Having a Proud Artist Moment

Finished another Lady of Horror this week. Fatso is a character in the Casper movie released in 1995 that includes Christina Ricci as one of the main characters. Fatso is in drag as Amelia, her deceased mother, to fool her father. Very very funny scene! I watch the movie every Halloween. Brad Garrett does the voice of Fatso perfectly! Interesting fact, Casper was “the first feature film to have a fully computer-generated visual effects character in a leading role.”

The Ladies of Horror series is a mix of feminine horror actors done in a Patrick Nagel style, although I kept the integrity of the character because Fatso wouldn’t look good without depth. I started these to better learn the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator, and they’ve become an obsession. Now, with this one, I’ve mastered gradients…well kinda. If there’s a lady in a horror movie or TV show you’d like to see, leave her in a comment.

While this is my first try at a major use of gradients in Adobe Illustrator, I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. Can’t wait to start a new project with gradients! Not at all sure what I want to do, but I feel it should be something original. Maybe I’ll try the Grim Reaper, who is a character I’ve mentioned in a book I wrote awhile back but never published. I want to revisit the book as a graphic novel.

No news on Angels Dark and Dumb. The cover artist is still working on the updates, but she’s getting close. Until next week…

Hooked on Art

Here’s this week’s artwork for ya. Did this piece, obviously titled Hooked, in my drawing class. I expect you can figure out the theme pretty quickly. We were assigned a line drawing of objects found around the house. Funny how these things evolve in my head because I remember walking around the house to find things. I had a big pile of stuff and had to pull out a theme. The only vice of mine represented here is the wine glass. Any other obsession or addiction is a contrary to my controlling personality, gambling and injecting drugs especially. In fact, I’m the one you want holding your money at a casino.

No news on Angels Dark and Dumb. The cover artist is still working on the updates and the new character drawing for Margery. What I can say is that they are coming along quite nicely. Otherwise, have a great week, and hopefully I’ll reveal the covers next week.

Run the Gauntlet

This is all I got for ya this week. It’s an old perspective assignment from my Drawing I class. Also happens to be the hallway to my bathroom, minus the holes and knives of course. My favorite part of doing this drawing was finding the mix of handles for the assorted sharp objects.

Next week I should have book covers. Hopefully all the books in Angels Dark and Dumb will also be published/republished. I’m also writing an informative blog post for the ArmLin House Production blog on the remaking of a book series. So far, I’ve acquired the experience of changing my author name from W. J. Howard to Winnie Jean Howard along with changing the series name, two things that kinda make it time consuming to publish. It’s also taken me way too long to write each of the books. Oh yeah, and my experience with way too many publishers for book 1. Blah blah blah…forever complaining about this series. Truth is I like to do things the hard way.

Saw the new Evil Dead Rise this week too. I give it an average review. As I would, I really wanted more comedic moments. Thing I liked most about the movie was the dark and dreary atmosphere and setting. High budget, so of course the special effects were done well. Not gross or shocking enough for me, but good mainstream horror movie.

Enjoy your week!

They Are Free!

Fall for Freedom and Call for Obstruction are FREE on Amazon until April 17th. This is the last freebie before Call for Obstruction is taken off KU, so get it ASAP if you haven’t read it!

In celebration of the changing series name from The Courier to Angels Dark & Dumb, as well as the release of Warrant for Damnation next month, you can get it FREE in an EPUB until it’s published. Here’s how:

1. Follow the Contact link in the menu above to the Contact form.

2. Fill out the form and identify in the “Share Your Thoughts” field that you would like a free copy of the EPUB for Warrant for Damnation.

3. I will email you a copy of the EPUB within 48 hours.

That’s 3 books you can get free to enter Barry’s world. I hope you enjoy the read!

Want an EPUB Copy of Warrant for Damnation?

It’s done! The EPUB for Warrant for Damnation is done and ready for you to read. Yes, this is an old picture of the book. Still waiting on the new and improved cover. Here’s the new book description:

I thought I’d hit rock bottom when I pissed off Satan and ended up on Hell’s Most Wanted List. 

Then something worse happened. A fallen angel with a nun fetish and a desire to rob humans of free will showed up. He’s Azael, the deadbeat dad I’ve never known, and he wants me at his side, expanding his rein over demons and mankind. God’s pissed too but willing to give me asylum if I annihilate Azael. What? Me? Destroy a fallen angel? I think they’ve got the wrong guy!

Warrant for Damnation is the second book in the Angels Dark and Dumb series: “bad taste” horror comedy at its best. The series is know for its unique characters and dark humor. If you like slapstick, farce, and dark humor, you’re sure to have a damned good time!

This book takes Barry to new places with a bunch of new characters. Don’t worry, Margery the Demon is still the usual menace. Warrant for Damnation ties into Barry’s Dad’s introduction in Fall for Freedom, so if you find yourself wondering, you’ll want to read the prequel as well.

If you would like to read the book before it’s published, use my contact form to request it. I’ll email you a copy ASAP.

The Lydia Deetz portrait in Nagel style is also done. Currently, it’s only available to view on Deviant Art. Next week I’ll release it here.

Have a great week! I’m going into it feeling like I’ve finally accomplished something with this series after way to many years.