(Digital Art-"Fever Dream"--2017)
Sandy DeLuca is an American writer and visual artist, born in Providence, Rhode Island. Her paintings are lyrical, colorful and spiritual; moving from the abstract to Pop Surrealism.
She penned several chants published in Silver Ravenwolf's book TO STIR A MAGYCK CAULDRON (pen name Autumn Raindancer).
As an author she is known for dark and surreal prose; often visceral and shocking. She is best known for her work in the horror genre. However, she has written Noir fiction, fantasy and mainstream fiction as well.
She edited and owned a small press magazine entitled GODDESS OF THE BAY from 1998 through 2001, also producing anthologies and collections. In 2003 she operated another publishing company, DECEMBER GIRL, an imprint of DELIRIUM BOOKS. Once again in 2015 she founded MIDNIGHT TOWN MEDIA, focusing on publishing her out of print fiction and compiling books which reference her extensive career in the visual arts., her poetry and fiction.
Although she created visual journals, containing offbeat drawings, since childhood, she began painting in 1985, and had her first solo art show in 1986 at the Community College of Rhode Island, while still a student. Each painting was accompanied by prose written on a card; pieces of the story she told with her paintings. Since then, her paintings have been exhibited widely. In addition, her artwork has been featured as cover art and interior art for various publications, most notably the poetry chapbook, VAMPIRES, ZOMBIES AND WANTON SOULS, with poetry by Marge Simon; with Simon receiving the Bram Stoker award for poetry in 2013. Her own poetry book, BURIAL PLOT IN SAGITTARIUS, also contains her cover art and interior art, and it was nominated for the Bram Stoker for Poetry award in 2000. A copy of this book is maintained at the Brown University library. The poetry collaboration, DANGEROUS DREAMS, with Marge Simon, was nominated for the Bram Stoker award for 2013.
POETRY AND COLLECTIONS
BURIAL PLOT IN SAGITTARIUS (Poetry), 2000, Thievin' Kitty Publications (Nominated for the Bram Stoker for Poetry award and the Rhysling Award)
PATHS OF DESTINY (Selected poetry and short stories), 2001, Double Dragon Books
DANGEROUS DREAMS, with Marge Simon (Poetry), 2013, Electrik Milkbath Press (Nominated for the Bram Stoker for Poetry award and the Elgin Award)
HUNTER'S MOON, selected short stories, 2015, Midnight Town Media
FRAGMENTS, selected short stories and poetry, with Bob Judge (Art), 2015, Midnight Town Media
NOVELS
SETTLING IN NAZARETH, 2003, December Girl Press
DESCENT, 2005, Delirium Books
MANHATTAN GRIMOIRE, 2007, Delirium Books
FROM ASHES, 2008, Delirium Books
NOVELLAS
DARKNESS CONJURED, 2010, Delirium Books
REIGN OF BLOOD, 2011, Delirium Books
INTO THE RED, 2011, Damnation Books
MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD, 2013, DarkFuse
HELL'S DOOR, 2013, DarkFuse
CITY AT THE EDGE OF THE EARTH, 2016, Midnight Town Media
LUPO MANNARO, 2016, NIGHT TO DAWN BOOKS
ART
PAINTING THE THIRD FATE, 2005, Sam's Dot Publishing
THE MAD HATTERY (with Marge Simon's poetry), 2012, Electrik Milkbath Press
VAMPIRES, ZOMBIES & WANTON SOULS (With Marge Simon's poetry), 2012, Electrik Milkbath Press
APPARITIONS: Thirty Years of Strange Art, 2015, Midnight Town Media
ETHEREAL BEINGS, 2015, Midnight Town Media
NAUGHTY LADIES (With Marge Simon's poetry), 2015, Eldritch Press
CHILDHOOD, 2015, Midnight Town Media
TALES OF AN EARTHBOUND TRAVELER, 2015, Midnight Town Media
SMALL SPIRITS, 2016, (With Marge Simon's poetry), 2016, Midnight Town Media
Cover art and interiors...among others...Euku, poetry collection by Karen L. Newman, cover painting and interior drawings, I Don't Know What You're Having, poetry collection by David C. Kopeska Merkel, cover drawing and interior drawings, Shoggoths, by David Kopeska Merkel, cover painting and interior drawings, Ravens Runes, poetry collection by Karen A. Romanko, interior drawings, In the Dark, poetry collection by Angela Albee, cover painting and interior drawings, Tonton Marcote, Eggplant Literary Productions, novella by William Allen, cover painting, Etta Mae's Little Theory, Eggplant Literary Productions, novella by Loria Ann White, cover painting, The Red Red Robin Project, Lone Wolf Publications, an experimental collection of short story collaborations by various authors on CD Rom, interior drawings, Lunatic Chameleon/The Catbird Seat, small press zines both online and print, did cover art and interior drawings for various issues. (2002 through 2011)
EDITORIAL/PUBLISHING PROJECTS:
Goddess of the Bay Publications, I produced and edited a monthly zine of poetry, art and short stories. In addition, specialty projects such as A Midsummer's Night Terror, Something Wicked (experimental fiction collections) were produced under this banner.
