Halloween Art and Travel

Austin Phillips, a skilled figure maker and expert in ventriloquist dummies, has turned his lifelong passion into a full-time career. His fascination with these mechanical dolls began at the age of five when he received a ventriloquist dummy from Santa. From that moment on, Austin was captivated by the artistry and entertainment value behind these unique creations. As he grew older, he honed his skills in figure making by experimenting with different materials and his dad’s power tools. Austin's dedication to his craft led him to seek out renowned figure makers, learning directly from them and gaining invaluable insights into the art form.

Today, Austin not only creates one-of-a-kind ventriloquist dummies, but also restores historical treasurers including puppets and figures from coin operated games. His attention to detail and commitment to authenticity make him highly sought out by both collectors and performers around the world.

Austin has performed as a ventriloquist since childhood and most recently headlined in a spooky Victorian show filled with tricks and illusions.In addition to his figure collection, his studio in Maine is filled with his stunning collection of vintage Halloween decorations.

Mentions:

• Haunted Overload, Lee, New Hampshire: https://hauntedoverload.com
• Musée Mécanique, San Francisco: https://museemecanique.com
• Vent Haven International Ventriloquist Convention, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky:https://vhconvention.com
• Vent Haven Museum (world’s only ventriloquist museum), Fort Mitchell, Kentucky:https://www.venthaven.org

Visit Austin’s web site at: https://www.phillipspuppets.com

Meet Tracy Mahaffey, a talented stone carver and memorial artist who creates lasting stories in stone using only her hands and simple tools. Out of her studio comes gravestones, memorials, architectural work, and sculptures. Tracy majored in sculpture in university. At that time, she thought all memorial work was done by computers and sandblasting. When she found people making memorials by hand, she knew she had found her tribe.

The low-tech nature of the job appeals to Tracy. All of her work starts with a sketch on paper. Then the sketches become full scale drawings, which are transferred to the stone with carbon paper. All sculpting is done with a mallet and chisel – that's it. Stone carving has changed little since ancient times; tools are now made of stronger materials but the processes are the same. The beauty of a hand carved inscription is the human hand. You want to see the variations.

Tracy has created memorial art in a variety of styles ranging from Puritan to art deco to the look of today. Her favorite era is our era. She currently works in marble, limestone, granite, zinc, bronze, and clay.

Working with a family to create a memorial for their loved one is a privilege. She loves hearing family stories and condensing them into a story that can be told in stone. The process is truly a collaboration.

Tracy is optimistic about the future of memorial arts and is happy to share her knowledge by teaching. She’s impressed by the talent and passion of others in her field. Her hope is that people in the future look back and say that the 2000s were a wonderful time period for this art field.

The art available in cemeteries around the world rivals that of fine art museums. Tracy recommended the following cemeteries for their beauty and amazing monuments:

• Bonaventure Cemetery in Savanah, GA: https://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/
• Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY:https://www.green-wood.com/
• Monumental Cemetery ofStaglieno, Italy: https://staglieno.comune.genova.it
• Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, MA:https://www.mountauburn.org/
• North Carolina Soapstone Tombstones: https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org/2019/09/signature-in-stone/
• Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI: https://swanpointcemetery.com

The Atlas Obscura article I found Tracy in is here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hand-carved-gravestones?fbclid=IwAR1Cn51SwV3drjpHZcr_gnboAONKqACLm5Oq6vTT8MhWY9iSWqkIbUIgjg8

The book Tracy recommended is “Sticks & Stones” by M. Ruth Little

Visit Tracy’s website at: https://www.tracymahaffey.com

North Carolina glass artist, Sarah Band, is inspired by science, anatomy, and creepy stuff. As a sculpture major at San Francisco State, her ambition to create a large kaleidoscope led her to her first encounter with glass. Sarah was hooked as soon as she saw someone blow out molten material.

In a craft medium like glass, the blower needs a strong understanding of chemistry. Sarah explains the process of using different metal oxides to create various glass colors. She also highlights the intersection of science and art in her work, drawing inspiration from scientific discoveries and her upbringing in a family of physicists. Both science and art begin with observation and the desire to learn about the world.

Sarah does two types of glass blowing: furnace and flameworking. The furnace glass is the traditional Venetian style with long metal pipes and a big hot furnace. Flameworking is the process of bending tubes of glass over a flame.

The more skill a glassblower has, the thinner they can blow out the glass and the more colors they can use. Colors are challenging because they heat up at different rates. There are no breaks when creating a glass work of art; the artist is constantly reheating and turning the glass so it doesn’t explode.

Visit Sarah’s web site at: https://www.sarahaband.com/

Mentions:

· Cat Viera (@catvierapottery), teacher at the North Carolina Pottery Center (Seagrove, NC): https://ncpotterycenter.org

· Sawtooth School for Visual Arts (Winston-Salem, NC): https://www.sawtooth.org

· Starworks Gallery/Studio (Star, NC): https://www.starworksnc.org

LeeAnn Kress, is the color loving artist behind Charmed Confections. Her candy shop of sculpted art invokes Willy Wonka, childhood memories, and Halloween magic. She aspires to evoke happiness and nostalgia in her collectors.

