Tag Archives: legends

“You’re All Grown Up Now” a Tribute to Svengoolie by Artist Living Dead Girl Nicole

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As a Chicagoland horror geek, I will be the first to say that checking this portrait piece off my art bucket list was well over due. I have had the honor of being on a stage with Svengoolie (it was a costume contest at Flashback Weekend but still.. legendary) and been in his presence at countless conventions and hearse club shows over the years but I have always wanted to express the impact he has had on our local horror community through my art.

Svengoolie on stage with Living Dead Girl Nicole dressed as Baby Firefly at Flashback Weekend's Costume Contest in 2006


Svengoolie on stage with Living Dead Girl Nicole (dressed as Baby Firefly) at Flashback Weekend’s Costume Contest in 2006

I really wanted the piece to be a reflection of the history of the legendary tv horror host over the years. Similar to the way I paid tribute to Jim Henson with my “The Lovers. The Dreamers. And Me.” piece. With half reflecting the earlier years so the piece actual tells a story.

So for this split face portrait I decided to go back to the 70s by drawing the left side as a tribute to Jerry G. Bishop who was the mastermind behind Svengoolie. The original on air host from radio and television that brought the character to life on Screaming Yellow Theatre. Complete with his long green hair, aviator glasses, hippie attire and sidekick puppet Durwood.

The right side represents Rich Koz joined by his puppet pal, Kerwyn. Koz not only wrote jokes for Jerry, but he also resurrected the role as the Son of Svengoolie on WFLD (Fox) 32 in the 80s. He later received Jerry’s blessing to make the character his own in the 90s, when Jerry told him, “You’re all grown up now… be Svengoolie.” At that point, he dropped the “Son of” from his name and became the face of Svengoolie that we all know and love on MeTV today.

So in my best “Yiddish/Transylvanian” impression (as Jerry described it), I type and recite his words “The time has come for scary things“. So hold on to your rubber chickens as I emerge from my coffin to present to you my latest piece I call “You’re All Grown Up Now” hand drawn in pencil, colored pencil and chalk pastels.

For my art collectors who can’t get enough of hearing “Calling all stations. Clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast!”, “I have made-to-order* prints and wearable art t-shirts of this special tribute piece listed in my Etsy shop. Now remember.. “NO PERSONAL CHECKS!” but you can apply coupon code BERWYN at check out to get 10% off your order! 📺😱⚰️🐓✨

Canvas prints are currently in production with my printer for my art collectors to see in person and purchase at a discounted price* at Closet Collectibles (in Crete, IL.). Keep an eye here for restock/art drop alerts.

New to my work? Be sure to check out the other portraits I have masterminded on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website!

Stay Strange & Magical ✨
LDG Nicole

*Read more about my “never mass produced” creative process and in store discounted art prices here

Custom Zombified Frame for Romero Fan’s Memorable Moment

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Excited to share my latest zombified picture frame creation that I customized in a decayed blue-grey, just as requested by one of my newest art collectors and fellow George Romero fan! 🧟‍♂️🖼🧟‍♀️

They asked me if I could make one of my frames in an 8″x10″ size for a photo from what they described as their “dream come true moment”….. attending their very first convention to meet the surviving cast of Night of the Living Dead at the iconic Monroeville Mall!

While we were going over the customization details, we bonded over our shared love of Romero’s work and I got to reminisce about one of my dream come true moments…. meeting George Romero and gifting him a custom zombie head prop I made in his likeness. I think that really helped seal the deal and he knew he had found the perfect artist to bring this special frame to (after)life.

As a lifelong horror enthusiast, it was an absolute honor to craft something that not only captures the decayed spirit of Romero’s universe, but also celebrates those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that stay with us forever. That’s the kind of energy I live for as an artist, where spooky meets sentimental, and the undead get a frame-worthy tribute.

Here is how it came out….

When I sent the photos to the client they were beyond thrilled and responded with…

“Love it!! Thank you, Nicole, so excited to own a piece of your awesome work and display my prized photos in it :)”

Hearing that absolutely made my day. Knowing that something I created will forever frame such a meaningful memory for someone is exactly why I love doing what I do.

