The Haunted Gallery

Bumps in the Night - One

2012-03-03T16:42:00.001-07:00

Between dusk and dawn

Falls the shadow

Haunted Holidays

2011-12-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Ghost of the Future," he exclaimed, "I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?

- Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol

The newest addition to the Christmas Tree

The Last Post of the 2011 Halloween Season

2011-11-01T23:14:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope you will agree with me when I say that it has been an amazing Halloween season here at the Haunted Gallery.

       In 2011, we've brought you to haunted houses, lonely churchyards, and desolate swamps. We've Trick or Treated in terrifying locales, brewed top-shelf mischief with the witches, and laid waste to the undead. We rode bravely along with Ichabod through the ominous haunting grounds of Sleepy Hollow and lived to tell the tale.

      Alas! A bitter wind is stirring from the north and frost is nipping at the withered grin of the jack o'lantern. Sky and tree alike have been flushed of color, leaving only shadows and grey in the stingy light. Halloween has come and gone, ushering away the season of harvest and making room for the season of darkness.

      A lonely wind howls through the Haunted Gallery. The shutters have been boarded up for the season and the rooms have grown still and dark... Mysterious sounds echo from somewhere down the hall.

The wagons have been loaded, the horses pawing impatiently at the ground. My compass shivers steadily over "North" and I look in the direction to the darkening hills. My destination is the Winter Post, a place to explore some of the icy blue facets of my creativity...

During the rest of the year, we keep the doors to the Haunted Gallery unlocked. Feel free to stay and enjoy the haunting memories of another great Halloween season for as long as you like... and feel free to leave comments and questions as well - they will always reach me.

For those of you who have been endowed with the spirit of adventure, (or perhaps just a smidgen of curiosity) I invite you to hop in the wagon and come along with me to the Winter Post. I guarantee we will have a good time.

~ J.P.

Download the Midnight Reading Soundscape

2011-10-27T19:07:00.000-06:00

The Room of Midnight Reading

Enjoy!

The Room of Midnight Reading

2011-10-24T17:38:00.000-06:00

Here at the Haunted Gallery, we love sitting back and relaxing with a good ghost story.

As a matter of fact, up the stairs and at the end of the hall, you will find a room designed especially for such a purpose. In this room, it is always a dark and stormy night. Rain slashes against the window pain, thunder rolls across the sky. Inside soft music from another time is playing on the radio while an old clock ticks slowly towards midnight... 11:31pm to be exact.

A small but growing selection of ghost stories awaits you on the bookshelf, or feel free to bring your own.

As always, a word of caution. Do not turn off the radio. After all, this is the Haunted Gallery and the spirits that dwell within the room can be rather unpleasant when you disrupt their music. Off you go!

Haunted Gallery Bookshelf of Ghost Stories:

The Room in the Tower - E.F. Benson
The Child that Went with the Fairies - Sheridan LeFanu
Smee - A.M. Burrage

Halloween Memories #1 "The Weapons of Halloween"

2011-10-24T16:19:00.001-06:00

Back in the late 80's, when I was around eight or nine years old, my mom took us to a department store. I don't remember the name of the store and I don't believe it even exists anymore. (Places like Wal-Mart and Target were still years off, at least in our town). It was in the month of October and as we walked into the store my eyes were immediately drawn towards the unusually dark corner of the store on my left. In that corner, all of the store's Halloween decorations were on display. Whoever set up the displays was a fan of Halloween because it was clearly evident in their work. It appeared as if every decoration for sale had a completely assembled representative lurking somewhere amongst the merchandise. Ghosts floated just above my head, strung from the ceiling above, strobe lights flashed and a fog wafted along the linoleum tile below. A cassette of Halloween sounds played from some unseen stereo hidden in the shelves.
Out of all the Halloween stimuli, my attention was directed to a cardboard display in the center of the area. Inside the box were all sorts of sinister looking plastic weapons. I had never seen Halloween props like this before. There were battle axes stained deep with crimson, the blades were nicked and jagged. There were swords, bigger than most children could even wield, with vampire skulls fused into the hilt. Pitchforks that looked like they had been manufactured in some hellish underworld toy factory.
Impressive as this was, what truly seared itself into my memory was the two-color mural emblazoned upon the cardboard armory. The sky was orange, a Halloween sunset was the impression I got. Below the sky where the silhouettes of an army of evil, grotesque creatures. Hundreds of them equipped with the weapons from the box. They were marching across what looked like a harvested cornfield. I just stood there looking at the box wondering how horrifying it would be to encounter this army of Halloween in the last minutes of dying sunlight. The image had a medieval feeling to it. Perhaps there was a Halloween that looked much like this long ago before the Halloween we've come to know.
Many of the image compositions I create today depict spooky sunsets. This is directly inspired from the feeling that has always been with me ever since I saw that display. One day, I will recreate that image for the Haunted Gallery...

Soundscapes Available for Download

2011-10-13T21:25:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If you are looking to download my soundscapes to enhance your Halloween season, look no further.

Happy Halloween!

New Soundscape Idea...

2011-10-12T23:22:00.000-06:00

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.

In case you haven't noticed, it is always evening here at the Haunted Gallery and the posts have a habit of happening very late... in the evening...

Friends of the Gallery, another soundscape is in the works and in an attempt to become more clever and creative with each project, this one is different - this one will be a Halloween dare - More details to follow.

On a side note, I wanted to touch briefly again on the subject of downloading soundscapes. The soundscapes are not for sale because they are free. I make each soundscape using sounds from all over the internet, with little concern for where the sounds come from. Because of this, I could not possibly charge for them. The concept however, is mine and I have no problem sharing my compositions at no charge.

I am trying to find a way that allows me to upload my soundscapes so that fans can download them. I was using Opendrive but there are bandwidth limits which are exceeded very quickly. If anybody knows of a good (free) way to accomplish this please, send me a comment so I can continue sharing them with the community.

