The Sketchy Things ArtBlog

Help The Bob Burns Movie Get Off The Ground!

2011-08-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and fans of Bob & Kathy Burns!

As you may heard, Trish Geiger and I are producing a documentary film about Bob and Kathy Burns, and how they have inspired so many people to pursue their own dreams. BEAST WISHES will explore how these two amazing folks became the goodwill ambassadors of sci-fi fandom, and how their joy has influenced generations of artists, writers, directors and fans.

We want to make this project a quality production, utilizing a professional crew and an experienced documentary editor. This, of course, requires funding. So, with Bob and Kathy's blessing, we have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds we need to complete our film.

Kickstarter is a highly successful online platform by which creators can pitch their projects, and anyone can contribute to it's set goal. In return, the project offers rewards to those who pledge, from DVD's to T-shirts to trips to visit the stars in Los Angeles. The bigger the pledge, the greater the rewards.

But Kickstarter is an "all or nothing" program. If we reach our set goal in the set time, we get the money. If we don't reach it, we get nothing, and the pledges are not collected. It's that simple. Trish and I have set our goal at the absolute minimum needed to shoot, although we could use more for promotion and distribution of the completed film. So we have 20 days to raise $11,000, or we go back to square one.

If you would like to help us reach our goal, please visit our project page. There you will be able to watch a short test video we've created that gives an idea of the film's content, plus more information about BEAST WISHES, and a list of the cool rewards available for contributors.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1824891397/beast-wishes-the-bob-and-kathy-burns-movie

Of course we understand if you are unable to donate, for whatever reason. If you can't, perhaps you could assist us by sharing our mission with others who might be able to help out. Either way, you would have the extreme gratitude of myself, Trish, and of course Bob and Kathy Burns.

This is going to be - as Bob would say - a "really, really cool" project. We would all love to have you join us on this great adventure.

Thank you, from all of us, for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Frank Dietz
Trish Geiger

The Chicken Monster Chronicles Finale

2011-07-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know, I've been away for awhile. Sorry. Ain't life like that sometimes?

Anyway, here is the photo you've been waiting months for. The Chicken Monster, as he looks today, living in a bad monster movie prop retirement home (my garage).

More posts, more often, coming soon! Thanks!

The Chicken (Monster) Chronicles Part 2

2011-03-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

Recently uncovered photos of The Chicken Monster reveal what life was like for the horrendous hen during and after it's debut in THE EDGE OF HELL, which was my original title for what became ROCK N' ROLL NIGHTMARE. The initial cut of the movie and the Canadian VHS release retained that title. Why was it changed? You'll soon be able to read all about it, as John Fasano and I are preparing to publish a book that tells the whole story of our "Canadian Four" horror films of the 1980's. The working title is "Rock N' Roll Zombie Nightmares," and is scheduled for release later this year.

In the meantime, here are some never-before-seen photos of the beloved Chicken Monster:

A nice profile shot, set upon a can of "Friendly Plastic"

Frank holding the Chicken Monster (insert joke here).

In my makeup studio for work on BLACK ROSES,
The Chicken Monster can be seen roosting above the
alarm clock. One of the RNRN Squid Monsters

can be seen at the top of the photo.

Next up, in the final Chicken (Monster) Chronicles segment, the answer to the question eveyone is asking: Where is the Chicken Monster today?

The Chicken (Monster) Chronicles Part 1

2011-02-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

The Chicken Monster was created for a what was to be a funny moment in our classic ROCK N' ROLL NIGHTMARE (1987). I started by buying and roasting a small chicken. After letting it cool, I made a mold of it's top side. The underside had to be sculpted in clay, to create the mouth, lips and eyeball. We ran foam latex pieces from the molds, and then I glued in all the teeth, which I had created with Sculpey, a bake-dry sculpting material. Once it was all put together, it was painted to replicate an actual leftover chicken by Vinny Modica. Here is what the final puppet looked like before we shot the film:

And here is how he appeared in the finished movie:

More about this beloved cinematic poultrygeist to come...

Anne Francis 1930 - 2011

2011-01-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Goodbye, my dear friend. You were fabulous a hundred different ways.

From left to right: Sara Karloff, Donnie Waddell, Anne Francis, Frank Dietz, Carol Bauman. Taken on a trip to the Louisville Zoo.

Bacon

2010-12-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

I love bacon. My favorite is Pancetta, from a shop called Boccalonne in San Francisco. I wanted to draw bacon today. But it didn't come out very well, so I drew Boris Karloff instead.

Happy Turkey Day!

2010-11-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a big, fat bird...

Zombie Nightmare Resurrected!

2010-11-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

At long last, the 1986 cult classic ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE has arrived on DVD! Now available at Amazon.com, this was my first starring role, playing "Detective Frank Sorrel" opposite Adam West as "Captain Churchman." Also starring Tia Carrere, John-Mikl Thor, John Fasano and Shawn Levy. Extras include brand new interviews with me and my old pal Fasano, and a full-length audio commentary which alone is worth the price of the DVD.

Order your copy today at Amazon: Zombie Nightmare

A Little Advice From Betty Armstrong

2010-10-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Fay Masterson schools me about danger...

Lugosi Lives Eternal!

2010-09-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Just because I felt like it. Bela Lugosi, rendered in vine charcoal, as Count Dracula from my favorite movie of all time, ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. I consider Bela's performance in this film to actually be superior to the original 1931 DRACULA.

The Sketchy Things Website Revamped

2010-09-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

Come visit the remodeled sketchythings.com. It's cleaner and neater. Like when your folks made you clean your room, only more fun.

Moderating The Living Dead

2010-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

This year celebrated the 25th anniversary of Dan O'Bannon's classic RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. I had the great pleasure of hosting two reunion panels, one at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, CA, and one at Wonderfest in Louisville, KY. Here are a couple of shots from both shows, courtesy Bill Edwards and Shawn Tabor.

Monsterpalooza -From left to right:

Frank, Don Calfa, Thom Matthews, James Karen,

Clu Gulager, Beverly Randolph, William Stout,
Tony Gardner, Jewel Shepard and Brian Peck.

Wonderfest - Frank, James Karen,

William Stout and Linnea Quigley

Too bad we didn't enjoy ourselves, huh?

Even More Recenter Activities!

2010-09-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

My computer very recently had a fatal meltdown, which kept me from posting for a bit, but all is back to normal. So here are a few more shots of recent events in my crazy Monster World!

Signing at the San Diego Comic Con with actor Redfield
and director Larry Blamire.

Panel discussion with James Karen at Wonderfest 2010.

Hanging with Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles...

...and the lovely and talented Belle Dee Bilbrey.

FAMOUS MONSTERS LIVES!

2010-08-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the program cover I did for the first FAMOUS MONSTERS Convention in 17 years, held last month in Indiana! It was great fun to be able to include old friends and acquaintances like Ken Foree, Tom Savini, Bill Hinzman, Sharon Cecatti and, of course, Uncle Forry Ackerman. Big thanks to Jessie Lilley, Michael Heisler and Phil Kim for giving me the opportunity to participate in the resurrection of the magazine that started it all. Here's to a long and successful run!

Recent Activities!

2010-07-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Between screenwriting and artwork, things have been rather busy lately. But there has been a little time for fun with good friends. Here a few photos of recent play time...

David J. Schow's birthday celebration. R.A. Maliahoff, Frank Darabont and his friend Adina,
myself, Bernie and Liz Wrightson.

R.A., Cathi Holland, myself, Tom Holland, David Schow and Dave Parker.

Schow, Dietz, Darabont and Drew Struzan.

At Monsterpalooza with Don Calfa (photo by Beverly Randolph).

My LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN cast-mates Susan McConnell,
me and Trish Geiger at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Peter Cushing

2010-07-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Just because. You know what I mean.

