The Haunted Studio Under The Stairs

An interview with EBSQ artist Kevin King

2011-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

An interview with EBSQ artist Kevin King

This entry was posted on August 17, 2009, 12:26 pm - just reposting here

How long have you been creating?

In Dog Years it would be about 193 years now of creating. And, were I a cat, I would be 7 years old and would have been creating the entire time, except during the napping parts. But age, or years, is not what is really important. What are important is a healthy diet, exercise and not too many treats.

What’s your media of choice?

Being particularly lazy and fond of naps, I am indebted to pen and ink; simple, quick, and easy. Uncapping the pen I am off to the Land of Imagination, which is a lot like a Bark Park, but far less a chance of picking up ringworm.

What, besides your art, brings you creative fulfillment?

I think I’ve mentioned the naps.

What are your motivations for creating?

The desire to create, the motivation to create is all instinct. It is like the call of the wild, a base primal desire, the kind of drive that propels you to chase and “get” the vacuum cleaner.

The Gypsy Girl and Grandmother Toad

2011-06-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

Description: An extraordinarily length of time passed since this illustration was first doodled. Which has been a good thing in the end- it allowed for the birth of a short story.

My Art In a Doll House

2011-05-17T12:14:00.001-07:00

Kevin King - Artists Wanted 2010

2011-01-31T05:46:00.000-08:00

Kevin King - Artists Wanted 2010
My head is filled with stories, poems, (and it seems), endless whirls of swirling scenes.

Website
www.wix.com/kevinkingsart/kevinkingshauntedstudio
Stars are very much appreciated

How a scribble becomes more than a scribble

2011-01-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

The other day I took the opportunity to actually stylishly handwrite a witty thank you letter to an editor-in-chief of a magazine. I had a bit of blank space on the bottom parchment and that bothered me. It needed some doodle or scribble.
That of course meant I needed to pause and reflect and to idly scribble- which is really an excuse to have a cigar.

Of course! It hit me! What I wanted to create was a young woman with some ethnic gypsy features. (The Devil is in the details).

And there it was...
(click to see)

Children's Books...

2010-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am at the laptop everyday working on my manuscript for a children’s book. The keys are popping at a steady rhythm and I have a cigar perched at hand; lusty swirls of truculent smoke shaped like gargoyles and ghosts fade away. And I come up with ideas for many other Children’s books. Not wanting to be anymore distracted from my current project, I jot down some notes and a title for the new inspirations. Some are keepers others are rejected.

Here are some of my rejected title ideas for Children’s books-

(1) Sleep Over Fun: Walking On Hot Coals and Tribal Scarring

(2) Vegetables Are Death!

(3) Smell This!

(4) Sushi Jewelry: Making Mom An Earring With A Fish Hook And A Raw Oyster

(5) Parasites and Pajamas

(6) Gay-dar Alert!

(7) The Complete Jane Austen With Emoticons

(8) Mom vs. Dad, the Cialis Monster

(9) The Rules for Table Top Scab Hockey

(10) Lights Out! -How I Got A Concussion When I Told Momma To “Talk To the Hand”

(11) OMG! My Sweater Was Inside Out When I Got Home! -The Text Messages from My Older Sister’s iPhone

(12) Diary of a Brooding kid with 100 rounds of 9mm ammo

(13) The Stick Shift -The Teenage Girl Driver’s Nightmare

(14) Superheroes Don’t Use Math

(15) What’s In The Medicine Cabinet?

(16) Easy Kill -Why Demons Hide In Your Bedroom

While the Manager/Spouse is away...

2010-10-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time coming, but I have finally written about the Manager/Spouse’s vacation that occurred a few months back.
Manager/Spouse returned to her home country, (a vibrant and exciting Central American Nation), for a week and left me Stateside. So I will summarize that week in a few pictures and some commentary.

In case anyone doesn’t remember- here is the Manager/Spouse

(I’ve added in the stink lines. As an artist I appreciate the aesthete that well placed stink lines or a mustache can add to any photo. My school books in Grade School and High School were full of artistic license).

Speaking of me…

This was me before the shackles of marriage to the creature above.

Of course I have changed after marriage to the Manager/Spouse. I smoke cigars now.

I suppose in all fairness I should mention that the Manager/Spouse has changed a lot too.

(see below)

Ok, now back to the Manager/Spouse’s idyllic holiday...

When Manager/Spouse’s “flight” arrived, (She flew in on el Gallo del Aire),

safely she was off to the Airport shops to pick up some “touristy stuff” for folks back home. (see below)

(Due to security concerns I had to block the storekeeper’s face because they were also the pilot and baggage handler…and taxi driver. Manager/Spouse brought home for me one of her countries delicacies from this shop. It is called a “Lawn Canapé” )

As you travel thoughout the city, also known as the "the little City that never sleeps" named after her sister city N.Y.C., you'll be surprised that traffic is almost non-existent! People are leave their transportation to roam free.

Traveling around the city you'll find that despite it's nickname- "the Little City that Never Sleeps" , it is a very sedate and relaxing place to be. IN fact people often just lie down to take a siesta anytime they'd like!

There is a wonderul theme park to visit while in town. They boast the largest Corrugated Aluminum Water Flume and the popular Hammock Rocker!

This is the City Hall. It is the oldest architecure in the city. It has been there since May.

Manager/Spouse was lucky to run into the Mayor! She asked him for an autograph for her American husband back in the States.

But, no city is without its rough characters and neighborhhoods. Crime is not looked upon lightly in her home town. The jail in town has some pretty tough hombres there.

I should mention the jungles down there are particularly dangerous.
Some of the World's deadliest animals live there and they lurk in the dense foliage ready to pounce.

What I personally love about Spanish TV down there is how it takes popular American shows and changes them! Even a children's show can look quite different in translation!

