The Valkyrie at the dinner party shoot

Photos and staging by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusion Hair Salon in Frederick, MD. Makeup by Ashlynn Freed. Modeled by Katie Doherty

The Basilisk at the dinner party shoot

Photos and staging by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusion Hair Salon in Frederick, MD. Makeup by Ashlynn Freed. Modeled by ErinRose Lawrence

The Animal Imagined by Poe ath the dinner party shoot

Photos and staging by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusion Hair Salon in Frederick, MD. Makeup by Ashlynn Freed. Modeled by Irene Jericho.

The Squonk at the dinner party shoot

Staging and Photography by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusion Salon in Frederick, MD. Makeup by Ashlynn Freed. Modeled by Jayne Paschall

Chapter 4, represented in Charles Pham's dinner party shoot

Photographs and staging by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusion Salon in Frederick, MD. Make up by Ashlynn Freed. Modeled by Laura Maranto

Lillith: chapter 71

Lillith: Copper, Fabric, Steel Chain, Silver Stars

This one really needs a better photo, but for now, at least she is complete. Lillith is a complex character, moreso than many monsters. Originally a Talmudic explanation for why there might be two conflicting creation stories in the old testament, she has, at various time, been a fertility goddess, a childeating monster, and a symbol of the sexual revolution associated with feminism. She's done a lot. Part of Borges take on her follows.

"...thoughout the middle ages the influence of the word Layil, Hebrew for "night" gave a new turn to the myth. Lillith is no longer a serpent; she becomes an apparition of the night... In the popular imagination she is a tall woman with long black hair worn loose"

The Chinese Dragon: Chapter 25

Chinese Dragon: Copper and Fireworks

I know. It's been far too long. Letting that go for the moment, here's the Chinese Dragon.

Borges has a lot to say about the Chinese Dragon. There are so many stories, over so much time- several funny anecdotes, several pretty stories, any number of descriptions. Here's the one I like best.

"About the sixth century, Chang  Seng-yu executed a wall painting that depicted four dragons. Viewers complained that he had left out their eyes. Annoyed, Chang picked up his brushes again and completed two of the twisted figures. Then, 'the air filled with thunder and lightning, the wall cracked and the Dragons ascended to heaven. But the other two eyeless dragons stayed in place.'"

More shots from the Dinner party shoot. Everyone did a fantastic job. Hair by Earl Pindar of Natural Fusions Salon in Frederick, MD, Makeup by Ashlynn Freed. Photography, styling, and staging by Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema. Thanks to everyone! There will be more photos of this shot, as well as the second day, of which there's a little sneak peak right below, here.

Photoshoot with Charles Pham of Darkroom Cinema

Oh joy! My friend Charles arranged this photoshoot on my recent trip to Maryland. (credit goes toEarl Pindar for hair and to Ashlynn Freed for makeup). There's  lot more shots, and I'll get them up as i get them. This one featured Steve Gallagher as the Crocotta, ErinRose Sincevich as the Basilisk, and Jack Sincevich as The Elephant who Foretold the birth of Buddha

apologies

It happens to the best of us, sometimes. Paying work comes along. As a self supporting artist with a mortgage, I find it almost impossible to turn down paying work- you just never know what next month will look like. The good news is that the last four months have had a whole lot of paying work. The bad news is that the past four months have been very very busy. I am still working on imaginary beings. Lilith is nearly complete, and the Chinese Dragon is progressing nicely. I've got one last big obligation next weekend, and then I hope to be able to devote myself fulltime, or nearly fulltime, to this series.