The Art and Photography of Rutherford Manor
Sept 25, 2019 to Oct. 31st 2019 – The Orange Hub – Edmonton, AB
Welcome to information page for the Rutherford Manor Art and Photography Exhibition. The entire team at Rutherford Manor would like the thank the administration staff at The Orange Hub in Edmonton for allowing us to premier our artistic works.
Since the very beginning of the journey towards taking the concepts and characters of Rutherford Manor into pop-culture it was realized that the creation of unique art, imagery, and stories would be the cornerstone for creating a new fantasy – thriller – horror brand that fans worldwide would resonate to. The creator of the Rutherford Manor Universe, Preston Ewasiuk, knew that it would take the creation of a team of talented artists, writers, photographers, models, writers, actors, and more to take the characters he created and make them pop-culture icons. This team of extremely talented people have helped the Rutherford Manor brand succeed to where it is today and where it will go in the future.
This exhibition showcases several of these talented people that have been involved in the visual side of the Rutherford Manor Universe. We have chosen a very SMALL sample of what is now an extensive library of over a thousand pieces of art, photography, and more in our archives. We hope that you enjoy this very small example of the Rutherford Manor Universe. Thank you for attending this exhibition.
CANVAS ART
Creepy Clown
Artist: Jamie Pruden
Model: Sean Gordon
Photographer: Preston Ewasiuk
Project: The Black Altar
Medium: Digital Art
This piece was one of the first works of art that was created for the upcoming card game, The Black Altar. It was altered for use in the actual game to include a parasol instead of red balloon for aesthetic reasons. This canvas is the ONE AND ONLY print of this version of the character holding a balloon. The model in this piece is usually behind the camera as our official RMU photographer.
Toxic Tonic
Artist: Jamie Pruden
Model: Thérèse Hansell
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Project: The Black Altar
Medium: Digital Art
Lilith is one of the oldest masked characters in the Rutherford Manor Universe. This game card for The Black Altar features her prized and very nasty looking Bunny sipping a concoction of her own making. This character is known for her ruthlessness and massive knowledge of botany and potions. The real bunny stuffy in this piece does come out during each years Halloween non-profit haunt. Lilith (Hansell) shows the bunny to people close to their face so they can smell the rotting death put on the prop (fake smells used in the Haunt).
Visions Of Death
Artist: Jamie Pruden
Model: Fatima Kahedi
Project: Promotional Poster
Medium: Digital Art
Penny Darling Savidge is both blessed and cursed with a sight beyond our plane of existence. She tries time and again to use her premonitions and senses to steer her family into the direction of the light. Unfortunately for Penny, the forces of darkness corrupt her visions which leads to death, destruction, suffering, and eventually her own demise. The model in this poster is rising Canadian fashion designer, Fatima Kahedi.
Cursed Victoria
Artist: Yugen
Project: Story Story Book Art
Medium: Ink on Paper
London artist Yugen, is known in the UK, Greece, and Japan for her unique style of macabre and pop-culture art. This illustration was created for the Rutherford Manor Short Story Book and shows Penny Darling having a disturbing vision of the tortured soul Victoria that has been haunting the attic of Rutherford Manor. Yugen in the official artist for both the RM short story book and the latest RM novel, The White Hand.
Mask Of Pain
Artist: Atagün Ilhan
Project: Rutherford Manor Legends Comic
Medium: Ink on Paper
The mask of pain hides the horrors inflicted on the poor tortured soul of Victoria VanDrunen during her death. Her soul continues to bear the humiliation and horror of her death behind her black tears of blood as she tries desperately to gain back what was taken from her and have revenge against her murderer. This illustration by Turkish artist Atagün Ilhan and is from volume two of the Rutherford Manor Legends comic printed in Macabre Royalty magazine.
FRAMED ART
The Ritual Scroll
Artist: Yugen
Project: The White Hand Book
Medium: Ink Pen and Paper
As the official artist for Rutherford Manor novels, Yugen continues to bring a creepy and unique style of art to our books. This piece is from the book ‘The White Hand’ by horror/thriller author, Konn Lavery. It depicts a ritual that is connected with the demon Muunat. This dark supernatural force is in the background of every story in the Rutherford Manor Universe causing many problems for the characters.
Blood Twins
Artist: Yugen
Project: Conceptual Art
Medium: Ink Pen and Paper
When Rutherford Manor was seeking artists to illustrate our first short story book, Yugen submitted this very unique artistic impression of the Savidge Twins. This very creepy and stylized image was exactly what RMU creator, Preston Ewasiuk, was looking for in an illustrator which won her the contract to illustrate the novels of Rutherford Manor.
A Souls Reflection
Artist: Alessandro Scacchia
Project: Illustration
Medium: Pencil and Paper
Italian illustrator and comic artist Alessandro Scacchia is no stranger to unique and highly stylized art in his publications that are available in Italy, France, and Germany. His study of the female form brings a much more feminine and sexy appeal the tragic character of Penny Darling Savidge. Of course the demon Muunat is there to not only manipulate Penny’s mind, but also her feelings. This sketch shows Alessandro’s process of creation before ink is applied to the final illustration.