And what I most admire about Manager/Spouse’s people is the fierce pride they show for their country. Women there often cluster, (a group of Lantinas is called a Pride. Like lions, but with more sassy attitudes and junk in the trunk), in groups to ride around on colorful parade floats with flags and banners on them all day; just to go shopping at the local botanica to pick up papusas and religious candles! No El Salvadorian house is complete without papusas, religious candles and a loud radio.

And for the women down in that exciting Central American country…everyday there is just casual attire. How great is that for the girl on the go?

And in the end, are Latina women so different than American women?

Yes.

Ah, I failed to mention what I did for the long week I was left on my own while the Manager/spouse was away...

I took the opportunity to focuse on my writing, my art and smoking some of these-

with some fellow cigar lovers…

A time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

2010-06-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Manager/spouse and I went to Orlando for childrens writers workshop- the SCBWI Florida Mid-Year Workshop. The workshop was held in Disney. It was an illuminating and productive time. I am looking forward to the next workshop.
We were given ham sandwiches for lunch. I had forgotten to get mine and I hope they will bring it for the next event.

Since Manager/spouse and I were already standing in Disney...why not have a look at the tremendous Star Wars party there? So we did. It was a great opportunity to get some pictures with a few of my favorite characters.

Here I am standing with my favorite- a stormtrooper. The costume was amazing as you can see.

Having my picture standing next to a Gamorrhean Guard was something I wouldn't believe as a kid. Now I have proof.

There Jawas everywhere. They were adorable. I had to have my picture standing next to one of these little buggers.

But, for me the best part of my weekend was finding the tiny, hidden Mexican taco stand. A place so remote and hidden that when I walk in...the locals question Manager/spouse cautiously- "who's the gringo?"
There is nothing like the authentic food and eating the way the indigenous folk do.
Manager/spouse and I are the real Anthony Bourdains and Andrew Zimmermans when it comes to traveling to find the good, authentic food and talking with people.

Tongue and pork tacos...brillant!

k

la Comedia de la Muerte

2010-05-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

I have been invited to create some art for a gallery opening. The theme of the opening is the Mexican/Latin American holiday "Día de los Muertos" translated as The Day of the Dead. An interesting holiday. A cross-pollination of thousands years plus indegenous Aztec festival of Mictecacihuatl and the introduction of All Saint's Day from the Spanish and European Christians.

I have tackled the theme with a little more cross-pollination.
The Italian "Commedia dell'arte", (comedy of the profession), which spread throughout Medieval France and England. It is this Pantomine and Theatre that created the iconic characters Pierrot, Columbine and Harlequin.
I think you will enjoy doing a little reading and research of the "Commedia dell'arte", , it's rich history and the long history of each the theatre's characters. Some of these characters extend back to the ancient Wild Hunt motif and Greek mythos.

With the "Commedia dell'arte" as my genesis and the Day of the Dead the influence, it developed logically into my triptych "la Comedia de la Muerte", the "Comedy of Death". In the theatre of the Spirit World the Dead would enjoy my pantomime.

This stage of the triptych illustration is the completed(?) black & white inking.
I have left it at this stage because I do not know if I will continue with anymore inking.
I suspect I may be done. I will likely spend some more time staring for hours in the evening with a cigar or two mulling over in my mind what changes I may do.

The triptych will be in color and I believe the illustrations here will not have anymore inking or additions. I have left the art at this stage with so much negative space so that I can use colors for mood, dimension and balance.

Unfortunately the images here are stacked top to bottom. So, please picture the panels from left to right. Pierrot on the left, Columbine the middle triptych and Harlequin the final triptych on the right. Here Pierrot and Harlequin serenade the "new" understudy Columbine.

k

Pierrot

Columbine

Harlequin

spider tales continued

2010-05-17T06:22:00.001-07:00

A long delay for me in getting any update to my blog for my fans and friends, but here is the final for black and white illustration of my prior posting "Spider Tales".
This art was for me a bit of a chore. I had left in the inking vast areas to use color to create the space and mood. It was a struggle for me not to ink away with tons of little details.

Here it is!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=oOo=~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She answered the field mouse. “I’m a princess from a faraway land, prisoner of the witch Spidercackle!”

Enjoy!
K

A new watercolor

2010-04-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

I have finished this watercolor last night of a pen & ink illustration. The illustration is for a writing project that is in progress. Manager/spouse does not like when I post images that are for publication. Nor am I to speak of the writing projects either.

I never fall into the vices of the mumbo-jumbo logic and this so-called common sense that Manager/spouse continues to throw at me. I am way above that, like in the clouds. But, I'm not here to talk about Manager/spouse or murder or even how I just now ate a whole can of Creme de Pirouline chocolate hazelnut wafers that was hid from me. I am here to talk about my art.

here it is

Spider Tales

2010-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Within the last week or so, I began a conversation with my fellow FAE, (Fantasy Artists of Etsy), team members about spiders. I mentioned that I am glad that spiders do NOT fly.

Can you imagine walking into a flock of flying spiders?

The conversation about spiders continued for a few days. During that time I imagined a story and some art.

I've made notes on the story. I'll finish it up soon. The fairy tale that I've come up with works well as an addition to some other work.

I have finished the inking of the illustration for the fairy tale.
At this stage the art in it's ink form looks sparse.
There is no contrast at this stage because I intend to use colors and patterns in my painting to layer the imgage and contrast light and dark values and lastly...mood.

I can't give you details on the story.
But, I can show you the art and let your imaginations roam the setting and characters.

I want to thank the FAE team members for inspiring me twice now for two tales and art. Unfortuneately, both diversions have taken me away from a short story I've been working on...I'll get back to it soon!

