never stop being silly, friends.
styofa doing anything
Jules of Nature
Sweet Seals For You, Always
we're not kids anymore.

JBB: An Artblog!
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
🪼
Misplaced Lens Cap
taylor price
almost home
Game of Thrones Daily

pixel skylines
NASA

JVL
dirt enthusiast

❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
trying on a metaphor
h
todays bird

blake kathryn

seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Israel

seen from United States

seen from Malaysia

seen from Brazil

seen from United States
seen from Russia

seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from Mexico

seen from Germany

seen from Brazil
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from Pakistan

seen from United States

seen from Honduras
seen from Pakistan
@elijasaurus
never stop being silly, friends.
Very proud to present this little piece I’ve been working on for my pattern portfolio. Hope you guys like it :)!
@chintzmann,
If this was available as fabric, I’d definitely make clothes out of it! Nasturtiums are my favorite.
I’m in love with this, I’ve never seen a repeat pattern look so deep/3-dimensional??? and YES, I would also like some fabric in this print, can you IMAGINE the adorable gardening romper I could make?????
How To Talk To Your Monster
The Monstrous May Challenge:
Sunday 2nd May 2021 — How To Talk To Your Monster
How does your monster communicate?
Do they have a mouth, lips, a tongue, like humans do? Do they communicate verbally at all? Do they communicate via telepathy, via their tentacles, or their limbs? Do they speak, but at a pitch or volume or speed inaudible or incomprehensible to human ears? How is this gap bridged?
Does your monster understand humans but struggle to make itself understood? Does your monster want to be understood?
Alternate: How does your monster communicate with other, different monsters?
---
Misunderstood monsters was a through-line for my thesis work. As someone who continues to feel monstrous and misunderstood, it’s a through-line for my life. But communicating with my monsters has been a good way for me to understand them, to integrate them.
The way my thesis monster, Wat, “communicated” with the audience was two fold: directly, through the use of text that was part of or within his environment; and subconsciously, through his body language, facial expression, posture, etc. I specifically wanted a human inside the monster suit, so that all the unconscious things we pick up from other humans would be transposed. The audience would automatically relate, or want to relate, to something that still registers as “other.” (However, because Wat was designed only to be photographed, I didn’t have to come up with a vocal answer to this.)
I’ve struggled a lot with communication since the pandemic started. And my feelings of being a misunderstood monster have surged. This past year, I’ve mostly communicated to others through memes. This form of communication is digital/tech based rather than analogue, and depends on a community of others to also be so equipped. Most of the time when I think of monsters, I think of crytids and hybrid-animals; most of the monsters I draw have fur and/or feathers. It might be because I’m a very tactile/texture loving person: I want to be able to hug my monsters (and make them out of faux fur & felt). But maybe it’s time I thought more about cyborg monsters. Monsters with tails and teeth and tech. Monsters that can send memes.
“What is a monster?”
The Monstrous May Challenge:
Saturday 1st May 2021 — What is a monster?
Here’s a warm-up challenge to start the month off:
For you, what is a monster? What makes a monster monstrous? What delights you, excites you, scares you, horrifies you about a monster? What fills you with affection for monster?
When you first hear the word monster, what springs first to mind?
This is a free space — talk about, write about, draw, animate, sing about, the monster(s) you love best, and why you love them! ---
I’ve talked a lot about monsters, especially on this blog. But if you’ve been around since then, you’ll know my I AM A MONSTER thesis work was 8 years ago (what even is time, amiright?). And while some things change some things don’t, and I still feel that work to be relevant to me personally as well as conversations I’ve had with others since then. So what is a monster? A monster is someone or something that is, or is perceived to be, other. Inherently other, or othered by society or circumstance: there are so many ways to be considered other. Most monsters are demonized because of their otherness, and I am still most interested in exploring and exposing how our relentless need to simplify and categorise is unfair and unnecessary: let us all be complex and contradictory, be okay with our monsters, and each others’.
hello, it’s been a minute
It’s been a verrrrrry long time since I’ve posted anything to here, and satan knows who still follows me/reads my posts, but even if I’m shouting into the void, it will be nice to share again.
I am going to attempt to share some musings for the #MonstrousMayChallenge
I miss making monsters, and I have several ideas brewing, ideas that have been pushed to the back burner for years, if I’m being honest. I’m not always great at being able to follow through on a daily challenge, so I’ll be keeping this a bit looser for myself.
I MADE A FOUR-METRE LONG SNAKE PUPPET.
Because when a friend comes to you and says: “hey, I need a giant snake puppet for a performance” of course you say yes. The body is made from a velveteen and and a lycra, and “reinforced” with a muslin backing so it wouldn’t stretch poorly when stuffed. The lycra material was also used to back the eyes! I used some foam to structure the head, and some thin plastic to give the inside of the mouth smooth flatness. The fangs were made from polymer clay bake, and painted with a clear lacquer to give them a bit of a shiny “wet look”. The tongue is a bit of pink suede. Although I’ve made a bunch of monsters, they’ve all been made to be “photographic props” basically, and never meant for live action/puppetry. This is my first proper puppet!!! Also, they’ll be using the snake for another performance coming up!