Hammer Gals!

2010-07-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few sketches celebrating the lovely ladies from the Hammer horror films of the 1960's and 1970's. The first two were created for Dick Klemenson's wonderful magazine LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS, dedicated to all things Hammer. The third was drawn for a calendar I created years ago called "Chiller Cheesecake."

Jeanne Roland

Valerie Leon

Veronica Carlson

The Monster Beastro

2010-07-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fun sketches I did while working on Delbert Winans' MONSTER BEASTRO project. It's a shame that Delbert left us before he could see his dream realized. That would have been one cool restaurant. All the images below were to illustrate the menu.

THE THING Sandwich

The KONG Burger

The BLACK LAGOON Mai Tai

Space Beasties!

2010-07-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Two more from "Keep Watching The Skies." I was really tempted to draw in the wires that held up THE GIANT CLAW. But instead, here's a shot of what the giant goofybird might have looked like as a chick.

THE GIANT CLAW
AND
THE TINY CLAW!

And IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE!

Gigantic Beasts And Colossal Breasts

2010-07-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Two more sketches from "Keep Watching The Skies!" Everything was bigger in the 1950's....

WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST

Allison Hayes from ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN

Master Of The World

2010-07-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was very happy with the 15 sketches I did for Bill Warren's recent "Keep Watching The Skies" update. In fact, I believe them to be some of the best "sketchy things"-style pieces I've ever done. But the book is so massive (over 1,000 pages!), my poor drawings get lost in the leviathan. So I'm going to post them here, starting today with Vincent Price as Robur from MASTER OF THE WORLD.

San Diego Comic-Con

2010-06-30T10:36:00.001-07:00

Great news for fans of THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA and the films of Larry Blamire! Shout! Factory will be launching the DVD release of the much-anticpated sequel, THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN at the San Diego Comic-Con in July. There will be a signing on Thursday, July 22nd at 2 p.m. at the Shout! booth (#3749) with myself, Larry Blamire and several other cast members. This is the only opportunity to pick up a copy of this terrific film - and Larry's other new film, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT - before the street date of August 17th.

If you're attending Comic-Con this year, please stop by on Thursday at 2 p.m. and say hello, and grab your copy of these very funny films before they sell out. If you're not going to be at the Con, you can pre-order the DVD's at Amazon:

The Lost Skeleton Returns Again

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IRUFCA/ref=s9_simh_gw_p74_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0ZY6730CNAV3XRV9MEGD&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Smoke And Mirrors

2010-06-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Two fun examples of a little computer manipulation. Claude Rains as THE INVISBLE MAN was done by drawing the head and body seperately, then knocking down the transparency of the head drawing. Lon Chaney's PHANTOM was altered with a "blur" tool to recreate the fuzzy, scary image from the original film.

Happy Anniversary, Norman Bates

2010-06-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

To celebrate this week's 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO, I present this page from my 5th book, MY FAVORITE SKETCHY THINGS. Why? Because we all go a little mad sometimes...

Back To The Watercolor!

2010-06-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a recent commission of CHRISTOPHER LLOYD as "Doc Brown" from the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy. Richard Cromwell of Florida has hired my several times, often when he expects to be meeting a celebrity at an upcoming convention. This was created in anticipation of his meeting the talented Mr. Lloyd, and with the hope that he would sign it. I have to be honest - this was my second attempt. The first one...well...just didn't work. I had to start from scratch, and I'm glad I did. This one is funnier and the likeness works. I was surprised at how difficult this character was to nail down. I expected him to be quite easy. Just goes to show...you can never tell until you start putting it on the paper...

Hammer Time!

2010-06-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

This tribute piece of PETER CUSHING and CHRISTOPHER LEE was a commission for serious collector David Haft. I am privileged to have met both of the gentlemen depicted in this piece. The Hammer films were some of the first horror movies that I saw in a movie theatre, and so hold a special place in my heart.

The Thing Of It Is...

2010-06-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't really love John Carpenter's 1981 remake of THE THING when I first saw it. But over the years I have come to appreciate it more and more. I now consider it one of my very favorite horror/sci-fi films. So I was more than happy to create this commission piece for fan John McShane. John is already considering a companion piece, featuring the rest of the cast...proving that "one Thing leads to another..."

Wonderfest 2010

2010-05-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Another Wonderful Wonderfest. Here are just a few photos that express my joy of being a returning guest for twelve years now:

New artist Lee Copeland was selling these fabulous caricatures of me, and also had one of fellow guest William Stout. I love it, because it looks like me on any given Wonderfest morning!:

This shot was taken by Anita Pace, as I moderated the RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Q&A panel, with my friends Jim Karen (pictured), Bill Stout and Linnea Quigley:

A candid shot taken in the Guest Room. Look how happy I am to be there!

Me, Crazy Joe Nejberger and Bill at the Sunday Night Banquet, taken by Beau Kaelin:

My dear friends Tim and Donna Lucas, publishers of VIDEO WATCHDOG magazine. I love these folks with all my heart...

More photos to come...Big thanks and big love to Dave Conover, Donnie Waddell, John Davis and Dave Hodge for continuing to include me in their WF family!

Wonderfest Sketches

2010-04-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

With Wonderfest 2010 looming on the horizon, I thought I'd take a look back at some of the images I've created for this fabulous convention in the past. The Louisville, KY event is still my favorite event of the year. This year I will be moderating a 25th anniversary celebration of the classic RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, with my friends production designer William Stout and actors James Karen and Linnea Quigley. It's being held May 15-16 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Louisville. Hope to see some of you there!

It's Delicious And Deadly!

2010-04-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Just for fun...Murder's favorite cocktail...

The JAWS Boys

2010-04-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Thinking about one of my all-time favorite films, and three reasons I enjoy it...

Classic Examples: Phantom And Phibes

2010-03-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

In my last post I mentioned Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and Vincent Price's ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES as two characters that we classic monster artists love to sketch and paint. Here's two recent additions. The Phantom is done in oils, Phibes in watercolor...

Oliver Reed's Werewolf - An Artist's Dream

2010-01-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

For classic horror artists, there are certain characters that just beg to be rendered. Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Boris Karloff's FRANKENSTEIN monster and Vincent Price's ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES are three that immediately come to mind. Oliver Reed's lycanthrope is another, because of Roy Ashton's unique makeup and the torn, romantic costume he wears. How can an artist resist a werewolf in a red cumberbund?

The proof is below, which two recent pieces from myself and the Mozart of monster sculpture Mike Hill. Mine is done in watercolors, his done in all sorts of materials. Both capture the essence of the character, who only is seen in the final 20 minutes of the Hammer film.

Mike's sculpture is built upon actor Oliver Reed's actual features, which is why is it so spectacular. Without a doubt, you can see Ollie in the eyes.

I liked the idea of making this watercolor look kind of like a tarot card. Werewolves in cinema have been linked to gypsies and fortune tellers since Curt Soidmak's screenplay for THE WOLF MAN in 1941.

A Quasiwatercolor!

2009-12-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

After a year of almost continuous professional work, as both an artist and screenwriter, it's nice to have a few days to just kick back and do some artwork for myself. Today I broke out the watercolors and dove into yet another Lon Chaney Sr. piece. As I've said before, watercolor is probably the most challenging of mediums, as there is little room for error. But today I was relaxed, and the colors flowed peacefully. I know that after the New Year I'll be back in full work mode, so I really appreciated the opportunity to just do what I love to do.

Keep Watching The Skies!

2009-12-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Bill Warren's newly revised, 2009 edition of his highly respected guide to 1950's sci-fi movies has a new face and some nifty Sketchy Things within!

Tor Johnson and Bela Lugosi plan a
BRIDE OF THE MONSTER.

