New Piece- The Wind

I’ve been in my sickbed for the past week. On the positive side .. (Get it? Positive? Hey-o!) That gave me the time to finish a pen piece I began over a month ago. Being laid up really gives you the opportunity to stipple and cross-hatch your heart out without worrying about everything else you have to do. This piece was started in a pen and ink techniques class. Typically I create mixed media pieces using pen, and I may employ maybe 1 or 2 techniques. With this piece I intentionally used dynamic line flow, crosshatching, and stippling. It’s been a while since I used them all in one piece. It’s probably been since Middle School. Which was…a few years back. This was a fun exercise. Tell me what you think in the comments!

So here she is..

The Wind
Micron pen on 11×14″ paper

The Wind Micron pen on paper 11×14″ 2023
Close up view of The Wind

New Painting for the Jinxed Philly heART Show

Merry Superb Owl Sunday! (Go birbs.)

Last night I participated in the Jinxed Philly heART Show. This huge group show had 300 submissions. This was my first go at this annual show, so thank you to the folks at Jinxed for putting this all together. The piece I created is titled “Porcelain Heart,” and on view at Jinxed South Philly (1915 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146) for the next few weeks. She’s available for sale, and 25% of the proceeds go to the charity Lutheran Settlement House.

Click below for photos from the opening reception.

And here she is!

VIRTUAL VIEWING- DEMON A DAY

In July I worked on the Delaware Fun-a-Day challenge to create artwork every day during the month of July. (You can check out my artist interview on their website.) I chose the theme Demon a Day, basing it around folklore and mythology around demons from around the world. The pieces were displayed in a group art show. For those who were interested in seeing my project Demon a Day, which was on display this weekend for the Delaware Fun–A-Day challenge, but didn’t have the time, weren’t local, or just missed it here is the space to view each piece virtually. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the show via video.

Lilith

(Jewish Folklore)

Lilith is based in Jewish folklore. In biblical lore she was made from the same clay as Adam, and was his first wife before Eve. Lilith was cast out for demanding that she was equal to Adam. (The lore varies from cheating to disobeying Adam, but the general idea is the same.) Lilith/Lilit translates from Hebrew to “night hag” or “screech owl.” There are ties to a Mesopotamian Lilith (which may or may not be related) that grew from a tree, and relates to owls. I added screech owl feathers on her collar and a crown of branches. She is described in the Zohar, Leviticus 19A as “a hot fiery female who first cohabitated with man.”

“Lilith”
4×6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Piece Available

Lucifer

(Classical Greek Mythology/ Christian Mythology)

(Latin: Lightbearer) Greek Phosphorus, or Eosphoros, in classical mythology, the morning star (i.e., the planet Venus at dawn); personified as a male figure bearing a torch, Lucifer had almost no legend, but in poetry he was often herald of the dawn. In Christian times Lucifer came to be regarded as the name of Satan before his fall. It was thus used by John Milton (1608–74) in Paradise Lost, and the idea underlies the proverbial phrase “as proud as Lucifer.” My depiction of Lucifer is more playful, with “Lucy” tattooed on her arm.

“Lucifer (Lucy)”
4×6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Piece Available

Oni

(Japanese Mythology)

Oni are evil spirits from Japanese mythology and folklore. Oni are typically large in size, possess superhuman strength, and are terrifying in appearance, and are associated with disease, calamity and misfortune. Oni are found in countless Japanese stories and myths, where they tend to be depicted as roguish villains. There are 2 versions of Oni I created for this project.

“Oni (Third Eye)”
4X6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Available
“Oni (Cyclops)”
4X6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Available

Adze

(African Folklore- Ghana/Togo Region)

They fly to the bodies of the sleeping, appearing as mosquitos, beetles, fireflies, or simply balls of light. The adze prey on men and women, but enjoy the blood of children most of all. There’s no record of when the lore of the adze first began. Archaeological evidence shows that the Ewe people settled the coast of West Africa, in the tropical region of what is now Ghana and Togo, around the 13th century. Historians believe the adze originated as an explanation of and warning against malaria and other insect-borne diseases that the Ewe people felt powerless against.

“Adze”
4X6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Available

Paimon

(Christian/Occult Mythology)

Paimon is one of the Kings of Hell, more obedient to Lucifer than other kings are, and has two hundred legions of demons under his rule. Paimon teaches all arts, philosophy and sciences, and secret things; he can reveal all mysteries of the Earth, wind and water, what the mind is, and everything the conjurer wants to know, gives good familiars, dignities and confirms them, binds men to the conjurer’s will.

“Paimon”
4X6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Available

Asmodeus

(Jewish/Islamic Mythology)

Asmodeus is a prince of demons,[1] or in Judeo-Islamic lore their king (jinn, shedim, divs).[2][3] Asmodeus is mostly known from the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, in which he is the primary antagonist,[4] or the Ars Goetia. In Peter Binsfeld’s classification of demons, Asmodeus represents lust. The demon is also mentioned in some Talmudic legends; for instance, in the story of the construction of the Temple of Solomon. I chose to represent lust in the form of a princess or queen goddess-like figure.

“Asmodeus”
4X6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original SOLD

Strygza

(Polish Folklore)

A female demon from Slavic mythology. They are closely similar to Vampires. The Strzyga’s appearance resembles that of a normal human being, only with grey or blueish skin. The longer they live, the more they will physically change. Other features they will gain are bird-like features, mainly owl-like features such as claws, eyes, feathers, wings growing out of their backs.

