The Bizarre and Weird

Crazy Zombie Teddy Bears

2013-02-07T18:33:00.002-05:00

photo: Phillip Blackman

Getting a sudden moment of inspiration, Phillip Blackman began to work on a teddy bear to create a zombie work of art.

The result was a bear drenched in blood with it holding its heart in its hand which it had torn out of its own chest. Talk about a little intense or what. The picture of that bear is in the photo to the right.

Liking his work, Blackman decided to try his hand at selling his bear on Etsy, which is a place where crafters can sell their wares online.

The popularity of the teddy bear zombies immediately soared, as the images made perfect fodder for social networking sites, where people used them to share with one another as the images went viral.

According to Blackman, he can't meet the demand, as it has soared, especially as Valentine's Day has approached. Apparently that's from the inclusion of the heart in the zombie teddy bear design, which I'm sure some sulky person will be glad to show to their sweetheart to remind them of how much they've hurt them.

Blackman sells the bears usually in a range of $70 to $140, taking him usually two days to produce one of them. Some have sold for as much as $400 on eBay.

The process for Blackman is easy. All he does is scour around yard sales and thrift shops to acquire the used bears, and from there he transforms them into the gruesome zombies that are so desirable by adherents of the genre.

Calling his creations Undead Teds, Blackman doesn't know how long the trend will last, but with the popularity of zombies in pop culture, it appears he'll have a run that will last for some time.

Images of the Late "Stewie" the Longest Cat in the World

2013-02-06T14:07:00.002-05:00

Famous for being designated as the longest cat in the world by Guinness World Records, Stewie, named after the character in Family Guy, died of cancer at the age of eight.

Measurements of Stewie from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail was 48.5 inches.

He died on Monday, February 5 from cancer. He had actually been thought to be in remission after receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment for the disease, which was identified as Lymphosarcoma, a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissues. He was diagnosed with the disease in January 2012.

Stewie died in Reno, Nevada, at the home of his owner Robin Hendrickson. His full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan

The Facebook page of Stewie was swamped with messages of affection and condolences over the loss of one of the most popular domestic cats in the world.

Below are several photos of Stewie in various poses, as well as a YouTube video of the beloved feline.

Video of Stewie - World's Longest Cat

Weird, Funny Thanksgiving Wallpapers

2012-11-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

In this article we'll look at several funny and bizarre Thanksgiving wallpapers. The first one isn't too surprising, as it includes a fairly common theme of a turkey turning the tables on the one looking to eat him. In this case one thing that is added is that the turkey is about to kill a Pilgrim hunting him, which would mean a disaster when contemplating this would be from the first Thanksgiving in American history. The turkey about to plant an axe in his skull looks like he won't have any problem doing the job.

The Simpsons have several different funny and odd Thanksgiving wallpapers, including this one where the turkey looks like you-know-who, which of course is why the Pilgrim Simpson's face is so surprised. And of course you see him dropping the ax, which means that Pilgrim was about to do to that turkey what the turkey was going to do to the Pilgrim above.

My favorite among the interesting Thanksgiving wallpapers was this one of the guy chancing the turkey with the Klingon war weapon. It's hilarious because he's taken on the persona of the fictional characters, and the turkey, from the look on his face, knows he's determined to score the kill. Funny.

Fierce Halloween Masks: Werewolf, Spike, Clown

2012-09-04T15:47:00.000-04:00

Whether for Halloween or other events where costumes are worn, fierce and terrible masks are a great way to garner attention and generate some conversation.

In this set of Halloween masks we look at an awesome werewolf mask, clown mask, and long-spiked gas mask. All of them would without a doubt be a fantastic choice for a Halloween or other costume party.

We'll start with this extraordinary werewolf mask, which in my experience is the best I've ever seen. What a fantastic job on the face, with all those lines making the face very convincing as to the sheer evil it represents. That would scare anyone that happened to be in a dimly lit area and suddenly encounters this amazing face.

These gas masks, which can represent several themes, is a wonderful way to differentiate yourself from others at the party. The shape of the mask is extraordinary, and you have to visualize a bit to picture how it would look when being looked upon from straight ahead.

I think it would be even more compelling, as it would be seen with all those sharp points looking you right in the face, as well as those big places where the eyes are. And if someone starts to bother you, the threat of a head butt should be quite enough to get them to stop.

This white clown mask is really a fierce-looking image, one that is startling to say the least. I like the way the pinkish color around the eyes helps to blend in with the flesh surrounding the eye of the one wearing it. Those yellow, sharp teeth give the sense that this is a clown that has some gorilla roots to it. The black line around the fiendishly smiling mouth is also a great addition to the mask, as is the hideous nose.

Halloween Horror Masks: Vampire, Spike, Biohazard

2012-09-04T14:50:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for Halloween masks that make a statement, especially those in the horror genre.

To that end there are several masks below you can look at that to generate some ideas for any Halloween party or event you may be attending this year.

My theme, as usual, are those that are sure to attract attention and comments, something most of us are looking for when donning our Halloween costumes.

We'll start off looking at this spiked mask covering the lower part of the face in order to mention a couple of things. First of all, it's a great mask, and masks like these that cover half the face are great because it leaves some room for makeup creativity for the top of the face, providing ways to differentiate from others.

Having said that, this particular model wearing the mask is an example of what not to do with this type of mask. Her eyes simply take away from what would have otherwise been an awesome mask to wear. You want scary and ominous looking makeup with this type of mask, not the type that you may wear on a date, work, or an important event.

Next we have this terrific biohazard death skull Halloween mask for adults. What an awesome mask and look, one that will without a doubt generate plenty of comments. I like the way the green is included to give the appearance that this guy looks this way because of some type of chemical spill, which is still lying on his face. The eyes and nose are also great, complemented by the magnificent hood.

The first time I saw particular horror character was in one of the Blade movies, which represented a new strain of vampire, which declared war on the original vampires. This mask definitely enters into the "disturbing" category, as it would surely result in some looks of distaste and maybe even some fearful squeals if you catch someone off guard and they look and suddenly see this looking them in the face.

Evil Halloween Masks: Lector, Meateater, Chopper the Clown

2012-09-04T14:29:00.000-04:00

When it comes to evil, there are a lot of masks to choose from when looking for a Halloween mask or costume to make a strong statement at a Halloween party and attract a lot of attention.

Among those that offer just such a mask and that probable type of response are mass murderer Hannibal Lector, Meateater, and Chopper the Clown; all of which provide plenty of evil and scare when worn as a mask.

With Hannibal Lector, it's the motorcycle mask that covers the lower half of his face that we'll look at first. As you can see, it's an awesome mask to wear, especially when looking at that mouth area which appears so ominous. Add the right makeup to the eyes and you'll have a great, evil look for the party.

Next we have Chopper the Clown with that evil face that always seems to have that look that makes it appear he has recently taken a bite out of someone. The furrowed brow; large, sharp teeth; and the large red lips all provide that face that most of us have no desire to ever meet.

While all of these are great, evil Halloween masks, my favorite is this one of Meateater, which has that very realistic look to his face, especially the lower part on the lips and teeth. And how about those terrifying eyes? Wouldn't it be fun to walk up to someone unexpectedly and have them face you wearing this. Even the veins in the head look realistic.

Creepy Halloween Masks

2012-09-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

Halloween masks are a must for a Halloween party, and they can be made by face painting methods or from the acquisition of a mask. Either way, they will be a big part of the response to your Halloween costume, and the creepier they are the better, as far as Bizarre and Weird is concerned.

Below are a few masks that are definitely on the creepy side, and in a couple of cases, would be sure to make the viewer feel a little uncomfortable when seeing them.

This first mask of the wrinkled up face of an old man is fantastic. What's great about it is you can wear it as an adult, or place it on a child for an even creepier look.

If you have them learn to talk in a somewhat raspy voice, or if you yourself do, it would add a bit more of a scary feel to this amazing Halloween mask.

Most people who have seen the numerous commercials of the Burger King guy, testify to the fact that his face is definitely a creepy one to behold. That plays nicely into wearing one at a Halloween party, where you could also dress up in a costume of the Burger King as well.

Similar to the old man mask above, this would work great for a child or an adult, as the oversize mask adds to the creepy factor, along with the motionless and weird face of the Burger King.

What's terrific about this skull Halloween mask is the ability to move the jaws up and down, allowing you to talk or appear to be able to.

While it would be more cool and humorous to adults seeing this mask, the creepy factor would play to talking to, or moving the jaws when interacting with youngsters.

Awesomely Bizarre Halloween Masks

2012-09-04T11:21:00.000-04:00

Halloween masks are the first thing people will notice when wearing a costume, and at Bizarre and Weird, the more disturbing the mask the better, and here are several Halloween masks to give you some ideas on what's available out there.

