OL' TURNIP HEAD
This section contains artwork featuring my original undead character SILAS WICKES aka OL' TURNIP HEAD, a twisted ghoul obsessed with the supernatural, haunted houses, graveyards, Halloween and apples. I have been sketching and posting on social media for Inktober before the controversy surrounding it came to light. However, this did not deter me from sketching every day of October. So I created an original character called Silas Wickes, who connotes my fascination with Halloween, the supernatural and dark humour, taking inspiration from the original Charles Adams comic strip The Addams Family. Every day of the month of October, I sketch a drawing featuring Silas in a variety of situations and activities. These sketches are posted on Instagram (@olturniphead), and other plaforms such as Cara, ArtStation and DeviantArt.
Along the way of my character development, I made Silas polyamorous (like me) so I could offer non-monogamous representation in graphic fiction. I created more characters to accompany the world that Silas inhabits, some of which form Silas' polycule including goths, vampires, witches, ghosts and monsters.
Lately, I have been occupying myself by sketching for special days of the year outside of October, such as Valentine's Day, Edgar Allan Poe Day, Friday the 13th, Easter, World Goth Day, Dia de los Muertos, Christmas and New Years.
Ol’ Turnip Head in colour
Ol’ Turnip Head in colour
Coming
Soon
Occasionally, Silas gives the Boogeyman a run for his money.
The fully waken Silas Wickes observing the first leaf that fell on his crypt. October has just begun!
On Halloween night, the obese miser Sebastian Eastwood is paid a harrowing visit by Ol’ Turnip Head, who terrorises him with the true meaning of the spooky season. Under Silas’ persuasion, Eastwood reluctantly gives the last of his sweet stash to Silas’ friend Kit and their young sister Jess as they guise (trick-or-treat) for the evening.
Occasionally, Silas gives the Boogeyman a run for his money.
He's back!
Silas keeps beating Death at his own game
Maniacal Silas using immoral science in a desperate attempt to resurrect the lost Paige Bycroft.
He's back!
While Silas still hibernates in his crypt during Christmastime. But he still hosts a chilling New Years celebration for all the monsters and outcasts. #newyears #auldlangsyne
Keif learned how to read and write in Braille for whenever he loses his eyes (this occurs often). All Drusilla can do is write braille love letters while Silas searches for his eyes, struggling with a rat in doing so. For those who wonder, the letter simply says ‘I love you’ in braille. #brailleday
The Wickes brothers (Silas and Bartholomew) take supper with the McCloughlin clan, giving a toast to Dearil as he recites Address to a Haggis. #burnsnight #rabbieburns #rabbieburnsnight #robertburns
While Silas still hibernates in his crypt during Christmastime. But he still hosts a chilling New Years celebration for all the monsters and outcasts. #newyears #auldlangsyne
Silas and a recently flattened friend partaking in a crushing massage. #theraputicmassageawarenessday
Just when you thought Silas and friends kept their spooky business in Halloween! #nationalpararnormalday
Silas and a recently flattened friend partaking in a crushing massage. #theraputicmassageawarenessday
No matter how many Silas makes in life (or death), he always has his ways of making his girlfriends feel appreciated. 🌹 🥀 #roseday #roseday🌹
Prof. Ulysses has met his match in the form of a fellow morally ambiguous scientist called Prof. Sapio. The professor’s infatuation to Sapio’s intellect and scientific profess distracts him from conducting his experiments, much to Ieuan and Ianto’s chagrin. #internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience
Poker night with Silas and his metamours! If only Tristan the ghost would learn to keep his poker face. (For those that don’t know, a metamour is the partner of one’s partner within a polyamorous or non-monogamous relationship.) #metamourday #metamoursday #metamour #metamours #polyamory #polyamorous #nonmonogamy #nonmonogamous
No matter how many Silas makes in life (or death), he always has his ways of making his girlfriends feel appreciated. 🌹 🥀 #roseday #roseday🌹