Now available from McFarland is Bill's third redux of KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES, and it is seven pounds of sci-fi geek heaven. Filled with in-depth analysis' of hundreds of fantastic films, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thankfully, Bill asked me to contribute some sublimely ridiculous sketches to this terrific volume, and even allowed me to pick the films I wanted to illustrate. The results are some of my favorite Sketchy Things caricatures ever.

Michael Gough contemplates the

HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM.

KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES! is available through Barnes and Noble, Overstock.com and many other book outlets. It also has a Rondo-worthy dust jacket cover by my friend, the super-talented Kerry Gammill. See how many of the cover beasties you can recognize!

Kudos to Bill for a fantastic and necessary reference for all students of classic sci-fi and horror films. Klaatu Barrada Nikto!

The Almost Last Painting Of The Decade

2009-12-27T09:52:00.001-08:00

As the decade draws (yes, pun intended) to a close, I want to thank all my friends and fans for continuing to support my work. Without you folks, all this artwork would be for my eyes only, and that would be not nearly as fun.

I still have a few days before the ball drops (uncomfortable expression, isn't it?), so I may have time to finish one more oil painting...but in the meantime, here's one that I finished yesterday. I wanted to capture that moment, just after Mary Philbin snatches Lon Chaney's mask from his twisted face, and he turns and glares at her in accusational rage. The shot in the film is slightly out of focus, which somehow makes it more nightmarish.

The "soft focus" effect here is easily accomplished. While the oils are still wet on the canvas, I take a fan brush and very lightly drag the brush over the paint. I dry-wipe the brush clean after each stroke. I work in one diagonal direction, and then the other. The key is not to put any pressure on the brush as it sweeps over the paint, just let gravity do it's thing. The result is an eerie, soft glow, which is a pretty cool effect.

I use this technique on almost all my oil paintings, usually after the tones have been laid down. It helps me see that the general shapes of the tones are correct. In most paintings, however, I continue to refine after that. This PHANTOM OF THE OPERA didn't need much else, except a little tweaking in the eyes.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Birthday to Me, 2009!

2009-11-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

So amidst all of the craziness this last three months hath wraught, I happened to hit the half-century mark. I turned 50 years old in October, which is still hard for me to believe. But my friends did their best to make my transition to a pentagenarian a smooth and painless one.

Below are a few of the treasured gifts I received from my rather notable friends.

From Bernie Wrightson and his lovely wife, Liz - an original birthday sketch:

From LOST SKELETON director Larry Blamire - my LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN character gets his own vintage comic book! Or at least the cover...

From my other pal, David J. Schow - the limited edition hardcover of REYNOLD BROWN, by Daniel Zimmer and David J. Hornung, which showcases the artistry of the man who created all of the cool sci-fi posters of the 1950's.

Great gifts from great friends.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Interview

2009-08-12T00:11:00.000-07:00

Shout Factory's recent release of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 Volume XV features a rather special extra...an interview with me and my co-star Thor on our feelings about our cult classic ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE, which is one of the episodes included in this set.

ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE has been regarded as one of the very best episodes of this terrific series, and I was more than happy to share my recollections of the experience, and my insight as to why our bad movie works so well in the MST3K format. All the reviews of this new collection have been glowing, so join the Satellite Of Love and pick up your copy before Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank find a way to sabotage its wonder...

"Who put the 12-year-old in charge of the investigation?"

Unmasking Dr. Phibes Part 2

2009-08-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now it's time to let the lights shine. I squint at the reference photos to determine where the light areas really stand out. Squinting makes it easier to recognize the tones as either light, middle or dark. Using an electric eraser, I begin by blocking out the areas that are going to be lighter. You'll notice that these are mostly small areas. In the following step, these will be softened to create a real sense of depth.

Now a kneaded eraser is used to gently soften the edges of the highlights, and lighten up larger areas. This often requires a good amount of push-and-pull, but the end result creates the illusion of depth that is vital to a pencil or charcoal sketch such as this...

Finally, some last minutes rendering of the darkest darks...and a fair amount of erasing to clean up the areas surrounding the character(s), and the sketch is complete. Oh, except for the signature, of course...

...and the notorious Dr. Phibes rises again, to be matted and framed in the den of a very happy client! Thanks again to Sketchy Things fan John Lee for his wonderful taste in subject matter!

Unmasking Dr. Phibes Part 1

2009-08-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

A terrific fan from Kentucky just recently gave me the opportunity to create a truly unique sketch of Vincent Price from one of my favorite films, THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES. John Lee of Bardstown commissioned a drawing based on his own concept...the hideously scarred Anton Phibes holding up the mask of his own visage. I immediately loved the idea, and began the process of bringing John's concept to visual life. It began, as always, with a rough sketch, to determine the composition of the piece...

Once I was certain that the proportions were correct, I began filling in a middle tone over the entire drawing. This was accomplished with a Mars Lumograph 100 B pencil, the only pencil I would use throughout the entire sketch. The tone is gently feathered in, and then rubbed down with my fingers to acheive a nice soft and even middle tone.

Once that is done, I begin to render in the darker tones, and commit to the holding lines that will define the contours of the character. It is important to keep the entire drawing at the same level of completion. Not to finish one area and then return to the rest. This is a sure fire way to insure that each and every part of your sketch relates to the entire image.

Up next...the application of the lighter tones...

"Little Monster, Big Dreams" Sells At Halloweentown

2009-06-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was part of a terrific group gallery show at Halloweentown in Burbank. The theme was "Every Day Is Halloween," and I was joined by such impressive genre artists as Gris Grimly, Robert Lizzarado, Eric Pigors and many others.

My entry was called "Little Monster, Big Dreams," and was rendered in pencils. It sold early during the opening night party, to a vintage Halloween enthusiast. I was happy to see it go to a good home!

Delbert Winans, 1949 - 2009

2009-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

I got home from dinner Monday night around 11 pm to find a message on my phone. It was from Scott MacQueen, asking that I call him upon getting the message. He sounded serious, so I called immediately, at which point Scott informed me that our friend Delbert Winans had passed away that afternoon. I gasped, because I had just received an email from Delbert earlier in the day, and had spoken to him on the phone the night before.

I have been working closely with Delbert for the past eight months, on the project Gary mentions above. Now it was called the MONSTER BEASTRO, and we were well along in it's development. It appeared that Delbert was finally going to see his dream come true.

I'm still in a bit of shock. He was so very happy with the artwork I had done, and how the website was coming. Not only that, but a major cable network was interested in filming the creation of the restaurant as a reality series. That he has left us now seems so unfair.

Delbert had a collection of posters and lobbycards that any genre fan would be envious of. Almost all of the ones on display in his office were signed by the original stars. He was so proud of them. He also produced a great number of spectacular sculptures, working with Henry Alvarez and many other talented artists. Many were created for Disney's catalogues.

Delbert was sweet, funny and very passionate about classic movies. He had made plans for us to visit with Ron Borst later this month. He was, indeed, a true Monster Kid.

I didn't know him for very long, but I know I will miss him for much longer.

Lon Versus Jack!

2009-06-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

While appearing at Eliot Brodsky's terrific MONSTERPALOOZA convention last weekend, I was reminded of one my of my all-time favorite "Sketchy Things" caricatures. Ron Chaney (grandson of Lon Jr.) and his lovely family were there, and my friend Perry Shields performed his one-man show tribute to Jack Pierce, the Universal makeup genius who created the look of the classic monsters. All of this brought to mind the drawing below, which was commisioned several years back by Wonderfest Program Director Dave Conover.

Based on a famous "gag" photo taken on the set of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN, it jokingly refers to the alleged combative relationship between Lon Jr. and Pierce. It still brings a smile to my face...

Havoc Swims Unpainted

2009-06-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

HAVOC SWIMS JADED, by David J. Schow. A collection of short stories. David wanted something Black Lagoon-esque. My task was to create a cover image that evoked the essence of the Gillman's world without infringing on any copyright of trademarked properties.