Sexy Savidge Twins
Artist: Alessandro Scacchia
Project: Illustration Art
Medium: Ink Pen and Paper
The Savidge Twins are a massive fan favorite in both the Rutherford Manor Universe and Haunted House. Alessandro shows us that even creepy and odd girls can be feminine and attractive. Inspired by the very first photo-shoot of the Rutherford Manor characters. Deadly and beautiful!
A Killer Lineup
Artist: Lee Nielsen
Project: Sins Of The Father Comic
Medium: Ink Pen and Paper
Rutherford Manor is known for its unique, compelling, and creepy characters. This piece by artist Lee Nielsen (Heavy Metal Magazine, Smithsonian Books, Beamdog Games) is the second draft character concept art for the upcoming Rutherford Manor comic series, Sins of the Father. This new comic story combined with Lee’s art is a much more mature and gritty depiction of Rutherford Manor that will definitely draw the reader into the world deeper and deeper with each exciting page.
Nox Concept Art
Artist: Lee Nielsen
Project: Sins Of The Father Comic
Medium: Ink Pen and Paper
When artist Lee Nielsen started working on our newest and darkest comic, Sins of the Father, one of the exercises he did was to realize the unique characters of Rutherford Manor in an original style. It was important for both Lee and RMU creator, Preston Ewasiuk, to bring these new stories to life in a way that hasn’t been seen before in both the comic and horror/thriller genres. This depiction of Nox Flesher definitely brings an amazing complexity artistically to match this characters unique personality and motivations.
FRAMED PHOTOS
Spalding Savidge
Photographer: Photo Junkies
Model: Preston Ewasiuk
Project: Trading Cards
This creepy version of Spalding Savidge is sure to send chills down the spine of many a person. This shot features the Rutherford Manor Universe creator, Preston Ewasiuk, in grand creepy fashion. It was from the first official photo-shoot of the new Rutherford Manor characters that were used for the creation of trading cards. Everything in this photo is REAL with no digital additions. The cloud front in the background was due to a massive lightning storm that rolled through the area just before the photo-shoot which added a fantastic ambiance to every image taken that day. Photo Junkies Photography in Sherwood Park, AB with makeup by Amber Wilson.
Penny Darling Savidge
Photographer: Melissa Trotter
Model: Fatima Kahedi
Project: Trading Cards
Photographer and Digital Artist Melissa Trotter is the mastermind behind this dark rendition of Penny Darling Savidge. Melissa is an award winning alternative and horror photographer who loves to bring a dark and visceral feel to all of her work. Canadian Fashion Designer Fatima Kahedi designed and made the dress she is wearing in this photo.
The Savidge Twins
Photographer: Photo Junkies
Models: Ryley Shandro – Shannon Fuller
Project: Trading Cards
Special: Photographic Print on Metallic Paper
An iconic photo for two very creepy girls! This fan favorite photo is also from the first Rutherford Manor character photo-shoot at the Skaro Shrine near Bruderheim, AB. The girls in the photo have been best friends since elementary school and still hang out and play women’s soccer together to this day. Makeup by Amber Wilson.
A Day’s Work
Photographer: Melissa Trotter
Model: Hugh Flesher
Project: Trading Cards
Special: Photographic Print on Metallic Paper
An evil genius’ work is just never done! This on-location shot was taken at an old University of Alberta research farm in South Edmonton. Dark, gritty, and creepy photographer truly captures the essence of the next masked villain of horror pop-culture, Nox Flesher.
Lilith the Apothecarist
Photographer: Melissa Trotter
Model: Thérèse Hansell
Project: Trading Cards
Special: Photographic Print on Metallic Paper
Another fantastic and compelling look at Lilith Flesher and her love of botany by photographer Melissa Trotter! Lilith is a master of potions, elixirs, and tonics that can heal, paralyze, and even dispatch a person in horrible fashion.
Black Blood Tears
Photographer: Conor Hildebrandt
Model: Amber Wilson
Project: Expo Promotional
Special: Photographic Print on Metallic Paper
Tears of Blood that touch the soul! Taken at the very first Edmonton Expo that Rutherford Manor attended to hand out trading cards and promote the Haunted House. Victoria’s black tears of blood are testament to the torment her ghost constantly experiences and the longing to reclaim the love of Nox that was taken away from her in violent fashion.
Come Out And Play
Photographer: Melissa Trotter
Model: Ryley Shandro – Shannon Fuller
Project: Trading Cards
Best friends Ryley and Shannon bring the creepy sister duo of Lisa and Lousie Savidge to life again in this awesome photo. The tree they are sitting on was one of the wildest looking trees at the University of Alberta South Research Farm and was the inspiration of this wonderfully dark look at the twins recreational activities.
