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 envisioned by Kristina Carroll but with a darker flavor. Every week there will be a new Fear-themed subject and we will make art in response.
Once again, we have a truly amazing group of artists who have committed to creating art this month on the blog. Many have returned from the Month of Love and last year's Month of Fear. We have some amazing 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 our #monthoffear tag will reveal additional art and more.
Even though the blog itself is closed, this challenge is open to everyone who wants to make art! If you would like to participate in the challenges and share your work, please let us know by linking to your work on twitter and tagging #monthoffear. I will feature art from outside on the main blog several times this month.
We will start posting art for the first challenge on Wednesday, October 1st . We will then post new art throughout the week starting every Monday with a new challenge subject every week.
The challenges are:
October 1-3: Things that go Bump
Vampires, Zombies, Frankenstein, Aunt Marge's taxidermied cat... Whether it was watching Nosferatu 20 times in high school or believing that your brother's teddy-ruxpin was going to kill you in your sleep, we all have a monster that has stuck with us. Do you have a classic monster that you love or are still terrified of? Did you have your own, unique Monster that kept you awake at night and still creeps into your dreams?
October 6-10: What are you afraid of?
It's easy to talk about childhood fears. Childhood is full of the unknown and irrational. Things under the bed and very real monsters in our closets. But what about when you grow? Fears come from unexpected places sometimes. Some are rational and some even more irrational now that we should "know better". What are you afraid of?
October 13-17: Demons within
Ever since humanity began separating right from wrong, we have created demons to represent the darker parts of human nature. There is a rich encyclopedia of demonology and an entire hierarchy of fallen angels to draw inspiration from. For instance, have you ever heard of Duke Vual?
Vual is a mighty Great Duke of Hell, commanding thirty-seven legions of demons. He gives the love of women, causes friendship between friends and foes, and tells things past, present and to come. He first appears as a camel, then changes to a man and speaks egyptian.
Some demons are worse than others and often the line between angel and demon seems blurred. Illustrate a demon from mythology (the Ars Goetia is a wonderful, weird list to start with) or create your own.
October 20-24: Haunted
Did you live by a haunted house growing up? Is there a doorway that you are afraid to walk by at night? Do you have an old family heirloom hidden away because it never felt right? Places and objects carry stories of their past or become imprinted by the people around them. What thing or place has made the hair stand up on the back of your neck?
October 27-31: Masks
Masks are synonymous with Halloween. It is said on this night the veils between worlds are thinnest and things from other side cross over more freely. Spirits of nature, ghosts, fairies.... In old halloween tradition, people would wear masks to hide from these things, blend in.
Or perhaps we secretly wanted to join them.
What is your mask?
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If you aren't excited yet, here are some highlights from last year's challenges:
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| Carly Janine Mazur Recurring Nightmare |
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| Tim Paul What Terrified You as a Child |
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| Scott Brundage What Lives Under your Bed |
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| Jorge Mascarenhas Favorite Horror Story |
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| Jensine Eckwall Halloween Memory |
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| Kristina Carroll Favorite Horror Story |
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| Scott Murphy Recurring Nightmare |
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| Marc Scheff Favorite Horror Story |
Enjoy the Month of Fear!
-Kristina Carroll
