Welcome to the Month of Fear!

“First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys. Not that all months aren’t rare. But there be bad and good, as the pirates say. Take September, a bad month: school begins. Consider August, a good month: school hasn't begun yet. July, well, July’s really fine: there’s no chance in the world for school. June, no doubting it, June’s best of all, for the school doors spring wide and September’s a billion years away.

“But you take October, now. School’s been on a month and you’re riding easier in the reins, jogging along. You got time to think of the garbage you’ll dump on old man Prickett’s porch, or the hairy-ape costume you’ll wear to the YMCA the last night of the month. And if it’s around October twentieth and everything smoky-smelling and the sky orange and ash gray at twilight, it seems Halloween will never come in a fall of broomsticks and a soft flap of bedsheets around corners.”

– from  Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

No other month holds quite the weight of imagery that October carries. The first few breaths of frost, the scent of  damp leaves and burning wood. Naked branches scratching against the window, wind howling in the dark. October is ripe with fuel for the senses... How can we not be inspired?

As a follow-up to Month of Love, Month of Fear is another month-long art challenge but with a darker flavor. Every week there will be a new Fear-themed subject and we will make art in response.

Our first challenge post will be on Tuesday, October 1st with the subject: "What lives under your bed?" We will then post new art throughout the week starting every Monday with a new challenge subject and one more special post on Halloween.

Once again, we have a truly amazing group of artists. Many have returned from the Month of Love and we have some new additions as well. Please follow the links on the right to check out their work.

You can also follow us on twitter at @MonthofFear  and if you would like to participate in the challenges and share your work, please let us know and use the tag:  #monthoffear.

Thanks for looking!

-Kristina Carroll