If you’ve got your own horror con memories, Halloween wedding photos, or need a killer display piece for your spooky business ventures, go to my Etsy or Latchet shop and place your orders! After all, the undead possibilities are endless and right now Etsy is boosting the benefits of their Share & Save program for their 20th anniversary, which means I get to keep more of my earnings when you use my shop link now through July 23rd. Read more about it here.

New to my work, be sure to check out my other Undead Decor and more on my portfolio website!

Stay Strange & Magical!
LDG Nicole

“Daddy” A Tribute to Victor Crowley by Artist Living Dead Girl Nicole

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As an 80s kid growing up on slasher films like Friday the 13th, I’ve always felt so honored to have had the chance to meet and interact with so many legends, including the one and only Kane Hodder. From rubber band wars with him and Doug Bradley to getting those classic choke hold photos, Kane has never disappointed in our interactions. While others may slip on that iconic hockey mask, he will forever be Jason Voorhees to me (and to so many horror fans who revere his legacy).

Living Dead Girl Nicole and Kane Hodder
living dead girl nicole and kane hodder

With that being said, Kane has always been on my art bucket list. For years, I imagined creating a piece inspired by Jason, the character that made him such a horror icon. But all of that changed when one of my favorite filmmakers, Adam Green, unleashed us into the swamps of Victor Crowley.

When the first Hatchet film came out, it instantly felt like Adam Green’s love letter to slasher fans.. gory, unrelenting, yet full of heart and reverence for the genre. And at the center of it all was Victor Crowley, a character who felt made for Kane Hodder. This wasn’t just a role behind a mask; it was his chance to really shine. You could feel it in every guttural scream, every brutal kill, and every quiet, tragic moment. Adam gave Kane the opportunity to showcase not just his physical intensity, but also raw emotion in portraying both Victor and his “Daddy” Thomas throughout the franchise. It allowed Kane to bring both the monster and the man to life in a way that no one else could, and that inspired me to take my artistic tribute to him in a whole new direction.

It may have taken me many moons to finally cross this vision off my art bucket list, but I’m excited to finally share it with my art collectors. I call the piece “Daddy,” a word that holds so much weight in the Hatchet series and resonates deeply with the Crowley’s tragic backstory.

This split face portrait was created using pencil and chalk pastels, with the background colors inspired by the swamp and flames that engulfed The Crowley’s world.

I’m beyond excited to reunite with Kane in a few months during my next “artventure” to Flashback Weekend, where I plan to gift him the original portrait. It will also be my first time meeting Adam Green, the creative force behind so many of my favorite horror films, YouTube shorts, and the brilliant Holliston TV show, an absolute rare gem for horror fans that has my husband and I saying “basKET” and “piggly no wiggly” as part of our everyday vocabulary.

For my art collectors who are also fans of Kane and Adam Green’s Hatchet & Victor Crowley franchise, I have made-to-order* prints and wearable art t-shirts listed in my Etsy shop. Apply coupon code CROWLEY to your order at check out and get 10% slashed off your order!

These items are also available for purchase in my Latchet shop for those who prefer to use that platform to make your online purchase.

Giclee and canvas prints are currently in production for my art collectors to see in person and purchase at a discounted price* at Closet Collectibles (in Crete, IL.) when I do my next art drop!

New to my work? Be sure to check out the other portraits I have masterminded on the Spitting Image page of my portfolio website!

Stay Strange & Magical!
LDG Nicole

*Read more about my “never mass produced” creative process and in store discounted art prices here

Art for Everyone: Bob Ross Exhibit at Dunn Museum

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Took a wonderful day date adventure with the hubby to see the Art For Everyone: Bob Ross exhibit at the Dunn Museum over the weekend. We were both in awe to be so close to so many of his masterpieces. Each painting was labeled with what episode they were from and we loved being able to recognize so many that we have watched him create on The Joy Of Painting. 🖼 💕

And of course, no trip to a museum is complete without a stop at the gift shop, where I was pleasantly surprised to find these awesome items from The Paint Sesh!

Stay Strange & Magical,
LDG Nicole