Thanks, everyone!

Mini Soundscape: "600 Meters" Doubles as Halloween Costume Hint...

2011-10-10T11:16:00.000-06:00

I've finally decided what I am going to be for Halloween this year. (I had to come up with an outstanding costume idea because I am going to be in Vegas for Halloween weekend!)

Listening to this little soundscape is a clue as to what my costume is going to be... and it just may send a few shivers down your spine in the process. Enjoy!

The Speculum Mirror

2011-10-08T11:51:00.000-06:00

My second Halloween decoration purchase of the year.

Beauty is not so much in the eye of the beholder...

as it is in the angle of the eye of the beholder.

The Midnight Ride, now on Hauntcast

2011-10-08T11:21:00.000-06:00

If you've never listened to Hauntcast radio before, head over and check them out. In this month's Hauntcast, friend of the Haunted Gallery and accomplished Halloween enthusiast ShellHawk gives listeners some wonderful insight into The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in "The Charmed Pot" segment. She was even so kind as to mention a certain soundscape of particular relevance... :)

Camera + Haunted House = Hilarity

2011-10-06T22:43:00.000-06:00

Here at the Haunted Gallery, I do what I can to maintain an artwork oriented bearing, but every so often, I come across something on the net that I just can't help but share with everyone.

Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls, Canada had the brilliant idea to install a camera at what is evidently an extremely terrifying point in their attraction. Check out the pictures here... If it's been awhile since you've had a good laugh, this one is for you. I'm still laughing.

Soundscape: The Midnight Ride of Ichabod Crane

2011-10-03T21:59:00.003-06:00

Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the exhibition of the Haunted Gallery's newest Soundscape. The Midnight Ride of Ichabod Crane... The capstone piece in my 2011 Halloween Soundscape collection. If you are unfamiliar with the project, browsing older "Midnight Ride" posts will bring up up to speed. For those of you who have been anticipating this soundscape, the time has come.

The soundscape you are about to hear tells the frightful tale of Ichabod's ride through the Hollow exclusively through sound. The soundscape captures the journey in real-time. In an effort to remain as true to the original story as possible, I have taken most of my audio cues from the short story itself, deviating only if it was unavoidable. The remarkable aspect of this project is that it was created using sounds extracted from existing videos out on the internet. I spend many a long evening scavenging across the web to find sounds that blended well together to make this story.

Remaining as authentic as possible, this soundscape focuses on the subtle sounds of the tale. You are going to want to listen to this with headphones or a good stereo system (preferably in a very dark room). The devil is in the details and discerning ears will detect all of the nuances from the original text. Little hints are evident if you know where to listen. For example, If you listen to the laughter in at the Harvest party, you might deduce one cackle dominating above all the others. This can only belong to Ichabod's adversary Brom Bones... and it sounds familiar...

With that said, we now join Ichabod, perched near the warm security of the autumn hearth. Merry music fills the estate and bolsters the schoolteacher's courage for the ride home. Bundle up and cover your necks! It's a dark, chilly Halloween night and were headed deep into Sleepy Hollow!

Midnight Ride Update #3

2011-10-03T08:12:00.001-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This evening, near the stroke of midnight (EST), the Haunted Gallery will present the its main exhibit for the 2011 Halloween season... the frightful tale of the schoolmaster's journey home through Sleepy Hollow told in sound... The Midnight Ride of Ichabod Crane. The tale begins in a moment bravery mustered from the merry music of the Van Tassel annual harvest party. Below is an excerpt from the original story, the details of which you will hear this evening...

"It was the very witching time of night that Ichabod, pursued his travel homewards, along the sides of the lofty hills which rise above Tarry Town, and which he had traversed so cheerily in the afternoon.

The hour was dismal and far below him, the Tappan Zee spread its dusky and indistinct waste of waters, with here and there the tall mast of a sloop, riding quietly at anchor under the land.

In the dead hush of midnight, he could even hear the barking of the watch dog from the opposite shore of the Hudson; but it was so vague and faint as only to give an idea of his distance from this faithful companion of man.

Now and then, too, the long-drawn crowing of a cock, accidentally awakened, would sound far, far off from some farmhouse away among the hills—but it was like a dreaming sound in his ear.

No signs of life occurred near him, but occasionally the melancholy chirp of a cricket, or perhaps the guttural twang of a bull-frog, from a neighboring marsh, as if sleeping uncomfortably, and turning suddenly in his bed.

All the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had heard in the evening now came crowding upon his recollection.

The night grew darker and darker; the stars seemed to sink deeper in the sky, and driving clouds occasionally hid them from his sight. He had never felt so lonely and dismal. He was, moreover, approaching the very place where many of the scenes of the ghost stories had been laid.

In the centre of the road stood an enormous tulip-tree, which towered like a giant above all the other trees of the neighborhood, and formed a kind of landmark. Its limbs were gnarled, and fantastic, large enough to form trunks for ordinary trees, twisting down almost to the earth, and rising again into the air.

As Ichabod approached this fearful tree, he began to whistle: he thought his whistle was answered—it was but a blast sweeping sharply through the dry branches.

As he approached a little nearer, he thought he saw something white, hanging in the midst of the tree—he paused and ceased whistling; but on looking more narrowly, perceived that it was a place where the tree had been scathed by lightning, and the white wood laid bare.

Suddenly he heard a groan—his teeth chattered and his knees smote against the saddle: it was but the rubbing of one huge bough upon another, as they were swayed about by the breeze. He passed the tree in safety, but new perils lay before him.

About two hundred yards from the tree a small brook crossed the road, and ran into a marshy and thickly-wooded glen, known by the name of Wiley’s swamp. On that side of the road where the brook entered the wood, a group of oaks and chestnuts, matted thick with wild grapevines, threw a cavernous gloom over it.