Details unknown to collectors hold special significance to LeeAnn, like the number 13 representing her father's birthday. Art is not just about creating visually appealing pieces; it's about sharing a part of herself with the world. Every piece is infused with inspiration from her life or her family.

A switch from a telecommunications job to artistry wasn't a difficult decision. Her passion had blossomed after work hours, eventually becoming her dream job. In addition to Halloween, LeeAnn has also created fairy art. She’s honored that her work has been reproduced by Bethany Lowe.

LeeAnn is exhibiting at the All Hallows Art Fest in Petaluma, CA this year. In this episode she shares a preview of the wonders collectors will find in her booth.

“I want my art to give collectors back those memories of Halloween and trick-or-treating... I want them to feel the love and care that I put into the details and to really love it.” - LeeAnn Kress

Please visit her website at: https://charmedconfections.com

Other mentions:

• All Hallow’s Art Fest in Petaluma, CA: https://www.halloweenfolkartsociety.com/about-the-show-1
• Autumn Brillance Magazine: https://www.autumnbrilliancemagazine.com/
• Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, CA: https://www.bishopspumpkinfarm.com
• Holiday Pizzazz Shop: https://holidaypizzazz.com

Stephanie Hodge’s journey into running an online shopping experience, Holiday Pizzazz, began with the simple desire to help collectors find their dream pieces. She experienced the supply and demand dilemma in collecting and decided to help fill the gap.She is motivated by driving availability of products for collectors and showing artists that their skills and talents are appreciated. Holiday Pizzazz carries artist reproduction pieces for all the popular holidays in the US, including a full selection of Halloween.

In this episode, Stephanie shares the fascinating processes of how artists get their reproductions to market. She highlights key players includingBethany Lowe, ESC, and Magenta.

Stephanie has connected with many artists over her years of collecting. From Johanna Parker to David Everett, she’s found artists that put their hearts into their pieces. She deeply understands the importance of positive feedback and appreciation for the artists we collect and love. Show your support for artists by commenting on their posts and reaching out to manufacturers to express interest for the artists they collaborate with.

This episode includes tips for creating beautiful displays, current trends, and how to protect yourself from copycats in the industry.

Visit Holiday Pizzazz's website to explore their online shopping experience for holiday home décor: https://holidaypizzazz.com/

Contact these vendors to encourage them to keep bringing us pieces from our favorite artists:

• Bethany Lowe: https://bethanylowe.com/pages/contact
• ESC:https://escandcompany.com/pages/contact
• Magenta:https://www.magenta-inc.com/pages/contact-us

Joanna Barnum’s world is one where her brush creates the macabre, bringing to life Halloween iconography, emotions, and fantasy using hauntingly beautiful watercolors. Joanna was initially skeptical of watercolor, but fell in love with its chaotic and expressive qualities during art school. She was also influenced by Stephen Gammel’s illustrations in “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.”

Watercolor’s unpredictable nature has taught Joanna how to balance control and chaos. She likens watercolor to dancing – there's a plan, but she needs to leave room for the organic side of it. While some think that watercolors are only soft and pale, Joanna shows us how they can be vivid and bright.

Joanna loves to paint haunted houses. While some collectors see references to books and movies when they look at them, for her, it’s a reflection of her love for old decaying buildings. Her art often represents layers of history, sometimes including past injustices. As she travels, she takes pictures of old houses to serve as inspiration for future works.

Joanna lives in Harford County, MD, with her husband Mike and dog Zephyr. She encourages listeners to go all in on whatever brings them joy, and reminds artists that they don't need permission to create what they want. Make your weirdo heart happy.

Travel Recommendations from Joanna:

• Haunted Overload (New Hampshire): http://www.hauntedoverload.com/
• Ledew Garden Glow (Maryland): https://ladewgardens.com/Event-Calendar/Events-at-Ladew/-Garden-Glow
• Westminster Church (Edgar Allan Poe’s grave in Baltimore, Maryland):https://www.westminsterhall.org/

Visit Joanna’s web site at: https://www.joannabarnum.com/ You’ll see a wonderful gallery of her work and visit the Events section to see all her upcoming shows, including Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween and Dragon Con.

Shrink down and enter into the fantasy world of Michael Robbin’s Halloween themed miniatures. From humble beginnings collecting Polly Pockets, hear how a retiring artist’s gift becomes the catalyst for his artistic journey. Michael’s passion will inspire and delight you.

Michael envisions his miniatures living in a friendly, storybook-like world where pumpkins, witches, and other magical creatures reside in harmony. He discusses the importance of facial expressions and storytelling in his work. Michael laughs that he’ll put a face on anything.

In this episode you’ll learn tips for starting your own collection, how being on a design challenge TV show impacts his work, the difference between UK and US collectors, where he loves to spend spooky season, and so much more.

Michael encourages artists to be adventurous and step out of their comfort zones to create something unique and unexpected.

