to promote an upcoming papier mache workshop.

Simple trash bag technique, took about three hours each to complete.

Workshop details coming soon.

Last Call

2011-08-10T22:27:00.003-04:00

Last call for entries. Contest ends Thursday, August 11th at the stroke of midnight EDT.

Click the picture for details of the 2nd Annual Build Me A Pumpkin Contest.

"21"

2011-07-31T21:04:00.002-04:00

Twenty-one very creative pumpkin designs entered in the "Build Me A Pumpkin" contest on Facebook and www.torturedpumpkins.com.

Deadline is August 11th, two winners each receiving their own custom built pumpkin from your's truly.

Click the picture above to see the entries and contest rules.

More Treasuries

2011-07-22T22:33:00.001-04:00

More collections of Etsy goods all with a common theme.

Its Got Bite

Braiiins!

Enter The Lab

The Tangled Web

Sleepy Hollow Bookshop

2011-07-22T21:52:00.003-04:00

Anyone that follows my blog knows that I adore both books and art.

The planets must have aligned last Thursday because one of my favorite places in Midland featured not only an incredible selection of used books but also some terrific fantasy artwork rendered in chalk.

The favorite place in question is Sleepy Hollow Bookshop located at 22 Ashman Circle in Midland, Michigan.

Our city has a large Barnes and Nobles in the mall which is a great place to hang out…but…if you desire something a little quainter you need to visit Sleepy Hollow Bookshop.

According to the owner the store contains at least 55,000 books at last count.

The shelves go from floor to ceiling and there isn’t a spot in the entire store where books don’t fill your entire field of vision.

The selection is diverse and chances are pretty good you will find what you are seeking.

My previous trip was to purchase a copy of Frank Herbert’s Dune so I could read it again for the umpteenth time and sure enough they had several good condition copies to choose from all at very reasonable prices.

Now what about that unicorn in front of the store?

Seems every now and then during the summer months a couple of artists will create some beautiful fantasy artwork on the cement in front of the store.

Chalk is the medium and the artwork will remain until the next downpour.

Sleepy Hollow Bookshop has been buying and trading books since 1996.

Visit their Facebook Page or Website for more information.

Treasury Treasures

2011-07-20T23:07:00.002-04:00

I’ve become a big fan of Etsy, besides it being a venue to sell my papier mache wares it is also a great showcase for creative ideas.

One of the Etsy features is something called a “treasury” which is a collection of items all belonging to a singular theme.

You can browse the treasuries or create your own.

Lately I’ve found creating treasuries to be a very relaxing and fun pastime, sort of like playing Sudoku with images.

The treasuries can contain 16 images arranged in a 4 x 4 grid, the theme can be anything from color to emotion.

Here are a few treasuries I have created; clicking on the image will take you to the treasury.

"Nothing Rhymes With Orange"

"Like Dust In The Wind"

"Demons In The Shadows"

"A Very Wise Treasury"

"Verge Of Darkness"

"Shiver Me Timbers"

Doodle Flapper

2011-07-19T16:28:00.003-04:00

Been looking for a way to add a special" thank you" when I ship orders.

Considered throwing in a small bag of candy corn.

The problem with that idea is that if I have candy corn I eat it. I'm a candy corn pig.

So instead......I've started to write my thank you notes on the inside of the box lids.

One thing leads to another and pretty soon I've doodled all over the box flaps.

Guess it makes me a Doodle Flapper.

New Site-New Contest

2011-07-17T10:49:00.001-04:00

A new blog all about pumpkins and the home of the new "Build Me A Pumpkin" contest where you have until August 11th to design your dream pumpkin and if you win I will build the pumpkin out of papier mache and send it to you before Halloween.

Two winners this year, one picked for creativity and one randomly chosen so get out your crayons or markers and start drawing.

At the time of this post there are two wonderful entries. In the next couple of weeks this site will be filled with wonderful pumpkin concepts....I hope to see you there.

Spread the word and share the fun!

Insidious

2011-07-16T00:18:00.001-04:00

Still of Lin Shaye and Leigh Whannell in Insidious

Typically I shy away from giving my opinion on movies because my taste usually does not reflect the opinion of a lot of other haunters out there.

Trick or Treat is a prime example…I really didn’t care for this film but most of my online friends raved about the movie.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion which is what makes the world great.