Here my friends...

k

scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus et fugit urbem

2010-03-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus et fugit urbem
From Horace and translates as: "the whole band of writers loves the woods and flees the city"

Poets and artists, writers and Uni-bombers alike refuge to the pastoral and sylvan settings to reflect, rejuvinate, rekindle and repast on authentic Mexican food as I did so this weekend.
I, however, did not return with a manifesto or letters containing anthrax.
I did return with an empty cigar humidor and manager/spouse.

I left manager/spouse in the woods, but like Hansel and Gretel, she left a trail of plantains and tortillas to find the way back.

My Fortress of Solitude is a family members backyard in a very rural and rustic expanse of territory, a nature reserve.

One of the wild turkeys, a great old Tom, has adopted my family and sleeps at the front and back doors of the hacienda as guardian and yard monitor. He name is Tom.

While enjoying a dinner time cigar I noticed that several turkey vultures and an American bald eagle had settled on the yard near Tom. Tom is always confronting the vultures, but the new intruder on his yard needed to be challenged.

Tom approaches the bald eagle...the challenge is on...

The bald eagle flew a couple of yards away, but Ole' Tom kept stalking him...

The turkey vultures glad that they're not the ones picked on for a change, watch as Tom still edges his way closer to the bald eagle. The bald eagle clearly has no desire for sass and looks on at Tom as if to say- "what, are you kidding me?"

Tom now close to the bald eagle fluffs his feathers out into an impressive display and charges. The bald eagle lanches into the sky with majesty. Well, the best majesty you can put on after be chased by some turkey.

A clear victory for Tom the Turkey who stands victorious and vigilant on his yard as he calls and calls his gobbler call, hoping a female wild turkey will someday hear his wild turkey call...

Poor Tom...

k

Manager/spouse and Me

2010-03-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well, since I've stirred the pot I might as well show some pictures of..us...at the Haunted Studio Under the Stairs

This is me, as I prepare enter the studio in the proper frame of mind. That frame of mind is- I need another cigar.

At one rather organized area of my desks I naturally have a cigar at hand.

and lastly, I will be murdered most brutally by a machette for allowing this picture of manager/spouse to be revealed publically.
So, I photoshopped the horns and mustache off. This way it will be harder recognize manager/spouse.

I am so toast
k

Anniversary Post de novo

2010-03-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

The anniversary photo in the early post-
IS NOT MANAGER/SPOUSE AND I.

It were an April's Fool joke a little early.
I am struck with a propensity for humor and nonsense. If I am not making someone laugh during the day I am obliged to give myself a great guffaw. Therefore it is a priori assumption that most of what I say is, in legal terms is- "a load".
I couldn't resist the practical joke.

It is true that my anniversary was indeed last month. The length of marriage stated was accurate...the photo IS NOT!

I had found the photo on the site; http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
Please take the time and look at the site! I find something new there all the time to make me laugh until it hurts. The site is hilarious!

The couple in the photo look so happy...God Bless them, they do!

I will post photos of my studio assistants-
This Pie and Princess. Pie, my boy, is in the foreground. Princess is looking at herself in the mirror. Typical.

Here is a view I often have when I am awakened from a nap by Pie. This again is my boy!

K

My Anniversary

2010-03-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

My thoughts have been so involved with writing and my art, I had forgotten to mention my anniverary with manager/spouse last month. Nine years together. Wow!

Happy Anniversary Manager/spouse!
Lets eat!

Coloring Toussaint the Teethy

2010-03-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

I have finally completed the writing, revisions, re-revisions, editing and deleting the narrative poem for "Toussaint the Teethy"

Now, I shall tackle the coloring of the illustration.

The photograph here is the character Maggie Mubbin.
And here, I have started my base of watercolor and acrylics.

I very, very rarely work out color studies before coloring.
I have already "seen" the illustration complete in my head long before I have even penciled or inked the art.
Besides, the length of time I spend on inking and fretting over the placement of every line gives me plenty of time to mentally change any of the colors from how I had first "seen" it.

that rarely ever happens

Ah, yes...you maybe wondering what the illustration of the goblin thingie chasing the faerie thingie out of his velveteen baggie as sparrows flit overhead has to do with Maggie Mubbin or the poem "Toussaint the Teethy".

You would be right if you said- nothing.

THAT illustration is of two characters from a short story that I have been writing well before I was interrupted with Toussaint. Once I get Toussaint tucked away...I can return and finish the short story- "How Horriblie Bob became Fetchtail"

paper cuts, not the ones that bleed

2010-02-25T17:02:00.000-08:00

The pictures here, these photos here are remarkably poor
I think they were taken in a matter a 3 seconds plus two more

I made these paper cuts maybe last year, I'm not quite sure...

The impetus:
I had been a guest at someone's house and I was very bored and in the kitchen I found an index card and scissors. Working around the edge of the index card I created a series of images.
IN this case it were witches I had scissored snaking about the card. I think I was at a party with a bunch of women. As I said, I was very bored....and as I was not allowed to have a cigar and there was no chocolate...I think that may explain the subject matter at the time.

Well, after returning home with the card in my pocket that led me to thinking of doing some paper cutting with silhouettes. I am a big fan of silhouettes.

I wanted to work with the color of the paper, negative space and silhouette.

I played around with some colored paper and just tackled some fairy-tale themes in my mind...of course the images were part of little stories I was writing.

I had no idea what I was going to do with the paper cuts when I was done with them.
I ended up just tossing them into some frames and there they hang on a wall.

I will get back to doing more with cut paper silhouettes at some point.

Currently, I am still working on the writing, editing and painting of the poem Toussaint the Teethy.

K

from doodle to inkle of Toussaint the Teethy

2010-02-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

The ink illustration here is at the first stage of completion. The next step would be to labor over watercoloring and acrylic painting of the piece.

Sadly, often, I am not satisfied with the final colors and redo the entire illustration. It is a long process due to compulsive perfectionism and a gut-gnarling fear that the work is inferior.