The atmosphere of the piece was the most important element. We needed the gloomy, murky feel of an underwater lair, with just enough light to showcase the character. I used a combination of Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue and Viridian Green as the main colors, with Burnt Umber and Titanium White to bring out the darks and lights.

Keeping the Creature "soft" was paramount in achieving the ghostly quality of the painting. I kept most of the edges soft, picking only a few "hard" edges to define important areas.

Below is the final painting, which Mr. Schow has hanging in his home.

And here is the actual cover of the book...

Wonderfest 2009 Part 3

2009-06-06T21:03:00.001-07:00

More fun than humans should be permitted to have...

...and big thanks to Eileen Colton, Terry Pace and Beau Kaelin for the great pix!

Here are three of my favorite people: Gary Prange, creator and curator of THE OLD DARK CLUBHOUSE, Joe Busam, the Rondo Award-winning producer of MONSTER KID HOME MOVIES, and Linda Wylie, everyone's favorite nurse. Here we drink a toast to good friends.

The Boys Of Wonder (fest) finally receive the long-deserved Rondo Award for Best Convention. John Davis, Dave Hodge, Dave Conover and Donnie Waddell. Congrats, boys!

THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN gang pose for a photo op. Frank, Jennifer, the Poster from the movie, Larry and producer Mike Schlesinger are happy to be anywhere, but especially happy to be in Louisville.

A mischevious prank unfolds during a post-convention dinner. Particpating in the hilarity are Jen, Melinda Angstrom (back turned), Frank, David J. Schow, VIDEO WATCHDOG'S Tim and Donna Lucas, Gary Prange and someone's nose to be named later.

The crowd begins to gather for the exclusive screening of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN. The room would end up being SRO, and the crowd went nuts for the long-awaited sequel.

Wonderfest 2009 Part 2

2009-06-05T19:46:00.001-07:00

More candid shots of the frenzied fun that is Wonderfest...

David J. Schow takes in the splendor of THE OLD DARK CLUBHOUSE...

Joe Moe and Anita Pace become part of the FAMOUS MONSTERS SPEAK album cover art. Later that night Anita would be caught in a scandal involving myself...

...the lovely Sara Lattis...

...and the concoction pictured below. Kids, don't try this at home...

Bob Burns placates an alien in need of a root canal. That's WF program director Dave Conover at the podium.

Alexandra and Forrest Pace became best buds with "Animala" herself, Jennifer Blaire.

Still more to come... Thanks to Terry Pace for the usual awesome photos!

The Lost Skeleton Returns Again Poster

2009-06-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the latest super-cool poster for THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN, created by Production Designer Anthony Tremblay, with a hand from uber-artist Cortney Skinner and Larry Blamire. It's downright action-packed!

Channeling Mr. Poe Part 2

2009-06-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Once I was sure the Vincent Price caricature was working to my satisfaction, I began to address the background tones and the "ghost" of the dark poet. With Poe placed in the right spot, what remained was "pushing" and "pulling" the middle tones (the ones that create the most depth in a drawing) to acheive the maximum illusion of dimension.

Oh, and the moustache. Almost forgot the moustache.

Finally, the last details are added, including the very lightest and very darkest tones. This provides the extra "punch" needed to really bring Prince Prospero to life. By the way, the image of Price here is from THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, one of the best of Roger Corman's Poe films. Below is the final piece, ready to be matted and framed for display at the gallery show.

Wonderfest 2009

2009-06-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

This year's Wonderfest in Louisville, KY was the most fun ever. I was thrilled to be a part of this Rondo Award-winning convention. Here are just a few shots of the mirth and mayhem that ensued.

Larry Blamire, Beau Kaelin, Frank and Jennifer Blaire at the Sunday evening banquet. That's artist William Stout in the background on the left, and writer Terry Pace on the right.

Three great gals and Coffin Joe. The fabulous Nurse Moan-Eek, the exquisite Sara Lattis, the fiery Jovanka Vukovic from RUE MORGUE and the sinister Raymond Castile.

Larry and Frank crack up during the Q&A panel for THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN.

The zany Count Gore De Vol and Frank channel Bela Lugosi for the cameras.

Awesome artist "Belle Dee Bilbrey" stopped in to join the festivities.

More photos coming up soon. Thanks to Beau Kaelin for the great pix!

Channeling Mr. Poe Part 1

2009-06-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

After a long absence from blogging (mostly due to a heavy workload and several convention appearances), I am back!

I recently participated in a group gallery show at Halloweentown in Burbank. The theme of this show was Edgar Allan Poe, and since I had already done a Poe portrait, I decided to do something a little different.

Here a step-by-step look at the creation of my pencil piece, a nod to both Mr. Poe and Mr. Price, who starred in many Poe-inspired movies for producer Roger Corman.

Starting with a simple sketch, the task is about building up tones, little by little:

New Limited Edition Prints!

2009-03-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

As the Rondo Awards draw closer and Wonderfest looms, I have just made available two new limited edition prints.

The first is The Sketchy Things Monster Party, featuring over 30 caricatures of favorite film fiends, from the tiny (THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN) to the gigantic (THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS).

The Sketchy Things Monster Party is 11" x 17" and professionally printed on 100 lb. glossy stock. This is a limited edition of only 100 pieces, each signed and numbered. How many monsters do you recognize? The cost is only $25.00, including U.S. shipping.

The next is a very limited edition of the Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein Castle, the oil painting that I chronicled in this blog several months ago. This print is full color, printed on heavyweight glossy stock and measures 13" x 19" with a clean white border.

The A&C Meet F Castle costs $35.00, U.S. shipping included. This print will be shipped rolled in a mailing tube. I only have 10 of these right now.

To order either of these prints, drop me an e-mail directly at fdietz@sbcglobal.net, and put "Monster Print" in the subject line. I can accept personal checks, money orders and Paypal.

In the meantime, don't forget to vote in this year's Rondo Awards, as time is running out, with the deadline set for March 21st! www.rondoaward.com

Frank Dietz Interview On The Web

2009-03-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

Over on Movie Meltdown, a fun site that celebrates horror in film and art, they have posted an interview with me, conducted by Bryan Renfro at Wonderfest 2008. Have a listen:

http://theartofbeingamoviegeek.com/index.html

And speaking of Wonderfest, May is only a few months away. Have you made your hotel reservations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel yet? This year is going to be a smash, with Veronica Cartwright, Tom Woodruff, Bob & Kathy Burns and special guests Larry Blamire and Jennifer Blaire! It's the 20th anniversary of my favorite convention, so come join the fun!

http://www.wonderfest.com/news.htm

It's Time To Vote Again - Rondo Awards 2008

2009-02-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's that time once again...to scroll through the list of nominees and cast your votes for the winners of the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Now in its 7th year, the Rondos represent the best of horror, sci-fi and fantasy in all media...as decided by the fans. I urge all of my friends and fans to make their voice heard, and cast their choices for the winners of this prestigous award. There are many categories, including a few new ones, but you do not have to vote in every category. Just the ones you feel qualified to vote in. You can only vote once, so make it count!

There are several "write-in" categories, such as "Writer Of The Year, " "Artist Of The Year" and "Monster Kid Of The Year." Here you write in the names of the persons you feel contributed the most to the genre in their respective fields.

Go to the Rondo website - http://rondoaward.com/ to see the list of nominees and instructions on how to vote. The voting will close on March 21st and the winners will be announced the following evening. The awards ceremony will take place on May 16th at Wonderfest in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Rondo Awards play a valuable role in keeping the spirit of classic horror and fandom alive and well for years to come. So get out there and vote for your favorites!