Happy Monster Monday!!!
Here are a few portraits I drew last week. It suddenly got cold in Melbourne, and I couldn’t face my un-insulated studio, so I decide to draw instead of sew. I don’t really draw, but monsters are always the exception.
Friendly reminder about my Be The Monster fundraising campaign: https://igg.me/at/BeTheMonster where I will be bringing my monsters to Toronto for anyone/everyone to sit for their very own [photo] portrait, as a monster <3
Be The Monster You Want To See In The World
fundraising campaign! https://igg.me/at/BeTheMonster
Yes, hi, hello, more monstersness is happening!!!! I can’t believe I’ve been quiet about this on here, I have clearly been too busy/distracted. (also, after taking a look at my archive, apparently I posted about the making process of this monster on my instagram but not this tumblr??? what has happened to me???????)
Please donate/share/get involved if you can!!! I can’t wait to keep this work going!!!
Happy Hallowe'en, I miss you Canada. (I can't actually go anywhere, especially in these heels, because sciatica, but let's all enjoy how great I look, and that I finally got to put together this outfit)
Heads up! This is happening in 3 WEEKS! And! There will be a new monster!!! Yes, that’s right, Wat is getting a new sibling. I’ll be sharing the making process of this new, yet-to-be-named monster on my instagram @elijatude Artist statement/description:
I AM A MONSTER – and you can be, too.
Monsters have always been a way for us to categorize others. In 2013, Elija Montgomery created I AM A MONSTER: a photo essay of a monster’s life, and his underlying humanity. These six photos highlighted our similarities by exposing them as our assumption of difference. Building on this work, Montgomery now invites you to become the monster. This interactive performance piece welcomes the public to don a ‘monster character’ and sit for a portrait. While this guise may cover the face, participants will still find themselves recognizable. This piece explores identity, individuality, and being different while belonging to a greater whole. I AM A MONSTER – and you can be, too is the next chapter in Montgomery’s monstrous body of work.
!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED, BUT ALSO SO BUSY SO THAT’S WHY I HAVE BEEN BAD AT UPDATES/INFO!!! But expect updates/documentation posts!!!!!
I taught myself how to make a hat today! It’s not perfect, cause I kept making adjustments as I went, but now I have a good idea of how hat construction goes, so the next one will be even simpler. I am going to make so many hats, you guys. This one will most likely be the most “normal” looking, I want to get weird.
Just in case you aren't following my @elijatude updates: here I am with my newest monster pals :D
While I have been both making monsters and dressing like a flamboyant wizard for years, it only just dawned on me how very 'Newt Scamander' I am when I bring these things together.
Here it is! The vest I made last week!It photographs very purpley, but in person it's more of a midnight blue colour. The outside is linen, the lining is cotton.This is the first vest I've ever made. h first time I've done French seams, the first time I've done a slit/vent in the back like that, and only the second or third time I've done welt pockets.Moreover: when it comes to sewing and pattern drafting, I am 80-90% self taught. I share this because, even though I have been sewing for years, I have been holding myself back from calling myself a "clothes maker" (tailor? seamster?? textiles wrangler???). I've had this fear that because I was never "formally trained" when it comes to clothes making, I was not good enough, not worthy of aligning myself with those who have been. But I am finally recognizing my skill and talent, that I have learned from the bottom up, rather than top down. And that's just as legitimate. So I am done with doubting myself, and you should be too. Never stop learning, and teaching yourself (and others!) awesome things that you love to do.xoElija
PS: I’ve got an Instagram that will be covering all the things I make that don’t fall under Call Me Cornelius. I’m “branding” such things under the awesome name of Elijatude. Along with this, I’m going to try and get back to updating this process blog much more!! I miss doing so! Stay tuned!
I have to do desk work on a beautiful day, but at least I get to decide where my desk will be? I have a meeting with my business mentor tomorrow, and I'm very stressed about it: my financials are such that I feel stalled and stagnated, unable to grow or push my business without money to invest into it. But today there is the sun on my face, and a fresh breeze.
so I know that ACAB stands for All Cops Are Bastards but as a trans person, sometimes I get confused, and I think it might be something else like "Assigned Cat At Birth" so I think that needs to be a thing.
How have I been spending my Friday night? Oh, just by image searching “giant grubs” and making some creeeeeeeeepy little appendages. I had this “skin tone” sculpy left over from this side project, and decided it would actually be the best for some weirdo monster arms, rather than a more insect-like colour. I think I’ll use leather/suede for the faceplate? And I’ve got a bunch of shiny plastic monster eyes already (as you do). The body will probs be a combination of felt and suede?? Maybe some velvet??? I’m super excited for this little weirdo to take shape :D Also, if you’re on Instagram, I’ll be posting updates to @elicitmonsters
Sometimes you have a ridiculous idea at 1am, and you have to see it through.