Silas has been having lots of fun since a bike track was installed over the hills of his cemetery. #worldbicycleday #worldbicycleday🚴🏻♂️🌎
A running team takes a shortcut past Silas’ cemetery. They weren’t so keen to have an undead ghoul join them. #globalrunningday
The Spooky Polycule gather in Silas’ cemetery to observe a passing asteroid. #internationalasteroidday #internationalasteroidday☄️ #asteroid #asteroid☄️ #polycule #polyculelove #polyculeromance #polyculemoments #polyculedatenight #polyculegoals #nonmonogamy #nonmonogamylife #nonmonogamyvisibility #nonmonogamouslove
Silas has been having lots of fun since a bike track was installed over the hills of his cemetery. #worldbicycleday #worldbicycleday🚴🏻♂️🌎
Call him old-fashioned, but Ol’ Turnip Head can never resist putting his adoration towards his partners in writing. Candlelight makes a nice touch to his process. #worldletterwritingday #letterwriting #loveletter #loveletters #polyamory #nonmonogamy
An intense moment for Silas and his ear piercing customer. Whether or not he’ll draw her blood is anyone else’s guess. #pierceyourearsday #pierceyourears #piercedears #earpierced
What is it about undead guys exposing a heart that makes the spooky girls swoon? #worldheartday #worldheartday❤️ #heart
Call him old-fashioned, but Ol’ Turnip Head can never resist putting his adoration towards his partners in writing. Candlelight makes a nice touch to his process. #worldletterwritingday #letterwriting #loveletter #loveletters #polyamory #nonmonogamy
Uh oh. Ol’ Turnip Head is on caffeine. It’s not going to be pretty. #internationalcoffeeday #internationalcoffeeday☕️
Uh oh. Ol’ Turnip Head is on caffeine. It’s not going to be pretty. #internationalcoffeeday #internationalcoffeeday☕️
Silas Wickes is a Scorpio ♏️. The following characteristics may apply to him: Determined, intense, resourceful, mysterious, assertive, passionate, loyal, fierce, instinctive, ambitious, secretive, stubborn, honest
Drusilla the Witch is a Sagittarius ♐️. The following characteristics may apply to her: Adventurous, optimistic, independent, blunt, compassionate, generous, social, restless, passionate, innovative, communicative, critical, impulsive, scattered, assertive, creative, risk-taker, extrovert
Gustavo Calavera is a Libra. The following characteristics may apply to him: Diplomatic, idealist, empathetic, curious, passive, tactful, elegant, cooperative, harmonious, indecisive, gentle, cerebral, equitable, charismatic, diffident, unassuming, balletic, amiable, wistful
Silas Wickes is a Scorpio ♏️. The following characteristics may apply to him: Determined, intense, resourceful, mysterious, assertive, passionate, loyal, fierce, instinctive, ambitious, secretive, stubborn, honest
POV: it’s late Halloween night. Close to the witching hour in fact. You don’t expect any more guising (trick-or-treating) outside your house. So you decide to watch schlocky late night horror movies. But then, just as you start dozing off… you hear a knock at the door. You open the door to find the spookiest polycule around with a full burlap sack of confectioneries. Bitter and sweet.
Three foolhardy grave robbers picked the wrong night to raid the crypt of Ol’ Turnip Head.
Nothing gets in the way of Silas’ therapeutic theremin sessions!
POV: it’s late Halloween night. Close to the witching hour in fact. You don’t expect any more guising (trick-or-treating) outside your house. So you decide to watch schlocky late night horror movies. But then, just as you start dozing off… you hear a knock at the door. You open the door to find the spookiest polycule around with a full burlap sack of confectioneries. Bitter and sweet.
Guess who's back!?
There appears to be a mix-up at Silas’ regular salon!
Blessed Samhain celebrations with Silas and friends!
Guess who's back!?
Introducing Silas Wickes, aka Ol' Turnip Head.
Reconnecting with old friends
Silas taking time from his favourite day of the year for a twisted family reunion.
Introducing Silas Wickes, aka Ol' Turnip Head.
Prof. Ulysses has allowed his assistants Ieuen and Ianto to have a little holiday from the laboratory so that they can celebrate their Welshness. Silas sees the pair donned in their Welsh hats and woolly clothes with a daffodil and a leek pinned to their lapels.
