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.
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).
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!
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!
Meeting and occasionally gifting my art to legendary icons that I admire is one thing, but encountering icons who are creators themselves and inspire me to elevate my artistry skills always takes the experience to a whole new level. First there was Tom Savini, then Cleve Hall, and after last night I can finally add award winning makeup artist Ve Neill to the list!
Thanks to The Horror House Shop and Hollywood Blvd Cinema who hosted a screening last night of Batman Returns (my all time favorite Batman movie) along with a Q&A and Meet & Greet with Ve, I was able to check meeting another legendary artist that I admire off my list.
I knew I had to make her something to thank her for inspiring me as an artist and creating so many of the iconic movie characters I hold so dear, but most importantly breaking down barriers and the status quo for women in the arts.
So then it hit me. I had a coffin makeup brush holder that I had planned to transform into a Moffin. I knew that this was my sign that it was finally time to make it because it was meant for Ve. I went through my stash of monster eyes and picked out my favorite pair. The colors of them are my favorites… (galaxy colors.. magentas, fuchsias, purples, and blues) and I knew I had the perfect hair to go with it. I wanted to do something a little different with the paint job on this one. I mean it was going to an award winning makeup artist. The woman created the iconic look of Beetlejuice, won Emmy’s for Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and judged incredible works of art on SyFy’s Face Off. In other words I had to up my game. So I went with an ombre effect and could not be happier with the way it came out. I then went online and bought some makeup brushes in the same colors of the Moffin just for effect (as I know Ve uses her own brushes) and it all came together perfectly. Seeing I am my own worst critic, when I say “perfectly” what I really mean is that my heart skipped a beat when I saw Ve’s genuine reaction of joy when I handed it to her.
So here is how it came out….
And here are the photos of my memorable experience gifting it to Ve and a shot of it sitting at her table where she kept it displayed all night….
After watching her weekly and religiously during every season of Face Off I had formed an idea of what she might be like in person, and I wasn’t disappointed. She was so genuinely appreciative that I made her something, and as she took it all in looking at it, she couldn’t stop expressing how absolutely adorable it was, her face beaming with a huge smile. I shared how thrilled I was that she liked it, to which she replied that she loved it. My husband Frank (credited for capturing the amazing candid photos) proudly showed her his Beetlejuice sleeve, and I mentioned that I had suggested he ask her for recommendations on who to add next. She offered a fantastic suggestion, and now he’s seriously considering making it happen.
To top it off during the Q&A the gentleman on the mic that was interviewing her made mention of the unique brush holder on her table and she graciously acknowledged, “Oh, a lovely young lady made and gave that to me tonight.” He inquired if I was present in the audience, and as I raised my hand, she pointed me out. He then commended me for crafting something so cool, giving me a shout-out for my creativity.
One of the things that really stood out to me during her Q&A was her story about when she was a little girl and how her neighbor was a makeup artist. She dreamt of following in his footsteps one day. Despite him occasionally doing her makeup for Halloween and such, he consistently rebuffed her inquiries about pursuing a career in the field. Undeterred, she forged her path independently even in a male-dominated industry. I admire and in a way envy (in all the good ways) her determined spirit— a woman who fearlessly pursued her dreams and set a path for so many artists after her.
It goes without saying I have been on cloud nine since last night. Which was a much needed lift after having such a rough “living my best heating pad life” sort of week. I’ve been sharing with everyone about how amazing Ve was, and I’m still buzzing with excitement knowing she now owns one of my creations. Not only did she genuinely like it, but meeting her surpassed all my expectations. I’m immensely grateful to the event hosts and to Ve for making another one of my dreams a realty!
Love this Moffin creation? See more of my monster coffin creations here on my official portfolio website!
