Tag Archives: frankenhooker

A Very Special Days of The Dead Chicago 2024

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I am dragging ass as I type this right now because I had quite the eventful non-stop weekend and it could not have ended on a higher note! Each day this weekend we had something going on, but Sunday my husband and I took my Daddio to his very first horror con in celebration of his (belated) 70th birthday!

His actual birthday was in January but my husband and I wanted to do something extra special for him for his milestone birthday. So when Days of the Dead announced Malcolm McDowel would be at their Chicago show I presented the idea of him going with us so he could finally experience one and get the chance to actually meet one of his fave actors. So instead of planning a whole weekend like we normally would do, we planned the perfect Sunday Funday!

The last time my husband and I met Malcolm was many moons ago and I had actually had him sign one of his A Clock Work Orange 8″x10″ photos to gift to my Dad. So this time since he was there with us we made sure we got him a photo op to commemorate the fun and memorable time we had.

When it was our turn to take a photo with him, I made sure to tell Malcolm that we were celebrating my Dad’s 70th birthday by bringing him to his first horror con to meet him. Malcolm looked at my Dad and was surprised he was 70, shook his hand and told him he was a youngster. It was a great feeling to see my Dad so happy in that moment.

I was pretty stoked to see that Heather Langenkamp was in attendance at this con. I had never met her before and growing up in the 80’s she has always been one of my favorite final girl/scream queens. So we decided to hop in line and meet her. Dad had so many great questions to ask her and she seemed to really enjoy the conversation we had with her. She was all around everything I thought she would be. She loved my pants and even asked me where I got my Kermit The Frog purse. Meeting her definitely moved her up my art bucket list.

During our con adventure I discovered where I get my “ohh it’s a pinball machine, I must play it” habit from. Dad saw me playing the Texas Chainsaw Massacre one and told me how much he has always loved to play pinball and joined in on the fun.

As an artist himself, my Dad really enjoyed seeing all the talented vendors and talking to to them about their creations.

Daddy’s little ghoul, didn’t gift any art at this show because I wanted it to be more of a chill laid back time, however my Dad still got to see me in full convention action mode while networking at the event. Passing out business cards, talking to fellow artists about their printing techniques, getting donation prizes for the swag bags I put together for Flashback Weekend, talking with others about our hearse and club, and even meeting up with our friend Jeff of Anthony’s Collectibles to exchange cross promotional items and ideas.

We ended the day with treating Dad to a meal at Bill Murray’s Caddy Shack restaurant before heading back home. Frank and I have always wanted to eat there but it’s usually packed. However being in Sunday and towards the end of the con we made perfect timing and got right in for a table and it wasn’t over crowded at all.

It was great finally getting to bring Dad to a show and I am so happy he had such a great time. Now this introvert is ready to use this week to recharge as much as possible for some exciting things that are on horizon for next weekend too! Stay tuned!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Days of The Dead Indy 2022

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Is our extended weekend already over? That’s how I am feeling right now as I type this. Since the pandemic, my husband and I have not enjoyed one of our full blown horror con weekend getaways. We did a random one day drive to Flashback Weekend last year and prior to that we hadn’t enjoyed a full horror con weekend since Days of the Dead in 2019. That was until this past weekend when we decided to take some days off work, extend our weekend and take a road tip back to Indy for another Days Of The Dead con.

As in the past, I was especially excited to gift some of my original art pieces to those who who would be attending and inspired my work. Unfortunately Lori Petty cancelled at the last minute so this Tank Girl fanatic will have to wait until our paths hopefully cross one day in the future. However the guests who did attend that received my work were incredible and made the experience and road trip so well worth it.

First was John Kassir. It felt so great to be in his presence again (we met him in 2018 in Chicago). There are just some people in this world that you encounter that you get all the good vibes from and John is definitely one of those people. I had shared my “Deadtime Stories” art piece with him via the link to my blog post which he was so kind to stop by and comment on. He recognized it right away when I approached his table with the original and told me how impressed he was with my work and that not all things “Tales From the Crypt” that he collects/owns get put up on full display in his home. However, my piece most definitely will be. He gifted me a 8×10 signed Crypt Keeper picture and took this great photo with Frank and I. Later on we even had the honor of enjoying his company in the hotel bistro and he displayed my work on his table all weekend long. Seriously.. I can’t say it enough.. John really is the greatest!