To pass this brook was the severest trial. This has ever since been considered a haunted stream, and fearful are the feelings of the schoolboy who has to pass it alone after dark.

The sky grew darker and darker as one by one the stars winked out their lights and driving clouds obscured the moon from sight.

Once inside the murky glen, Ichabod’s anxiety increased one hundred-fold. For now, the forest seemed to close in behind him. Every small detail of Brom’s awful story returned to haunt is recollection..."

We will see you at Midnight...

Midnight Ride Update #2

2011-09-29T08:09:00.000-06:00

So far so good, everyone. I have been working pretty steadily on this project, chipping away at it kind of like a multiple choice test. (knock out the easy parts first, then take the time to go back and really work on the harder ones)
This weekend I will be wrapping up the final efforts. If all goes well, I will have my main project done and ready for you all to enjoy just in time for the beginning of October. Stay tuned...

Halloween Decorations, Going Up...

2011-09-27T23:24:00.000-06:00

Starting with my first purchase of the season. I picked up this Raven tea light holder from the Z Gallerie.

New Soundscape - Witchcraft

2011-09-25T13:55:00.001-06:00

The Haunted Gallery's newest soundscape follows a feisty little witch as she whips up some mysterious concoction just before heading out for some Halloween-night mischief.

Now presenting, "WITCHCRAFT"

Download this Soundscape!

'Tis the Season

2011-09-23T17:46:00.001-06:00

It's been a busy week, but I am looking forward to showcasing some new work here at the Gallery this weekend. Happy Fall, everyone!

The Van Tassel Home - 2011

(You will notice that I've flipped the blog so that the gadgets are now on the left-hand side of the screen. I've done this in order to post bigger pictures without the issue of them running behind text.)

Gunpowder

2011-09-20T18:38:00.004-06:00

"The animal he bestrode was a broken-down plough-horse, that had outlived almost every thing but his viciousness. He was gaunt and shagged, with a ewe neck and a head like a hammer; his rusty mane and tail were tangled and knotted with burrs; one eye had lost its pupil, and was glaring and spectral; but the other had the gleam of a genuine devil in it. Still he must have had fire and mettle in his day, if we may judge from the name he bore of Gunpowder. He had, in fact, been a favorite steed of his master’s, the choleric Van Ripper, who was a furious rider, and had infused, very probably, some of his own spirit into the animal; for, old and broken-down as he looked, there was more of the lurking devil in him than in any young filly in the country."

Sketch of Gunpowder - The Haunted Gallery 2011

I've tried to capture Gunpowder's personality in sound. When the soundscape is released, listen closely for the indifferent canter as his hooves slightly drag the ground. The old horse frequently slows his pace as if falling asleep in mid stride. The occasional jangle of tack can be perceived as Ichabod prods his steed onward.

Midnight Ride Update

2011-09-19T21:58:00.000-06:00

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I've just finished the second "act", for lack of a better word, of The Midnight Ride of Ichabod Crane. For reference, the whole project is being produced in approximately 5 minute acts that, will span across about 20 minutes. Of course, when the project is complete you will not be able to distinguish where one act ends and another begins. By then all of the rough edges will have been sanded down and polished into one solid soundscape. :)

The most time consuming aspect of this project is collecting the right sounds. Remember, I don't have access to professional sound effects and every sound you hear is a result of late-night scavenging missions across the internet. Even though my soundscapes are created from rummaged data and open-source software (Audacity), the final product is going to sound professional.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is near and dear to probably everyone reading this and I do not want to do the tale injustice by cutting corners. That being said, this soundscape is going to rock. Stay tuned...

The Best Halloween Music you have Never Heard

2011-09-18T11:36:00.003-06:00

Go get your Halloween music… Go ahead, I'll wait… Got it? Good, now go fling it in the closet. Why? Because this year the Haunted Gallery is making your Halloween playlist and I promise you it is the darkest, smokiest, sexiest, collection of Halloween Music you have never heard.

Investing way more time than I probably should have, I have created a Halloween collection for all of you sinners and sinneritas. Yes, evil has never felt so good. ;)

Just as every good ghost story has its roots in folklore, each song in the playlist has its roots in folk music. Off-tune pianos, fiddles, organs, acoustic guitar, blues guitar, and harmonica… these are the instruments that give this playlist a distinctly vintage American folk sound, thus rooting it firmly to America’s shadowy, superstitious past.

I present to you the Haunted Gallery Halloween Music Playlist - finally, a Halloween mix for adults...very badly behaving adults. Bon appetit!

The Haunted Gallery Halloween Music Playlist

1. Closer - Kings of Leon

The haunting echo of the guitar coupled with the lead singer's voice makes this song an instant favorite. The song is rumored to be about a vampire who has been searching for is long lost love and can sense as he is getting closer to her.

2. Phenomenon - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Not to be confused with the similarly titled song by L.L. Cool J, this songs distorted organ and catchy chorus beg to be played at a Halloween Party.

3. Bad Blood - Beck

After its ambiguous intro, this song settles into a nice "seedy Texas roadhouse" feel. With bluesy riffs and dark lyrics, this song should be playing in a bar full of strange people.

4. Play with Fire - Cobra Verde

A minimalistic rendition of the classic by the Rolling Stones. The main line of the song, "Don't play with me cuz your playing with fire." sounds more like a dare than a threat.

5. Evil is Going On - Jace Everett

From the guy who brought you the theme song to True Blood, Evil is Gong On would fit perfectly in a Halloween themed burlesque act.Trust me, I've envisioned it many a time. :)

6. Werewolf - Cat Power

Basic acoustic, shivering violins, and Cat's smokey, 2am voice deliver a sympathetic, yet dark, tale of the conflicting duality of the werewolf.

