A couple of weeks ago I shared my latest split face portrait “You’re All Grown Up Now”, a tribute to Jerry G. Bishop and Rich Koz and the history of our Chicagoland local legend Svengoolie. Well with Flashback Weekend on the horizon and me anticipating gifting the piece to Sven, I needed to get a frame for it. However, I knew not any frame would do for the essence of Svengoolie. It needed to have a bit of unique, campy yet spooky razzle dazzle.
So I found a frame to resurrect and went to work. I chose this specific frame for a few reasons. For one, the beaded look reminded me of Svengoolie’s red beaded rubber chicken necklace. I also liked how there were layers to the frame and immediately envisioned various ways I could incorporate the colors of the show’s set. I also loved that it was made from natural wood which would give me a nice base.
This was the end result after I conjured my creative magic…
I purchased the little rubber chickens and hand sculpted larger “beads” to attach them to the frame securely. I wanted them to dangle because if you give them a squeeze they actually make a fun little squeaky sound!
I wanted there to be a center piece to the frame between Bishop and Koz, so I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to pay homage to Zallman T. Tombstone. So I hand sculpted a little skull and used some wig hair to make him his iconic mustache. Not getting the hair in the clay while it was drying was “fun times” but I succeeded.
I then hand painted everything (besides the rubber chickens of corpse), added a metallic finish for each section of individual color and then gave it a lacquer finish. When it was dry I was so happy with how it all turned out. Then when I put the original art piece in the frame my creepy little soul felt its artistic mission was complete. Another piece of art framed in art completed and to be honest I can’t stop smiling at it every time I look it and how my whole vision all came together. I hope it gives Sven the same sense of joy and nostalgia and it reminds him of how much us horror geeks love what he does and are so happy he kept Bishop’s vision alive for us boils and ghouls all these years.
Maybe, just maybe one day I will be tuned into the show and be lucky enough to see this special piece of hand drawn and hand made art on the show’s set. A living dead girl can nightmare can’t she? Never say never! 📺💀⚰️🐔✨
New to my work? Be sure to check out the other portraits and custom matching resurrected frames that I have masterminded on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website!
Stay Strange & Magical ✨
LDG Nicole