Later after Patty Mullen arrived and was settled in at her table we visited her and I was able to gift her my “Tossed Human Salad” art piece. She also recognized my work and told me that she had seen it posted on Instagram. She said she was impressed with the way I captured her likeness in such a unique way. Especially her eyes. She said for some reason people have difficulty getting them right but I got her spot on. She was a blast to talk to. Even her interacting with the fans before us in line was a trip to watch. Especially when she was in full Frankenhooker inspired fashion from head to toe! So much purple I was loving it. She too gifted us a 8×10 signed Frankenhooker print and took this adorable photo with me. She was so sweet and so much fun to meet!

If that was not memorable enough. Frank and I decided to enter the That Damn Tattoo Contest that was taking place at the convention. Originally I talked Frank into entering his new They Live tattoo and the people hosting the event insisted I enter my Pee Wee’s Playhouse tattoo as well. We BOTH ended up winning in different categories. Frank took home Best Horror Sci Fi Tattoo and I won Best Small Color Tattoo. The judges who we met on stage during the show had nothing but great things to say about our work. We are now so excited to be able to share these plaques with our tattoo artist Luke Reubelt when we see him next.

It felt all around great to finally have a horror con weekend away just the two of us and experience such lasting memories in the process. An all around great weekend that went by way too fast. Thank you again Days of The Dead for another killer event and to John and Patty for being so kick ass!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

“Tossed Human Salad” a Tribute to Elizabeth Shelley by Artist Living Dead Girl Nicole

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My Dad was the one who first introduced me to the work of Frank Henenlotter and his cult classic Basketcase. As someone that loves a good campy horror film it was no surprise that Frank’s other movies such as Frankenhooker would end up on my list of what I personally consider a 90’s horror cult classic.

For those not familiar with the film, it is about a medical school dropout named Jeffrey who loses his weight loss struggling fiancée Elizabeth in a tragic lawnmower accident, and wants to bring her back to life. Using her saved head, he goes to the red light district in the city to find the perfect additional body parts he needs to recreate her….because “naturally I had to make some changes”.

Inspired by Patty Mullen, I drew a split face portrait of her as Elizabeth before and after the accident. It was done in pencil and chalk pastels. I call it “Tossed Human Salad”….

If you are familiar with the film you know that it was pretty much mandatory to do Elizabeth’s famous short circuit “Wanna date?” “Got any money?” facial expressions or it just would not be Frankenhooker.

If you are a fan of this wild horror movie I have prints and t-shirts now available for purchase in my Etsy Shop! Don’t forget to visit my portfolio site to check out more of my Spitting Image Portraits!

Stay Spooky & Magical,
LDG Nicole

Days Of The Dead Indy 2017

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Days Of The Dead Indy 2017 (5)We just got back from Indy. Our friend gave us some weekend passes for Days of the Dead. It worked out perfectly because I really wanted to give Sid (Haig) my “Shit The Bed” split face portrait. I was waiting to see when he would be back in Chicago but these passes ended up working out perfectly. Frank and I had been discussing a small summer getaway, we had the extended long weekend already for the holiday and most importantly Sid was on the guest list. His birthday is in July so I thought how perfect is it that I will be give it to him before his birthday. So I made sure to wrap up my portrait (red and blue of course) and we were on our way!

Sid loved the portrait but he also took the time to catch up with us over dinner and drinks. These cons tend to get pretty busy so it was nice to have some sit down time with him since we don’t get to see him all the time. He is such a wise man. We took in so much of his knowledge, advice and enjoyed every minute of the quality time we got to spend with him. He also really loved seeing my Spaulding Skull tattoo (he had previously emailed me telling me it was “so fucking cool” right after I had gotten it) and signed an autograph for my Dad. I am truly grateful to have such an amazing person that I can call a friend. Days Of The Dead Indy 2017 (1)

I also was pretty happy to see that Felissa Rose (Angela Baker from Sleepaway Camp) was added as a last minute guest addition. So Frank and I decided to pay her a visit. Seriously one of the sweetest guests to meet at a con. She kept telling me how cute I was. How much she loved my Carrie/Barbie mash up shirt (she even took a photo of it) and kept saying how great Frank and I were together. I highly recommend meeting her if you get a chance at a con.

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Here are some great shots Frank took of me with some of the decor they had up at the con. The Halloween house was really well put together and I was drawn to it right away. The zombie girl eating intestines… well I told her I didn’t have too much of mine left so she shared some with me ha ha.

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The weekend in general was much needed little getaway and we had a blast. Here are some photos of our horror haul we brought home with us. We had to stay with in our budget (due to a hotel room dilemma that cost us more then we expected) but I think we did pretty good for what we could get.

Frankenhooker, They Live and Beetlejuice T-shirts, Critter Action Figure, Leatherface Political button, Elvira, Brainscan and Alien patches!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole