Darke Curiosity Emporium

Reliquary tutorial is now for sale!

2011-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

Awesome! Artist How-To is distributing my tutorial now! Sweet!

Steampunk Spider prototype one

2010-07-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Abe Lincoln commisioned his Civil War skunkworks division to build this protype personal protection unit. Only one was built and the designing clocksmith was captured and killed by southern spies before the plans could be circulated.

This prototype successfully thwarted three assasination attempts on Lincoln's life before being retired due to mechanical failure. Lincoln was killed by Booth three weeks later.

This OOAK prop comes in an antiqued glass case and is for sale in my Etsy shop.

Thanks

JDC

Been a while, but I'm still alive.

2010-06-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've been putting a lot of stuff in my The Rusty Epiphanies and Art of John Donald Carlucci on Facebook and neglecting this old friend.

Sorry.

JDC

PumpkinJack is gone, sold, a former PumpkinJack

2009-11-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

My little boy has left the nest so soon. Yea for me!
Yes, Jack has sold for a hefty sum ($200 macaroons) and I could not be any happier. I am starting work on another one this weekend. I'm in the middle of a bust named "Steamy Jane." A lovely little ditty owing much to steampunk.

JDC

"Pumpkin Jack" is available!

2009-11-05T10:04:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin Jack is now available for sale on Etsy. Please buy and make him happy!

JDC

"Hypocrisy of Love" assemblage

2009-11-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

My new piece is available at my etsy shop now. Make me happy and buy it!

JDC

"Pumpkin Jack" is done!

2009-11-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

JDC

WIP - Pumkin Jack Update

2009-11-03T17:18:00.001-08:00

What do you think?

JDC

more recent "Pumpkin Jack" head WIP

2009-11-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

First art doll "Pumpkin Jack"

2009-10-31T01:04:00.000-07:00

Crappy cell pic, but I'm too exhausted to do more right now.

JDC

"Headcase" assemblage piece

2009-10-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my newest piece "Headcase."

I put this together to enter an exhibition at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan.

Good luck to me.

JDC

Site Name change

2009-10-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

The domain name is coming up for renewal and I'm considering not renewing it. The site isn't going anywhere, but will probably switch in November to http://DarkeCuriousityEmproium.blogspot.com/

I took time off to focus on my girlfriend after the lost of our family dog - Bean - last month. She really was like a daughter to us and I've been slow to rejoin things.

I'm back now.

Hi.

JDC

New assemblage: "Gays don't love 'real' love"

2009-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a new assemblage after seeing all of the wonderful republicans who stepped up to save the sanctity of marriage while ruining their own... I'm looking at you Sandford.

Anyway, here are a few pics of the new piece.

I cut the groom and bride apart leaving a very ragged edge to both. I loved working with this particular figure set, but I was sure I'd end up cutting off some fingers in the process. It was nauseating downloading and printing all of the articles I lined the inside with - all of the hypocritical statements against gay marriage made my ill.
This is a framed quote on the frame:
"The sanctity of marriage is a sad thing when love is ignored"

The very prominent background image is from a children's book. An elephant is tying an elephant mask on a bear.

"Black bear sat down.
on the ground.
Very soon the elephant came back.
He made Black Bear look like this.
"Oh, I look very funny."
said Black Bear.
"My friends will not know me."
Then away he went into the woods."

Seemed appropriate for what the repubs are trying to do to the gay community (not to mention the gays in the repub party itself).

$150

JDC

Astonishing Adventures Magazine Issue Seven

2009-08-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

I just finished the new cover for our new issue.

JDC

Steampunk keychain

2009-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

I've been a BIG fan of steampunk for years and I thought I would try my hand at a few pieces of jewelry.

Finding parts for your projects may be difficult, but not impossible. I purchase bags of cogs on eBay. They aren't always cheap, but they are filled with a lot of filler. These can be good since the are very small watch parts. Most bags have a dozen or less useful large cogs that can be a centerpiece for your work. I usually pour the small cogs into the resin to fill in the blank spots (see above).

The largest cog above (under the watch cog at the center) came from an adding machine (I found eight of these beauties in there).

JDC

A quick shout out about Mash Up

2009-06-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

Jessica Schuler of Mash Up says really nice things about my shrines...it only cost me $300 and my DVD of Repo Man, but worth it!

"I love shrines and these are some of the most beautiful ones I've seen!"

She isn't even my mom or related in any way!

JDC

UPDATED: Baby Freak

2009-06-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a new piece that I'm uncertain if I'll put up for sale. Actually, I will, but I don't know what I'll charge. I had this piece in the back of my head for sometime before really building it.

The pictures are a touch blurry and I apologize.I had an image of the wire wings stuck in my head for months. I got the idea from a folding umbrella and BANG! Baby Freak was born.
I do love putting battery operated votive candles in my stuff.
I also have a thing about string, metal frames, and small messages. Sometimes they make sense and sometimes they make sense only to me.