This first mask is of Schell Shocked (Jordu Schell), which as you can see, would be a fantastic and shocking way to dress up on Halloween. Not too many masks would provide the gruesome look offered by Schell Shocked, Great Halloween mask, which would provide some good gasps when the person doesn't see you come up on them.

Night Fiend Mens Animotion Demon Mask

This next mask is very cool because you can walk up to someone with a prepared short script and appear to be talking because the mouth opens up and closes.

In the image below you can see the closed mouth on the left, and how it looks, and then how it looks when it opens on the right.

Twosome Gruesome Halloween Mask

These types of masks are sometimes referred to as "freaky faces" because of the half mask design which includes two faces; one of which appears to be growing off to the side, as you see below.

It can be worn as it is, but can be blended in to look more natural with a little bit of makeup around the edges.

Based upon the disturbing factor, I think this is the best of this group of strange and odd Halloween masks, as it's not the type of subject matter one wants to look at when seeing someone coming towards you, or near you at a Halloween party.

Disney Princess Zombie Costumes

2012-09-04T10:45:00.001-04:00

Anything with a zombie costume theme for Halloween continues to be popular, and how cool would it be to include a Disney Princess theme with the zombie to create a very unusual look, as those in the photo below did.

What would really work great initially is when someone sees you coming from afar off and only see the Disney Princess part of the costume until you get closer with your zombie makeup and blood-spattered dress and/or costume.

It's the shock factor that works so good here, and it is a great way to dress up as a group together as well, including some of the related costumes many of the guys could wear, which would also include the zombie look.

You can buy the Disney costumes easy enough and make your alterations and changes, or you could make your own costumes if you are a little crafty. Either way, it's a fantastic choice for Halloween or other costume parties.

The Dark Face of Fear - Women in Terror

2012-08-30T19:26:00.000-04:00

In this post we're looking at the face of fear in the countenances of young women, whom are shown in various stage of terror from an unknown situation and/or protagonist.

Even though we like to shock and disturb here at Bizarre and Weird, we also like to occasionally show something that relates to the human psyche ... in this case the inner fears that almost everyone alive on this planet, or has lived on the earth, has faced at some point in their lives.

Here are the powerful and compelling photos of dark, unknown fear. In think they're amazing for what they are meant to portray. I also believe the facial expressions and consequences of the fear are done intentionally to allow us to see how fear can have such a strong effect upon our countenances.

This first photo seems to reveal a young lady caught in a spider web of some sort. Either she had the red and blue eyes already, or the trauma of what she's facing has caused the change to be made. The eyes and how they look, and tape covering her mouth, reveal she is in the midst of the state of terror. It's done very well.

The terror and apparent inevitability shown in the eyes of this young woman is a powerful statement to the inner human condition, which seems to have a unique inner eye itself, which when included with what the outer senses see and hear, can produce unbearable fear and horror at times.

Having her looking out the sides of her eyes has an even more impactful feeling of ominous terror at what she sees and knows.

Lastly we have a young lady who appears to have collapsed under the horror of her situation, as she bleeds from the eyes at the scene playing out in front of her. Her silent scream shouts out at us that whatever she is facing is about to happen. It's the fear many of us feel when we have a certainty about what's going down very soon for us.

Bizarre, Creepy, Scary Girl Photos

2012-08-30T18:15:00.000-04:00

In this article we have a group of photos showing some girls that we definitely should think about having for friends, or in the case of guys, going out with. They are definitely a look at some creepy vixens who would put the fear of God in almost anyone meeting them. There is no doubt they are definitely are not the girl next door; or are some of them? You decide.

Now there is no doubt this first babe is not going to be considered a vegetarian or vegan. Would you agree? Unless she just got done eating beets, this girl has a real problem with how she views what is funny. Whatever she just ate, she is very happy about, as you can see in her wonderful smile and dark, blood-red eyes.

I think this next chick is just trying to get some attention. I mean, what's up with those bleeding eyes and mouth. Couldn't she have went to the ladies room and cleaned up a bit before having her picture taken? Attention whore! ... although I'm not sure I would say it to her bloody face.

Here's a spooky lady with a sense of the mystical about her. What are those flies doing gathered around your eyes deary? What is it that is attracting them to those red eyes? Her look tells me she is in no mood to do any explaining. If she wants to share her eye with some hungry flies, what is it to me.