I saw Insidious in the theater with my two sons and really liked what I saw.

(pun intended in the previous sentence)

It was solid, it was creepy and in several places it was just plain odd.

Odd is good, kudos to those that have the balls to do something different.

I liked the story, I liked the scares and I liked the cast.

The film felt small, intimate and aware of its purpose which was to scare you silly.

It worked.

Insidious is a small film loaded with an arsenal of creative ideas especially when it shows the way psychics translate what they are experiencing.

Lin Shaye plays a psychic which helps the family with their crisis and I must say I completely adored the character, she was my new Zelda Rubinstein.

Add a gas mask to the equation and you have genius.

The movie played as well or even better on Blu Ray as on the second and third viewing I saw how all the pieces of the puzzle were well thought out.

Insidious is a well crafted film.

I want more of these types of films.

Forget the remakes and give me original ideas that deliver the goods.

For a film that cost about 1.5 million it showed that good ideas trump everything.

Insidious now ranks up there with Poltergeist as one of my favorite scary films.

Add Drag Me To Hell and you’ve got a kick ass triple feature.

Boris Sees The Light

2011-07-09T00:12:00.000-04:00

After a month of being displayed on the corner of McDonald and Larkin in downtown Midland my troll finally has some lighting, Comerica Bank got the entry light to the bank working, now to get the streetlight on the corner working.

Perpetual Motivation

2011-07-09T00:07:00.000-04:00

The last couple of days have been spent working on some new Etsy products, more tortured pumpkins.

Twenty plus pumpkins are nearing completion, it wasn’t my intent to make more pumpkins this year but it seems that my Etsy customers like these….so I have to make what works.

Some new twists with these pumpkins and I’m finding myself sort of excited to see them completed…and as always the process has generated a lot more ideas.

More ideas and more motivation, more creations and more ideas and so on and so on and so on…perpetual construction.

Blood Cankor

2011-07-08T23:47:00.000-04:00

The Blood Cankor features some really awesome textures around the eye sockets and on the skull. Add a "brain clamp" and the result is pretty hideous. The Arsenic Asylum Collection offered me a blank slate, a chance to just create without a predetermined destination, sort of like three dimensional sketches.

Inmate #015 was confined to Arsenic Asylum in 1908. Surgeons removed his eyes and used an experimental “brain clamp” in an attempt to alter his aggressive tendencies.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are made from papier mache and miscellaneous recycled materials. Each character is unique and created by hand.

The Blood Cankor was designed to be used as a hanging decoration and measures roughly 24 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the cape.

The cape is made from recycled fabric which has been distressed, dyed, painted and layered with painted cheesecloth.

A wire loop is embedded in the top of the skull to allow #015 to be suspended from a hook or cord.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are designed for interior use only and should be kept in a dry environment. The Blood Cankor weights approximately two pounds.

Visit www.arsenicasylum.com for the dark and horrifying history of Arsenic Asylum.

Available at the STOLLOWEEN Shop on Etsy.

Venom Twister

2011-07-08T23:39:00.000-04:00

I guess I've got a thing for cyclops having created three large mono-visioned creatures for my yard and a cyclops pumpkin. For whatever reason I always associate Cyclops with having telepathic powers. My main inspiration is Ray Harryhausen when it comes to single eyed beasties. This creation is a bit odd and won't cater to everyone's tastes but I sort of like him.

Inmate #026 was confined to Arsenic Asylum in 1934. Experimental surgery resulted in a single ocular socket; the surgery also damaged a portion of the frontal lobe giving the Venom Twister extrasensory ability.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are made from papier mache and miscellaneous recycled materials. Each character is unique and created by hand.

The Venom Twister was designed to be used as a hanging decoration and measures roughly 24 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the cape.

The cape is made from recycled fabric which has been distressed, dyed, painted and layered with painted cheesecloth.

A wire loop is embedded in the top of the skull to allow #026 to be suspended from a hook or cord.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are designed for interior use only and should be kept in a dry environment. The Venom Twister weights approximately two pounds.

Visit www.arsenicasylum.com for the dark and horrifying history of Arsenic Asylum.

Available at the STOLLOWEEN Shop on Etsy.