7. Fresh Blood - the Eels

This is the coolest song on the playlist. Everything about it is laid back, and foreboding all at the same time. The lead singer's monotone delivery remains consistent until the moment he mentions the word "blood", at which point he appears to relapse into some primitive impulse. Whooo!

8. Bleed to Feed - CC Adcock and the Lafayette Marquis

Another sexy Halloween song. The whole damn thing.

9. What You Do to Me - BlakRoc

Keeping the party alive, this vintage/hip-hop joint has just the right amount of minor tonality and organ. Imagine a dark house full of ghouls, giant swinging chandeliers, and lighting raging through the windows, with this song on the stereo.

10. And When I Die - The Heavy

If George Thorogood and Screamin Jay Hawkins where spliced together this might be what it would sound like. The chorus is a little light for my tastes but the rest of the song more than makes up for it.

11. Mr. Splitfoot - Paris Motel

No song on my playlist exploits the noises from musical instruments in order to paint a terrifying narrative better that this one. If any song will give you nightmares, it is this one. One of my favorites.

12. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars

Fully embracing their folk roots, The Civil Wars gives us Barton Hollow, a mournful lament of a sinister place where not even the preacher can save your soul.

13. Bones - Little Big Town

From folk to country, Bones is has all the right criteria for our playlist. This song is the master of Halloween innuendo. Listen to it and you will soon agree.

14. Swampblood - The Legendary Shack Shakers

With a nod to CCR, the Shack Shakers take our playlist from south to the deep south. This song might have a little voodoo in it.

15. Howlin for my Baby - M. Ward

Another vintage sounding cover of a vintage song. This song applies the bass guitar in just the right places to give some lupine attitude to an otherwise even keeled tune.

16. Ain't No Rest for the Wicked - Cage the Elephant

If there is one song you have head on my playlist, this one is probably it. Nonetheless, Cage the elephant is unique enough to make the playlist and round out our spooky journey through the American south... for now.

17. Wolf Like Me - TV On the Radio

Fast paced, sexual tension disguised in werewolf metaphor.

18. Rev 22-20 - Puscifer

When I said "evil has never felt so good", I was referring directly to this song. Originally from the Underworld Soundtrack, it takes a special talent to make lust sound this blasphemous. You're going to need a cold shower and a set of rosary beads after listening to this one.

19. Snake in the Grass- Vallejo

A great little song out of Austin, Texas. Snake Charmer's main guitar riffs have an unmistakeable Halloween vibe while the lyrics deliver our second warning of the evening to the ladies.

20. Diablo Rojo - Rodrigo and Gabriella

Plunging way south of the border, our playlist picks up Diablo Rojo. Subtle in its nefarious qualities, this amazing guitar duet really shows its Halloween spirit when played in a room lit solely by flickering candlelight.

21. Frenzy - Screamin Jay Hawkins

How could you not love an creepy old song that sounds like it is being sung by Oogie Boogie from the Nightmare Before Christmas? When Screamin Jay comes on the radio, things get a little psychotic...

22. She's Not There - Neko Case & Nick Cave

A cover of the original by the Zombies. This version is faster and has a slight French/Creole undertone. Nick Cave makes any song sound creepy instantly.

23. The Amazing Sounds of Orgy - Radiohead

Everything in this song has an unnatural eeriness to it. If ghosts could write music, this is what it would sound like.

24. Where Did You Sleep Last Night - Jim Oblon

A unique cover of the haunting original by Leadbelly (not Nirvana) This song winds down the evening with mellow vocals and creepy off-tune guitar.

25. The Ghost Who Walks - Karen Elson

A Gothic melody about a ghost who forever searches for her love... who just so happened to be the one who murdered her. Karen Elson just so happens to be a supermodel and is married to the lead singer of our next song...

26. Blue Veins - The Raconteurs

Dreary "Last-Call" blues echo throughout this song as Jack White sings his love song not to the woman, but to her blood. A good song for the end of your party.

There you have it. Please be sure to drop me a comment and let me know what you think, as I am always looking for feedback. J.P.

Ichabod Crane

2011-09-16T17:15:00.003-06:00

It's been a while. With all the soundscapes I've been working on, I almost forgot I am a graphic designer by nature. Here is a composition I made this afternoon to go along with my upcoming sound project.

Ichabod Crane - 2011 Composition was created with multiple different images found on Google Images. To see the individual images that comprise the image above click here.

A Spooky Dedication...

2011-09-15T19:54:00.003-06:00

If you are here at the Haunted Gallery, there is a very good chance you were referred through pumpkinrot.com.
... and if you are unfamiliar with pumpkinrot.com, then you have not been introduced to the true "Pumpkin King."

What makes this site so genuine is its designer "Rot's" authentic and perpetual love of all things Halloween. Rot truly embraces the spirit of the season all year round. When all the candy has been passed out and the jack 'o lanterns withered into mush, pumpkinrot.com is still radiating Halloween from every post. As a fellow artist, Rot's contributions to the Halloween community are priceless.

I want to give a quick thanks to my friend Rot and to pumpkinrot.com. They have been one of my first and greatest supporters, whom without, the Haunted Gallery would be a very lonely place indeed. Thanks for introducing me to a great community. This soundscape is dedicated to you.

Every neighborhood has a creepy old house that you should never visit on Halloween...

Download this Soundcape

New Soundscape on the way!

2011-09-15T01:44:00.001-06:00

By Thursday evening I will be presenting my newest soundscape. Just adding the finishing touches. Stay tuned!

The Tulip Tree

2011-09-13T18:08:00.002-06:00

A significant aspect of the upcoming soundscape, is the infamous tulip tree, "which towered like a giant above all the other trees of the neighborhood, and formed a kind of landmark." This is where fear truly begins to take hold in Ichabod. As you know, it's all downhill from there. :)

The Lonely Churchyard

2011-09-11T21:57:00.004-06:00

Winner of the "What Soundscape Shall I Make Next" poll.

