Black Blood of the Earth: The Journal of D.E. Christman

The price for a good time

2008-05-07T17:19:59Z

I've got an upper respiratory infection. Between the high pollen count and all of the fog used at the Haunts during the con's bus tour this weekend... *cough-cough* It feels like there's Brillo in my chest.

Pictures from Eastern Haunters Convention

2008-05-05T19:09:52Z

I was vending this past weekend at the first ever Eastern Haunters Convention, which was held in the Philly area (Frazer to be exact). I had a blast to say the least. Friday was a bus tour which took us to Eastern State Penitentiary, the Mutter Museum, and the Fright Factory, plus a catered lunch and dinner. Saturday and Sunday were the actual convention days which included seminars, a catered dinner and masquerade ball, and ghost tours of the tavern attached to the hotel (which is supposedly haunted). I took a crap-load of pictures which you can check out here, evidence of the mayhem and such.

Back from Richmond and Eatern Haunter Con

2008-04-29T22:49:13Z

Steph and I got back from Ravencon yesterday. The con was a good time and I highly suggest going next year if you can. It's small but packed with a lot to do. Everything was ran with great efficiency and the staff was amazingly organized. So yeah, go.

I didn't take any pictures 'cause like a mook I forgot to take my camera. So not pictures for you.

Now I'm prepping for this weekend's con, Eastern Haunters Convention, which will be held at the Sheraton Great Valley Hotel in Frazer, PA. That's pretty much next to Valley Forge. If you like haunted houses and other spooky things (and who really doesn't) you should check it out.

RavenCon - Day 1

2008-04-25T14:11:02Z

So Steph and I made it fine and well to Richmond. The hotel is very nice as is the 'hood. Best part thus far (keeping in mind that the con officially starts later today) is that we ran across what possibly is the best Mediterranean food I've ever had, and being that Philly has many restaurants that serve such tasty morsels - I've had a lot of it. Best babaganuche ever. Really, the best.

So yeah, time for more coffee.

RavenCon

2008-04-21T19:27:37Z

I'll be participating in the art show this weekend at RavenCon. Anyone out there going too?

I'm also slated for a few panels:

Copyrighting - How to Protect Your Work [Friday, 9PM @ Rappahannock room]
Bob Snare, David E. Christman, Daniel Trout, Thomas Gideon (mod)
Artists talk about the challenges that come with copyrighting their work. How do you protect original artwork while still being able to showcase it as much as possible?
(Should be very interesting with all the new hub-bub over Orphaned Works)

Computer Art - The New Frontier? [Saturday, 5PM @ Rappahannock room]
David E. Christman, Mike McPhail, Robert Quill, Lee Gilliland (mod)
Some artists have begun to eschew the traditional mediums of paint and pencil for artwork completely created on the computer. How does this affect the enjoyment and saleability of their work?
(Digital are ain't really a new frontier anymore, nor does it lack in saleability or enjoyment... so my job is to be sure folks finally -get that- .)

Art for the Masses [Sunday, 1PM @ Rappahannock room]
Stephen Hickman, David E. Christman, Robert Quill, Daniel Trout, Heidi Hooper (mod)
Commissions pay the bills. But do artists feel they give up something when working for others vs. themselves?
(My refrain shall be "Michelangelo got paid, so yeah... fork over the cash baby".)

State of The Dave

2008-04-11T19:19:50Z

Things are going swimmingly here at Ghoul H.Q. I've been busy as hell, which is good 'cause being busy means money.

The convention season is well on its way so many a mile will be racked up. There's also some new sites coming down the pike, Philly Frights of particular note, and new design work including the re-release of Information Society's Don't Be Afraid (swank as hell for a music nerd such as I) and the book Orgy of Souls - of which I am in the middle of signing the tip sheets for the hardback edition.

The newly revamped Zombie Monkey Projects is chugging along and finding its audience pretty quickly. If you haven't checked it out I highly recommend you do. It's chuck full of freaky-deaky stuff that I know most of you dig.

And then there's the new project in the works for the charity Scares That Cares, which benefits the Johns Hopkins Children's Cancer Center. The organization has had a few benefit auctions and such but I'm involved with an anthology that will donate it's proceeds to the charity. I'm pretty excited about this one.

I'm still working on finding the time to actually work on my personal projects (remember that Steampunk thingy), which on one hand is frustrating but on the other is a sign that business is good.

And that's about it for now.

Look Me Up

2008-04-04T17:25:11Z

I'm all over the place when it comes to networks and the like. So in the interest of gathering friends, neighbors and other deviants below you will find a list of places I have a profile on. If you're on one and don't already have me on your friends list, add me already. Or hell, even join up.

•del.icio.us

•deviantART

•digg

•FaceBook

•HauntSpace

•HauntUniverse

•LinkedIn

•ModelMayhem

•MySpace

•SinisterSpace

•Tribe

•Twitter

•ZombieFriends

•ZMP

Upcoming 2008 Art Shows

2008-04-02T23:20:53Z

Here's my list of conventions I'll be showing at for 2008 so far:

•RavenCon: 4.25-4.27
•Eastern Haunters Con: 5.2-5.4
•WizardWorld: 5.30-6.1
•SPARCS/Wicked Faire: 6.28
•HorrorFind Weekend: 8.15-8.17

Not added to the list yet is Philcon which is in November, but I don't have the days yet. Other conventions will probably pop up as the year progresses.

