Scared of the nothing

With Halloween right around the corner I started to think about what really is scary? When I see all the gore and destruction of a big blockbuster action or horror movie my typical response is to laugh. The bigger the spectacle, the more fantastic it becomes for the audience and no one can connect this spectacle with reality so instead of horror we have a laughable light show. Unless the spectacle is tied to a historic event so people can form the conscious connection with an event they know occurred.

What really scares is the eerie noise creating the anticipation as the actor wanders down that hallway even though everyone in the theater is screaming at the top of their lungs "Don't do it, girl!". What really scares is the whisper of an unfamiliar noise in the shadows of your room at night. The hooting of an owl. What scares are feelings of isolation, hearing or seeing something that is unexpected, or strange, a sense of chaos or doom creating an unstable psyche.

What really scares is The Nothing. Not the "bad guy" from the Never Ending Story, if The Nothing Can be really called a bad guy. But the sense that you have nothing, are nothing or are about to become nothing. The Nothing is a sense that everything you have done up to this point is nothing. The is the time to look into the Nothing and make your decision. This is the time to become something.

New Original Art Prints

I just posted some new designs to www.imagekind.com
I have started to work on a series of beach inspired designs and digital paintings.

surfer girl paintings series 1
-Dan

Art prints for sale

I recently started using this service called imagekind.com for selling prints of my artwork. Check it out and let me know what you think. Be sure to investigate the paper and framing options.
www.danmasc.imagekind.com

purchase a print of "Escaping mental bondage" by Dan Mascari

Great Ads of the world

Outdoor advertisement highlighting Leica camera's zoom feature



What makes a great advertisement? For this particular example (above) for Leica cameras highlighting the 12x optical zoom feature the unique use of environment by extending the footprint of the ad, and essential the impact of the ad to the entire wall makes the ad great.

Is it foolish to think that you can distill anything great down to one essential element? Some ads are great because of the use of comedy, some because of the serious nature and somber attitude they convey. Others are great because they treat a topic in a unique manner, or play with the context of the ad.


Here are a few gathered together for your amusement.

Painting Techniques

I have been trying to paint again recently and figured I should probably consult the mighty internet. I have received little formal education on painting and figured a little instructional support couldn't hurt. The first video I found via Google was short and quick and offered several simple and effective techniques by Nancy Reyner courtesy of HGTV.

Follow the link here for a glimpse.