December Girl Press (an imprint of Delirium Books): I produced and edited a collection of 'Noir fiction called Crime Spree and a rare collectible novel Saying Uncle, by Greg F. Gifune. (1999 through 2003)
Novels: Settling In Nazareth, Descent, Manhattan Grimoire From Ashes, Requiem for the Dead (unpublished). (2003 through 2009) Novella: Their Children's Cries Unheard (unpublished)(2010)
VISUAL BODIES OF WORK:
Figures and Fantasies 1986--Expressionistic figurative work, Shapeshifting--Fantasy paintings of felines, strange lands and the female figure.
The Genre 1995-2002-Paintings inspired by genre writings and imagined images related to my own writings.
Abstract Experiments In the City 2002-2006
New York inspired art. 2007-2008
Nightmare Images 2009.
DARK POP 2010 ongoing project.
Digital Experiments 2016 ongoing project.
AWARDS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Burial Plot in Sagittarius was a finalist for the Bram Stoker award. A copy of the book is maintained in the Brown University Library. My Poem Sarah (a piece from Burial Plot in Sagittarius) was nominated for the Rhysling award. My poem Girl's of the Seventies from a group called Wicked Verse received a honorable mention in Years Best Fantasy and Horror, 2004.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Community College of Rhode Island, Solo shows at Warwick and Lincoln campuses; various group shows Warwick Campus (1987-1997). Border Books, Cranston and Providence, Rhode Island (2003), Two paintings were on loan for exhibit in President's reception area Community College of RI, 1987. Wink Dink Ink Gallery and tattoo parlor, (New York) 2010. New Hope Gallery (Cranston, RI) February 15th 2011, Hughes/Donahue Gallery (Taunton, MA) June 25, 2011. Hughes/Donahue Gallery, Group Show, July 27th, 2011. Hughes Donahue Gallery, Group Show, August 13th, 2011, New Hope Gallery, Group Show, October 18, 2011, Anything Goes Gallery (Warwick, RI), October 2011 (ongoing). Season Finale Group Show at Hughes/Donahue Gallery, November 5th, 2011. Stage Right Studios, Woonsocket, RI, December 7th, 2011. Group Show at Hughes/Donahue Gallery June 23, 2012, Jerry's Artarama (Providence, RI) June 21, 2012, Gallery Q Summer, Juried, (Providence, RI) June 1, 2012, Anything Goes Gallery, Featured Artist, July 12th, 2012, Ugly Dog Gallery (Attleboro, MA), August 2012.
There are more, including mail art exhibits in France, Italy, Malaysia, Spain and other countries. My art resides in European collections, American, Japanese and Australian. I've sold and exhibited my art on Ebay, in hair salons, tattoo parlors and bookstores. There's much more, but I'm a horrid record keeper and it doesn't matter as long as it's out there...somewhere..in this world...as long as I'm still creating...
I no longer exhibit, but for select shows. My paintings are available for sale, and queries are always welcome. In addition, prints of both my digital work and paintings are available at venues like RedBubble, Deviant Art and Society6.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My paintings are influenced by my own distinct world. Always changing. Sometimes bright splashes of color, without shape, fill my canvases. Other times, figures emerge, eccentric women, with large eyes and fingernails painted black. Some occupy strange landscapes. Some are inspired by the fiction and poetry that I write. Others are born from pop culture, politics and mystical studies. My work is a visual journal filled with experiences, imaginings and feelings.
I am influenced by many artistic movements as well as artists whom I've met and admired. At times I study these influences and experiment. I study technique, style and I often create small canvases, trying to see what others have seen and felt. Painting after painting--one after the other. Night after night this goes on and always fragments of my own vision break through. At times I write the words I need to write, straining to perfect technique and cursing because I'm not perfect. What I see and feel must be expressed in my own way. So, in the end, I take what I've learned, and then go back inside myself. This where I am most comfortable. This place tells me nothing is perfect. My art isn't always pretty. Neither is life. Often the mainstream ignores what I have to say. The layers of understanding that must be peeled away. The pain that one must endure. It doesn't matter anymore. I create what I feel. I do what I do to please myself. I do it to survive.
Please note, that currently I am creating digital pieces that relate to the horror, fantasy and Science Fiction genres. I am seeking work with publishers, and striving to find homes for these pieces. Thank you. Sandy DeLuca