Now here we have a more stable girl; at least when compared to the first three. That makes me worry a bit about what's going on with her red eye and laced veil over her face. And what about those black eyes. Huh? What about then honey? Hmmm. Her look tells me I better back off some. But okay, I like your lipstick. Okay?

Now for the scariest of all strange girls, those that are even strange than us but look like little angels on the outside, as you can see from her visible halo, but with her shadowy real self being exposed as a devil. And what's going on with that teddy bear. Who would do that to a poor little bear? Animal!

Creepy, Scary Halloween and Horror Trees

2012-08-30T17:42:00.001-04:00

Trees are among the most compelling props to use at times you want to produce a fright in someone, making them fantastic for being part of your Halloween fright decorations.

In this article we'll look at a few photos of trees in nature that give of their own evil aura, with some being downright creepy. These trees don't need much encouragement or alteration (if it were possible naturally) to make them look scary - they already are.

Picture walking in the early morning or late evening when the sun is going down and running into these trees. They'll give you a good startle for sure.

I think the first tree below is the most scary of all, and would totally freak me out if I was walking nonchalantly along - without paying much attention - and suddenly coming upon the image of what appeared to be someone looking out from, or as, the tree lying on the ground. That color also adds a touch of what almost looks similar to the color of the skin of some people, making it even more believable. Very creepy!

This next tree is really great. While not as scary as the first tree, in my opinion, it does have a lot of character going for it, in the sense of adding a ominous mood to any situation you may walk or gaze upon it. Add to that the right background of dusk or dawn and you have an awesome scene to interact with. If someone had a tree like this in their yard it would be really cool to add some fake Halloween props to make it even more scary than it looks.

The next couple of creepy trees have similar looks, with the most disturbing to me being the bottom one because of the opening at the bottom of the tree that looks like a mouth. How weird and strange would it be to come upon that unexpectedly in the dark?

That's the only problem I have with these two trees - they should have been shot in the dark in order to get the best effects. Even so, as you can see, they are definitely going to scare people in the right circumstance, and would also work fantastic with additional, scary Halloween props.

More Weird, Bizarre Halloween Costumes to Startle You

2012-07-28T21:25:00.000-04:00

I never tire of the amazing, and sometimes gross creativity of those who come of ideas for bizarre and weird Halloween or cosplay costumes.

Some of the Halloween costumes are strange for their outright strange looks, others for their particular theme, and still others for the choice of costume, which while relatively benign, is odd simply because of its uniqueness.

Whatever it is, there are a few samples here of some disturbing, funny, and very odd costumes which will definitely cause a few raised eyebrows and laughter.

Baby in Turkey Costume

Now who thinks up something like this first weird Halloween costume that shows a baby as a cooked turkey. Again I ask, "who thinks up something like this?" It does have a sense of twisted humor, but there are a lot of people that simply wouldn't consider this funny because of the subject matter.

Cute but Creepy Dog Costumes

This is a hilarious but creepy look at a group of dogs in ghost costumes.

I would laugh if I saw them somewhere else, but if they showed up at my front door like that, they're not coming in, and I'm not handing out candy to them!

On the other hand, wouldn't it be fun to be the one showing up at someone's doorstep with them.

Taco Costume

Here is a costume that most people wouldn't think of as strange or weird, but I found it very unique in that I had never seen someone in one before.

I don't know why, but it still looks a little odd to me, but still one that would differentiate from other costumes.

After all, how many people have you seen dressed up as a taco lately?

Creepy Mutant Costume
Now here is the creepiest of costumes I've ever seen. How bizarre would it be to run into someone wearing a mutant attached to their stomach costume?

This looks somewhat like the mutant in Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Again, if you want to be sure you're going to have no one wearing the same costume you're wearing at a Halloween or other type of party, this mutant costume will definitely do the job. No one will be able to neglect this in-your-face costume.

Dark Gothic Art Featuring Women

2012-06-22T23:48:00.000-04:00

Dark Gothic art can represent a lot of things to different people, as it can be very disturbing with some of its images, and at other times - glamorous, to others.

I've put together several different dark Gothic art image here to provide a different look at the art form and subject matter. Let us know what you think about the various pictures. Which is your favorite?

This first one can escape you if you don't look closely, as it appears to be a cute woman looking at you without a problem in the world. When you take it in though, you see she is actually shackled to a line.

You get the sense that she is a performer of some type, with her being right behind the curtain, which is open for all to view her.