Beetle Snout

2011-07-08T23:07:00.001-04:00

I really like characters with no eyes, it gives them a sense of mystery. This creature features barbed wire wrapped around his skull which may explain the screaming, gaping mouth. Fangs round out the look, something fierce and aggressive.

Inmate #446 was confined to Arsenic Asylum in 1940. Doctors were perplexed by Beetle Snot’s level of pain tolerance which caused them to push the limits and expose #446 to excruciatingly painful forms of torture.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are made from papier mache and miscellaneous recycled materials. Each character is unique and created by hand.

The Beetle Snot was designed to be used as a hanging decoration and measures roughly 24 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the cape.

The cape is made from recycled fabric which has been distressed, dyed, painted and layered with painted cheesecloth.

A wire loop is embedded in the top of the skull to allow #446 to be suspended from a hook or cord.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are designed for interior use only and should be kept in a dry environment. The Beetle Snot weights approximately two pounds.

Visit www.arsenicasylum.com for the dark and horrifying history of Arsenic Asylum.

Available at the STOLLOWEEN Shop on Etsy.

Brain Ripper

2011-07-08T23:01:00.002-04:00

I've always wanted to create a character with an exposed brain and I found the process to be fun. The final painting technique was simple but resulted in a gooey looking mass of tissue. Screws and coiled wire gave the Brain Ripper a hint of being a laboratory experiment gone wrong. The bulging eyeball completed the look, not sure if I should be scared or sympathetic.

Inmate #066 was admitted to Arsenic Asylum in 1901. Arsenic Asylum surgeons had a field day subjecting the Brain Ripper to over one hundred surgeries designed to alter the subject’s homicidal behavior.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are made from papier mache and miscellaneous recycled materials. Each character is unique and created by hand.

The Brain Ripper was designed to be used as a hanging decoration and measures roughly 24 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the cape.

The cape is made from recycled fabric which has been distressed, dyed, painted and layered with painted cheesecloth.

A wire loop is embedded in the top of the skull to allow #066 to be suspended from a hook or cord.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are designed for interior use only and should be kept in a dry environment. The Brain Ripper weights approximately two pounds.

Visit www.arsenicasylum.com for the dark and horrifying history of Arsenic Asylum.

Available at the STOLLOWEEN Shop on Etsy.

Tomb Snagger

2011-07-08T22:55:00.001-04:00

This is one of my favorite pieces from the Arsenic Asylum Collection, I really like the classic skull/grim reaper feel the piece, especially the non-symmetrical eye sockets. Simple but creepy all at once.

Inmate #135 was confined to Arsenic Asylum in 1918. The Tomb Snagger was another successful documented case of reanimating the dead. Number 135 was brought back to life eight months after being declared legally dead.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are made from papier mache and miscellaneous recycled materials. Each character is unique and created by hand.

The Tomb Snagger was designed to be used as a hanging decoration and measures roughly 24 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the cape.

The cape is made from recycled fabric which has been distressed, dyed, painted and layered with painted cheesecloth.

A wire loop is embedded in the top of the skull to allow #135 to be suspended from a hook or cord.

Arsenic Asylum Characters are designed for interior use only and should be kept in a dry environment. The Tomb Snagger weights approximately two pounds.

Visit www.arsenicasylum.com for the dark and horrifying history of Arsenic Asylum.

Available at the STOLLOWEEN Shop on Etsy.

Good Luck Everyone!

2011-06-30T17:38:00.002-04:00

Getting ready to pack up the demon skull for the winner of HauntForum's $20 Prop Challenge....good luck everybody!

Building Arsenic Asylum

2011-06-29T22:35:00.009-04:00

On the Arsenic Asylum website I will be adding information and tutorials regarding the methods used to create the images that illustrate the story.

Creating digital environments, digital "zombification" and a behind the scenes peek of our zombie wardrobe which you will have to see to believe. Trust me, it's insane.

First up is a behind the scenes peek at building the miniature of the asylum.

Here the link to Building The Asylum.

How Much Is That Roach . . .

2011-06-29T10:14:00.000-04:00

. . . in the window?

The answer is a buck.

Found these 10 packs of plastic roaches at the Dollar Tree.

Bugs in the toy aisle.

Wish I could have gotten a picture of my wife's face as I picked up a pack and proceeded to the check out.

You would think she would be used to this sort of thing by now.