But I am rescued from myself by manager/spouse. She uses a blowgun to put a blowdart in my neck. The wood splinter is poisoned with a thick mucus stolen from the lunch box of the tiny Ill-Proportioned Inconclusive Toad from the steamy jungles and soaring volcanoes and stepped stone temples of her homeland...Skull Island.
I wake days later from the poison, a strong laxative and sleep inducing toxin, and find that my art is gone-
Hidden from me. Therefore I know it complete.

The illustration is a scene from the narrative poem "Toussaint the Teethy" and includes Toussaint and the Witch Maggie Mubbin.

The poem is near completion...it too suffers from editing and reediting. However, the entire project, art and writing, should be completed by 6:32 a.m. next Friday, Indonesian time. I like setting goals for myself that are strict and global reaching.

I want to thank the friends and family who inspire me with their words. (Some get physical).
And, a special thanks to my three year old nephew who said to me the other day-
"sharks don't eat bunnies".

K

doodles again

2010-02-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of the FAE team on Etsy, (the Fantasy Artists of Etsy), a wonderful and very chatty group.

Last month the FAE team decided it would be fun for the members to have a challenge amongst ourselves every month. We would have a theme to inspire us and we would go from there.

The theme for the month of January was "old moon or wolf moon". One of the FAE team encouraged me to participate and suggested the theme werewolf for me.

I had not expected I would have time to tackle the challenge, I have been busy writing and illustrating a short story.

So, I went with Cara, (from the FAE team), suggestion- werewolf.

Well, I went at it with gusto and stopped my writing project for a while.

Werewolf I thought...
That is a subject that is overdone and and extraordinarily stereotyped when it comes to imagery and content.

So...I thought of the "old Moon" context when it came to werewolf.
Which led me to OLD werewolves.
What would OLD werewolves be like?
Of course, I hate horror, gore, blood and all things scary..
so that meant tackling OLD werewolves from my perspective...more humor and from a 4th Grader's view...(easy peasy for me-sy)

The illustration of of the characters led of course to a poem.
And as the project continued...I realized I have something here that I wish to submit to a few publications.

Which to do so...I can not show anyone the art or the writing before publication. Posting the art, even on a blog, is considered being published. Publications do NOT want anything that is published.

Of course, I wanted to share with the FAE team who inspired me to take the challenge in the first place...and not being able too...I had to think of how to do so...

so...this is what I came up with...
I will show you the (very first) rough thumbnail sketches of two of the characters of the poem..

Toussaint the Teethy...
and the Witch Maggie Mubbin...

oh yea...did I mention the short story I was working on?
Did anybody want to hear about that?

K

The Faerie Magazine

2010-01-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

Last November I decided I was going to sit down and write a poem and put a few illustrations together and submit it to the Faerie Magazine.

That I did. Sent the package in the mail and had forgotten about the submission.
I had not expected any response to the package until later this year and I set my mind that I will likely be rejected.

It were only a few weeks later into December that I received a phone call from the editor-in-chief telling me that they loved the work and were giving me a two page spread and the magazine would go to print the next day.

I have been a subscriber to the magazine for a few years and have loved it, looking forward to each edition to arrive.
There have been many great artists and writers, old and new, featured there over the years and I have admired their work in the field of fantasy art and fairy tales.

I waited and waited for the magazine to arrive and called the bookstores every week waiting for the new magazine to it the shelves. It is here!

I do hope everyone will get a chance to see it and let me know what they think of the illustrations and poem.

More importantly, I do hope everyone enjoys it. I had written for all you that love faerie tales, the great humor of language and a bit of whimsy.

K

All malapropisms, mispronunciations, mangliziations, misuses and murderizations of the English idiom by this fabliau of the author have been never been tested on Faeries, animals and especially Deadly Dergals.

Dergal [dur-gawl] noun- Little is known of Dergals except that they seem to be remarkably dangerous.

Fen Fergal the Dangerous Dergal

From the wild lands Hither, Whither and Whence
Up the road an’ beyond the Dappled Orchards an’ the Mumbly Fence

Lived our tales Fen Fergal, the Dangerous Dergal
A mean beastie an’ serpent, who’d pillage, stomp an’ burgle

It were Fen’s belief that her small heart weren’t to ‘ave bin so contentious an’ callous
Had she bin born’d, just slightly taller, or perhaps bin named Dorothy or Alice

O’ so many braverly men an’ moony knight
Tested Fen Fergal’s monsterously murderous might

Only to flee an’ fly home quite summarily an’ certificantly beaten
To light the Doomy candles, (it be the custom in these parts for those who’d bin eaten)

Ah, of Fen’s marrow disposition I think I’ve bin abundamentally clear
She weren’t the affectionate sort ever to be called Hunny-Bunny, Bobkins or Dear

It were a muggily mornin’ in the month of Mear
(A famously unknown month that only just occurred that one year)

Fen awoke in her dirkly, darkly, dungy old den
The thunderous night before, someone had boldly, creepily, crept in

The culprit an’ creepster, the sneakily sneakster, was snuggly snuggled asleep against her

Fen glared her grim an’ glary eye (a dreadfully look that once felled a Lark an’ two oxen stone dead)
For her victim were ‘bout to be stripped of their boldly bones for her breakfasty bread

As the intrepidly intrepid intruder so daringly, unwaryingly an’ uncaringly slept
Fen felt slightly strange an’ for the first time sobbingly slobber’d an’ girlishly, giggishly wept

Fleeing in fribbling an’ froaming fright is just not what occurred
Rather, the invader simply slept snuggly against Fen an’ purred

On that muggily mornin’ in the month of Mear
A contentious an’ callous heart became suddenly dear

Past the Dappled Orchards an’ the Mumbly Fence
Beyond the wild lands of Hither, Whither an’ Whence

In the humbly homes an’ happy hearths, of every happily humbled hamlet
The Doomy candles forevermore an’ evermore would nevermore be lit

For this Dangerous Dergal were no longer dangerous, she be quite lovingly smitten
Our Fen Fergal were now kindly an’ motherly of a wee kiddly, cuddly kitten

2010-01-13T13:10:00.001-08:00

Doodle by Demand

2009-12-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well, after being asked to see my "Doodles". I will let you peek into a window of my creative process.