The Belle Of The Ball

2009-02-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

I apologize for not having posted for quite a while, but professional gigs have had me jumping through hoops...

But onward and upward! I simply HAD to share some of the terrific artwork recently posted on the CLASSIC HORROR FILM BOARD, by a lovely lass who goes by the name of "Belle Dee Bilbrey" on those boards. Her beautiful graphic interpretations of classic horror characters are so delightful that I immediately contacted Richard Klemenson of LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS magazine and brought her work to his attention. He agreed that these snazzy little pieces were worthy of a place in his next issue. So look forward to seeing more of "Belle's" work in the near future.

Here are two wonderful examples. THE GIANT GILA MONSTER and Hammer's THE REPTILE...

2008 - The Sketchy Year In Review

2008-12-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

The year 2008 certainly turned out to be interesting. I became an actor again, and 2009 should see the release of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and possibly THE RESTROOM, which we hope to shoot in the early Spring. The coming year should also see the release of several art projects I worked on this past year - stuff I can't show you yet. Bill Warren's revised edition of "Keep Watching The Skies" and Midnight Marquee's mystery novel "Bela Lugosi and The House Of Doom" are just two you'll be seeing soon. In the meantime, here's a quick look back at some of the classic monster art created in the last twelve months...

I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2009. I'll be appearing at Wonderfest (Louisville, KY) and Monsterpalooza (Burbank, CA) this May, so I hope to see many of you there.

Have fun!

Happy Holidays...

2008-12-23T09:09:00.001-08:00

...to all my friends and fans!!!

Forrest J. Ackerman

2008-12-23T09:04:00.001-08:00

Forrest J. Ackerman 1916 - 2008

Thanks for everything, Uncle Forry.

Building The House Of Dracula Part 5

2008-11-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

After giving myself a day away from the painting, I came back to it with a fresh perspective - a new set of eyes, if you will. I noticed a couple of small changes I wanted to make and took care of them. You'll notice these if you compare the two images. I am now satisfied with the painting and have signed it.

In the end, I am much happier with this version than I was with the first attempt at this same image. This one is moodier, richer in atmosphere than the previous painting. I want to thank Kirsten Perez for giving me the opportunity to reimagine this iconic image, one of my favorites from all the Universal horror classics.

There is one more step involved, but isn't worth posting here. Once the paint is thoroughly dry, a thin coat of retouching varnish will be applied, which will enhance the paintings luster in the tones and colors.

Now, back to the drawing board!

"I believe you're in the house of Dracula right now!" - Lawrence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) from ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.

Building The House Of Dracula Part 4

2008-11-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

Now I begin to really breathe life into the painting. I start with the larger areas and work my way down to the more detailed parts. I try to use thicker paint on in the "foreground" areas, thinner paint in the background. This adds to the illusion of depth.

For those interested, these are the colors I used: Ultramarine and Prussian Blues, Veridian Green, Sap Green, Cadmium Orange and Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Raw Sienna and Titanium White. I did not use black of any kind, and the fact is that I never do. I don't even own a tube of the stuff. I always prefer to "create" my own blacks, which are never really true black but a mix of colors that have a similar effect. Pure black from the tube always looks "flat" to me. It's a personal choice that I have stayed with since I started oil painting.

So this piece is just about finished. I don't want to over-work it, I want to keep it "painterly" - meaning a little loose and not quite so illustrative. I am actually liking this new painting much better than the first piece I did of the same subject.

The next step: The Final Step!

Monsters In Progress

2008-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek at two other oil paintings that are "in the works." The CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON piece is an image I had previously rendered in Prismacolor markers, but I am so taken with that moment from the film that I wanted to capture it in oils as well. The CURSE OF THE DEMON is such a startling character, I've wanted to paint him for quite a while. Both of these I'm doing without a rough sketch, just jumping in with tones and color. It's a little more challenging this way, but a bit faster and really fun!

Building The House Of Dracula Part 3

2008-11-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

Now I've begun to apply thicker paint to each area of the painting. The colors are stronger and more defined, but I'm still holding on to the tones I created in the previous step. I work my way around the entire piece, never spending too much time on a particular area. This keeps the painting consistant, and keeps me from "finishing" one area while the others are ignored. I finished this session by taking a fan brush and lightly softening everything.

Fanning sets up the next step, which is to dig into the more detailed areas. I'll be using smaller brushes from this point on.

The next step: Finessing!

Building The House Of Dracula Part 2

2008-11-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

After the sketch has been sprayed with fixative (an important step, otherwise the sketch will be destroyed by this phase!), I begin painting in the tones - light, middle and dark values - which will help me keep the depth of the painting throughout the process. Again, no details required at this point, they'll come later.

I've added just a hint of dulled-down color here, but the real goal of this step is getting those tones in. As I progress, the paint will be applied thicker and the true colors will be introduced.

The next step: Thicker paint!

Building The House Of Dracula Part 1

2008-11-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

I've been commissioned to recreate an oil painting I did several years ago, the castle from ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. This is a perfect opportunity to show you the process, step by step. So first up is the charcoal sketch, done on the canvas. I use vine charcoal, which is very easy to correct - that is to say that it erases easily. It also smudges easily, so one has to be careful not to rub an elbow or palm against it until it is sprayed.

You'll notice that the sketch is rather rough. Details are unnecessary at this point, because later I'll be covering all of this with paint. The sketch is just the foundation on which to build. It's important, however, to get the proportions correct at this stage. They're easier to fix now rather than later.

The next step: Painting in the tones...

The Ink Of The Bride Of Frankenstein

2008-11-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

While watching THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN with my daughter Tabitha this past Halloween, I was reminded of how much I enjoyed doing simple pen-and-ink drawings of the wonderful characters that inhabit James Whale's film. These are all from around 1999, and most appeared in the very first Sketchy Things volume. Is it me, or does my Bride look a bit like Scarlett Johansson? Attention, Universal Studios casting...

Never Fear, Smith Is Here

2008-10-08T07:50:00.001-07:00

When writing screenplays, I often assign an actor's voice to a character to help me write his or her dialogue. In the script I've recently been commissioned to write, I'm using Jonathan Harris to help bring a certain character's words to light. Having his voice in my head brings back fond memories of not only Dr. Zachary Smith, the conniving gadfly he portrayed on LOST IN SPACE, but of Jonathan himself. I appeared at many conventions with Jonathan, and I still miss his sly, curmudgeonly grin and sweet/sour disposition. Seeing him drinking his tea in the morning, before the floodgates of autograph hungry fans were opened to descend upon him, always made me smile.

Thanks for everything, Jonathan Harris (1914-2002)

New Western Horror From Larry Blamire

2008-10-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Exciting news from my friend and director Larry Blamire - a collection of western-themed horror stories. Besides being a terrific filmmaker and talented artist, Larry is a masterful talespinner, and here is an opportunity for you to read for yourself. Here's what Larry says:

"TALES OF THE CALLAMO MOUNTAINS gathers all my western horror stories and slams them into one handy trade size paperback, with a cover by me (how convenient). These tales are lousy with atmosphere, creepiness and suspense and stuff, with a hearty helping of the twisted and bizarre. Pretty traditional in a way--low on gore and violence..."

I highly recommend this book to all of my own friends and fans. You can order it here:

http://www.lulu.com/content/3875805

Frank with horror authors (and best pals) David J. Schow and Larry Blamire.

THE LOST SKELETON PREMIERES!

2008-10-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Bantam Street presented the world premiere of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN! at the Mill Valley Film Festival, just outside of San Francisco, California. The movie was received with great enthusiasm and loads of laughter. We are all happy and proud of our film and it's creator, writer-director-star Larry Blamire. Following the screening, a Q&A was held with most of the cast and several of the crew. It was a magical night.