Pile of Etsy

2011-06-28T18:10:00.000-04:00

Someone on Facebook asked if I had a shot the new 21 etsy pieces all together...here's a photo of them all patiently waiting to be photographed for the etsy shop.

Decrepit inmates chill'n on the lawn...just another summer in Michigan.

Arsenic Asylum

2011-06-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

Your cell is waiting at Arsenic Asylum.

Etsy Shop Stocked

2011-06-28T12:54:00.000-04:00

Visit STOLLOWEEN on Etsy

Check out some of the new creations in my Etsy Shop, they all need good homes.

Pretty In Pink….um Purple.

2011-06-26T01:56:00.000-04:00

My free sample of Glidden paint arrived yesterday via Fed Ex.

Free + quick delivery = AWESOMENESS.

Thanks Glidden for the promotion, your paint rocks the Casbah and I’m envisioning some pretty kick ass purple zombies.

Glidden Paint.

Rock, um Paint On!

Last Teaser

2011-06-22T21:48:00.000-04:00

“When I first saw the building my first impression was darkness. The building seemed to absorb the light much the way a sponge absorbs water.”

-Dr. Arthur Corman

More Torture..I Mean Teaser

2011-06-22T17:09:00.000-04:00

"Well I see the way to go but there isn’t any light."

More Teasing

2011-06-21T12:35:00.002-04:00

"I'm too scared to run and I'm too weak to fight."

Teaser Photos

2011-06-19T22:41:00.000-04:00

A few teaser pics from my next project, more info coming soon.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T20:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Dad Day to everyone that falls into this category.

We rode our bikes downtown and had lunch on the sidewalk at Diamond Jim’s and just happened to find a publication featuring a certain troll.

Lunch was yummy (French Dip with some awesome onion rings) and had a good time with my wife and youngest son.

My oldest son is currently in Florida at Disney World but I did get a Happy Father's Day wish from him in the form of a text.

From Concept To Completion

2011-06-19T20:08:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite things to study is pre-production concept art; I find it fascinating to see how an idea changes and develops as it progresses.

Last February everyone interested in creating a troll was asked to submit concept art so the committee could see what the artist intended on creating.

The Tridge Trolls II guide book contains the original concept art for each sculpture so I thought it would be very interesting to match the original artwork with the finished piece.

In no particular order here are the trolls from concept to completion.

Click to make larger.

Who Stole The Troll?

2011-06-18T09:49:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the troll displayed in front of Dow Diamond was stolen, here’s the information.

“So Sorry to report... help us return him, Midland! On Friday, June 17th, 2011 sometime between the hours or 9:30 am and 10:30 am, an unknown person (s) stole the troll sculpture which was located near the front circle at Loons Stadium. If anyone has any information please contact the Midland Police Department at 989-839-4713 or if you wish to remain anonymous please contact Crime Stoppers of Midland County at 1800-422-JAIL.”

Here’s hoping the culprits get a big fat Egyptian curse thrown in their face.

“Troll Like An Egyptian” was created by Erik Johnson.

Erik is a talented illustrator, you can find his blog here.

Take Me Out....

2011-06-18T09:36:00.000-04:00

Last night the troll artists were treated to a Loons baseball game in the Northwood University suite.

A fun evening that included dinner, gifts and being recognized on the field prior to the game, it was great to meet the other artists and make some new friends.

Trolls: The New Batch

2011-06-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

More trolls were installed downtown this past week, more concepts, more styles and more fun.

Acrobat Troll and "Mer" Dog. This guy is still missing the "Mer" Dog.

King Putt.

RVB the Fisherman. Love the hair.

Spindle the Recycled bicycle Troll. Proudly displayed in front of a downtown bike shop.

Woodn't You Want A Kiss From Me? Intricate wood carving troll.

Solar Troll Power

2011-06-15T22:31:00.000-04:00

Right about now you are probably gagging at the thought of another troll post.

Yes I know that this is like the 15^th post regarding trolls this year, hang in there I’ve only got a couple more after this one.

In the future I will post about the automotive poly-coat used to protect the sculptures, tomorrow there will be six new trolls debuting downtown, Friday I will be at a Loons game (minor league baseball game) where all the troll artists will be recognized on the field and finally the auction in September.