This is a doodle. This an inherit part of my idea process and more importantly it is a way of continuing my "practice". Years ago, when newspapers employed illustrators on staff, long before the advent of computer artists, all art was done in house.

We had to illustrate everything. So, at a moments call, deadline, I had to render something without any time for referrence or research. I would therefore "doodle", more correctly, practice illustrating things; Everything from carrots, butter dishs, sparkplugs, facial expressions, folds of clothing, material textures all sketched and tucked in stacked folders ubiquitously named the "morgue". At a moments notice, I could quickly rummage through my morgue for something that I needed as deadlines loomed within minutes.
It was not unusual to get a call in the Art Department and hear- advertising needs a black and white illustratiom of a carburator and the editorial chief needs a color layout for a radish and I would have 10 minutes before print.

Now, I still maintain that old habit, but many of the "doddles" are "teaching" my pens. By continuing sketching with my pens I practice line quality. I can chisel the pen tip to the angles I want. More importantly, each papers surface is never the same so I work the pen on the paper to get a feel how to work with the grain of the paper surface and if there is any bleeding of the paper fibers.

With all that said, the doodling is first and foremost a compulsion.

cigars an' I, (me that be)

2009-11-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

I profer a thought...
When a bit distrought
an' talent seems blocked

A swirling cigar plume
will quell that fretful fume

K

I don't want to hear they stink or they are bad fer ya....
treat yer-self once to a fine expensive cigar. Select one fer yer palate...mild, light, medium or a heavy bodied.
Robusto or Churchill, torpedo or lancero...finding the right shape an' color is for myself, I reckon, is as fulfilling as hunting for an expensive designer handbag, clutch or shoe...

But, once you have selected your smoke...set yourself under a moonlit night, with stars in the clear. Some classical music or an soundtrack you find dear...
play it softly so not to undo the night sounds you will hear...

and gently puff an' puff an' watch the faces, serpents and dragons twist and swirl up into the sky.

That is relaxing...and inspiring.

Yes, even women can smoke a cigar. I have shared many a nice smoke with Lizz.

And for God's Sake! DO NOT INHALE!

K

Regarding Imps...

2009-11-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Imps an' Impkins an' Boglins. Spook-gobblers and Hobnob Bob-Goblins.
A raucous an' reek-ious wretched time I had with this miserable illustration.
I am finally liberated of it.
I have fretted an' furrowed my forehead and exhausted many a cigar between sketching an' paintin' this depiction.

The illustration was afixed in my mind's eye when I slept.
(All my arty imagery I first see in my sleep, already framed an' story, poem accompanied in brilliant floating letters. I'm never truly free from the synethesia even asleep)

I had completed this art three times an' tossed them aside with a growl to sit with cigar rolling between thumb an' forefinger and wait for the passing of an angel to leap back at the drawing table with some fire in my fingers. My impasse were technical diffculties, not the imagery.

I do end a piece if a line or squiggle is out of sorts with the other fellows. I frustrate every line.

I should note....as the nature of a compulsive perfectionist...I can not attack a final drawing without proper research of clothing style, furniture, rug patterns, cat breed and all other sort of nonesense. If I do not have all these elements researched, sketched, frowned at, stared at and resketched 16 times...I do not feel that it is authentic.

I had started this work prior to October and it is complete.
I am finally liberated of it...

Of course...I know all the names of the Imps an' the Goblins an' the types of them there are. I had to have a complete world for them to live in my thoughts.

I must have pages of Imps an' Goblins all waiting fer thier chance to be in a story an' illustration...they'll have to wait. I need a cigar.

K

The Imp's Delight - New Illustration

2009-11-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

Title: The Imp's Delight
Media: Watercolor, Pen & Ink, Acrylic
Dimensions: 8" X 10" SFA (Small Art Format)
Date of Work: November 2009

The illustrations you find here are part of the means of my story creation, the manner in which I work. I welcome you aboard as I navigate through the maelstrom of fits and flashes of inspiration and the doldrums of staring at a blank, white paper with the accompanying realization you’ve got nothing and it’s time for a cigar.

K.W. King

New Logo!

2009-11-06T12:26:00.001-08:00

We have a new logo for the Haunted Studio Under The Stairs by Kevin King.
It really captures what we are all about, creepy, yet somewhat sweet and timeless.
Let us what you think?

Mummy In A Jar

2009-10-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

Mummy In A Jar

Because you never know when a Mummy can come in Handy? I think a mummy could be great companion while Trick or Treating, maybe a date for that last minute Halloween Party, in fact a mummy could be that best friend that can protect you from the other scary monsters lurking under the bed.

More Images Here

By Lizz King

Day Of The Dead Skeleton Halloween Art Doll by Liz King

2009-09-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

This little Dia de Los Muertos Skeleton Boy is ready for a fun Halloween night with his bag in hand but he does have one problem, when he eats the candy it can never fill him up since he now does not have a belly.

Lizz King

Boo!!

2009-09-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Halloween is so very near, a time to stop and contemplate the changes in the wind that might bring spooky visitors better have some garlic in by your door just in case and may plenty of pumpkin pies come your way this fall.