I'm also on a few panels for RavenCon:
Copywrite/Protecting Your Work - Friday @ 9:00PM
Artists talk about the challenges that come with copywriting their work? How do you protect origininal artwork while still being able to showcase it as much as possible.

Computer Art: the New Frontier? - Saturday @ 5:00PM
Some artists have begun to eschew the traditional mediums of paint and pencil for artwork completely created on the computer. How does this effect the enjoyment and saleability of their work?

Art for the Masses - Sunday @ 1:00PM
Commissions pay the bills. But do artists feel they give up something when working for others vs. themselves?

HFW

2008-04-01T19:36:52Z

So HorrorFind Weekend was a blast. This was the second time they held on in March, August being the bigger of the tow. But I kind of dig that since that makes it a bit easier to mingle with the guests and such. Anyway, here's some shots from the weekend.

im in yer artshoz bustn yer mithz

2008-03-29T20:54:12Z

I posted this in ZMP, but I still have to make sure that you all see it... 'cause I'm that obsessed with myself.

HorrorFind Weekend

2008-03-27T20:41:59Z

I'll be booking out of here soon for HorrorFind Weekend, which is this upcoming weekend (hence the "weekend" part of the name). As always you'll more than likely find me in the art show room with Chad Savage. If the mood catches you you can read my posts about the con on ZMP, which I'm sure will be filled with pictures of all sorts of shenanigans.

Oh, and thanks for the birthday wishes... wherever they've come from today.

New Cover Work - Orgy of Souls

2008-03-26T18:23:52Z

This is the cover design I did for the upcoming book Orgy of Souls by Maurice Broaddus and Wrath James White. You can click the image to see a larger version. The book is available for order at Apex Publishing and is available in hardcover and trade paperback. Only 350 copies of the hardcover will be produced, each signed by the authors and myself as well as numbered 1-350.

Here's a one of the reviews:

"ORGY OF SOULS is a gripping tale of two brothers whose lives have taken radically different paths — but those paths intersect via some surprising twists and turns. With raw prose, vividly drawn characters, and a chilling touch of the occult, Broaddus and White draw you in and belt you right in your emotional gut."

--Stephen Mark Rainey, author of BLUE DEVIL ISLAND and THE LEBO COVEN

ZMP Syndication

2008-03-25T20:47:27Z

Don't forget to add the Zombie Monkey Projects LJ syndication - zomopro to your friends list.

Philly Zombie Crawl Pics

2008-03-25T16:13:06Z

Just finished uploading my pics from this year's Philly Zombie Crawl, which you can check out here.

Zombies, zombies, zombies

2008-03-23T17:55:21Z

I just set up the LiveJournal syndication for Zombie Monkey Projects, which is here - zomopro . Add it to your friends list baby.

And soon... oh so soon... it'll be time for the Philly Zombie Crawl. Hordes of Philly zombies to shamble down South Street filled with booze and brains. Gott'a love Easter when it's filled with the living dead.

ZMP

2008-03-22T17:06:35Z

The all new and improved Zombie Monkey Projects is live.

Show at L'etage tomorrow night

2008-03-19T14:58:21Z

A bit last minute but, I'll be guest DJing a shindig thrown by The Absinthe Drinkers tomorrow night. The last time I did a show with these cats was a blast, so you should come out and start your Easter weekend early. Hell, think of it as a warm up for the Philly Zombie Crawl.

Philly Zombie Crawl is Next Week!

2008-03-16T20:54:33Z

Click for the 2008 Philly Zombie Crawl itinerary!

Beef and Lips

2008-03-14T20:09:08Z

Today is Steak and Blowjob Day. Celebrate it with someone you love.

SLR and away

2008-03-12T21:29:47Z

So I finally took the plunge and bought myself a digital SLR camera. I stumbled upon it while browsing Cheap Stingy Bargains for something completely unrelated. RitzCamera had a one week sale on the Nikon D40 for $600.00. But it's not just the body and lens. It's also a bunch of software, lens hood, battery and charger, cables, kit bag and an additional lens- the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED.

I wasn't able to find just the body and lens for less than $500.00, though I didn't look too far beyond the usual suspects of camera sales. But hell, for an entry level digital SLR it's pretty swank. It's been well reviewed and decently rated by tech and camera sites. I can't wait to take this little thing for a drive. I'll probably really put it through the ringer this HorrorFind.

God... I'm such a tech-nerd.

Speed Racer movie trailer

2008-03-10T16:35:08Z

I deem this film - funkalicious.

Bella Morte

2008-03-09T19:03:19Z

Here's one of a few shots of Bella Morte. They're from this past Friday's show at Bube's Brewery in Lancaster County.

I hadn't seen them in quite a few years and I have to say that I'm still impressed with them. Great live show as always. Click the picture to see more shots from the show.

Oh Baby

2008-03-07T21:04:43Z

Here's just one of many instructions on what to do, and not do, with a baby -

I would think that feeding your strapping young child a whole turkey leg is more than appropriate should you be a Viking. But who am I really to say? Click the image for even more fun filled details on the dos and don'ts of babying

2008 Philly Zombie Crawl!

2008-03-07T20:26:37Z

Click for the 2008 Philly Zombie Crawl itinerary!

The Death Star, err AT&T gets a free pass

2008-02-13T21:47:22Z

The U.S. Senate has given immunity to Telcoms for participating in the NSA wiretapping. And it's retroactive.

If you're interested you can take a look here for who voted nay or yea, in particular the Presidential nominees: Obama - nay, Hillary - did not vote, McCain - yea.