Ladies and Gentlemen, "The Lonely Churchyard".

Picture a blustery late November afternoon. The sky is grey and sinister looking and threatening an unseasonably late thunderstorm. Ill tempered wind rakes the leaves of a single gnarled tree in an old dreary churchyard. Nearby, a gravedigger chips away at the at a neat little square in the chilly ground. Eerie church bells mourn that death has claimed another for his own. Listen carefully to the subtlety of the atmosphere... the scavenging crows overhead, the frigid bite in the air, careful hammering of each coffin nail... Oh, where you not aware? Why, of course, this grave belongs to you.
Rest in Peace...

Headphones or high-quality speakers are a must. It is worth the effort.

The Midnight Ride of Ichabod Crane

2011-09-08T17:34:00.004-06:00

Imagine the story of Ichabod Crane's terrifying ride home told exclusively through sound. Starting from the festive comfort and security of the Van Tassel annual harvest party and ending at the infamous covered bridge, this soundscape brings you along for the ride in all the horrifying suspense of real time. You have never heard a soundscape bring a story to life in every spooky detail like this, I promise.

The goal is to create this piece with as much attention to detail and quality as possible. At the moment I do not have a presentation date. Rest assured, however, I will keep you updated as much as I can and entice you along the way with production extras like below. Enjoy!

Soundscape map detailing the route of Ichabod through Sleepy Hollow

New Project for the Halloween Season... Stay Tuned...

2011-09-07T15:47:00.001-06:00

I am currently in the process of working on a project that will be the Haunted Gallery's main exhibit this season. It is unlike anything I have ever done and I promise you are going to love it. Make sure to check back when you can for updates and extras. In the mean time, I recommend brushing up on your Dutch-colonial folklore.

New Soundscape - What shall it be?

2011-09-04T23:05:00.001-06:00

Good evening, everyone.

I have a few ideas for my next soundscape but I thought it might be fun to take a vote to see which one I make next. Below are some of my ideas, and I am not ruling out any external suggestions. Let me know which one you would like to come to life!

Option 1: The Lonely Churchyard

A dreary November afternoon. An old church cemetery on the fringes of an odd little village...

Ingredients: (provided I can find them : )

Light wind blowing through a single tree
Light wind occasionally whistling through an iron fence
The creaking of a metal gate
Leaves rustling along the ground
A distant crow's caw
Funeral bells
The faint noise of a shovel digging through earth

Option 2: 3a.m. in a Dark Subway Tunnel

A storm raging across the city has forced you underground into the bowels of the subway. This stop is unfamiliar and dark... it looks too old to be in service. Hopefully the train comes before the lights short out.

Ingredients:

Echoing brown noise
Unidentifiable industrial noises
Failing electrical lighting
Terrifying "bumps" in the night
Muffled subway intercom announcements

Option 3: Abandoned Carnival

An October stroll through the rusted remains of an old county fairgrounds.
Ingredients:

The sound of rubbish blowing across pavement
Wind blowing through chain link fence
The occasional clang of large metal machinery
Tent flaps fluttering in the wind
Echoing creepy carnival music
The disembodied laughter of a lunatic

The Haunted Gallery - Made with 99% Recycled Internet

2011-09-01T15:56:00.001-06:00

Some of our visitors to the Gallery have inquired as to whether or not the sounds exhibited are for sale. While I think the soundscapes I have been making do fill gap in the market for spooky ambiance, I could not possibly charge for them.

Every audio composition that I create is stitched together from sounds I have scavenged from across the internet. If it sounds good and helps create the desired vision, I work with it. I only use the material to express creative ideas. I certainly do not want to make a profit off of creative ingredients I cannot say I own. The final composition of all the collected sounds into one, however, does represent an idea that belongs to me, and I feel that I am entitled to share that with everyone for free.

Perhaps one day I can make soundscapes that are completely my own that I could sell as an awesome collection.

If you see something that you enjoy, please feel comfortable enough to leave a comment. My creative energy is derived not only from the Halloween season, but the idea that there are people out there who enjoy looking and listening to my projects as much as I like to make them. Thank you!

Le Marais de la Feu Follet

2011-08-28T20:54:00.008-06:00

Long ago, French fur trappers would return from deep within the marshes of southern Louisiana with strange and terrifying tales. Far from roads and civilization, the men would venture out into the desolation of the swamps. There, beneath the blackened canopies of the cypress they worked with nervous haste as countless reflecting eyes watched motionless from shadows of a meager oil lamp. In the darkness, a sinister chorus of creatures sang their warning to Man;

"You are no match for us in this place. For we who lurk just beyond the flicker of your fire are are made of shell and scale and claw and barb and fang and venom. We are of ancient kind, much older than man. We survive on the blood of those who fear... just as you do now."

Click on the link below. Envision yourself seated in a small rowboat drifting deeper through the shallow waters of the swamp. Your vessel floats over the glossy, black surface, occasionally bumping against invisible obstacles beneath and sending metallic echos into the night. All around you are the noises of the marsh. Your oil lantern has been carelessly neglected and should give you enough light for another five minutes... unfortunately for you, your journey is ten.
As your eyes strain to adjust to the darkness, you notice an iridescent mist hanging above the water ahead. The fur trappers have spoke of it before... they call it "feu follet" (pronounced FEE fuh-lay). It drifts closer and closer, wafting over the edges of your little boat, weaving back and forth through the buttons of your jacket. Heed the advice of the trappers and remain as still as a statue, for they say that if you show fear now - if you try to get away... Au revoir.