Kevin King is the Featured Artists for EBSQ.com

2009-08-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Kevin King is the Featured Artists for EBSQ Self Representing Artist, supporting the living artist, please read the interview bellow, we think you might enjoy it:

Featured Artists
Featured Artist: Kevin King

Item of the Day: Unwelcome Spooks II ATC ACEO Ghost Boy Art Pr... - Etsys Dark Side's MySpace Blog |

2009-08-15T08:08:00.001-07:00

Item of the Day: Unwelcome Spooks II ATC ACEO Ghost Boy Art Pr... - Etsys Dark Side's MySpace Blog |

Shared via AddThis

Dear Mr. John Hughes

2009-08-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I wish have taken the time to send you this letter when you were among us to tell you how wonderful all of your movies are, how they make us smile, how they keep on enchanting us but how lucky we are that we will have them forever and forever may you smile in heaven, we will try to keep on smiling without you.

Inspiration

2009-07-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

We haven't been writting much but because we have been busy creating but last night we decided to stop and make to watch Coraline, a wonder movie that has filled us both with inspiration since every detail spoke to our creepy core.

I love them both & it's hard to let them go

2009-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

This is Pierre, which means stone in French, and he is a rolling stone, he loves to spend his summers in a new town every year. This year he stayed with me here in Sunny Florida,he was such a pleasure to have around.

More Images Here

Lizz In the Bahamas

2009-06-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

The weekend was very fun and had a great time along with my sister while cruising the Bahamas.

Abandoned lighthouse on Great Isaac Cay, The Bahamas

2009-06-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

I would have loved to have seen this lighthouse while in the Bahamas but I did seen another one, will post pictures later.Abandoned lighthouse on Great Isaac Cay, The Bahamas

Shared via AddThis

Buried in sand: The abandoned Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

2009-06-11T10:59:00.001-07:00

One More because I love lighthouses
Buried in sand: The abandoned Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

Shared via AddThis

The Mexican church buried by lava : San Juan Parangaricutiro

2009-06-11T10:57:00.001-07:00

The Mexican church buried by lava : San Juan Parangaricutiro

Shared via AddThis

Art by Liz King

2009-06-08T13:52:00.001-07:00

Original Art by Kevin King

2009-06-08T13:26:00.001-07:00

2009-05-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Pavor Nocturnus By Kevin King

2009-05-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Tittle: Pavor Nocturnus
Media: Water Color, Pencil, Pen & Ink
Dimensions: 8" X 10"

Date of Work: May 2009

Pavor Nocturnus, my wan mistress, inimical an’ indifferent, Mother of the sultry an’ stygian moon in my most maddest of dreams.

The Incubus Empress of all that seethes, slithers and sneaks, all that crawls, clings and claws.
I duly give her her portion.
Terror be my tithe to see the mornin’ light.

K.W.King

thehauntedstudio.etsy.com

Emergency Angel In A Bottle

2009-05-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is an emergency angel that can be used in case you have already driven you own guardian angel to fly away in a much needed vacation this summer.

How I wish I could extra guardian angels around when I my angel needs some back up. I do try to not give him/her so much trouble but what can you do, some people cut you off in traffic and impure thoughts cross my mind, have you noticed how people hate it when you drive the speed limit?

Lizz

More Images Here

Children - A New Box

2009-05-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

I always wondered who these children grew up to be? are they still around? their children are for sure and maybe their children as well and do they know I have their picture? how did they get separated from the family and ended up in box of some state sale. I am sure they would want them back but I have no way of finding out who they are, instead I have opted in giving them a home in one of my boxes to be enjoyed by the world.

Lizz King

More Images Here

Late 5 de Mayo

2009-05-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

I was working hard to finish this box for 5 de Mayo but as hard as I tried life and time got between me and my vision but at last it ended up being as special as I pictured it.

Let me know if you like it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170330825632

The Squire and the Little Fairy Princess By Kevin King

2009-05-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Title: The Squire and the Little Fairy Princess
Size: 2.5" X 3.5" ACEO ATC
Media: Watercolor, Acrylic, Pen & Ink
Date: May 2009

The little fairy princess would feign her phony affront, her pretend pique, with a delicate moue at the boy squire’s slight of tardiness at their secret glen as her girlish heart leapt upon seeing his face.

K.W. King

Certified Member of EBSQ
Self-Representing Artists

The Gui Shu

2009-05-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

Tittle: The Gui Shu
Media: Watercolor, Pen & Ink, Acrylic
Dimensions: 8" X 10” SFA (Small Format Art)
Date of Work: April 2009

China is a land that has its fair share of spooks an’ ghosties an’ supernatural spirits. If you find yourself in these circumstances; lost on a dark forest path on a dark, dark night under the Chinese moon, I’m afraid you’ve encountered the ghostly Gui Shu, a haunted tree.

A fearful thing is the Gui Shu tree spirit. To see the Gui Shu will set your teeth a dancin’ and whip your spine with the curly cold wisps of a good fright.
The baleful banyan, the creepy conifer, the terrifying timber, the hoary an’ haunted horticulture delights in shifting and appearing in different spots along the forest paths to confuse and lose you. And here, the fate of young Victoria and Kim is at the mercy of the ghost tree as they tread, lost, through the night’s vapor.

K.W. King

Mr. Lover

2009-04-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

La Casita By Lizz King

2009-04-20T18:56:00.001-07:00

I like to sit and play and this box is a reflection of just that, elements with a Latin flare that reflect my inner little girl.

Finding each element is always so fun, such as the shell included is one collected by me in my last trip to Sanibel Beach, FL.

More pictures found in the link below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170323712067

The Talking Board by Kevin King

2009-04-16T08:32:00.001-07:00

Title: The Talking Board
Size: 2.5" X 3.5" ACEO ATC
Media: Watercolor, Acrylic, Pen & Ink
Date: April 2009

About This Piece:
“…of ghostly matters.”