Producers Mike Schlesinger and Sara Van Der Voort, Bob DeVeau, cinematographer A.J. Rickert-Epstein, Trish Geiger, Brian Howe, Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson, Frank Dietz and Andy Parks. The 3 in the front: Susan McConnell (head turned), Dan Conroy and Jennifer Blaire.

Linda Miller, R.I.P.

2008-09-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Linda Miller passed away yesterday at the young age of 48. Linda was an active member of the Universal Monster Army and the Lugosiphile Group. Her death was unexpected, leaving all of us shocked and depply saddened.

The artwork she created, based on the classic Universal horror films, was stunning and unique. Her medium of choice was primarily watercolor, though you wouldn't immediately recognize it as such. She never felt the need to incorporate color, and her paintings fully captured the atmosphere of the vintage films she paid tribute to.

Linda was humble regarding her own talent, yet generous in her praise of others. A real class act. Rest In Peace, Dear Linda...

Not JUST Monsters...

2008-09-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, occasionally I paint something that is NOT a monster or an actor who played a monster! Below are two examples of what's known as "Fine Art."

This is a simple still life done in oils. The challenge here was creating the illusion of the bottle being clear glass.

This was a Monet duplication. The idea is not to "copy" what you see, but to "imagine" what is was the artist was looking at when he painted it. There's a lot to be learned from the Great Masters...and the Great Monsters!

The Terror Of The Tones

2008-09-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

In oil painting, getting your tones locked in early, and then maintaining them as you proceed is a good idea. It keeps you from getting lost, and gives you an better idea of what your final painting will eventually look like.

Here's a look at the initial tones puts down for my painting of the incredibly sexy Andree Melly from THE BRIDES OF DRACULA.

And the final painting, with the oil paint loaded up nice and thick, but the tones still holding.

Love that Andree...

Count Charcoalula

2008-09-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Charcoal can be a tricky medium. It takes practice to master the gentle touch required to create delicate middle tones. These are the tones that create the most depth, which is what you want if your piece is going to have the illusion of three dimensions. The lightest and darkest tones create the "punch" - the eye-catching drama - but without those vital variations of middle tone, the piece can end up looking flat.

This charcoal sketch of Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula from ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (my favorite Lugosi performance) has strong lights and darks, but it is those middle values that really give it life.

"I have other ways of securing your cooperation...Look into my eyes..."

Re-Wrapping The Mummy

2008-09-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

A little lesson on why it is sometimes worth the effort to go back and re-examine a piece that just didn't work out the way you envisioned.

This oil of Boris Karloff as Ardath Bey, a.k.a. THE MUMMY, was my very first classic monster painting. It seemed fine while I was working on it, but I was still learning the process at the time, and so I rushed it. I didn't listen to my inner Gogos, and was too much of a hurry to see the final result. It wasn't until is was "finished" that I noticed the problems with the sketch itself - the proportions were way off, so the likeness suffered.

For almost a year that painting sat on my studio floor, and every time I passed by it I would grimace. Finally, while in the middle of another painting, I had had enough. I put the new piece aside and put this one back on the easel. Within an hour, I had captured the image I had always imagined it would be. Suddenly I loved the painting I had shunned for so long. In fact, I now liked it so much I decided to take it a step further, and glazed color onto it's Burnt Umber and Titanium White tones. The result was so worth the effort, I was only sorry I hadn't resolved to fix it sooner. See for yourself...

The original painting...

The revised version...

And the final, glazed painting.

Lesson learned.

The Not-Nearly-As-Dark Knight

2008-09-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed THE DARK KNIGHT, but nothing will ever replace the loving memories of Adam West (my ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE co-star) as the Caped Crusader. Utterly goofy but inescapably charming, the 60's BATMAN series provided this eight-year-old viewer with hours of two-part action-packed imagination.

This tribute is actually a composition of four individual drawings - Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, Cesar Romero as The Joker, Adam as Batman and Burgess Meredith as The Penguin. And each had their own theme music. Can you sing them all?

How To Make A Monster (Again!)

2008-08-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here's another example of the three main steps in creating a glaze oil painting. Luckily I "documented" these steps while creating these paintings, so that I can actually show the process instead of describing it. A picture is worth a thousand werewolves. I mean words. The subject this time is the iconic, craggy features of Glenn Strange as the Frankenstein Monster, specifically from ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.

The sketch and simple tones are the most important steps. This is the time to make corrections regarding proportions in particular. It's a lot easier to fix drawing errors during these early stages than it is to fix later.

Next is the application of thicker paint - just Burnt Umber and Titanium White - to create a tone painting. Since it will be glazed, we'll keep the middle and dark tones about two shades lighter than normal. Corrections can still be made at this point, but you'll wish you had done them earlier!

Once this monochromatic stage is completely dry, the glazing stage can begin. Using "transparent" colors such as Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Indian Yellow with a glazing medium, the color is layered on the existing tones. The result is quite striking, and very different from a traditional oil painting.

If you're wondering why my signature is so big...it is because the painting was so small! The actual canvas was only 5 x 7 inches, and was sold during my Gallery Show in October 2006.

Lycanthropy and Me

2008-08-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

I have always loved werewolves. The character of Larry Talbot, The Wolf Man, was my first monster, and I've always felt a certain bond with him. Perhaps because he was just a regular guy with extraordinary bad luck. Most cinematic lycanthropes suffer from the same scenario, or at least the best ones do. Here are a few of my favorites, rendered in various mediums...

Oliver Reed from CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF, sketched with charcoal pencil

Lon Chaney Jr. and Elena Verdugo from HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, graphite pencil.

And Chaney again, this time in simple pen and ink.

Even an artist who is pure in heart...

WonderHeston

2008-08-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Mike Schlesinger (Rondo Monster Kid Of The Year and producer of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN!) provided me with this shot, taken at the conclusion of my demo at Wonderfest, discussed in the posts below. Thanks Mike!

Hail, Caesar!

2008-08-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

At Wonderfest I was asked to demonstrate my sketch techniques by drawing Charlton Heston, a cinematic hero in the eyes of many WFesters. I honored that request, and did a caricature of Big Chuck as Col. Taylor from the original PLANET OF THE APES. I had one hour, and I had left my reference photos back at the hotel. Thankfully, a gracious vendor and Linda Harrison ("Nova") came to my rescue, lending me a few of their stills to work from. The piece came out fine, and was sold at one of the WF charity auctions later that day (so I don't have a photo of it to share we you here).

It occured to me that day - as I was once again drawing Heston - that I haven't drawn enough apes. I should draw more apes.

This is the kind of stuff that goes through my brain.

Top: Roddy McDowall from CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.
Bottom: From 2000, Maurice Evans as the crafty Dr. Zaius.

Artist Of The Year

2008-07-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Bernie Wrightson (Rondo Award Hall Of Fame),

Mike Schlesinger (Rondo Monster Kid Of The Year)

and Frank Dietz (Rondo Artist Of The Year).

One of the highlights of this year's Wonderfest was the Rondo Awards ceremony. The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards are presented annually, representing the very best in classic horror in films, books, magazines, etc. A record number of 3,000 people voted this past year, and for the second year in a row, I was voted 2007's ARTIST OF THE YEAR.

Frank accepts his Rondo Award in Louisville, Kentucky.

It is a great thrill and true honor to have my work recognized by the fans at large. It means the world to me, and I do not take it's importance lightly. I vow to continue to encourage and promote the work of other classic monster artists, particularly those who are just starting out, as I have done on the Classic Horror Film Board this past year.

I also had the honor and privilege of presenting the Rondo Hall Of Fame Award to my very good friend Bernie Wrightson. It was quite an emotional moment for us both.

Bernie and Frank

I also want to give a congratulatory shout out to a few of my other friends who came home with Rondos this year - Writer Of The Year Tim Lucas (he got two!), Terry & Tiffany Dufoe of Cult Radio A Gogo, Danny Roebuck and Chuck Williams, Joe Dante and Michael Schlesinger. Way to go, amigos!!