But it has that creepy background that suggest there is a lot more behind the curtain than the viewer sees or knows. For example, what's that castle doing in the background? Does she live there? You get the point.

Also cool is that rat climbing along the line, right above the ominous hanging noose. And of course there are the snakes lingering around her.

The creepiest thing to me is the way the woman doesn't seem to have a care in the world; as if she's comfortable in the environment.

In the photo below we have a more whimsical piece of dark Gothic art, this one highlighted with a dark blue look. I love the outfit and how the wings go together with the beautiful costume.

Dark blue is one of my favorite colors, and it flows with the darker background and frontal environment she's posing in. Nice image.

Gothic, women, and vampires are made for each other, and this is an awesome look at an eerie female Gothic vampire. The pointed tiara is stunning, giving a sense of dark majesty and power. And it appears that the points coming up are from a gauntlet of some sort she's wearing. And those black eyes, how effective is that terrific look?

With this final image it gives a look at what appears to be a Queen of some sort, sitting on her throne while her raven subjects swoop around her.

That sheer dress is outstanding, and my favorite part is what appears to be a tiara formed around her head with the back of the ornate chair or throne. That's a great design.

Compelling Vampire Makeup and Costume Ideas

2012-05-10T18:12:00.000-04:00

Vampires are about as popular as you can get in pop culture, and make a great choice for cosplay or Halloween. A few things that always work are a white or cream foundation on the face, accompanied by dark around the eyes, as well as some good fangs to finish off the look, as far as the face goes.

Girls or guys look great with that high collar behind the neck on top of a flowing cape.

For the ladies in particular, the colors red and black work good, with a collar included as well, with a more feminine cape or dress with wide sleeves.

All fangs of course are appropriate for vampires, but you can get some extra long ones that really accentuate and make more believable the realistic look you're looking for. It's even deliciously creepy.

Whatever you choose, go with these ideas and you'll be sure to be a hit at whatever type of gathering you come to as a vampire.

Vampire makeup and costumes never fail to be popular, and you're sure to generate some chuckles and smiles as you display your dastardly self.

Freaky Foot Tattoos

2012-03-26T15:01:00.000-04:00

Foot tattoos have become very compelling for a growing number of people, and many of them really look nice. But here at Bizarre an Weird we're not into looking at nice, but all the weird there is out there.

That's definitely the case with this first foot tattoo, where the shape of the feet themselves is as weird as the tattoo with the words "dancin' shoes" on them. Gross!

This creepy 3-D spider tattoo on the foot is pretty cool, although I would have rather had the spider a little bit smaller so you could see it all at one glance rather than having to scroll around the foot to see it all.

This set of skeleton or bone tattoos on the feet of this person is pretty intense, and would definitely turn heads and get some conversation going; unless you think someone that would ink them on is to strange to talk to.

This tattoo is strange because of the odd phrase, but more importantly, because some guy was so upset over the loss of his cat, which was named "Boo Kitty," that he had to have the name permanently inked on his foot.

I found this a bizarre tattoo because I don't think too many associate a skull with the apparent death of their dad, as this woman has. Mom, on the other foot, got a little better treatment.

The more you look at tattoo designs and the stories behind them, the more they reflect the odd and strange that is part of the world and culture we all live in. Foot tattoos are no different.

Faces Painted as Animals

2012-03-23T22:51:00.001-04:00

Face and body paint are becoming extremely popular, with just about every type of topic and theme covered, as well as every part of the body or face covered ... well, at least with paint.

In this article we'll look at a few photos of ladies who had their faces painted as animals.

With this first photo we have a tiger lady, with not only her faced painted as a tiger, but her entire top as well. She looks pretty catty if you ask me.

Here's another friendly feline, with a beautifully painted face, although she does, just like a regular cat, appear from those eyes to be a little shy. It is a great paint job on the face though. Geesh. You would think I was talking about my car.

I guess we have a lot of fans of cats in this group, as we have another one below. This time it's a completely different look, in what appears to be a jaguar or leopard, as evidenced by the more spotty look. Very nice and detailed job.

As you can see, face paint has definitely gone extreme and detailed, as the head has now become a canvass and not just something to carry our brains and eyeballs around in.

Woman Wearing Nothing but Body Paint

2012-03-23T22:34:00.000-04:00

As with most art forms, body painting has drawn adherents who take the art to the limit, and in this case, woman have been painted wearing nothing but their birthday suit with design.