Soundscape: Victorian Chamber

2011-08-26T23:47:00.003-06:00

A big problem with Halloween sound effects is that almost every single track is over-produced with low quality unrealistic sounds. I can't count the number of times I have looked for the ambiance of a haunted house only to be presented with a cacophony of hokey sounds assembled without the slightest concern for order. Werewolves howl into your left ear every five seconds, Tacky thunder barks and snorts across the sky like the lightning it is somehow suffering from sleep apnea. People are clearly screaming, but you are not sure if it is because of the werewolves, the chainsaws, or the terribly synthesized moans. Perhaps it is all of the above, after all, they are all playing at the same time.

I am, by no means, a professional sound designer. But I always wished I could find a great spooky audio clip that I could play over and over as many times as I wanted (maybe while reading a ghost story or two) without losing focus as a result of the audio.

Subtlety is what I am looking for and if I can't find it, I am going to create it... and if I'm going to create it, I am going to share it because chances are, there are other people out there who are looking for it too. My latest creation is called "The Victorian Chamber". It is made for those of us who have ever imagined sitting in a huge, dark, echoing, Victorian era living area on a cold and blustery evening. A warm fire and a huge leather chair would be your only comforts. Nearby, an ancient grandfather clock ticks the witching hours away all too slowly. Wind howls against the walls of the house as its aging wooden frame strains and creaks like the bowels of an old ship. In the darkness, your ears may detect the occasional aberration, however, it may be only be wind. Have a listen and enjoy a spooky nineteenth century evening complements of the Haunted Gallery.

Download this Soundscape

2011-08-26T23:09:00.001-06:00

The 2011 Halloween Season is officially upon us. From now through October, dying leaves, chilly nights, burning wood, and all the other ambassadors of Autumn stoke fires of macabre imagination once again! As you can see, new additions to the Haunted Gallery are already on the way. Here's to another frightfully good season!

It was a dark and stormy night...

2011-08-25T22:32:00.002-06:00

I took this picture last night as a thunderstorm was approaching. A little close for comfort.

Along the Hangman's Wold

2011-08-24T19:12:00.003-06:00

Back in 1995, I was given my first copy of Photoshop. From that time forward, image manipulation has been the de facto medium for expressing creative ideas in my mind. The internet is full of pictures and photographs that I can sift through and combine, stretch, distort, recolor, and blend to bring to life a vision in my head. In the last couple of years, the internet has developed a rich collection of audio in addition to the visual. I thought I would take a crack at using the same principles I employ in my image manipulation and try to make audio manipulations. I have enclosed such an audio manipulation. The composition consists of about a dozen different sounds I managed to scavenge from the internet all stitched together to make a final product. After listening to the soundscape, it reminded me of one of my favorite horror poems. An excerpt is included below. Enjoy!

... There was a strangeness in the horn,

A wildness in the cry,

A power of devilry forlorn

Exulting bloodily...

..."Lord God!" the shepherds said, "they come;

And see what hounds he has:

All dripping bluish fire, and dumb,

And nosing in the grass,

"And trotting scatheless through the gorse,

And bristling in the fell.

Lord, it is Death upon the horse,

And they're the hounds of hell!"

- The Hounds of Hell by John Masefield

The Condemned Hallway

2011-08-14T18:43:00.001-06:00

As you find yourself navigating through the darker reaches of the Haunted Gallery, I would offer this word of caution...
Visitors have occasionally reported rounding a corner only to be confronted with an impossibly long corridor. The paint is peeling, the floors are in disrepair, and some report a chilly wind that whispers incoherently into your ears as it drifts past. Even the most resolute of our guests choose wisely to terminate their progress upon stumbling upon its location. There are some visitors however, who's courage intermingles with insanity, that venture further into the enveloping darkness.
What lurks at the end of the hallway? Nobody is certain, because nobody returns. No blueprint or architectural design makes mention of such a hallway in the Gallery.
But one thing is for sure...if such a sinister hallway exists, it is not the hallway that is condemned.

Music for a Condemned Hallway

13 Steps

2010-10-25T20:21:00.002-06:00

The Haunted Gallery is very happy to present a very special item.
After several hours of sifting through forgotten piles of media, I have reclaimed an old college project from the ever present threat of oblivion.

The piece is entitled "13 Steps". It is a poem that I wrote many years ago. What makes it so special though is that it was recorded and edited with lots of eerie sounds and music. For the narration, I enlisted the help of a friend of mine from England who has a wonderful voice. Her accent combined with the sound effects give this poem a wonderfully spooky atmosphere.

The poem is about that terrifying moment you realize that you are in a very dark place... too far away from the light switch.

Welcome Committee

2010-10-17T21:57:00.000-06:00

The ambassadors of Halloween. (At least for our neighborhood)

Neighborhood Alert

2010-10-15T12:24:00.001-06:00

This year's Halloween theme is Jack the Ripper. This sign is posted out in front of the house.

Samhain Sunset (The First Halloween)

2010-10-15T12:03:00.003-06:00

"Even in Autumn, you are not safe. Stay indoors, attend your hearths. Try to keep the night at bay by the telling of your tongue. Remember your kin, honor your ancestors. For at this time the dead begin to stir, riding upon hallowed and familiar roads, galloping through villages and wastes, flying through the forests of the mind. Such raids are reminders that the past is not a dead thing, but may return, like a hunter, to follow us for a time."
- Unknown

It's interesting to sit and ponder what the first Halloween must have been like. I've read about the origins of Halloween and just how long ago it began. (Halloween is 1,000 years older than Christmas.) I've learned how many of the traditions we celebrate today derive from ancient customs that held a more serious purpose back then. Halloween was born in a time when man had no explanation for the mysteries of world around him. Very little of our surroundings made sense and without the enlightening virtues of science, man was at the mercy of the dark shadows of superstition and the unknown.

It's fun to imagine the rituals and the social elements of the earliest Halloween, but my mind always brings me back to a scene that I have always felt best exemplifies the mood of such a spooky time.

