Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Horns of Horror and a Crying Munster Movie Shame

Howdy all. Starting with a recent horror collage with a Heaven and Hell theme. Did a few of them you’ll find on Instagram, but this is my favorite, I think.

Anyway, Halloween is fast approaching, and it’s always been my absolute favorite time of year. It brings out my creative side like no other holiday. I love the eerie, otherworldly vibe that comes with it. It’s been so warm in Colorado this year, so it’s been a magical time, sitting on the deck, sipping wine longer than usual in 70-80 degree temperatures. Where I’m going after writing and releasing this post. Unfortunately, we don’t have Halloween decorations on the neighbors’ lawns to enjoy and I don’t decorate anymore, mostly because I’ve gotten very lazy about the holidays in general.

I haven’t watched as many horror movies as I expected, but I did watch a really bad horror comedy recently that totally shocked me. Here are my thoughts about the movie.

The Munsters (2022) Review

I had no expectations going into a viewing of Rob Zombie’s 2022 version of The Munsters, and maybe that was a good thing. While the film shines in its visual presentation, it falls flatter than a pancake in pacing, writing, and overall entertainment value. I wish I could say better things, but…

Sure, it had an impressive set design and a campy Gothic style that kept my eyes glued to the screen. Loved the purple and green colors that gave it an old-style monster movie vibe. But I kept shaking my head at the poor acting, or should I say over acting. I particularly hated Sheri Moon Zombie’s portrayal of Lily Munster, whom I consider being one of early TV’s strongest female characters. The guy that played Herman was a dim-witted caricature of the lovable character from the TV show, but at least Grandpa was entertaining at times.

This movie is WAYYYYY too long. The humor is just off in a bad way. And I won’t even waste my time talking about the poorly developed plot. The movie has a 4.5 on IMDB, and I just don’t get it other than that colorful Gothic atmosphere I mentioned earlier.

Rob Zombie may have had good intentions, but this version of The Munsters turned out to be an opportunity to check my email way too many times. In case you forget, if I’m tempted to check email during a movie, it’s a very bad thing.

That’s all I got for ya! Enjoy your Halloween!

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Artistic Creations and TV Obsessions

It’s been a week filled with artistic inspiration and thrilling TV marathons.

New Art Pieces

Ghouly Haunted Collage: I threw together a spooky haunted collage that kinda captures the eerie essence of the supernatural. I had the hardest time finding pieces for this, but it combines various elements to create a chilling yet captivating scene, right? Quick is not always good. But I had a fantastic time putting it together.

New Abstract Painting: Alongside the haunted collage, I’ve also completed a new painting. It’s another Hilma af Klint inspired piece. I love the color combo on this one. It was difficult to complete at the end, the large circles not coming together quite right. All-in-all, I love it.

TV Show Rewatch: Dexter

In addition to my artistic ventures, I’ve been rewatching the TV show Dexter, and let me tell you—I’m as hooked as ever! This morning I got up and heard the theme song playing over and over in my head. The intricate plot, the complex characters, and the dark humor make it an unforgettable experience every time. Michael C. Hall’s portrayal of Dexter Morgan is nothing short of brilliant, and the suspense keeps me on the edge of my seat. If you haven’t seen it yet, where have you been? It’s the perfect blend of crime, drama, and dark comedy.

Which of the crazy killers Dexter encountered were your favorites? Mine were the Ice Truck Killer and Hannah McKay. Here’s a starter list of the majors.

The Ice Truck Killer (Rudy Cooper/Brian Moser): Dexter’s biological brother, who taunts Dexter with crime scenes that hint at Dexter’s own past.

The Skinner (George King): A serial killer who tortures and skins his victims alive.

The Trinity Killer (Arthur Mitchell): A seemingly normal family man who has been committing a cycle of three murders at a time for decades.

The Barrel Girl Gang: A group of men who kidnap, rape, and kill women, storing their bodies in barrels. Dexter teams up with Lumen Pierce to take them down.

The Doomsday Killer (Travis Marshall): A delusional killer who believes he is enacting the Book of Revelation’s apocalyptic prophecies.