“Strygza”
4×6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Piece Available

Raktabija

(Indian/Hindu Mythology)

In Hinduism, Raktabīja was an asura (loosely translated as demon) who fought with Shumbha and Nishumbha against Goddess Kali and Goddess Chandi. Raktabīja had a boon that whenever a drop of his blood fell on the ground, a duplicate Raktabīja would be born at that spot.

Belphegor

(Christian Mythology/Jewish Mythology)

In Christian demonology, Belphegor is a demon, and one of the seven princes of Hell. In later Kabbalah Belphegor is a demon who helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich, stagnating that which could not be accredited to it. Bishop and witch-hunter Peter Binsfeld believed that Belphegor tempts by means of laziness. Also, according to Peter Binsfeld’s Binsfeld’s Classification of Demons, Belphegor is the chief demon of the deadly sin known as Sloth in Christian tradition.

Belphegor
4×6″
Watercolor painting on birch panel
Original Available

Corpse Flower

If any flower would be known as demonic, it would be the corpse flower. Amorphophallus Titanium produces the world’s largest unbranched cluster of flowers, with a bloom that can grow to more than eight feet in height and open to a width of four feet across. It is a rare tropical plant native to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra, in Indonesia. When in flower, the plant releases a putrid smell, like rotting meat.

“Corpse Flower”
4×6″
Watercolor painting mounted on birch panel
Original Available

View the video of the show below.


	

Demon A Day

Delaware Fun-A-Day art challenge accepted! (Again)

What is the Delaware Fun-A-Day challenge? Create a piece of art a day for the challenge month. This challenge asks participants to create art during the month of July. For this one, I’ll be creating a DEMON A DAY. Each day I’ll feature a demonic figure from different folklore and mythology. I’ve been doing some research to make sure there is a link to folklore for each figure I create.

Demonlogy Research!

Today, July 4, the demon is Lilith. Lilith is based in Jewish folklore. In biblical lore she was made from the same clay as Adam, and was his first wife before Eve. Lilith was cast out for demanding that she was equal to Adam. (The lore varies from cheating to disobeying Adam, but the general idea is the same.) Lilith/Lilit translates from Hebrew to “night hag” or “screech owl.” There are ties to a Mesopotamian Lilith (which may or may not be related) that grew from a tree, and relates to owls. I added screech owl feathers on her collar and a crown of branches. She is described in the Zohar, Leviticus 19A as “a hot fiery female who first cohabitated with man.”

Demon A Day: Lilith
4×6″, watercolor on 140 lb watercolor paper

Bat Dance

I talked about the #hauntedgardenartchallenge in my “Pollinator” post. This is the next prompt I created, “Bat Dance.” It’s another colored pencil and ink piece on toned gray paper. Check it out below. And if you’re interested in a print use the contact form to request one.

Bat Dance
Ink and Polychormos colored pencils on 9×12″ toned gray paper
Detail of Bat Dance.

Pollinator

I created a drawing for the Instagram art challege #hauntedgardenartchallenge, which is a drawing challenge created by user/artist @Gracemoth that happens during the month of June. I’m participating when I can, but not following all the prompts. I recently completed a drawing for the June 15th prompt “bumble bee.” Check out the piece below.

Pollinator/ Ink and colored pencil on gray toned paper/9×12″
Detail on Pollinator

New Sticker Designs & A Return to Bellefonte Arts Fest

2 new sticker designs are now available on my Storenvy storefront. The first sticker, Elegant Chicken Legs, is a matte vinyl sticker with a limited run of 20. The other is a large heart shaped holographic sticker of Rococo Pinup, and has a very limited run of 10. Only a few are available online for purchase as some are set aside for my next announcement…

I’ll be returning to Bellefonte Arts Fest on May 21st! Information and tickets are listed on the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/6qsPstLFl

To purchase the new sticker designs check out my storefront here: https://uglystepsisterart.storenvy.com/

Elegant Chicken Legs stickers
Elegant Chicken Legs stickers
Rococo Pinup stickers
Rococo Pinup stickers

New Piece: Rococo Pinup

My newest piece was inspired by a prompt for a February art challenge. The prompt, “diamond,” took on a life of its own. I just had draw hundreds of diamonds. Needless to say, it took several days rather than one. It gave me the opportunity to try Faber-Castell polychromos colored pencils for the first time. I was previously a Prismacolor woman. The polychromos are oil-based rather than wax-based. I noticed a difference in the strength of the pencils. And the color payoff is strong. (Review possibly coming later.) I tend to draw what a friend has deemed Kirsten’s Sad Girls. I haven’t done much in the way of classic pinup style. I liked the challenge, and took the opportunity to infuse my decadent aesthetics with a beauty with curves in all places, not just the right ones. (I enjoy representing body types similar to my own.)


So without further adieu….

Rococo Pinup
11×14″
Polychromos pencils on toned gray paper
Detail
Detail
Detail

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thinking of this eloquent, groundbreaking, and complex man today. He laid the groundwork for civil rights that inspired generations of civil rights activists and caring humans who want to change systems of oppression.

Portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr incarcerated at Birmingham Jail for protesting segregation. The red symbolizes bloodshed and passion in the fight for civil rights.

New Piece- Elegant Chicken Legs

My latest piece, Elegant Chicken Legs. As Frank Reynolds says, “I don’t know how much time I got left. I’m gonna get real weird with it.”

Original piece pending sale to a private collector.

Title: Elegant Chicken Legs
Medium: Ink, watercolor