I envision a young man on top of a hill. Behind him somewhere off in the growing darkness is a small village. From where he stands he cannot see it but he can hear the distant barking of dogs and the occasional laughter. The faint sounds of his village make him feel even more alone. In front of him lies a rolling wilderness. One day the forests below him will become a patchwork of fields and pastures but in his time nature still holds dominance over the affairs of men. In the distance, the sun has just set behind a line of black hills. The night is chilly and a thick fog settles in the valleys. This evening marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the season of death. The leaves have fallen, the crops have been harvested, the animals in the forest have grown quite. The future is a cold darkness.

The darkness, like a pack of hungry wolves, is creeping towards him. With it manifests the memories and tales of strange creatures and spirits that favor the night and fear the day. This night of all nights, the dead are permitted to return to spend an evening amongst the living. The young man stands near a bonfire prepared to scare away the spirits of evil and beacon those of his ancestors, although the thought of any spirits approaching at all sends a shiver down his spine. His job is to maintain the flame until the sun rises in the morning. In doing so, he will keep his people safe from the darkness.

The ScareJoe

2010-10-14T19:50:00.001-06:00

My first scarecrow. Nothing terrifies young Soldiers like a Drill Sergeant.

The Lonley Gallery

2010-10-12T21:18:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

It's been a bit slow here at the Gallery but I have more great offerings in the works, I promise. I have been devoting most of my free time to decorating and getting ready for Halloween. This Halloween is somewhat of a surprise gift for me this year. Early redeployment from Iraq means I get to celebrate at home! Needless to say, we are pulling out all the stops. There will be plenty of Halloween pictures, artwork and THE BEST Halloween party music playlist ever to share as this awesome month creeps along so please do stay tuned...

Music for a Haunted Gallery - Volume I

2010-10-06T17:45:00.001-06:00

As our humble gallery grows, it becomes evident out appreciation for music as both a source of inspiration and accompaniment of composition. Below is assembled a short volume of musical arrangements that can be often heard echoing through the candle-lit halls of the Haunted Gallery, no doubt by some spectral musician who occupies one of the many darkened chambers...

"The children of the night, what sweet music they make."
- Dracula

The songs below are linked to youtube videos. The visual content is irrelevant. The videos were only chosen for sound.

Partita no. 2 for Solo Violin - (the ghost of) Johann Sebastian Bach

New World - Philip Glass

Dumka - (the ghost of) Antonín Dvořák

Danse Macabre - (the ghost of ) Camille Saint-Saëns

Wraithmarsh - Russell Shaw (Fable II soundtrack)

The Greatest Show on Earth

2010-10-05T18:30:00.001-06:00

The circus has always had an underlying element of terror in my opinion. I'm sure it has a lot to do with clowns.
This song was playing in my head the whole time I was making this image. It fits the mood perfectly.
I am almost certain the video is going to give you nightmares.

Run.

2010-09-29T22:13:00.002-06:00

I saw something back there in the cemetery...

(You may have to enlarge this one to understand why someone dropped a perfectly good flashlight.)

Night Terrors

2010-09-28T22:53:00.002-06:00

"I don't believe in ghosts, but they scare me."
- Anonymous

When I was young, my hyper-active imagination would never permit me to sleep at night in such a way that exposed my back to the large window across the room. I believed that if I did, something horrible outside could creep up on me as I lay sleeping, completely unaware. Sometimes, however, I would wake up in the middle of the night facing the wrong way. Having let my guard down, I had only one choice...

Below is a short poem that I wrote describing my advice should you ever end up in a similar situation:

If you find yourself awakened in the middle of the night

With your back faced towards the window ‘ganst the pale moon’s rays of light

And the silence is… too quiet and the darkness is… too black

And a sense that something near is sending shivers down your back

Don’t turn around! Don’t move an inch! Lie still and close your eyes

A terrifying silhouette outside your window pries

Don’t move a muscle, make a peep, or breathe a breath of air

And if you’re lucky, it may leave before it knows you’re there

It has no eyes, just sunken holes where eyeballs used to be

But don’t be fooled for it can see much better than you see

A cry for help would be too late cause though it has no ears

It finds its prey by listening to all your darkest fears

It hates you for your rosy skin, your every breath so hot,

Your pulsing veins, so full of life… It hates cause his are not

Its teeth are rotting in its jaws, there’s decay on its breath

It hates you cause you’re still alive and it is walking death

Don’t turn around! Don’t move an inch! Pray hard for sleep instead

For if you turn around this time…

It lurks beside your bed. - J.P. 2003

Sweet Dreams...

October Moon

2010-09-28T22:31:00.001-06:00

A picture I made a few years back. The giant moon gives the image a "Great Pumpkin" feel.

Sleepy Hallow Inspired

2010-09-26T21:54:00.000-06:00

While Washington Irving's original story of the galloping Hessian will always remain my preference over Tim Burton's cinematic variation, the latter did succeed to impress me with its amazing atmosphere. The one scene in particular that I have always loved is the muddy road leading into the village of Sleepy Hollow, flanked by two crude stone stag head statues. This year I will have two statues of my own, however, mine are carved from pumpkins instead of stone. Halloween is awesome!

Decorating for Halloween

2010-09-25T13:10:00.002-06:00

To most people, it my seem just a bit early to start decorating for Halloween. For me this is a compromise. It took everything in my power to wait this long. Decorating for holidays has always been a big thing in my family and I am more than happy to keep the tradition alive and healthy. I tend to gravitate towards authentic decorations though and you will never see a life size animatronic "Jason" at my house. Spooky is in the subtle details.

Welcome Autumn

2010-09-23T20:56:00.002-06:00

Just a really quick composition that captures the mood of a late Autumn afternoon.

