The inspiring artists and writers that were selected for the December 2016 ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal issue and online exhibition themed Spooky.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Lauren Jenkins

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Since the beginning of its history, myths, legends, and false fears evolved about photography. For example, some religious people believe that a camera could steal a person’s soul. There is certainly something eerie about this possibility, and to immortalize moments like this, young artists like Lauren Jenkins will talk about the shadow side of who we are—our identities, and how they work.

Lauren Jenkins is the Gold Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.laurenjenkinsphotography.com

Rachael Craigmyle

The Last Inn

Where on earth is the bus? Sitting underneath an ebony sky, there was nothing around Jake save the bench he was perched upon. He felt engulfed by the mist and soaked beyond bones. He wound his scarf higher, trying his best to create a barrier against the raindrops that dripped relentlessly down his neck. Screw it, I’ll walk…

The living classic of horror genre, Stephen King, claimed, “We make up horrors to helps us cope with the real ones.” We can do nothing but agree with his thought as we note the growing popularity of horror literature, which attracts increasingly talented contemporary writers like Rachael Craigmyle.

Rachael Craigmyle is the Gold Writer of the ArtAscent Spooky call for writers. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Barbara Weidell

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Each epoch has its own aesthetical criteria for defining beauty and ugliness. It sees we can easily tell one from another; however, the artist, Barbara Weidell, proves that the essences of beauty and ugliness cannot be defined or reduced to simple opposites of each other, as the borders between beauty and ugliness are more blurred than we may think.

Barbara Weidell is the Silver Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.bweidell.org

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Melissa Wright

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Though fear is one of the first feelings we experience, its nature still remains obscure to us. As we grow up, we develop the ability to rationalize and forget most of the things we had feared in childhood. However, rationalizing doesn’t always eliminate all of our fears. Photographer Melissa Wright helps us explore the fears that still trigger us and how they transform us.

Melissa Wright is the Bronze Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.melissawrightphoto.com

Katrina Carey

Lace and Bones

Her house was dark and damp. Like being in a tunnel underground, forgotten by anyone who cared and smelling like years of loss and silence. Strange noises at night, scratches and bumps. Sometimes clear and rhythmic, sometimes only just there…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Sharon Covert

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.sharoncovert.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Etta J. Martin

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

Theresa Gage

One Spooky Night

The wind howled in the stairwell. I shivered as a chill circulated the eighth floor wing of the trauma hospital. I wore a turtleneck under my scrubs, but it didn’t help much. I swore the management turned the heat off at night. The patients slept and I felt restless. I jumped up and walked the halls for something to do…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Rob DePaolo

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.robdepaolophotography.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Candi S. Kalinsky

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.kalinskyphotography.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Carolina Arellanos

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Jessica Carder

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see this in print, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.jessicacarder.com

Carolyn Toms-Neary

The Angel in the Apple Tree

His sour odor washes over me until my guts shrivel and my soul screams. His cruel demanding fingers dig into my face. “Look me in the eye, Branca. Look at me! Say it! Tell your daddy how much you love him…”

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Xuange Wang

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see this in print, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Alfonso M. Rodriquez

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see this in print, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.alfonsomrodriguez.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Ken Moran

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Tom Acevedo

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.tomacevedoartstudio.com

Susan Nickerson

Zombie Messiah

I have no idea how long I’ve been here, hiding under this dingy white sheet. Stained and threadbare, it feels cool against my sweaty skin as I crouch in the corner of the upstairs bedroom. I pray that I look like a forgotten pile of laundry and no one will find me…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Annie Smith

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.facebook.com/AnnieSmithPhoto

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Jane Dickson

ArtAscent Artist of the Spooky call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Spooky call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Spooky issue.
www.mysticalspiritstudio.com