Friday, March 25, 2011

More Swamp Lights

Went more for a fungus growthy look.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are really cool. Are you using real tea lights or fake?

foggyfathoms said...

i love those! (foggyfathoms)

Marrow said...

These are wonderful things Rot! Truly wonderful. Can I make some of these for a 'thing' I'm doing on April 31st?

And please put up some more photos of them. They're incredible.

Rot said...

Thanks!
Those are real tea lights. Had some leftover clove candles from Dark Candles. Those seem to burn brighter than the 50-pack tea lights I've tried in the past.

Sure thing, Marrow.
No permission needed. : )

Pam Morris said...

simply stunning, rot. and may I say that I think you are probably the most innovative and imaginative Halloween artist out there. wow.

Rot said...

Hey thanks, Pam! : )

Brandi McKenna said...

Holy Halloween! These are incredible! I love mossy swampy looking things and have been experimenting with moss and lichen myself! I LOVE them!!!!YOu are brilliant!!

crudedoodle.com said...

i really love the hollow burntish tube holes coming out of each of these. it makes you think "intenstines" and bio-organic things.

The October boy said...

What more can be said? Your work is truly amazing.
I think it sparks all of us to expand our craft a bit. Thanks for sharing.

Marrow said...

Cool! I'll start on them today!

So will these swamp lights be used in your haunt this year? I'm really looking forward to it. SWAMP FOETUS. It's gonna be amazing.

One last thing, when do you think Haunt Theory will be released? You've already sold me a copy.

Rot said...

Yup. They're going to be a part of this year's haunt.

Been overloaded lately and haven't spent much time on Haunt Theory ..sorry!

Autumnleaf said...

I'm in love with these!! Would you ever consider putting some in the shop? Fantastic look!!

Rot said...

Thanks.

Probably won't be available on the shop due to the size.

Marrow said...

You might be able to fit them into poster tubes. I know you can buy them at most post offices. And maybe have the sticky out parts unattached, so the buyer assembles it. Yeah, maybe not the whole assembly thing...

Hope that helps.

JHMDF said...

You know these are great right? I hope you make some big hairy Sasquatch creature for your swamp haunt... Would be sick!

Samhainn said...

Best of their kind I've seen, Rot. Fantastic work.

ShellHawk said...

They're terrible. I'll take them off your hands so you don't have to look at them anymore.

I'm a giver, me.

FoolishCop said...

You know, it's not so much the actual "thing" that is inspiring, but rather your ability to take the commonplace into new directions.

I'm sure there were plenty of groundbreakers made before you started making yours, but its was the life that you breathed into them that made haunters everywhere take notice.

And it's not so much that these swamp lights are awesome (though they are) but it's imbuing them with the feel of the swamp that makes you take notice.

Lots of "witch lights" have popped up lately, and we were content with how good they looked. Then these swamp lights show up and you realize just how much of a different plane you operate on.

Your ability to see things as others haven't or can't is what sets your works of art apart.

Really nice job, Rot, in elevating a simple tea light into a work of art.

Rich

Rot said...

Thanks, everyone.
So glad you're digging these.

K.O. said...

YES! Brilliant work as always. The algae is so beautifully thick on these lights--it looks like they were dragged out of the swamp after being there for years. Very creepy!

Dave Lowe said...

I love that your making simple things such as lanterns that usually go unnoticed in displays not being a hero prop with such care and character. It's those kind of details that really help tell a story.

Countess VonRauber (Heidi) said...

Wow, the concept is super creative and they are gorgeous! Will you be using them in your display this year?

Rot said...

yup : )

All Together Dead said...

are you using the wooden stakes like for plants? or like Tiki Torch stakes wooden/metal??? trying to figure out how tall those are??? Thanks in advance.

Rot said...

Those are actually the green garden stakes which are made of some kind of green-coated plastic or aluminum.

Mine are about five feet tall.

I used a bamboo post, but it bends under the weight of the jar.
I'd imagine that tiki posts would be perfect.

All Together Dead said...

thank you for the response and even more for the inspriation... off to Lowes...

Samsara said...

I've been oogling over these ever since I tripped into this wonderful site.
What little gems of information are you willing to offer about making these?

DJ Selchie said...

These are STUNNING! Did you know they're on a bunch of peoples' fae-centered Pinterest boards? They're so cool! ^_^

Might you have a how-to tutorial on them anywhere? Or maybe photos of them in progress? Oooh, or even a place where one could buy them, perhaps? I'm working on an old swamp character for an upcoming event and these would be PERFECT for her. ^_^

Thank you so very much, and HUGE kudos again. :D

Rot said...

Hey thanks.
I don't really have any how-to's or progess shots, but I duct taped a mason jar to the top of a green garden post and added the detail with rolled or clumped newspaper wrapped in duct tape. Then coated it with paper towels dipped in glue mache (one part emler's glue/two parts water).

Unknown said...

what do you use to make these if I may ask?

Rot said...

the post above is kinda how I do it.
The key is using strong duct tape to make the basic shape around a garden post and a mason jar at the top...lumps are created with clumped tape. Then i coat it with smooth paper towels dipped into a mixture of elmers glue and water.
Water the glue down until it has the consistency of whole milk....then wring out the paper towel and apply in layers.

Unknown said...

These are so cool. I am going to enjoy making some for our haunted forest this year. If you don't mind me asking, what did you use to create the creepy amber color on the jar?

Rot said...

I painted the inside of the glass jar with watered down orange paint..works like a dream for tinting glass.

justpeggy said...

Love love love these- I am going to take a shot of trying to come close to re-creating--unless I can order one from you...guessing not---so do the tops come off for access to candles?-or some secret magic thing you do??

Rot said...

The tops are open to let the heat from the candles escape.
That's the only downside...i use real tealights so it's tricky getting them in there and lighting them..so I use one of those click lighters with the long neck.

Unknown said...

And here I was about to spend $16 ea. on a couple of those hanging cauldron flame looking type lights---but THESE are so stinkin awesome!! I'll make several for next Halloween. Thanks for sharing & the inspiration. Well done!