In addition I’m sure there will be things that pop up this summer that warrant some sort of mention so be prepared for a few more troll topics.

The good news is that my next project is nearing completion and it’s completely, 100% certifiably Halloween related.

Scary stuff…dark stuff…the stuff of goose bumps.

But for now another blurb about the troll sculptures.

Two of the artists did something very cool, they incorporated solar powered lighting into their sculptures.

Mean and green and sure to grab your attention after dark.

“Garden Granna” features some LED lights strewn throughout her foliage hair and “The Band of Trolls” features chaser lights powered by the sun.

Kudos to the creative thinking.

Broken Boris

2011-06-15T20:37:00.002-04:00

Boris had been downtown five days when someone decided to vandalize the poor guy, it looks like they either kicked or used something to bash one of his fingers.

The troll is pretty tough so it must have taken a bit of effort to punch the hole.

After talking with the bank branch manager I came back later that afternoon with my paint, brushes, clay, paste and materials to create texture.

The broken shards of mache were removed and I filled the hole with papier clay then used a small paint brush and some paste to smooth the surface until it was flush with the remaining finger.

Normally at this point I would let the clay dry, but because the piece is on display I decided to apply paint to the wet clay to match the existing paint job.

Exterior black latex was applied to the wet clay; because the clay was wet the paint essentially dyed the clay.

You can’t really dry brush wet clay so I stippled some green paint over the black with a small brush to create a textured look.

A small amount of diluted brown acrylic was washed over the green to tone it down and match the existing shades of green.

Done.

Wet painted clay.

The goal is to let this dry then do some touch up painting and small application of sealant to match the shine of the rest of the statue.

Sitting on the sidewalk playing with papier mache as people walk by, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Kudos to the D.D.A.

2011-06-12T21:52:00.000-04:00

A shout out to Midland’s Downtown Development Authority for the fine job on the 2011 Downtown Summer Sculpture Series Guidebook, the publication is fun to read and looks great.

The Tridge Troll II guide features photos and bios of each troll and artist plus a map pinpointing each troll in its downtown location.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the guide included in the Sunday edition of The Midland Daily News, a nice start to my Sunday.

Super 8

2011-06-12T21:02:00.003-04:00

Anybody that is friends with me on Facebook knows that I've been eagerly awaiting this film all year, any movie that pays homage to the Amblin Entertainment era of Spielberg and company has to be good right?

Well I saw the movie this afternoon and....

Super 8 is a combination of Close Encounters, E.T., The Goonies, The Iron Giant and a dash of District 9.

I liked this film a lot but I can't say that I loved it.

The only thing that kept me from loving the film was the feeling they were trying a little too hard to make it feel nostalgic, it is a really great film being emotional, tender, exciting and in a couple places very scary.

I actually enjoyed the first third of the film that dealt with the characters more than the later monster/sci fi aspect.

The cast was perfect and the production design was dead on plus it had a rock'n soundtrack featuring The Knack, ELO other great songs from the late 70's.

The friendships in portrayed in the film rang true and even though I was aware they were trying to make me long for 1979 I did feel a tinge of my childhood.

The film works and is easily one of the best summer offerings in a long time.

I so wanted to be blown away but in the end I can only say I really enjoyed and respect Super 8.

I'm also thinking that the phrase "Mint" is going to be very popular this summer.

Please Feed The Troll

2011-06-11T17:09:00.000-04:00

Gotta say, I didn't see this coming.

When I built the troll I was concerned about the mouth design because it would become a receptacle for water, but instead it seems that folks are putting coins in the mouth instead.

Hey everybody, FEED THE TROLL FOR LUCK!

Only 49,998 more pennies to go to break even.

Tridge Trolls II 2011

2011-06-10T22:47:00.003-04:00

Most of the trolls were installed downtown Midland today although five or six are still MIA.

The sculptures are a nice mix of pre-formed bodies and custom built trolls made using a variety of techniques.

The following is a visual rundown of the trolls adorning the streets of downtown Midland as of Friday evening, June 10^th, 2011.

Enjoy!

First up is Boris, my papier mache creation that is sponsored by Commerica Bank.

Greenie the Gardener. (Love the vibrant colors)

Geoff Miles Stone. (Too groovy)

Benches with Tridge Troll II information...nice touch.