The Evil In Town
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Model: Lindsay Christopher
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
Actress Lindsay Christopher brings a next level of scary to the character of Louise Savidge on set at the town of Rowley, AB. This was taken between takes during the filming of the Ampia Award Winning Rutherford Manor Teaser. Classic thriller chills in a creepy prairie gothic setting.
A Special Moment
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Tyler Duffy – Sam Jeffery
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
Rutherford Manor isn’t all creepy stuff. It also has compelling and complex characters that have strong narratives shaping the essence of who they are. Tales of love, romance, jealousy, tragedy, hate, betrayal, violence, and much more bring the characters to life and explain why these unique individuals do the things that they do. LOVE is a central theme with MANY of the characters in Rutherford Manor. This photo shows a rare and loving moment for Spalding and Penny who unfortunately are doomed for failure in their marriage which leads to disaster.
Prairie Rose
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Kimberley Philpott
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
The theme of Love in many of the Rutherford Manor character narratives brings tales of all sorts into their world. The character of Rose is definitely part of these stories and a central figure in the classic love triangle between her, Spalding, and Lorcan. Unfortunately neither man is good for her innocent nature but it still doesn’t stop her trying love and be loved in return.
Memories Of The Past
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Ryley Shandro
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
Emotional story telling is a central part of the Rutherford Manor Universe. The inspiration for the Rutherford Manor Teaser and journey into television all began with a concept surrounding the character of Lisa Savidge. In the song written for Rutherford Manor by composer, Daniel Martin, called ‘And Then There Was One Part II’, the lyrics tell the tale of Lisa remembering the past, her family, the good, the bad, and the horrible. This photo is an illustration showing the beginning of that path of memories, good and bad, as Lisa recalls the dramatic aspects of her life and family.
Family Bloodlines
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Matt Mihilewicz – Sam Jeffery
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
The say blood is thicker that water and in the Flesher family that is doubly so! Between shooting scenes for the Rutherford Manor Teaser this classic prairie gothic image captures the essence of ‘turn of the century’ photography. This photo also features the custom face prosthetic created by Gaylynne Fell for the character of Nox Flesher.
Holy Resolve
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Neil Chase
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
Every series needs a bad guy and Father Lorcan is definitely that! Lorcan isn’t your classic evil guy who just does bad things. He is a man driven to attain control and power at any cost. His tragic past shaped this once innocent boy, who only wanted his father to be proud of him, into a broken man who is willing to do ANYTHING to obtain the power he seeks and ultimately obtain the affection he so desperately wants from those he cares about.
The house in the background is the old Rowley Hospital. During filming the teaser in town the cast and crew would see things moving in the windows of the abandoned building at night. Sometimes you would look at the building and a window would be gone, then suddenly when you look back it would be there again. Freaky stuff indeed!
The Possession
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Ryley Shandro – Lindsay Christopher
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
Every character in Rutherford Manor has complex stories that shape them into the people they are. Good things, bad things, and evil things out of their control happen to these characters. In this scene the demon Muunat is trying to take control over Louise Savidge while her sister Lisa looks on in horror. Filming this scene was quite intense due to the crew working fast to capture the perfect sunset that day. The scene came out beautiful to look at thanks to the amazing professionalism of the crew and freaky to watch from the amazing performance of actresses Ryley and Lindsay.
Cameo Time
Photographer: Sean Gordon
Models: Preston Ewasiuk – Sharayah Piercey – Hanako Nagao
Project: Teaser Video Promotion
In-between takes on set there was time to get some awesome photos. Everyone looked so awesome in their period costumes!
This photo features the following from left to right:
Rutherford Manor Universe Creator – Preston Ewasiuk
Digital/TV series Writer – Sharayah Piercey
Teaser Co-Producer – Hanako Nagao
EXTRAS
Muunat Symbol
Artist: Jamie Pruden
Medium: Digital Art
This symbol is a recurring image in the Rutherford Manor Universe. It is the symbolic representation of the demon Muunat. This symbol can be found in The White Hand and upcoming products like The Black Altar and the new novels out next year ‘Fire, Pain, & Ruin’ and ‘The Obsidian Society’.
Dark Control
Artist: Kerstyn Karen
Model: Lindsay Christopher
Project: Promotional Banner
This image of Louise Savidge possessed by the demon Muunat is the epitome of what we feel Gothic Horror should look like. Photographer Kerstyn Karen captures this essence in grand fashion with framing and angles that bring an extra creepy feeling to the already disturbing pose by Lindsay and chilling makeup by Gaylynne Fell.
Nightmarish Couple
Artist: Photo Junkies
Models: Hugh Flesher – Thérèse Hansell
Project: Trading Cards
What would you do if you saw this couple out during a dark and spooky night? This image from our first official photo-shoot has become of the primary images for promotion of our non-profit Haunted House, Rutherford Manor Haunt.