A tribute to Ol’ Turnip Head’s favourite women. Plus Delphine de Rochester. #internationalwomensday
Keif is still looking for a head-warmer so he reluctantly enlists Silas and Drusilla (with a little help from Ieuen and Ianto) to find suitable headwear. #wearahatday #braintumorresearch
Prof. Ulysses has allowed his assistants Ieuen and Ianto to have a little holiday from the laboratory so that they can celebrate their Welshness. Silas sees the pair donned in their Welsh hats and woolly clothes with a daffodil and a leek pinned to their lapels.
One time, aliens appeared in the sky and for some unknown reason they abducted all the undead in Silas’ cemetery. #worldufoday #worldufoday👽💚✌️ #ufo #ufosighting #ufology #ufosightings
Silas once opened his crypt for hire. However, one of his sublets is about to be permanently banned - a Czech cockroach called Matěj who overstayed his welcome and infested the crypt with his offspring. #franzkafka #metamorphosis #kafkaesque #cockroach #cockroaches #bughouse
Goth Park has gone downhill, especially for skinny dippers like Ol’ Turnip Head, since an undead bifurcated lifeguard stationed himself. #lifeguardappreciationday #lifeguard #internationallifeguardappreciationday #lifeguardonduty #jobsworth #skinnydipping #noskinnydipping
One time, aliens appeared in the sky and for some unknown reason they abducted all the undead in Silas’ cemetery. #worldufoday #worldufoday👽💚✌️ #ufo #ufosighting #ufology #ufosightings
Captivated by the idea of Bonfire Night, Silas and the vampires pile a load of planks, wooden stakes and a few occupied body bags to set up fireworks of their own. #guyfawkesnight #bonfirenight
There’s a corner in Silas’ cemetery that commemorates those killed in conflict. Coincidentally, Adrienne’s great-great-grandfather, who was killed in the First World War, is among them. #november11 #1111 #remembranceday #armistaceday #veteransday #poppy #ww1
A Highland fling ensues during the annual ceilidh dance in Silas’ cemetery, with music provided by proud Scotsman Dearil McLoughlin the undead bagpiper. Tha iteig Ghàidhealach a’ tighinn às a dhèidh wig a’ chèilidh bhliadhnail ann an cladh Silas, le ceòl air a thoirt seachad leis an Albannach uaibhreach Dearil McLoughlin, am pìobaire neo-mharbh. #standrewsday #scotland #bagpipes #ceilidh #kilt #bagpiper #scotsgaelic #scotsman
Captivated by the idea of Bonfire Night, Silas and the vampires pile a load of planks, wooden stakes and a few occupied body bags to set up fireworks of their own. #guyfawkesnight #bonfirenight
Jokes aren’t beneath Silas. Of course, there comes a time when he gets carried away. #aprilfools
Silas does what no living could and takes a dive into the deepest depths of the sea to report the scariest, most dangerous underwater lifeforms. #worldaquaticanimalday #worldaquaticanimalsday #anglerfish #pufferfish #pufferfish🐡 #vampiresquid #vampiresquidfromhell #bobbitworm #boxjellyfish #viperfish #deepseatelescopefish #blueringedoctopus #skeletonpandaseasquirt #skeletonpandaseasquirts
When witches dance around the bonfire around the empty grove within the graveyard on the eve of Beltane, they signal good news for Ol’ Turnip Head - “We are halfway through the year until Halloween!” #walpurgisnacht #walpurgisnight #walpurgisgathering #walpurgis #walpurgisfeuer #witches #bonfire #walpurgisfeuer🔥
Jokes aren’t beneath Silas. Of course, there comes a time when he gets carried away. #aprilfools
Silas shepherding some stray Krampii #krampusnacht
As you may guess, Silas doesn’t celebrate Christmas. In fact he chooses to hibernate during the season. However, he always leaves his crypt door open for his outcast human friends so they could celebrate together. #christmas #christmastime
Silas shepherding some stray Krampii #krampusnacht