This first one is definitely bold. I don't think we'll think the same way about angels again. I really do like the colors, really I do.

This next one is my favorite probably, as she's the only one that isn't posing professionally in this gallery of naked painted girls, and she is more refreshing to me, although all of them are great.

Believe it or not I do take my aesthetic eye seriously, and this painted lady with the blue foundation looks great. It really is art with her, and that umbrella is a great touch.

This girl obviously enjoyed taking her body painting to the limit, there are all sorts of interesting things going for it. The chain, hair hat, and body paint design really work together in an odd sort of way. And the Gothic makeup is a nice finishing touch for the overall look.

I thought this was a great group of woman showing off a range of looks with their body painting designs. The art form is definitely taking a naughty turn, as more and more women aren't afraid to parade around in their birthday suit in public, showing off their bodies and the art.

Naughty, Sexy Purple Body Paint Sculptures

2012-03-23T20:41:00.000-04:00

In this article we take a look at some bolder, or maybe, stupider, people than me, who have decided to wear purple paint as their main, or only, outfit.

Hmmm. Why you covering up girl? I guess you're not confident in how the paint is covering the canvass.

Here we have a lady that's displaying all her purple cavass-ets, as we get a look at a front and back at the same time. Look at all those different hues. I know you're only appreciating the art. I just know it!

My first response when I saw this guy decked out in purple paint riding his bike was OUCH!. Man that must hurt. It's hard enough riding a bike with close on, let alone only nothing but purple paint. Nice body job though. Errr, never mind.

I'm sure this gorgeous girl is knocking all the guys for a loop, as she poses in the ring ready for all comers. Ahem. Never mind. And I know you only read this blog for the great stories. Don't you? Really?

Body paint has become popular in many areas, and it seems showing as much as you can with it is part of the experience, or even art. I also think it's something people can express themselves through without getting permanently inked. This is also a lot less painful.

Pretty awesome pictures of some beautiful purple people. No wonder Barney didn't make an appearance.

Dark Gothic Forest Photos

2012-03-22T18:53:00.000-04:00

The dark Gothic portrayals while interacting with, or taking photos of the forest and some of its inhabitants, is the work of Rosie Kliskey, from Plymouth, UK.

This is a part of a collection dubbed 'Coyote,' which gives a view of the dark elements that one can sometimes imagine if you're walking in a shadowy forest on your own.

You get the sense of seeing what you may have imagined in these photos, which surely would generate a sense of fear or uneasiness.

When you take in some of the morbid photos, you feel sometimes, well nothing, as you get the sense there is a disconnect between you and the subject matter.

In the end, it seems to embrace isolationism for the person, which creates a foreboding and unsurety of your surroundings.

Trash for a Face Photos

2012-03-22T18:27:00.000-04:00

In what I consider a bizarre and odd photo series, the ‘Republic of Pulau Semakau’ photo shoot includes a number of images of people covering their face with their trash bin.

Apparently the idea is to let people know how their lives are reflected in their garbage.

The 'Republic of Pulau Semakau' shoot features residents of Singapore, and was taken in the specific environment each of person worked, lived, or played

It seems to be a snapshot of a disparate group of people reflecting a moment and period of time in their lives.

The work was shot by artist Zinkie Aw and was recently displayed at the Goodman Arts Centre Gallery.

An interesting but strange gallery of photos, as is the inspiration behind it.

Cool Vampire Art

2012-02-13T13:33:00.000-05:00

Vampire Art

Vampire art has been around for a long time, but has gained in popularity as book series have resulted in a number movie and TV franchises.

Here are some vampire art images which I liked, which you may enjoy.

This first vampire photo is of a female vampire seemingly about to be put in a coffin to sleep during the day hours. The reddish, burgundy colors are great, and I really like those candles on the right side of the image. She also seems to have finished a snack before going to sleep for the day.

I really like this vampire photo of the young female vampire sitting on the ledge of the building, apparently about to turn and go look for food during the night. It's the anticipation that this piece of digital vampire art captures, and it does it nicely.

In contrast to the female vampire above which is about to change, here we have a male vampire that already has changed. The lighting striking with the vampire standing on the balcony between the two gargoyles is a great design. The bats flying off in the distance is a nice touch to the overall ominous look as well.

Vampire Art

Goth Fashion Going Uptown?

