Spooky Victorian Spirit Photography...

I can't think of a better way to start off my Halloween Season than having a showcase of Victorian Spirit photography. I love these things. Generally, I think most of these photographs are pretty hilarious but there are a few are downright creepy...

I suppose the awful truth about these photographs is the fact there was so much death surrounding the lives of the Victorians. In some way, maybe these photographers helped the subjects cope with the loss of their loved ones. With the invention of this new technology and a little bit of trickery, the photographers were able to create things never seen before. Perhaps these photographers could now capture something that only existed in one's own mind. Maybe that is why I am so attracted to them.

Get ready for some spookiness...

Man Reading with Female Spirit Behind by Phillip Bros...via photographymuseum

Spirit photo by William Hope via moolf

"Woman with Two Boys"...and a ghost by Willian Hope via GuardianUK

Spirit and Medium by Frederick Hudson

A Medium and the Emission by Albert Von Schrenck-Notzing

"The Ghost of Bernadette Soubirous", by Anonymous via...dieselpunks

"11", by Reeves, 1872

Seance by John Beattie via Dark in the dark

Mrs. French of Boston with her Spirit Son, by William Mumler circa 1868 via Photography Museum

Eugene Thiebault, "Publicity Photograph: Henri Robin and a Specter" 1863

If you are interested, here is a wonderful post I found from the blog,  "The Haunted Museum".  It will give you a really  good history of Victorian Spirit Photography and some more wonderful photographs, as well. Enjoy!

Have  spooky evening, Everyone...

Mid-week music

Here's a little something to get your feet tapping this evening...


Louise Attaque - Du monde tout autour from ChezEddy on Vimeo.


Oh...and I am working on my new Etsy page...just click on the link to the right to check it out.

Falling into Fall

I love fall it is my favorite time of year. I love gearing up towards Halloween and getting ready to share in some spookiness. I love seeing the colors of the leaves change. I will admit, I do miss seeing the wonderful yellows, oranges and reds now that I live on the west coast. It is here but it is not quite as vibrant. But still, there is that wonderful crispness in the air that I love. I feel more alive with it. And for some reason, it seems to propel me to do a lot work. Which is a very good thing, and I have been in the dream mode of creating all sorts of new art lately. Now to just get it down on paper.

Here are some lovely paintings & photographs that get me into a creative Autumn mood:

Alphonse Mucha, Fruit

Can't you smell the crispness of the air here? Autochrome via George Eastman House

Amy Hughes by Charles Lutwidge Dodge(Aka Lewis Caroll)

Another wonderful one by Alphonse Mucha, "Autumn" from the Four Seasons

Autumn Gold by John Atkinson Grimshaw, 1880

"I Wait" by Julia Margaret Cameron

Autumn by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

I'm quite excited about these season of changes.  It will be a very busy one full of work, mini-trips (Virginia City & Tahoe) and fun. San Francisco's summer seems to happen in the fall.  I better get into my Halloween mode soon too. What will I be this year? I better get planning...

What are you getting excited for in the next few months?

Hope you enjoy the fall!

Happy Monday!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I sure did. It is going to be a very busy week for me. I am trying to get my Etsy shop open for business. Here's to loads of productivity!

I did allow myself a bit of a break though, where I found this lovely and creepily wonderful animation I found by Rodrigo Blaas. Hope you enjoy it.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Nursery Paintings

I love giving little paintings to all the new babies in my life. Here's the latest: A Squirrel for Thomas.

Hope he likes him...Congratulations again, Angela & Aaron!

A few thoughts on Norman...

I've been inspired and reminded of my love of Norman Rockwell this week. I am quite proud of President Obama for displaying one of my favorite and heart/mind stirring pieces in the White House. I must admit, I am a little bit shocked by the controversy.

Rockwell's work was one of the reasons I became an illustrator. It was his strength not his sentimentality that drew me to his work. I am happy that the people in art world are now seeing him as an "artist" not just an "illustrator" of sugary sweet American life.

"The Problem We All Live With" by Norman Rockwell

Here is a wonderful video of Norman working...

Hope you have a amazing weekend, Everyone!