Hannah McKay: A former accomplice in a series of murders and Dexter’s love interest, who later becomes a killer herself.

Or another killer because I left off the Bay Harbor Butcher and some of the minor ones he encountered along the way were way COOL! There are certain episodes that stick with you.

This week has reminded me of the joy and fulfillment that come from balancing creative work with personal enjoyment. I hope you enjoy the new pieces I’ve shared and feel inspired.

Until next time…

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: What I’ve Loved and Achieved

It’s been a productive and entertaining week, and I’m thrilled to share what I’ve been up to and what I highly recommend you check out.

The collage to the right was a quick compilation I threw together a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I’ve been incredibly busy with writing that my art projects are suffering, although I do love the way this collage turned out.

I’ve made significant strides in the third book of my series. Barry’s journey is becoming more intense as he continues to absorb Azael’s powers. The plot is thickening, and I’m excited about the twists and turns that lie ahead.

    I recently finished watching the new TV show “Ted,” and I absolutely loved it! The show is a breath of fresh air in the TV landscape. The show masterfully blends humor and heart, delivering a story that is both touching and hilarious. The characters are richly developed, each bringing their unique quirks and charms to the screen. The writing is sharp, and the performances are outstanding, making it easy to get hooked from the first episode. And it’s trashy, a must for me! If you’re looking for a feel-good show that will make you laugh, “Ted” is a must-watch!

    That’s all for this week, folks! Keep following your passions, and don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Whether it’s diving into a new book, catching up on a show, or simply enjoying a moment of peace, make sure you’re nurturing your soul.

    Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Vampires in the House

    As the month of May comes to an end, it’s odd to think we are almost half way through the year. Feels like I accomplished a lot, but there’s so much more to do. That endless task list seems to grow, including wanting to do more horror collages.

    The collage on the right is the only one I was able to accomplish this month. Then again, maybe I should be happy I can accomplish at least 1 a month. This one was fun, filling the room with a vampire scene. I used photos and AI for this one. Quite shocked that the chandelier turned out as well as it did using AI.

    Lots of other AI usage via ChatGPT this month. I’m amazed by how well it works for the written word considering the issues I’ve had with image generators. The only issue I’ve encountered so far is a misunderstanding of relationships, with it insisting two characters were mother and daughter. It still hasn’t learned the relationship dynamics.

    I hope you’re enjoying the Evil in Pop Culture series I’m doing with AI. It’s been fun to generate all of the evil stepmother content with more coming. I’m having a hard time trying to figure out all the content needed for each evil character, but AI will help with that.

    It’s Been A While…Again

    Yes…it’s been a while. More than a month this time between status reports. Anyway, I’m sharing the collage I did for Easter with the evil bunny Easter egg hunt featured to the right. It’s not complete. I wanted to add blood and smoke. Maybe I’ll finish it later, when I start to publish all the collages in a book.

    I’ve been very busy with ArmLin House work, which is why I haven’t been here much. And last week I finished a painting that’s been sitting around forever. Worked on it in between a visit to the theater to see Civil War. It was a good movie and properly showcased mans inhumanity to man, although it could have been a bit more brutal. I love Kristen Dunst, and she was excellent in the film.

    Here’s the painting, also inspired by Hilma af Klint. Not sure I’m going to do anymore of these that are more similar to her work. I really want to do something that’s more dark like me.

    I did another painting that’s basically a bunch of brush stokes with a lot of black. I had a technique in mind, but I got a little distracted with it, so I really hated it at first. Next morning, when I got up and looked at it, I wasn’t quite so critical. I started with a few stencils and wanted to go with outlines, but I started to use the stencils as stamps. It didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. Still want to try my original idea.

    Otherwise, I did a little writing/editing of the next Angels Dark and Dumb book and continue to struggled my way through the next illustration for The Pumpkin and the Mouse Jinn. Hopefully I’ll have it done before I do another one of these posts.

    And, last but not least, I started the Evil in Pop Culture series using AI. The first part is in a post before this one. I started with the infamous evil stepmother. In fact, the first book will probably be all evil women.

    That’s all for now. Hoping to be back soon with some more artwork and news.