Ready for dark portraits
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 10
I'm thinking far into the future with merch. and portrait commissions in this newsletter, as well as some other updates:
Horror art merchandise and masks
In the poll from the end of last year, you overwhelmingly said you would like more art merch. for sale (though, I'll admit, the competition was a bit weak on that question). I just wanted to flag for you that, although my shop isn't yet re-opened, I do have leftover merch. on TradeMe and Facebook Marketplace. Feel free to contact me directly if you want to purchase what is left.
Because it's Friday the 13th when this newsletter posts, if you contact me TODAY I'll even do a deal for you.
Anything unpurchased I will have other plans for...
As for masks - there's only one left now! It is my favourite one and isn't listed as I originally was going to keep it for myself. But, if you're interested, I think I'm ready to move on. Contact me directly and we can discuss a price.
And here's a bonus - TheDevilsLens that I mentioned last newsletter has sent me one of his photos he took with the model wearing one of my masks!
I'm thinking I might do another poll newsletter, getting into more detail (such as t-shirts vs stickers, or masks vs portraits). As always, though, you can just tell me in the comments at the end of this post!
Recently read
I am loving the horror novel I'm reading right now. Unfortunately for you, it's going to have to remain a mystery.
It's an unpublished novel written by a friend of mine, and I am a lucky person who gets to give some feedback. IT'S SO GOOD. You can bet when it gets released one day I will let you all know where you can get it yourself.
It's also just occurred to me that I watch a lot of horror movies and TV. That definitely seems relevant to this newsletter...
Horror movies and TV
Ok but recently most of the stuff I've watched hasn't been horror (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - last season, was fine), or it has been horror but didn't make much impression on me (The Possession of Michael King - all style, little substance, was fine). I have also been watching Carnivale, which I knew nothing about but someone recommended to me. I've been enjoying it and find very intriguing (but suspect may not end well and/or got cancelled - I don't want to look it up and spoil myself).
Tell me your top three horror movies and/or TV shows in the comments! I'll choose some of my own for the next newsletter.
Wedding arts and crafts update
Getting more into it with the crafty stuff this month.
Couple horror portrait
Remember the couple portrait I showed in the last newsletter? I finished it! I'm so happy with it, though I did lose some of the unfinished looseness I like. I'm definitely going to work on more portraits (see the Getting ready for dark portraits section...).
Skulls
It's nice having little things to work on, and what better thing to practice drawing and painting than skulls!
With both the drawings and paintings I started how I usually do - a bit too tight, a bit too controlled, a bit too neat. That's not to say I don't like them, I do! And I'm not going to stop doing art like this. However, I really like a looser style and really want to try and bring that into my work more.
You can see how I've played around with technique. I'm SUPER happy with the purple skull with horns. The only thing is I think I've painted as if I'm using guache or acrylic, which doesn't really utilise the watercolours I'm using.
Now, I'm trying to go back and forward with how loose I draw/paint. With the watercolours, I'm trying to use the WATER part a bit more. That's not to say I'm going to abandon any of these styles, I'm just playing around so I can use any of them when I need them.
Crafts
Last newsletter I showed a preview of my dressform and craft desk. I don't want to show too much of my accessories, but I'm happy to show these other crafts.
Can you guess what I'm making here?
These mystery items are almost ready to paint, so maybe in the next newsletter you'll have a better idea - though I think you can guess some now!
Getting ready for dark portraits
Between horror portraits and general horror commissions, you overwhelmingly wanted portraits in the last poll. This is something I was interested in doing anyway, and I'm using my wedding as a good excuse to practice more.
You've now seen my first portraits - which are pretty tame in terms of horror, but are a good start. Now, I will use what I've learned from these portraits and the skull drawings and paintings to experiment more with portraits. The skulls shown here are the under layer of the first skull I painted, and the under layer of the current one I'm working on. You can see the looseness I mentioned, and playing around with the water medium.
These other portrait examples are the under layers of more couple portraits. You can't see the "dark" side just yet - that will (hopefully) be coming with the colour! These paintings are more technique practice, but I really want more dark, twisted, weird stuff. I'm better at sketching those ideas (which is why I usually sketch before painting) so I will be working on sketching alongside painting - then my weirdest ones can be turned into paintings.
Keep an eye out on social media, and for the next newsletter where I should have some more work in progress, if not finished portraits.
In future, you'll be able to order portraits from my site, where you can choose options such as style, colour, and then add-ons like the horns and other features.
Comment what you'd like to get in a portrait commission! Maybe your ideas will become options in future.
To finish, I've shown the work in progress shots from my finished couple portrait, as I think it's interesting.
I love that over art