Check out Michael's work at:

• https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRMiniatures
• https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MichaelRMiniatures
• https://www.instagram.com/michaelrminiatures/
• https://youtu.be/UuwiQmuTjR4 (clip from The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, look for the double basin by Michael)

Find him at these shows:

• Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures (San Jose, CA, October): https://www.goodsamshowcase.org/
• LondonDollshouse Showcase (London, December): https://dollshouseshowcase.com/
• Miniatura (Birmingham, UK, Fall): https://miniatura.co.uk/next-show/
• Tom Bishop Show (April, Chicago): https://www.bishopshow.com/

Enjoy these shops while visiting York, UK:

• https://www.yorkghostmerchants.com/
• https://yorkshiresoap.co.uk/imaginarium

Step into the magical world of David Everett, where spooky meets mischievousness. In a strange twist, a man who was scared of skeletons as a boy, now creates them with his sculpting tools. The unique name for his business, Chicken Lips, came from a family brainstorming session. David proclaims his spirit animal is a chicken and he loved the humorous angle of incorporating the expression, “as useful as lips on a chicken.” In his studio, you’ll find David creating Halloween and spooky twists on other holidays, such as askeleton Santa.

His recent relocation to Arizona has inspired him to create cowboy skeletons and cactuses with menacing faces. The animated holiday specials by Rankin/Bass, such as Mad Monster Party, inspire him and give him a dose of nostalgia. Another favorite is Disney’s Haunted Mansion, which he used to visit twice a month when he lived in California.

Play-Doh is a deep tie to his childhood. It’s one of his favorite scents and he still keeps a can on his desk. He uses it to make quick sculpts to test out ideas. It helps him feel like a kid again.

Our guest shared his thoughts on the impact of AI on creatives. He is concerned about deep fakes and disinformation. As a graphic designer, he seeshow it is a creativity tool and he’s excited to see how it will help him and others with the design process.Artists that embrace AI can thrive and create new, interesting works.

David’s advice to creatives is to create what you love – your audience will find you if you are truly passionate about what you are doing. He feels blessed to have such enthusiastic collectors.

David releases new artwork on the 13th of every month. The best way to stay in touch with him is to subscribe to his monthly email newsletter via his website.

Check out David’s work at:

• His website: https://www.chickenlips.biz/

• His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickenlips_davideverett/

• The Chicken Lips Group on Facebook (ran by collectors, not David): https://www.facebook.com/groups/294862334682411/

Enter the fantasy world of Paul Haigh, a chemist turned potter, who creates weird stuff for weird people. His work is a blend of his fascination with horror, mythology, science fiction, and games like Dungeons and Dragons. Ultimately, Paul sees his work as an escape from the real world.

Paul is known for his face jugs, which are wheel-turned jugs with faces stuck on them. Traditionally, the faces are abstract or even cartoonish, but Paul enjoys making his look realistic. Originally face jugs were made by enslaved people in the American South. There are many theories on the original purposes of face jugs, ranging from religious practices to grave markers. It is common for the expressions and features on face jugs to be scary. The creepy faces may have been designed to scare off evil spirits or to keep children from consuming booze stored inside. This type of pottery fell out of favor in the 1920s but was later revitalized by potters to sell to tourists.

Sculpting realistic human faces is a challenge. Our brains are specialized in recognizing human faces and we can easily spot mistakes. It took years of practice for Paul to be satisfied with his work. There’s a lot of broken pottery from when he was still learning.

Paul enjoys interacting with collectors at art shows. He loves that a significant portion of his collectors are women over 60. With their wisdom and confidence, they no longer care what others think of them and they collect what they want.

Paul lives in central North Carolina, near Seagrove, the pottery capital of the United States. Highway 705, which runs through the region, is nicknamed the Pottery Highway. Paul was a potter prior to moving to NC from New Hampshire. One of the highlights of creating pottery in NH was his wood firing kiln, made from 30,000 pounds of brick with a 15-foot chimney.

Mentions:

• Carolina Pottery Festival (Shelby, NC in November): http://www.ccartscouncil.org/carolinapottery/

• Catawba Valley Pottery Festival (Hickory, NC in March): https://catawbavalleypotteryfestival.com/

• Holly Arts Festival (Pinehurst, NC in October): https://www.homeofgolf.com/events/

This is Kristen Stafford, your host of the Halloween Art and Travel Podcast. This is where you get the stories behind some of the best Halloween art being created today. I’m excited to share my 2023 season with you – the 5th season of this podcast.

This season, I’ll be releasing new episodes on the 13th and 30th of each month, from now throughOctober. I’ll also drop additional episodes in-between those two dates, but always on dates that contain the number 3. Subscribe and follow in your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss a single one.

I’ll continue to bring you artists that create in avariety of styles and new mediums. My first two guests are Paul Haigh who creates weird stufffor weird peopleand David Everett of Chicken Lips. Later in the season, I’ll treat your ears to a miniature artist and a glass blower. I’ll also share with you tips on finding spooky furniture to add to your collections.

After needing to put it off last season, I’m finally launching my first ever monthly companion newsletter at the end of June. Visit www.halloweenartandtravel.com and put your email address in the subscribe box so you don’t miss a single edition.

Now, go forth and start getting ready for Halloween. Now that we’ve passed Halfoween, it’s just around the corner.I’ll see you back on June 30, to introduce you to artist Paul Haigh.