Fourteen Lon Chaney Icons

[jordannamorgan]

Due to the ridiculous number of icons I've made already this month, I'm adjusting my posting policy a little. From now on, if I have at least a dozen icons of a particular person/subject, I will post them separately from my monthly hodgepodge. This will ease the overcrowding in my "pending icons" folder. *g*

First to meet that dozen-icon criteria is the great Lon Chaney--arguably the first genuine classic horror star.


Please comment and credit. Do not alter without permission. Do not hotlink.

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14

These were interesting icons to make. Some random commentary:

#1: Sometimes the simplest approach is the best (or a picture just speaks for itself). I did very little with this icon besides the text, yet it's one of my favorites in the lot.

#2: Even I find myself reacting to this picture with a slight "Rowr". Ever notice how guys back then could be muscular without being big slabs of beef? *siiigh*...

#3: Another simple-looking icon, although I had a minor battle with the text. The sharp, high-contrast image was too interesting to clutter with needless texturing.

#4: My least favorite of the batch. I made it solely as an excuse to play with the lantern lighting--but I didn't know what to do with it after that, and it shows.

#5-6: Two variations on a theme, using window-shadow textures from meleada. I like these; they look to me like very modern movie posters.

#7: That is the most prolific shot found in image searches for Chaney--but it's my favorite icon here, nonetheless. I couldn't resist sneaking in another cross-shaped shadow, because the old Opera Ghost looks awfully like a vampire to me. (This icon won second place at classicicontest.)

#8: Eh on this one. I won't be surprised if someone jumps in to tell me that isn't actually a Marine uniform, although I seem to recall one of Chaney's more lauded roles being a hard-bitten Marine sergeant.

#9: It's hard to tell, but Chaney is trying on a set of fangy teeth in that shot. The interesting blue-green two-tone is actually the picture's original coloring as I found it.

#10: Something understated. Chaney does have a fascinating face--and what a peculiarly winsome expression. I quite like this.

#11: Off-topic question: does anyone know a more proper name for that "newsie" type of hat? It gives me great glee when James Cagney wears them. *g*

#12: Chaney with his makeup kit. (I did not colorize this.) The picture makes me think Cagney wasn't such an odd choice to play Chaney, after all; here Lon remarkably displays almost the same wolfish, looking-up-from-under-the-brows grin that was so distinctive to Jimmy.

#13: Something a bit silly, really. I made these last two a couple of days after the first dozen, and I wasn't quite as inspired then.

#14: A different view of the Phantom.


Coming soon: two more single-subject icon posts featuring Cary Grant and X-Men, once a couple of current icontests have concluded.

I might also add that I've just become a co-moderator at x_men_stills, the X-Men movieverse icontest. My first challenge there will be posted tonight. Wish me luck! *g*


If you enjoy my work and would like to show appreciation for it, I welcome tips in the form of Dreamwidth Points. (Enter my username "jordannamorgan" as the account you're buying for.)

Comments

[silvretine.livejournal.com]

*snaggage* :)

[jordannamorgan]

:D Glad you like!

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I can't see enough to tell if it's a marine uniform or not. :) The high collar seems to have hung around later in the Marines than in the army. I'm not sure when the army changed to a spread collar, although I suspect it was well before WWII. The color definitely seems to be the dark marine blue, though, and certainly not the army khaki/brown. Good call.

'Newsboy' is the term I see the most, but I agree that it seems to be a modern term and not a period one. In original literature (most recently, Nero Wolfe) it's simply a 'cap,' as opposed to a hat. Another modern term is the Gatsby. Golf caps are similar, but the shape is really very different.

I don't think I've actually seen any of his films, but they're very interesting icons. I really appreciate the commentary, though. I hope you're planning on continuing it.

[jordannamorgan]

The icon-making process isn't always interesting enough to merit commentary, especially if I'm not really inspired. It's hard to come up with anything to say about an icon if I'm not enthused about it while making it.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Understood. That makes these even more interesting.

[jordannamorgan]

:)

[estherblodgett.livejournal.com]

Cool icons! I like the commentary you added towards each one. I was going to do that when I started making icons, but backed out. I don't know why though..lol Keep up the cool work! =)

[jordannamorgan]

Thanks! :)

[jordannamorgan]

Thank you! :)

Thank You!

[leonidas-chaney.livejournal.com]

You do WONDERFUL work!

Please, visit my MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/leonidas_chaney); and, if you have an account there, befriend me.

Thanks again,

Lon

Re: Thank You!

[jordannamorgan]

Thanks very much!

I'm not on MySpace, though. LiveJournal is my community. :)

Re: Thank You!

[leonidas-chaney.livejournal.com]

You might want to rethink that. I and my assistant have profiles on MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Yahoo! 360, Blogger and have just joined Live Journal and will be developing that.

Used properly, all of these can be great networking resources, each offering something different from the other. Many of my friends on MySpace are highly accomplished professional artists whose works have appeared in books, on ads and in magazines. So far, for me anyway, MySpace has proven to be the best of them all, for making meaningful connections.

Your work is very good. It should been seen.

Re: Thank You!

[jordannamorgan]

Well, you see... MySpace has a habit of locking up my computer. :Þ Among other reasons why I don't care for it.

Again, thanks for the compliments. :)

[imzabbadammit.livejournal.com]

The movie is called "Tell It To The Marines." Your text is so....imaginative. What a wonderful service you provide.

[jordannamorgan]

Thank you. :)

[stardust78.livejournal.com]

Nice icons! I especially like the Phantom of the Opera ones. :)

[jordannamorgan]

Thank you!

[grimm-tales.livejournal.com]

These are great! I've taken: 5, 7, & 14. Will credit when used. Thank you.

[jordannamorgan]

Thanks!

[odango-princess.livejournal.com]

Love you're icon style! Been browsing through, you've got wonderful taste - period. Took #14 and credited, thanks! All ways looking for good POtO icons.

[jordannamorgan]

Thank you! :)