Happy Winter Solstice!

We interrupt this AUPHH* to bring you another wonderful piece by Katherine Blower. I hope everyone is having a nice winter so far.

Katherine Blower's links:

Website

Etsy Shop

Redbubble Shop

Zazzle (for EU Customers)

Instagram

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*(pronounced "awf," it stands for Annual, Unplanned, Post-Halloween Hiatus)

Vintage Halloween Schlitz Ads

Came across a couple of ads from the 1950's for Schlitz—a beer from Milwaukee that was once widely popular, now mostly known regionally by folks from the Midwest (e.g. my ghoulfriend's Wisconsinite family).

I just thought these were fun, given the Halloween imagery and my partner's ties to Wisconsin. I grabbed these images from some old eBay listings; they're decently high quality.  I might even print them out and hang them up!

If you'd like, click on each image for a "full-res" version. Might take a second to load.

^ Would this be considered pumpkin beer, technically? ;)

The Earthen Sculptures of Antonio Massarutto

I found out about him after @olesamhain shared one of his works on her story.  Incredible creations of art made from natural materials.

Photos taken from Massarutto's Instagram: @antonio_massarutto

The Electric State

Just a few bits of artwork from Simon Stålenhag's narrative art book The Electric State (2017). I own a copy myself, and highly recommend it; it's a great read with stunning artwork.  I keep mine on my coffee table, and guests are often compelled to give it a peek.

A movie adaptation is set to release this year.  I just hope they're able to capture the atmosphere that Stålenhag so effectively crafted.  And they had better include some of the music he composed to accompany the book.

Book available for purchase on Amazon

Nosferatu...

.... does this word not sound like the midnight call of the Bird of Death? Do not utter it, or the images of life will fade - into pale shadows and ghostly dreams will rise from your heart and feed your Blood.

- Nosferatu (1922)

Artwork by Trevor Henderson

Witch Posts

To protect the hamlets and villages at the edge of the bleak moors from wandering ghosts and the mossy padfoot, the locals erect witch posts. These weathered sentries, imbued with old magic, can be found dotted across the wind-battered borderlands. Some have been known to change positions when no one is watching.

Art and caption by @owillow_waly (Marc C. Green)

The Art of Rob Bowyer

These are just a few favorites of mine.  There are many more awesome pieces on Instagram: @massiveface , and make sure to check out his Linktree

New Moon

Hey everybody! Things are finally starting to level out for me again.  I've been lurking around, dropping in on some of the other blogs (see sidebar →) once in a while.  I can't wait to go through the backlog and binge-read all the posts I've missed.  

Tonight is the last New Moon of 2023.  It marks a time of renewal and fresh starts!  For me, it marks the end of a very stressful (and very long) period of time. And boy am I ready for a clean slate.

I want to give another huge "thank you" to everyone who reads the blog and supports me and my work! I hope your post-Halloween season has been less stressful than mine!

Here's to fresh starts!

At Close of Day, by Maxfield Parrish, circa 1941

Misty Monsters

Several whimsically spooky pieces by Vorja Sánchez (@vorjailustracion)

Click here for their store links and website

Moonache

This chamber feels most familiar
When it's shadow-clad and hollow.
I have such space to feel and fear,
And fearlessly may wallow.

Assuredly, the Moon is out.
Her heavy song my ears do bear
From pallid lips. I have no doubt:
Celestial is the song I hear.

While luminous her words may be,
(Though spoken by some delphic tongue)
Her visage is obscured from me
And no light hath she brung

Might brumous vapors cloud my view?
Or is my blindness nothing less
Than benighted beating sinew
About to fray from passion's stress?

Yet though I miss the lunar beams
That once so nobly split the dark,
Succor flows anew from dreams
Where moonlight is afraid to lurk

A Yorkshire Lane in November, by John Atkinson Grimshaw, 1873

I wrote this poem last night during a thunderstorm.  Inspiration struck unexpectedly (insert lightning-metaphor here) and I'm quite proud of the result.  

Thank you for reading 🖤

The Ferryman's End

“The ferryman’s craft lied dead in the water.

Unable to move he can’t reach and touch the other shore. 

Unable to touch he can’t become real, identified, energized and joyful. 

Thus he fades and dies"

"The icon (rather than sculpture) of the Ferryman’s End represents the individual who, mired in sameness, that is to say, in wholly meaningless activity, is losing touch with the real world, personal or general, and is, consequently, experiencing burnout and feeling like he or she is dying"

Text source/website

Photos source - Atlas Obscura

Swamp Foetus fanart

Some cool fanart by Hallowayne @thatskeletoninblack

Click here for the Swamp Foetus page on Pumpkinrot's Blog

It's hotter than Hell out here

A fairly consistent heat index of 100+ for the past several weeks.

I hope all those people who claim to "love Summer" get heatstroke. 

Awesome art by James Bousema (@james_bousema)

Boris & Bella's

New shirt design from DOA co.  Perfect for the dog days of summer we're currently suffering through.

Click below to purchase

Just waiting like the rest of us

By Herman's Hollow (@hermans_hollow)

Last Exit

By John Kenn Mortensen

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

Art by @drewrausch

Playful Pumpkin Girl

By @si_ot_drawing

Halfway to Halloween

May 1st means we're over the hump!  Better get cracking on those Halloween plans, it won't be long now... 

Give a comment if you'd like to share some projects you've already started, I'd love to hear about them!

Here's some fun art by @joekeinberger_art. I'd like to imagine this fella as a Halloween hobo, just passin' through on his way to October Country. 

Breath of Autumn

by Derek O'Brien (@its_halloween_night)