THE TWILIGHT GALLERY features the finest of macabre fine arts. Pencil, pen & ink, oils, photographs, sculptures; anything of the weird, wild, whimsical, the eerie or uncanny, can be found along the corridors. Browse freely, but don't stray too far from the tour; many have become lost in these halls…

John Kenn is an extraordinary artist. His black & gray illustrations bring to mind the crosshatched wonders of Edward Gorey, while his macabre whimsy and uneasy imagery recalls the best of Gahan Wilson. What makes his art even more amazing is that it's all done on Post-It Notes! The drawings on his website http://johnkenn.blogspot.com are almost all actual size! It wouldn't be possible to choose my favorite, but this one of Cthulhu rising from the sea stands near the top of the list, and fits our month of Lovecraft perfectly! (Bookmark that site; you'll want to spend many hours perusing his talents!)

According to the Icelandic and Scandinavian legends, Santa Claus traveled the land bringing gifts to good children, but he had a companion that would also journey with him; a creature of darkness whose mission was to punish the disobedient children. Sometimes he was a human known as Black Peter, who would carry a switch to beat the bad youngsters, but often he was a bestial, demonic being named Krampus. In many northern countries Krampus has a following of his own, and adults cavort about in rowdy revelries, wearing masks and costumes (and causing no small destruction in the process). This painting is the work of illustrator Thomas Boatwright; you can find more of his wonderful work (including monsters and heroes like The Shadow and Batman) on http://boatwright.deviantart.com/.

What do you see? Two ladies sharing each other's company? Or something far more sinister? This is a classic illusion named "Blossom & Decay," created by an unknown artist many years ago. I thought it most appropriate to cap the October Season's celebration! There are several other examples of such macabre placements. I hope you enjoy, my Friends...and ignore that feeling of being watched...

This delightful lady, an obvious play on the girl who pops out of the cake at parties, seems more than ready for the October Celebration. The artwork was sent to me by The Bone Jangler, one of the premiere HorrorHosts in the country. For the past 10 years he's hosted several programs from his native Chicagoland on ACTV Channel 10. (He recently celebrated his anniversary), and can also currently be seen on The Monster Channel at www.monsterchannel.tv. Sadly, I don't know the name of the artist, but if anyone can enlighten me please do. (I ‘m sure the young lady will be pleased as well...)

Liza Phoenix is a graphic artist based in Seattle , Washington . I would describe her style as "pop-urban-phantasmagorical", but that's just me. Her eye-catching use of bright color and off-beat stylized imagery is a heady combination, and seems perfectly suited for product labels such as Vampire's Kiss Ale and Green Goddess Absinthe. But don't try and find these in your local market; all products (and tavern logos such as Beelzepub) are figments of her considerable imagination. I was drawn to this work of skeletal surrealism named "Moth King"; I find the colors and butterfly patterns almost hypnotic. You can see more of her efforts, purchase your favorites and learn more about this lovely lady at www.lizaphoenix.com/fantasy.html.
(Be advised that some of her work is for mature viewers.) 

Being a connoisseur of the human skull (so to speak) I find this painting extraordinarily lovely. I wish you could see more of the details clearly; each layer of the skull is made up of smaller skulls laughing, grimacing, and staring. UK artist Danielle Tunstall generally works in photography, creating stark, disturbing images for book covers, magazines and CDs. You can find more of her amazing creations at her website www.danielletunstall.com. (Be warned that her images are extremely intense, and are definitely not meant for younger eyes; discretion is very much advised.)

To go along with THE EXORCIST tribute on my PARTING GLASS Page, I present this classical interpretation of Dick Smith's award-winning makeup on Linda Blair. I don't know who created this image; it's been all around the Internet, and if someone would like to credit the artist for me I would gratefully appreciate it. There is a website where you can create your own Mona Lisa image similar to this: log onto www.megamonalisa.com  to learn how. (Be advised, some of the images are recommended for mature viewers.)  

I've had the pleasure to know John Dimes for many years; he's an extraordinary individual. In one guise he's known as Dr. Sarcofaguy, HorrorHost of the long running SPOOKY MOVIE in the Washington DC area; in another he's the author of several books, including “Intracations” and “The Rites Of Pretending Tribe” . He's also a very talented artist, and the first member of our dark exhibit to warrant a side-by-side showing: on the left is an original portrait of Yours Truly, done several years ago; on the right is a variation on the theme, finished several months ago, and I am extremely humbled by both efforts!

"Oh the January man he walks abroad in woollen coat and boots of leather;
The February man still wipes the snow from off his hair and blows his hand;
The man of March he sees the Spring and wonders what the year will bring
And hopes for better weather."