C.H.A.S.E. the Troll by Legacy Studios.

Trollin' the Pub. (A troll after my own heart)

Ebakaneezer the Tridge Troll. (Personally I love the vibe of this creation.)

Garden Granna. (She's a beauty..I think Boris has a thing for Granna, plus she has solar powered lights strewn throughout her hair)

Mystic Delight. (Very cool and ornate)

Planters Wart. (A very fun papier mache creation from a couple of personal friends.)

Time for Repotting. (Unfortunately I couldn't get a good view of this troll.)

Band of Trolls. (Another fun entry featuring solar powered lighting)

Troll Like an Egyptian. (Love the Gold and Blue paint scheme)

Documented Screw Ups and Such

2011-06-08T21:11:00.005-04:00

Just got word that my troll, Boris the Bolter will get installed downtown Midland this Friday (June 10^th) in front of the Commerica Bank downtown location, I guess they sponsored my troll, so many thanks to them.

Looking at my history of posting progress and tutorials I noticed that I leave out the mistakes….the goofs that seem ridiculous in hindsight but nevertheless happened during the construction process.

Even though Boris came together pretty much as planned I did make three major mistakes during the build.

The mistakes were corrected but they probably added 10 hours of work to the construction time.

Here are the three major flubs made while creating this project.

The first wrench I made was the wrong size.

Yup, the first wrench I built was not only too short but also too thick to fit in the finished hand. My choices were to either rebuild the hand or rebuild the wrench….the wrench was an easier solution.

Now I have an extra large papier mache wrench sitting in the garage.

Number two, the head was put on crooked.

Why oh why didn't I see this when I first attached it?

The answer is that I was probably tired and when I get tired some of the important details go the wayside.

After my first attempt of attaching the head, reinforcing with cardboard and applying like 10 layers of mache it struck me that the left side of the head was tilted down.

The tilt was something that no one would ever notice…my wife couldn't see it but it bothered the hell out of me.

My mind conjured a bunch of solutions to make it less noticeable but I knew the real solution was to cut the head off and do it all over again.

So…..a combination of scroll saw, hand saw and hack saw beheaded Boris and I started all over again. The final verdict is that the head was off about one inch.

Finally, the right arm was way too long.

Again I blame this on being tired but when I built the armature for the arms I went crazy with the right arm.

After the arms were built and covered with papier mache I realized the right arm was way out of whack compared to the left arm.

After stomping around at my stupidity I ripped the elongated oddity off the body while it was still wet and corrected the arm issue the next day.

Lots of flubs and derailments…minor disasters but all fixable.

The lesson here is that if you see a mistake then take the time to stop and fix it….nip it in the bud.

If I’ve ever given the impression that I bang out props without a single hitch then I apologize.

I screw up a lot….I just don’t talk about it…..until now.

The Mad Lab Is Back!

2011-06-06T22:28:00.001-04:00

After an extended the hiatus The Mad Lab has returned with a vengeance, coming back bigger and badder than ever…here’s the scoop straight from the doc herself:

"Foam is the weapon of choice for the static prop build. This includes, well, pretty much any foam. Great stuff, insulation foam, styrofoam, pool noodles, craft foam, egg shell foam, upholstery foam, foam board, foam packing peanuts...Ok you get the picture.

Ahhh the wonders of the wiper motor! Whether you are well acquainted or a novice this little device can open a door of haunting possibilities. Hit the salvage lot or head to Monster Guts. Use of a wiper motor is the only SEI requirement for this challenge.

You may enter as many times as you like in both categories. The deadline is extended to allow you ample time to crank out as many props as your decaying little heart can handle.

Your entry for either project will need to be submitted by September 21 in order to be eligible to win."

That’s right, two different contests and two awesome prizes…to see what you could win take a visit to The Mad Lab by clicking here.

See you all September 21^st!

Living Retro

2011-05-26T22:01:00.000-04:00

Now that the troll project is done I have moved on to a darker place, possibly my darkest subject matter to date.

My current project is a combination of things; my love of non-CGI special effects, film and of course papier mache.

My current project is also something I’ve had in the back of my mind for years, sort of a culmination of all the things I love rolled up into one.

(I hinted at this a while back in my post regarding "Cinemagic" magazine)

The “old school” nature of the work has moved me to dig out the turntable and listen to some vinyl while working on this project….Alan Parson’s Project is my current preference.