Thanks to Eileen Colton for all the swell photos you see here!

Wonderfest 2008

2008-07-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

What a couple of months.

First the surgery, then right into DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, then right onto a Dreamworks animated short, and finally on to Louisville, Kentucky for the 2008 Wonderfest Model & Toy Expo. I've been a guest at this event for the last decade, and I enjoy it more every year.

The other guests this year included Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood from 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and beautiful Linda Harrison from PLANET OF THE APES, plus my good friends Bob and Kathy Burns, John Goodwin and bloodbrothers William Stout and Bernie Wrightson. I once again had the pleasure of performing with Doctor Gangrene and Nurse Moan-Eek in their Chiller Cinema live show, and spent a good deal of time hob-nobbing with all the great folks in The Old Dark Clubhouse. Thanks go out to Gary Prange for hosting the ODCH, and special thanks to Dave Hodge, Dave Conover, Donnie Waddell and the entire Wonderfest staff for allowing me to participate in what I consider the best show of the year. I'm already looking forward to next year's show, their 20th anniversary!

Robert Taylor took this shot of me with a Doc Phibes piece his cousin Sara bought last year and had beautifully framed for display.

Stormy Weathering Heights

2008-06-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry there hasn't been a new entry here for a while, but I've been very busy working on Larry Blamire's latest exercise in exquisite foolishness, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT. We have one week remaining, and then I'll be back with a sack full o' cool art to share with you all. Stay tuned...

I Screen Now! The Lost Skeleton Returns!

2008-06-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

Last night, the cast and crew of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN!, Larry Blamire's much-anticipated sequel to the original LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, gathered at a secret location in Los Angeles for a first screening of the film. The location was "secret" because it was in fact the sound stage that houses the sets for the next Blamire opus, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT. We begin shooting this "Old Dark House"-style parody on Monday.

It was great fun to see the Skeleton Sequel in it's nearly-completed state. The laughter was loud and constant from beginning to end, with many observing that this is Larry's funniest film to date. It was also nice to see my old cast-mates again, including Fay Masterson, Brian Howe, Dan Conroy, Andy Parks, Susan McConnell, Kevin Quinn, Trisha Geiger, Daniel Roebuck, HM Wynant, and particularly our dear friends Larry and wife Jennifer Blaire (pictured above).

Be warned...the Lost Skeleton is back, and he's got a bone to pick!

Kevin Quinn on the DARK AND STORMY NIGHT set.

Caitlin and Tabitha Dietz in the Library with the lead pipe.

Jennifer Blaire and Trisha Geiger.

Brian Howe, Cinematographer A.J. Rickert-Epstein and Dan Conroy.

Producer Mike Schlesinger and author David J. Schow.

Marker Monster Madness!

2008-06-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

In my ongoing quest to expand my artistic boundries, I recently invested in a set of Prismacolor markers. My friend Jeff Preston is an astounding talent who produces vivid, eye-popping visuals with these often maligned tools. Classic horror fans may remember his beautiful cover illustrations for magazines such as MONSTERSCENE and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I was shocked when I discovered these stunning pieces were created with design markers, which are as challenging as watercolor to work with, if not more so. Below is one example of Jeff's mastery of the marker...

Impressive, isn't it?

So, without fear of humiliation, I have taken the big leap, and started experimenting with this arduous medium. Here are two first attempts, Boris Karloff from BLACK SUNDAY, and Glenn Strange from ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.

The fall 2008 issue of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will feature a Jeff Preston cover and a Frank Dietz back cover. I'm honored to be working with the master.

Lon Chaney Jr. As Quasimodo

2008-06-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

I recently revisited the 1939 version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and started wondering what Lon Chaney, Jr., fresh off OF MICE AND MEN, might have done with the role of Quasimodo. Charles Laughton's performance is truly wonderful, but I think Lon might have brought something quite good to the part as well. The Hunchback is the kind of character that Chaney Jr. was best at - simple, yet very emotional - so it isn't difficult to imagine him doing well in one of the roles that made his father famous. But in case you need a visual, here's one possible vision of that scenario...

A Nod To Jack Davis

2008-06-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

Most "Monster Kids" will recall with great affection the Jack Davis six-foot Frankenstein poster that was sold through the pages of Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine. It is one of the iconic visuals of the 60's and 70's when it comes to monster merchandise. Not long ago a paid a small homage to Jack's wonderful sketch with this watercolor piece. I decided to include little Donnie Dunagan under Karloff's arm, just to make it my own and pay tribute to Donnie, who has become a friend to myself and the classic horror community in general.

Unfortunately, this piece is not six feet tall. But it might be someday...

Recovery Time, Poker Time!

2008-05-31T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being away for a bit, but I've been recuperating from some surgery. I'm not fully recovered, but am well on the mend. I do have new artwork to share, but first I'd like to travel back about a decade...to the drawing that would become the quintessential Sketchy Things piece. "Four Monsters Playing Poker" was created as a tee-shirt design for a Las Vegas model convention called ImagineNation. The idea came from the convention promoter, my old pal Rob Rotundi, and eventually the famous Vegas sign was incorporated into the design. But this sketch became my fans favorite. I have sold more prints of this image than any other.

I still get a chuckle whenever I look at it...

Tattoo Boo, Part Deux

2008-05-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

Tim Gore is a huge fan of Romero's zombie series, and his Sketchy Things tattoo reflects that obsession. Below is Tim at the recent Fango Con, showing off my caricature of Bill Hinzman, the Cemetary Ghoul from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, to the man himself! I've met Bill many times, and he's always enjoyed my sketches of his iconic alter-ego, but I'm willing to bet this isn't the first - or last - portrait of himself he's seen on someone's skin!

If you or someone you know has a Sketchy Things tattoo (I know they're out there!), I'd love to see it and post a photo of it here on the blog.

Tattoo Boo

2008-05-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have seen my Sketchy Things artwork transferred to the skin of many a fan. Below are two examples of how nicely the caricatures translate to body ink. Do you or someone know of have Sketchy Things art permanently emblazoned onto their epidermis? I'd love to see it, and post it here on the blog.

Mark Chan from the San Diego area has many a Frankenstein decorating his integument, including the work of two of my heroes, Basil Gogos and Jack Davis. His lower leg features three of my caricatures, all of Boris Karloff as the monster. Mark is kind of like a walking Frankenstein art museum. Now he needs a Bernie Wrightson.

From the original Frankenstein

From The Bride Of Frankenstein

And from Son Of Frankenstein

Mark's tattoos were created by his pal Guf of Tattoo Royale in San Diego. If you need an excellent tatt artist, seek him out!

A Monstrous Challenge

2008-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Over at the Classic Horror Film Boards, I've invited all my monster art colleagues to participate in a monthly "challenge" - a character or actor is chosen, and each of us creates a piece of art based on that subject. First up is Bela Lugosi as any of his many vampire characters, and already the results are fantastic. Stop in an take a look:

http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/16352

Cult Radio Madness!

2008-04-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday night I traveled to the wilds of Palmdale, CA to co-host the weekly radio program CULT RADIO A GOGO. Hosts Terry & Tiffany Dufoe were just wonderful, and we spent four hours rambling on about just about everything. Also appearing on the show that night were director/producer/writer Ted Newsom and Kathleen Coleman, who played "Holly Marshall" on the original LAND OF THE LOST television series. C.R.A.G.G. is live every Saturday night from 6:30 to 10:30 PST. You can access the program via the internet at:

http://cultradioagogo.com/ or on their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/dufoenet or with their web player at http://cultradioagogo.com/cragg.html

It's a great show - but be aware they are completely uncensored, so you can expect some naughty bits from time to time...