I have been working on two projects back and forth over the many, many months. One is a collection of faerie tales and illustrations and the other is a compilation of spooky and scary stories and illustrations. More specifically, things that are...”Of Ghostly Matters!”
-----------------------------------------------------
The Talking Board

Over the centuries the desire to speak with ghosts, the spirit world and other paranormal perplexities has led to the invention, or rather incarnation, of various tools for that said purpose. The Greeks, the Romans and the Chinese all employed some variation of a “talking board” which today has evolved into a board and planchette that is recognizable around the world today.

Nina and Summer, two outré, adventurous and avant-garde teenagers with a passion for the paranormal discover that wittingly talking to ghosts can be an unsettling paranormal experience.

K.W. King

Certified Member of EBSQ
Self-Representing Artists

Scrapbook In Honor of The Ladies

2009-04-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

I find that women through out time have been the center of this planet and that is why I have crated this scrapbook with antique pictures of what ladies always do, smile because after all Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

More Pictures Here

2009-04-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Title: The Bakechochin
Media: Watercolor, Acrylic, Pen & Ink
Date: April 2008

About This Pieces:
“…of ghostly matters.”

I have been working on two projects back and forth over the many, many months. One is a collection of faerie tales and illustrations and the other is a compilation of spooky and scary stories and illustrations. More specifically, things that are...”Of Ghostly Matters!”

----------------------------------------------------

Japan is just chock full of ghosties. All manner of spectral spookies and spirits stalk the serene settings of Land of the Rising Sun. I should tell you, it is when the sun sets and night covers the beautiful homes and Japanese countryside you are likely to be in want of the company of friends and not alone in the dark, as these school children discover encountering a ghost called a Bakechochin, a nasty spirit of a sour and vengeful person condemned to reside in a lantern.
The Bakechochin has terrible glowing red eyes and a long tongue with which to ensnare the poor soul that lit the lantern and doom them to haunt that same said lantern together.
Just terrible I assure!
Mind my words my friends, if you are to lighting a strange lantern in those haunted areas of Japan; be sure to wear comfortable running shoes.

K.W. King

My Latest Lady

2009-04-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Her beauty reflects in the moon as she waits thinking of her lover with the key to her heart.

Back from Visiting the Sanibel Light House

2009-04-05T16:39:00.001-07:00

We love lighthouses and this weekend we headed to Sanibel Beach, we get the feeling that they have seen so much history that they must be haunted but of course this is a beach world famous for their shells and we had to enjoy this wonderful treasures of the sea.

Got Print?

2009-04-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

Have a great weekend dear blog readers and make sure to have plenty of ice cream for the both of us!

Look Here

Latest Art Work by Kevin King

2009-03-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Mr. Sparrow Negotiates the Return of the House Brownies Spoon.
Media: Watercolor, Pen & Ink, Acrylic
Dimensions: 7 ½” X 10” SFA (Small Format Art)
Date of Work: March 2009

House Brownies who inhabit human dwellings preside over many tasks and chores of the homestead and farm, the House Brownie who was in head of the Care and Maintenance of Utensils was robbed of a wooden spoon by the mischievous and bothersome imps of the woods, the Faeries. Mr. Sparrow negotiates the return of the stolen property and reminds the forest faeries their boundaries while other forest Fae look on.

Kevin King

What to do when feeling Cornered?

2009-03-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Smile and keep going!

My New Latin Themed Box

2009-03-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

Some how the elements for this box came together bit by bit for a religious themed collage of fabric and other elements.

I felt the need to paint in this box, the wonderful wooden texture called to me and it ended up looking more like a traditional retablo.

In Latin America, the retablos are used as devotional images and most are multi-paneled creations. Likewise, many churches now use the retablo as an aesthetic and a nod to the rich Catholic tradition in Latin America.

Retablos are multi-colored and spiritual forms of folklore that recall different situations in which a particular saint or religious figure is remembered. For example, if a framer needs rain for his crops he might pray for rain. After the rain comes, a retablo might be created to give thanks to San Ysidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. He is "venerated for good weather, agricultural issues and prosperous crops". That figure would most likely be kept in the farmer's house. Each time rain was needed in the future, that farmer might pray in front of that retablo.

You can see more here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=170314386493

Lizz K.

2009-03-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Vicious sheep attack caught for the first time on camera

Working & Working

2009-03-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

There is the full time, get paid and go home work but the real work begins when I get home and I can do what I consider my labors of love but then I must also make time to get the house work done, how to do this all at once? I wonder how women with children even have time to put their shoes on and let alone take a shower; I look at my sister in amazement, why am I tired after only a couple of hours with the children and she can do that and more? what super women vitamins are you ladies on? I need some today.

Lizz K.

Working in another box

2009-03-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am working in another Mexican/Latin folk art cigar box. I am slowly adding elements but my vision is almost complete.

I love picturing the box complete and creating it to reality from my memory, some times I find elements along the way to incorporate and make it even more special.

The picture above is from another project that endend up in the hands of a great friend - thanks friend, you know who you are.

Lizz King

Kevin King is Being Featured today in LillyShayStyle's Blog Today

2009-03-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

She has the most amazing blog encouraging to buy hand made and even one of a kind, items made with love and not in factory. She also has giveaways, tutorials, patterns and much more, go ahead and check her out:

LillyShayStyle

I love love love to sew anything! I especially like to make childrens clothing and items. I am currently trying to learn to knit, crochet, and needle felt. I know, exciting! I can't wait to really know how. I wish I could know how to do any and every craft there is, so much fun to be had! I have two beautiful daughters who are my models for my clothing(my barbie dolls) And I have a wonderful husband who is totally supportive of me staying home with our sweeties.

The Monday After The Spring Forward

2009-03-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

How specially difficult it was to wake up this Monday, the time change is playing with my head and while I have one more hour to spend with my parrots I can not help to wonder if I will be able to wake up tomorrow.