Hell, the retro thing has even moved me to ditch my shaving gel and start using shaving soap and brush, … sometimes newer isn’t better.

Looking forward to sharing my current works in the coming weeks…it’s dark, it’s comfortable and best of all it’s undiluted horror.

It's The End Of The World As We Know It

2011-05-20T21:01:00.000-04:00

And I feel fine.

Cool bumper sticker my wife made for my Suburban.

Now I can be left behind in style.

Boris Tutorial

2011-05-18T21:36:00.001-04:00

Completed my troll sculpture for the 2011 Midland Downtown Summer Sculpture Series, posted a tutorial detailing the three month construction process.

Link can be found here.

Is it....?

2011-05-12T09:04:00.000-04:00

So what do we have here?

Is it a glop of human brains? Nope, not really the right color.

Is it a puddle of cellulite waiting to be disposed? Nope, but that thought made me a little nauseous.

Is it a barrel of toxic goo? No such luck.

The correct answer is……scroll down.

The correct answer is a nice crust formed on a bowl of papier mache paste left to sit in the hot sun for about eight hours.

Pretty gnarly.

Rust Study

2011-05-11T17:30:00.001-04:00

Accidentally left an old lantern outside since last October.

During the last six months it has been submerged in water causing some considerable rust.

Here are some close up shots of the rust details, the could be useful when trying to create a faux rust effect.

You can click each photo to enlarge for better detail.

Boris Texture

2011-04-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

This is the proposed skin texture for my troll, sort of a leathery elephant-like hide in a nice troll green.

Not one hundred percent sold but I've got a week or so before I need to make the decision.

Troll assembly will start tomorrow, here's hoping everything continues to go according to plan.

Amazing

2011-04-23T18:59:00.001-04:00

I have heard nothing but positive comments about this production and after seeing this I understand why....simply amazing.

Sometimes beauty is very simple.

Thanks Hun!

2011-04-21T21:01:00.000-04:00

Every now and then my wife surprises me with some sort of goodness and in this case its Disney’s 1974 Trick or Treat LP from Disneyland Records picked up at our local Goodwill.

I love it.

Halloween Records are hard to come across, Christmas albums outnumber Halloween albums probably 1,000 to 1 in the thrift stores.

Years of browsing bins of albums in thrift stores and garage sales have only yielded me over a dozen finds.

Love the record and love you!

Thanks.

33EEEE

2011-04-20T20:21:00.000-04:00

The feet for my troll....my guess is that they are about size 33EEEE, at that rate a good pair of Nike shoes would cost him over $400...good thing he doesn't run much!

The finishing texture prior to paint will be PVA Glue and Joint Compound then imprinted with a loose weave burlap texture...sort of lizard like skin.

Boris Resumed

2011-04-09T10:40:00.001-04:00

The weather is supposed to start warming up this coming week so I plan on resuming work on Boris The Bolter troll for downtown Midland.

Everything is basically done except the feet which I mapped out this morning.

After a trip to Lowes to buy plywood for the base and feet plus a bunch of expanding spray foam I will get to work.

I’ve gotten a little anxious with this project as it has sat idle since the first week of March.

The game plan is to have the troll completed by the end of April.

Thanks Chris!

2011-04-07T17:38:00.000-04:00

I felt quite beautiful and a bit naughty in my new GITD handcuffs and witch fingers, thank you Chris for the blog contest!

Shelved

2011-04-05T21:55:00.000-04:00

As I was working in the basement tonight I took a moment and looked behind me at the shelves lined with unfinished projects.

Armatures, experiments and pieces that just didn’t quite make the final cut, reminders of projects once filled with excitement and now just gathering dust.

Every time we have maintenance folks venture into our basement I wonder what they must be thinking.

Does the furnace guy think he’s wandered into the lair of a serial killer.

Do the sewer guys think they took a wrong turn at Albuquerque?

These unfinished pieces do serve an important purpose; besides being reminders of ideas that have come and gone they are useful for experimentation.

Today I played with a new surface technique and as luck would have it I was able to grab a skull off the shelf and test the new material.

Cheers to my shelves of past history; the skulls, the shark, masks, the pumpkins and everything else that lies in wait for their chance to see daylight.