UPDATED: Okay, I put it up on Etsy.

JDC

The Emptiness Shrine

2009-06-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

I completed a few more shrines that I placed on Etsy a few weeks back and I plan on posting here about each. I hope to have a show in the next few weeks, but the pickings are slim here in Manitowoc.

Mighty slim.

JDC

New look

2009-04-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry bout the site being a little slow lately, but I have been so busy. I'll post new images and such over the next few days.

Hope you like the new look!

JDC

Workbench helper

2009-03-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

I was constantly frustrated trying to find my tools in various storage boxes and organizers. I decided to use some basewood and dowels lying around to fix that problem.

I hour, nails, and wood glue gave me this little baby.

I created the bottom shelf to hold files, mini-anvil, nail punches, and xacto blades.

I am so happy with this bad boy.

I've wanted one of these forever.

JDC

The Steampunk Gear Chest

2009-03-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

The Steampunk Gear Chest is a unique assemblage designed to hold your many small treasures. The chest has a hidden switch that lights the vial of mysterious liquid with flickering light.
The drawers (4 as the top drawer holds the electronics and battery box) are lined with soft blue fabric covered with mysterious spirals.
Dimensions
14 1/2 inches x 4 1/2 inches x 3 inches in size

This was a fun build and a challenging one to boot.
I did bend to my compulsion and I used a spiral cloth to line the drawers.

Rigging up the light was the most difficult part. I used one of the flickering votive candles from JoAnn Fabric. I disassembled it and ran the light through the cork in the bottle. I had filled the bottle previously with tea for color and misted the outside with matte fixative. I hated putting a switch on the box so I soldered the contact wires to various parts of the clockwork on top of the box.

Turning the lever in the back activates the flickering light.and there you go!

JDC

Steampunk Dream Box

2009-03-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

The rusted shell of an old memory fading like an ancient photograph. The glass bottle filled with the cogs of time and discolored water eventually also go the way of rust.

The Steampunk Dream Box hangs on a wall from two hooks on the back of the lid. The box projects from the wall about 2 1/2 inch with the base 3 inches across.

This was incredibly fun to do and I had to mix up a fresh batch of rusting solution to do it.

I found this great little pillbox at Kim's brick and mortar shop here in Manitowoc. I had no idea what to do wit it, but I knew something had to be done.

The rusting of the box was wonderful and quick - even if I took a burst of chlorine in my dumbass face.

Anyhow, check out the pics and believe me when I say that it is much cooler in person.

Also, the bottle holds a heap of tiny cogs!

You can buy it here.

JDC

New Works in Progress

2009-02-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post some snaps of new works I am in process on.

JDC

Pinup: Montilee Dark Writer: Completed

2008-12-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

I think I'm done.

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress - WIP with more detail

2008-12-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

Done for the night - bed calls

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress - WIP Expanded background and more curve

2008-12-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress - WIP Different Background

2008-12-20T12:32:00.000-08:00

Liked the moon, but Montilee is all about the baby dolls.

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress - WIP so far

2008-12-19T23:35:00.000-08:00

I am quitting for the night, but here is the WIP so far.

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress-Spiderweb Stockings

2008-12-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a quickie on the spiderweb stockings I just created.

I used a spiderweb brush and a flourish brush to create the pattern below.

I then selected the whole stocking area.

Created a new layer and filled it with black.

Adjusted the opacity.

Then used the Liquefy tool to adjust the shape to conform to Montilee's leg.

Pinup: Montilee the Dark Mistress

2008-12-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a pinup of a friend and I felt it would be cool to do a step-by-step piece since the Darke has been dark for a while.

Montilee is drop dead gorgeous and she was nice enough to consent to modeling for me.

Below is a test render of Miss M that I built and rendered.

Getting the skin color right has been somewhat difficult since she is a "cream in coffee" gal. Also, she is slightly curvier and a touch more voluptuous than I've allowed her to be here. I will capture that when I start painting.

I will post more images as the piece progresses.

JDC

Gallery: Bound

2008-11-02T19:12:00.001-08:00

Bound was a test of different techniques. This is the first time I've installed lighting in a project and must first test of a rusting solution I've mixed up. It worked so well that it ate most of the can.

JDC

Gallery: Baby Electric

2008-11-02T19:09:00.001-08:00

Baby Electric is one of my favorite pieces. I actually plan to do a series of these. the next one is Baby Machine.

JDC

Gallery: Regret

2008-11-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

I love this piece because of the trapped little girl in the center. I'm asked to explain my work a lot and I hate that. What it means to me isn't what it means to the viewer. Man, that sounds artsy-fartsy.

JDC

Gallery: Wonder

2008-11-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

I find altering books to be incredible fun. I love bookwork with baby parts. Man, I did to see someone about this.

JDC

Woot

2008-11-01T09:59:00.001-07:00

Well, this is the new site for the artwork of me!

More soon!

JDC