Tiffany Dufoe and Kathleen Coleman

Ted Newsom entertains the troops.

Frank, Kathleen and Ted, after the four hour seige ended!

The Great Olin Howlin

2008-04-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

This wonderful character actor appeared in hundreds of films, but the two he is most known for in the classic horror community are two of the most iconic sci-fi films of the 1950's. In Them!, he was a the nutbar psychiatric patient who actually saw the giant ants, but only wanted the heroes to "Make me a Sargeant and charge the booze!" In The Blob, his final film, Olin discovers the meteorite that brings the deadly protoplasm to our world, and makes the fatal mistake of poking it with a stick. This was the image that I wanted to capture, because it represents the movie in both human and alien terms. It remains one of my very favorite Sketchy Things pieces. The original pencil drawing now belongs to director John Fasano.

How Abominable!

2008-04-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Oil pastels can yield some wonderful results once you get the hang of them. This portrait of Vincent Price as The Abominable Dr. Phibes was done on black pastel paper, allowing the black of the paper speak for the black of the background. It's a pretty simple but effective technique, and is especially useful when your subjects are monstrous.

Glazing Hjalmar

2008-04-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

The oil painting technique of "glazing" goes back to the Great Masters. It brings a wonderful, unique feeling to a work that is very different from traditional oils. Here's a demonstration of how it works. Could I have a volunteer from the classic horror audience? Anyone? Ah, yes, Mister Poelzig, you'll do just fine!

Let's begin with a rough sketch, and a thin application of the three tones (light, middle and dark) with just some Burnt Umber...

Next, using only that Burnt Umber and Titanium White, the underpainting is created. The important thing in this step is to "pump up" the light tones. Keep in mind that there is going to be color paint applied on top of this, so we want everything to be a bit lighter than usual...

Once the underpainting is dry (and I mean dry!), the glazing can begin. The color oil paint is thinned out with Glazing medium, and applied in very thin layers. The paints used are referred to as "transparent" colors, such as Ultramarine Blue or Alizarin Crimson. Gradually the colors are built up over the monochromatic base. The tones show through the color, maintaining the depth of the painting. A little Zinc White or (better) Flake White can be added if needed, to lighten an area or color, or to create a highlight...

The finished painting dries with nice high gloss, and the results can be quite striking. This painting was only 5" x 7" and is now in the private collection Robert Taylor in Ohio.

Thank you, Mister Poelzig, for your cooperation.

A Simple Wolf

2008-04-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

This is one of my very favorite pen-and-ink sketches. Very quick, very loose, but totally captures the Wolf Man dynamic. This was before I had the luxury of DVD and screen capture, so I had to pause my VHS cassette of Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man and draw like the devil. It's actually like "life drawing," only with a TV instead of a live model. You've got one minute to capture the gesture! Go!

Allo-Drawus

2008-04-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is a very new piece, based on Ray Harryhausen's intense Allosaurus from One Million Years B.C. This is my favorite sequence from that film, featuring a really malicious dino. I also really like the beast's design, which seems to be based more on a cobra than a lizard or croc. Definitely one of my top-ten Harryhausen sequences.

Remembering Benny

2008-04-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Today we held a "memorial" party to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Ben Chapman. Dozens of Benny's friends gathered at the home of Daniel and Kelly Roebuck, where we remembered Benny in a way that would have pleased him - laughing and enjoying life. His wife Merilee and sons Ben III and Grant were there, as well as his Creature From The Black Lagoon co-star Julie Adams, and the daughter and granddaughter of his other co-star Richard Denning. Also in attendance were Swamp Thing Dick Durock and his wife Jane, Johnny "The Arizona Gillman" Gilbert, Taylor White, directors John Fasano and Ed Plumb, author David J. Schow, makeup artist John Goodwin, producer Chuck Williams, Rondo "Monster Kid Of The Year" Mike Schlesinger and many, many others.

Benny touched so many people's lives in such a positive way. As Bob and Kathy Burns recently said, he could light up a room just by entering it. Shortly after his passing, I suggested that Benny be honored with a Rondo "Hall Of Fame" Award, for keeping the memory of classic monsters alive by his enthusiasm, his optimism, his humor and his devotion to his fans. Thankfully, the Rondo board agreed. Benny made his mark on this world in a remarkable way. He was loved by all, and I am a better person than I was before I met him.

As David Schow said to me at the end of the evening, it now falls to us to carry Benny's torch forward, and promote the same qualities to our own fans...and that is a task I am proud and honored to deliver.

I love you, Benjamin Franklin Chapman, Jr. Thank you for everything.

Me and Dee Denning, daughter of Evelyn Ankers and Richard Denning.

Screenwriters John Fasano and David J. Schow compare Hollywood war stories.

Sam Park, John Goodwin, Mike Schlesinger and Johnny Gilbert.

Host Daniel Roebuck, unaware that Evil Wilhelm lurks just behind him...

Dee Denning, her daughter Summer and Julie Adams.

Taylor White, who created the "Creature Features" shop in Burbank and brought us all together, with Johnny "The Arizona Gillman" Gilbert, surrounded by memories of Benny.

Julie and Merilee, wishing they could enjoy their cheesecake without cameras!

Drawn Of The Dead

2008-04-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

I am a huge Romero fan, so when a fan of mine commissions a "Living Dead" piece, I am thrilled. Travis Davidson from the San Diego area owns almost all of my original drawings based on Dawn Of The Dead. He had me do this piece because most of the drawings he owns are of the human characters from that film. This zombie is probably the most iconic image from that movie, and it was a heck of a lot of fun to do.

Greg Nicotero owns the sketch I did of him from Day Of The Dead, and Tom Savini owns his from Dawn. Travis owns the rest, including the one-legged Priest who has the best line in the all the Dead films. "When the dead walk, Senores, you must stop the killing, or lose the war."

Love it.

The Benny From The Black Lagoon

2008-04-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, the friends of the late Ben "The Reel Gillman" Chapman are gathering to celebrate his life. In honor, here is one of the first Benny "Land Creature" drawings I did, from the second book. The weird part is, it actually looks a little like Benny. Maybe it's one of those "people who start to look like their dogs" kind of things...or it could just be me. But damn it, I SEE Benny in that Jack Kevan-sculpted face! Like the previous Bela post, this was a pencil drawing, colorized on the computer.

CORRECTION! Looking back, I realized that this was actually NOT colorized on the computer, but printed out and colored by hand with Prismacolor color pencils, which is probably why it looks so good!

Lugosi On The Web

2008-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, well, not the world wide web, but a spider's web. This piece was another pencil/computer hybrid. Bela Lugosi Jr. actually enjoyed this one enough to add it to the licensing package for his dad's image. The background, by the way, was an actual orb-weaver spider web from my backyard...the spider is cleverly concealed behind Bela's noggin.

Long Lost Lon

2008-04-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

London After Midnight mat never be found, but I recently discovered this image on an old ZIP disk. I think it was meant to be the home page image for my very first website, long since retired. It represents some early experimentation with Photoshop, or some lesser photo editing software. The sketch of Chaney is pencil, while the background is a photo, slightly blurred to create the illusion of depth. The drawing was one of the very first "full body" Sketchy Things pieces, from The Things Remain Sketchy (2000).

This piece would have made a nice first post for this blog, but the Heston thing was so fresh in my mind, I felt it was somehow more urgent.

A Scary Childhood Memory

2008-04-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

This image of Maila Nurmi, a.k.a. Vampira, haunted me as a child. This shot from Plan 9 From Outer Space was used in the opening to WPIX New York's Chiller Theater show. I remember having to hide my eyes as the shot approached...and yet, I must have peeked a little...

I absolutely had to draw this one. From my 3rd sketchbook, Sketchy Things Walk Among Us (2001).