Kelley M. Frank's Blog

A fascinating history weaving the lives of painters Édouard Manet and Ernest Meissonier into a tale of changing artistic tastes and the rise of modern art. Manet, whose painting style “is the foundation of modern art” that inspired both the Impressionists and Picasso, struggles to gain any traction in Napoleon III’s conservative art world.

Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (1863) by Édouard Manet would inspire Picasso’s first Cubism painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avingon (1907).

Meanwhile, the largely...

My Etsy shop is now open for 2023. I’ve added all kinds of new pieces that I think you’ll appreciate. There are also old favorites restocked too! I hope you see something you like!

Magical Girl earrings Gold and Brown planchette candleholder Pink galaxy coffin trinket box Blue and green crescent moon tray Poison potion earrings Big Ank Energy sticker Let’s Play Beth Harmon sticker No Feet ghost earrings Lavender bat clip Black bat clip Pink and silver moth ha...

Resin and silver bat earrings with obsidian crystal points.

It’s holiday time, and as folks retreat indoors for winter and hibernation, it’s a good time for diy crafting and gift making. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my resin process and how to get started, so I’m putting together a series to help anyone — whether you’re making something for sale, for gifting, or just for yourself.

If you’re in a hurry and want a quicker rundown, check out the post I wrote a few years ago here.

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Featuring my favorite boss, Blue

There’s a lot of discussion about the final installment of the Jurassic Park/ Jurassic World franchise. Some people love it, some people hate it. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing it in advance, and here are my thoughts.

Jurassic World: Dominion is the final planned film in the 30 year franchise. It brings back core characters from the original movies and the new cast. It has a lot of work to do, and moves quickly. Honestly, it did everything I, as a fan of...

When I heard there was going to be a new movie about witchcraft, I was, as usual, a little dubious. Hollywood can range from amazing films that capture the pagan spirit like The Craft, Midsommar, or The Witch; but there’s also a good chance we’ll get something exploitative like The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It or Ouija. I’ve written before about the experience of existing as both a horror fan and a witch, and there’s always a fraught moment before the film begins where I wonder how I’ll fe...

Opening this weekend in theaters, A24’s latest horror film X (2022) offers a new take on the classic slasher by mixing the erotic nature academics have long discussed in the horror genre with commentary on the filmmaking industry and it’s the voyeruistic relationship with its audience. Directed and written by Ti West, the synopsis is as follows:

In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act,...

Love After Death mini Ouija board and planchette set

It’s been a wild month, but I’m finally getting more pieces uploaded on my Etsy shop. So far, it’s resin and some original paintings, but I have more coming too as I gear up for festival season — my first event starts later this month.

Since I’ve started making mini Ouija boards, I’ve been working continuously to improve them. Now the planchettes come with black velvet on the bottom for a smoother glide. I’ve also added glass cabochons ...

I gave a major painting commission in progress. It’s on a big canvas and will depict Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, attacking a Norse ship at sea. My client is very open to artistic interpretation. So, the planning begins!

Admittedly, I’ve struggled getting started. Im hoping that documenting my process will be both informative for you the reader and keep me on track for making progress. This commission doesn’t have a set deadline, but I hate sitting on a project without making headway.

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Day 21: fuzzy/omen

Day22: wicked weeds/open

Day 23: Frankenstein

So I continue playing with gouache and wanted to do something bright but stylized for the prompt. This is gouache with sharpie pen and acrylic paint. I rather like it. The colors are really nice together, and it’s cute and creepy at the same time.

Day 24: Extinct

I haven’t had time to draw dinosaurs much lately like I want, but this prompt just fit too perfectly. T-Rex knows what’s coming.

Day 25: Dark ...

I’m ending the year with a bang: take 30% off your order site-wide in my Etsy shop through December 13th.

I’m also offering discounts on commissions for the holidays. You can claim one of five available commission slots on my Ko-Fi page for anything from custom/fandom character drawing to giant fantasy paintings in watercolor, acrylic, digital, or mixed media.

You can find my commissions prices here.

My Patreon supporters are getting surprise art and a Patreon-exclusive giveaway ...