Midnight Reading (#1)

2010-09-21T20:22:00.002-06:00

I love reading old ghost stories from the Victorian era. I have a growing list of personal favorites and thought it might be nice to share them with everyone now and then.

Tonight, the Gallery will present "The Room in the Tower" Written by E.F. Benson.

Benson was an incredibly talented writer of the supernatural genre and I highly recommend reading any of his stories, but this tale of the dreadful thing in the tower room and its recurring nightmares, is "one of the most terrifying stories in the English language."

The Class of 2010

2010-09-20T22:13:00.001-06:00

Today, I carved six more pumpkins to add to my growing collection of Halloween decorations. I love the tradition of carving real pumpkins but lately I've been making a lot of synthetic jack o' lanterns. The reason is because you can use them over and over the following years. You can never have enough jack o' lanterns around the house I think. These little guys will soon be staring at us from all of the dark nooks in our house.

The Creepiest Classical Composition

2010-09-20T20:26:00.004-06:00

In my quest to assemble an outstanding play list for Halloween, I stumbled across what has to be one of the most disturbing classical music compositions I've ever heard.

(On a side note, I don't really consider scores from movie soundtracks classical compositions. Soundtrack scores are a separate genre altogether. Classical music pieces are works that stand alone as an individual work of art.)

I know what you are thinking, "How disturbing can classical music be?"

Listen for yourself here.

You've been warned...

Older Images

2010-09-19T23:17:00.001-06:00

These images can be traced back to the year 2006. I was riding a little wave of creativity and punched out several compositions in a relatively short amount of time. It's always interesting to see how your style and skills develop over the years.

The Process of Image Manipulation

2010-09-19T22:51:00.001-06:00

Sometimes seeing the process of manipulating an image into a composition is as fascinating as the final result. I have always wanted to show how a composition evolves.

Ok, so the first step is to find an image of a house that is a good candidate to look haunted. I Googled "Victorian house" and after a few pages I came across this fella. It looks to be in very good shape and the vegetation is living, but we can fix those "issues" later. COPY and PASTE!

Step 2 was to remove all of that annoying blue sky. I also removed the neighbors on the right and the tree branches. There are way more sinister looking trees in cyberspace...

Now, about that sky. I have big plans for the sky in this scene so I needed to find an image that was striking but wasn't so contrasting that it would feel out of place with the house. This was my choice.

Ok, the house and the clouds have been formerly introduced. They will get to know each other better as time goes on. For now, direct your eyes to that little tree in front of the doorway. It has to go. In my opinion, it is right in the way.

The way I remove the tree is through the use of a tool called the "Clone Stamp". Basically, the clone stamp allows me to paint over an area of the image with other areas of the image. When used properly, you can hardly tell anything was altered.

The little tree next to the steps has been reduced to a small shrub. Later on I'm thinking of some gnarly ivy vines climbing those banisters. I added the door from an image of I found by going to Google images and typing "Victorian door" - go figure. The detail work is not perfect, but I don't care too much this early on. Now that I have a fairly unobstructed house to work on, its time to age it so its not so pretty.

The Paint is beginning to peel and chip. The shingles are mildewing and the plaster is starting to crack. The house is Starting to look like it's been abandoned long enough for a few ghosts to move in.

Second phase of aging the house. Broken windows and boards. Water damage. Collapsing roof. The porch is on its last legs as well.

After another round of aging, it was time to start developing a context for the house to exist in. This is where the creativity really comes into play. After messing around with a few ideas, this is a rough idea of the vision I am going to run with. To me, it still feels like a bunch of different pictures pasted together, but as we start adding color and lighting, it will feel more intertwined.

Almost done. Darkened the house, refined the lightning. added mist on the ground and a little reflection off the trees. A few more things and this will be finished.

The final product. I wanted to give the image one spot of contrasting light to counter all of the blue in the image. The illuminated room in the top serves as an interesting focal point and adds to the mystery of the image. (probably why most pictures of a hunted house have one) I could probably sit here all day and add little tweeks here and there but as an artist, you have to find a point to call it quits. Here seems to be a good place.
Hopefully, this album give a little insight into the process of manipulating a bunch of random images into one creative composition. If you can see the fascination in it, then you know why it is my favorite pastime.

Filling the Gallery

2010-09-19T18:40:00.001-06:00

Now that I have this spooky little gallery for all of my artwork, I suppose it's time to start hanging up some pieces! Here are a few that I made over the last few months. They should fit in nicely.

The Castle of the King

2010-09-19T18:20:00.001-06:00

It's a quiet day over here and I was playing with Photoshop again. I was reading through a collection of ghost stories and came across The Castle of the King by Bram Stoker. If you haven't read it, its a pretty dark short story considering it was made to be for children!

The story is very rich in atmosphere and describes a garden on the border between the lands of life and death:

"The subtlety of the King of Death, who rules in the Realms of Evil, is great. He has ordered that the way beyond the Portal be made full of charm. Thus those straying from the paths ordained for good see around them such beauty that in its joy the gloom and cruelty and guilt of the desert are forgotten."

Interestingly, before reading this story I have imagined a very similar place. Here is my interpretation of the garden.Coincidentally, there is a score from Dracula that runs through my mind when I think of the gardens. The song has a haunting beauty to it. You can listen to it here: Mina/Dracula (Bram Stoker's Dracula Soundtrack)

Twas the weekend before Halloween...

2009-10-26T00:04:00.002-06:00

Wrapping up another wonderful weekend. My mom is in town and we spent much of our days sightseeing and, believe it or not, shopping. There are stores down here that my mother doesn't have where she lives. I took the opportunity to grab a few last minute Halloween decorations for the house. My mom grabbed some foam pumpkins from the craft store and I carved some faces in them for her. Here is a shot of all of the pumpkins lined up and grinning for the camera.