TV Rots My Brain

2009-03-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Kevin and Lizz watching TV

We enjoy the Faerie Magazine

2009-03-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

Thank You Blog Followers!

2009-03-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you to our blog followers Belua Designs and my patron and friend Revrom.

I am happy someone out there even glances at the blog. I try to keep it heartfelt, not superficial and interesting.

I have just had my coffee and I am now ready to take on the day. As I drove home I looked up at the amazing blue clear sky and thanked God for another day.

I love singing and if you want join with me in one of my favorite songs:

My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

[Repeat all verses]

More Art By Kevin King

2009-03-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Prints Available Via Etsy.com

Dear Mr. Bob Ross

2009-03-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

How I enjoy watching the joy that you got painting nature, I am sure you are having a lot of fun painting in the heavens.

When asked about his laid-back approach to painting and eternally calm and contented demeanor, he once commented: "I got a letter from somebody here a while back, and they said, 'Bob, everything in your world seems to be happy.' That's for sure. That's why I paint. It's because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news."

Ode to Coffee

2009-03-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

What would I do without coffee, ever since I can remember I have had coffee to save me, the sweet taste, the aroma, the never ending pleasure after that much needed sip in the morning.
Coffee, without it this world would not have the energy to rotate; my world would come crashing down.

Yes, I love coffee, please stop telling not drink it, it does my body good.
Next time I have a cup I will think of you non-coffee drinker doctor.

I have created a fantasy pillow, check it out here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=170307848665

No more HTML tinkering!

2009-02-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

I am done, I shall let all the HTML editing to people that do that for a living.
I can do some basics but being lost in code is just not fun; for now I am happy that we have our blog back, so tender and new.

Ciao for now,

Lizz

(Clock altering by Lizz King - Sold)

2009-02-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

I am lost, I have made a boo boo some where and lost all the past content.
I need help.

Lizz

Around Home

2009-02-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

Inspiration, beautiful things make the mind wonder.

Wonder to see the world through different angles.

Around Town

2009-02-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

I love it when people are creative and humorous.

We love living in South Florida because the sun shine does a creative mind good.

A New Little Doll of Kevin's Original Fantasy Art

2009-02-23T18:21:00.001-08:00

This is the first time that Kevin's and my work become one in this little doll. Her sweet expression made her the perfect little button of joy for me to sew.

Hand sewing, as basic as it is, makes me at peace in this go go world of PCs and ringing cell phones.

We have listed this doll and a print of Kevin's work in Ebay under Haunted_Studio:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170305861804&category=60436&_trksid=p2773.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D40%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D54#ebayphotohosting

I do hope someone loves her too.

The Art of Kevin King

2009-02-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

2009-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

This is where the magic happens, yes that is what the wife would say too.

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us! - Scottish Prayer

Proud Members Etsy's Dark Side Street Team

2009-02-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

We are now proud members of the Etsy's Dark Side Street Team, a group of very talented Etsy artists, check them out:

http://www.etsydarkteam.webs.com/

Who Are We?

2009-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Not one that be particularly fond of blowing my own horn, (though that gives one pause for a thought, if you’ve gone through the trouble of acquiring said horn why not play a merry tune upon it?), now as I were about to start with, I shall provide you with a bit of a bio about myself, this, by an accord with my wife. She stridently insisted, I reluctantly relented. “Make it good and short!” she said. Being of froward and rebellious character I may wax eloquent in part.I was born with a silver ink pen in my mouth.

My entire childhood I’ve know nothing but drawing and doodling, all before puberty, afterwards, and hence it were mostly doodling. In High School, I filled the margins of books and homework with elaborate illustrations and stared blankly at the teachers and the girlies. Fortune arrived at that point in time and I became a political and humor cartoonist with the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. I maintained that occupation and sundry art related employments through art college as well, that being the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale.

I‘ve had providence and kismet accompany my muse and I throughout my art career. I’ve received scholarship to F.S.U. for cartooning and Fine Art. I have congeries of newspaper editorial cartoonist awards and the akin hodgepodge recognitions for cartooning and illustration of national advertising ad campaigns. I have been in numerous magazines, book illustration and very prominent advertising agencies.Fortune, again, entertained herself on my behalf by introducing me to the late, great Will Eisner, who I corresponded with in letters. I have those papers cached away. In one letter he gave me the advice- “Thick lines m’boy! You need to draw thicker, heavier lines. A bit more weight to yer line quality”. Well, I paraphrased a bit, there’s been a bit of a passage of time since I’ve last cast my eyes on that letter.Still it’s in my Nature to be froward and rebellious. I’ve a thing for wispy, spidery delicate line-work, love you still Will!

Lizz King is Kevin's side kick/wife that also loves to make Voodoo Dolls with my own patterns and designs, collage, assemblage, original paintings and together we are The Haunted Studio Under The Stairs.

Kevin King of the Haunted_Studio under the stairs is extremely happy to be the Artist's Choice Award 2007 Winner for Book Arts Best in Ebay.

You can find our work in:

http://thehauntedstudio.etsy.com/

or in Ebay:

http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=haunted_studio

A New Latin Flavored Box

2009-02-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Her classic beauty reflects in the light as her thoughts fill her with joy.

I have created another boxes reflecting my 100% Latin feeling, colorful with a delicate balance of religious shrines that are such much a part of our culture.

There is always a part of me in every box and that is why each one is different and are never to be repeated since the new, the exiting, the next is what keeps me creating.

The box is available for sale in Ebay under haunted_studio, if anyone is interested out there in this big web.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170303525538

Lizz King

The Haunted Studio Under The Stairs' Official Blog in Here

2009-02-13T18:17:00.000-08:00

What awaits behind this door no one knows but beware...