What is it? A snowbeast; a Yeti of the Himalayas ? An alien from a frozen moon circling Saturn? A transformed wizard from the Arctic North? Whatever this breathtaking Warrior of Winter may be, it is the work of photographer Garibaldi, and a harbinger of this season, particularly for those on the East Coast of the United States.

Thomas J. Wright is now an acclaimed television and film director, with episodes of genre favorites such as THE X FILES, MILLENIUM, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, MAX HEADROOM, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and ANGEL among his many credits. But in the 1970s he was primarily an Art Director, and in that capacity painted all the paintings used during the NIGHT GALLERY series to introduce the stories. (You can find one of his “self portraits” as the mortician in the “Die Now, Pay Later” episode painting.) Several of the paintings he did were made for segments that were never filmed, but hung in the background during Rod Serling's introductory comments. One such painting was this lovely damsel presented here, in honor of Valentine's Day, in our own Twilight Gallery.

I welcome in the New Year with this handsome portrait of myself, done by the Lady Raven, my companion for Halloween. (She is also the talented photographer responsible for the handsome portrait adorning my IndexPage when you first log onto my website.) It was taken from a photo of Yours Truly enjoying the Festival Of Courage some years back, and I think it makes a fine addition to the Gallery! Thank you so much, my Dear!

Season's Greetings! These festive spectres are the work of a very talented California artist who goes by the Nome-de-plume of YummyKitty. I like the idea of the three Christmas Spirits presented as young ladies, and enjoy the Celtic/Pagan horn references. You can peruse more of her art on her website http://yummykitty.deviantart.com/gallery/. (Please be advised that some of her work is for mature audiences only.) .

The title of this picture is “The Haunted House” ; it is the work of Italian artist Danielle Montella, and has been used in many seasonal affairs, including advertisements for ghost-hunting events. It may well be one of the most famous haunted house depictions in modern art. What you may not know is that the model for this fine, spooky domicile is the Carson Mansion here in Eureka , CA, on the Lost Coast itself! To learn more about this haunting and (supposedly) haunted structure, take a look at my Parting Glass Page!

I was again honored this year to visit Arcata High School and give a talk on storytelling to an advanced AP English class. One lovely young lady named Erin McNulty drew this portrait while I was visiting, and I am delighted to share it with everyone here in the Gallery! Thank you so much, Erin, and a Happy October Season to you!

Mark Redfield is a man of many talents; actor, writer, director, producer, and, unbeknownst to me until recently, quite an accomplished artist and painter as well, as evidenced by this delightful portrait of the Master of Providence himself, H. P. Lovecraft (with Cthulhuian disciple standing by). Mark's films include CHAINSAW SALLY, COLD HARBOR , THE DEATH OF POE , and the definitive adaptation (in my humble opinion) of DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE . You can see his thespian work at www.redfieldarts.com , and you can browse (and purchase) more of his delightful artwork at www.markredfield.etsy.com . (Just in time for the October Season!)

Roger Scholz is a marvelous illustrator from Grand Rapids , MI who specializes in automotive, horror, music and pin-up art. He is equally at home with “realistic” portraiture as well as stylized cartoon, and is adept in both color and black-and-white. I came across his work on MySpace, and was very impressed with his monster illustrations (particularly his work with creatures from film). I asked to display this piece, named “Nanny Death & The Kreepy Kids” because of the obvious (to my mind) pastiche of the classic Edward Gorey “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” cover art. (You can compare the two HERE.)

To see more of Mr. Scholz's work (be aware, however, that some of it is definitely for more mature audiences) log onto his website at www.myspace.com/wickedillustration .

I first became acquainted with local artist Rebecca Degagne at the Arcata Street Fair in May. A professor and lecturer at College Of The Redwoods and Humboldt State University, Ms. Degagne's art is, in her words,
“based on organisms and patterns found in nature, many pieces reference obscure lifeforms which take on an otherworldly quality when confronting the audience...I enjoy enticing viewers with sensual forms moving with a sense of weightlessness common in underwater and zero gravity environments. Soft, dark openings are suggestive of cavernous mouths of creatures of the deep – mysteriously inviting, yet disconcerting…and leaves my audience wondering what is "real" and what is imagined.”
Very true; I find in her work comparisons to Lovecraft's denizens of the deep and dark shadows, conjured believably and fantastically. Some of the biological aspects remind me of a more serene, whimsical Giger.

This creature is known as the Red Nudibranch, is even more impressive in three dimensions. You can find more of Ms. Degagne's creations at www.rebeccadegagne.com , along with a listing of the galleries were her work can be viewed in person!

© 2008 Patient Creatures Ltd.