The Woman Who Made my Favorite Monster

The first classic horror movies I watched were at the YMCA summer camp when I was around 8 years old. It was the mid 90s and I was sporting a pair of fancy LA Gear light up shoes which would light up like crazy during the more intense scenes. ​

After lunch we would all sit around the TV on a rolling stand, waiting to see which movie the camp counselor would pop into the VCR. We watched The Blob, It Came from Outer Space, and The Creature From the Black Lagoon. 

I was already obsessed with the Twilight Zone and The Munsters, so seeing these classic horror films really confirmed my love for the horror genre. I was particularly drawn to The Creature from the Black Lagoon. So, when I decided to listen to an audio book while I was finishing up some art projects I was surprised to find out I would fall in love with the Creature even more.

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick, by Mallory O’Meara, tells the story of the original designer of the gill man monster. Milicent Patrick was this beautiful woman, dressed impeccably by the way, who designed one of my favorite monsters. I had never heard of her or even considered her and now here I was sitting on my living room floor crushing hard on her. 

A woman designed one of the most iconic monsters in the 1950s and was forgotten because of her gender. 

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by that sentence. It was the 1950s after all. But, after I finished the book I couldn't help but wonder what other women worked on my favorite characters? 

Which brings me to Ve Neill. I didn’t even know who she was until I started watching Syfy’s show FACE OFF. Ve was the makeup artist for another one of my favorite movies of all time, Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice! 

How did I go most of my life without knowing my two favorite characters were made by women? 

That’s not a hard question to answer. This idea that men make horror and women are the victims in horror is just so ingrained in the narrative, it’s hard to believe otherwise. Especially when nobody is telling their stories.

And while I am not making things for film in Hollywood, I have my own stories of disadvantages from being a woman artist. As all women do, in all fields. But, I didn’t want to write a blog post about all the bullshit they, we, have to go through. 

I am much more interested in highlighting women who are killin’ it out there and showing off the things they are doing. How many other fabulous ladies are out there making the characters, stories, and artwork that I connect with the most?

Here is a small list of some of my favorite women artists who make delightfully weird things. I am continuously inspired by their ideas and the things they make. These are the ladies I look up to. And I think you should too.  

ChristinE McConnelL

An extraordinary baker and artist of all things spooky. 
​www.christinehmcconnell.com

poison apple printshop

Artist Adreienne Rozzi creates artwork for those interested in historical witchcraft and magick.
​https://poison-apple-printshop.myshopify.com/

sophia rapata

Haunting watercolor and ink illustrations.
Sophia Rapata's Etsy Shop Link​

catherine e. moore

Magically mysterious artworks shrouded in the supernatural.
teaandcanvas.com

mab graves

Contemporary Pop-Surrealist inspired by science, 60's space culture, fairy tales, and classic literature.
www.mabgraves.com

magpie rodgers

Dark surrelist painter and graphite artist. 
magpierodgers.com

caitlin mccarthy

Dark and dreamy graphite drawings of the mystical and macabre. 
Caitlin McCarthy's Etsy Shop

handsome devils puppets

Hand-sculpted and decorated puppets by Han.
www.handsomedevilspuppets.com

feral femme art

Wood-based mixed media pieces with a narrative by Rachaela DiRosaria. 
feralfemmeart.bigcartel.com

tall tales productions

Highly detailed and unique miniatures by artist Caroline McFarlane.
www.tall-tales.com

Milicent Patrick, Ve Neill, and all of the other women artists out there are paving the way for the future girls who want to make creepy things. Feel free to drop the names of your favorite women artists in the comments who inspire you!