2012-02-11T12:23:00.000-05:00

Goth Fashion

The latest fashion line from Z Spoke by Zac Posen, includes a sampling of Gothic clothing designed with an upscale feel. The thought of taking Gothic uptown is in itself an unusual move, making it interesting, and well, bizarre.

Posen described his new line as "Americana gone to the dark side."

While much of the line doesn't represent that in my view, here are a few interesting pieces to look at. What do you think? Do you consider the ensemble Gothic?

I like the first piece here, especially those cute gloves and matching shoulders. The black dress looks gorgeous as well.

This second piece is also great. That high neck, which is typical of a lot of the Gothic look of the ladies, is a nice touch. The long sleeves are also a nod towards many in the Gothic lifestyle who prefer the combination of long sleeves and high neck.

In this last outfit, those wide sleeves look fantastic. The way the outfit wraps with the belt is great. Add to that the wide pants and it's a compelling look.

It's interesting to see the influence of Goth on the fashion industry, and how it is interpreted for those seeking the style.

Extreme California Haunted Houses | Winchester, Whaley

2012-02-10T13:39:00.000-05:00

Winchester House

There are a couple of haunted houses in California that are apparently 'sanctioned' by the U.S. Commerce Department as being haunted. To me, that's hilarious in itself, as the obvious purpose of taking such a stand by the Commerce Department would be for the purpose of getting people to visit the two homes.

The first home is called the "Winchester House," and is considered among the more extreme of alleged haunted houses in the United States. It is located in San Jose, California.

Why is is considered more extreme or strange than other reputed haunted houses is because of the woman behind the design of the house: Sarah Winchester, who was the wife and widow of William Winchester, founder of the Winchester rifle company.

How the story goes is, after the deaths of her daughter in 1866, and husband in 1881, Sarah Winchester was supposed to have consulted a medium. The medium evidently told Sarah to build a house in order to fight off evil spirits.

Concerning the design of the home, legend has it that Sarah held seances every night in order to receive instruction from spirits, along with her late husband, concerning how to design the house.

What came out of those sessions was a bizarre home which has all sorts of weird designs which make it more like a maze than a livable home. All of this was for the purpose of disrupting evil spirits be confusing them through the odd design, which included hallways that suddenly stopped, various twists, a window in the floor, and a variety of secret panels.

Winchester House

Whaley House

The Whaley house, located in San Diego, California, was built by businessman Thomas Whaley.

What was unusual about this home was it was reportedly built on the place where “Yankee Jim” Robinson was hanged for the crime of attempted grand larceny.

The story goes that after the home was completed and the Whaley family moved in, not long afterwards there were sounds of loud and heavy footsteps heard in the house.

After that the legend of the house grew, as the son of the Whaleys, Thomas, Jr., died at a year-and-a-half of scarlet fever, while daughter Violet, ended up committing suicide there in 1885.

Strangely, it is now identified as a California State Historic Landmark, and can be toured by the public.

Whaley House

Dark Gothic Art

2012-02-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

Gothic art can be very foreboding in an appealing sort of way, depending on the subject matter. But one thing about it, it usually leaves an indelible impression on the person looking at it.

I love Gothic art because it always seems to be saying something much deeper than thought, and it taps into some of our own concerns and fears we have in this world we live in.

When talking about dark Gothic art, for me that means not only what is being portrayed, but the art itself, which usually includes darker colors and hues.

With this first Gothic image, we see a Goth girl looking off into the distance at what appears to be a castle, her home, or possibly both. You get the sense that her lying down also her some respite from whatever is over there, but also her clenched fist seems to point to still remaining tense just by her dwelling on it.

Gothic Fairy

The environment surrounding this Gothic fairy image is as good as the fairy herself. From the floor she's sitting on to what appears to be a closed door behind her, you get the sense of coldness, and possibly being imprisoned by someone.

I like the way the dark and light complements one another and adds to the overall feel of the work.

My favorite of these three Gothic pieces of art is the final one here. It seems to be telling an extraordinary story, but with a great deal of mystery added to it.

The cards seem to suggest this mysterious man is a gambler. That's not all though. He is also walking on what appears to be a dock over the water, yet we can't see his destination because of his body blocking the view. It also seems he's walking upwards toward something.

Lastly, the bird flying in to land on him points to it seeming to have been waiting for him, implying the bird knows who this fellow is and was waiting for him to arrive. Pretty interesting and fascinating to me.

As you can see from these three dark Gothic works, it is a very compelling genre which can tell an amazing story, or keep you guessing as to what is being said by and in them.