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The Dark Illustrations of Stephen Gammell

Posted by J Meyers on

The Dark Illustrations of Stephen Gammell scary stories

The Bride, Stephen Gammell Scholastic/Harper Collins Image via PopSugar

The Illustrations of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Stephen Gammell is best known for his dark macabre illustrations in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark the infamous book of children's short stories by Alvin Schwartz. Drawing heavily from folk and urban legends the horror narratives illustrated by Gammell are instantly recognizable to a generation of Americans (And those around the world) - As of 2018 the books have sold over eight million copies. These haunting depictions have been a true gateway to dark and horror explorations in many young Artists.

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scary stories to tell in the dark

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Book cover image via Reddit look familiar? 

Harold scary stories to tell in the dark

Harold

Is Something Wrong Stephen Gammell Scholastic/Harper Collins Image via PopSugar

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artist stephen gammell dark artist poems

Image via Bloody Disgusting

The Dark Illustrations of Stephen Gammell

Somebody Fell From Aloft

Gammell's Art Replaced

On the 30th release of Scary Stories... the book publisher replaced Gammell's illustrations with a restrained and less macabre version created by Brett Helquist (2011) much to fans dismay. After a lasting uproar over the new edition the publisher relented and restored Gammell's most terrifying creations. The most recent editions of the book and André Øvredal's film of the same name both feature Gammell's Art.

The Haunted House Stephen Gammell; Scholastic/Harper Collins

The Girl Who Stood on a Grave Stephen Gammell; Scholastic/Harper Collins

dark art gammell

Oh, Susannah! Drawing by Stephen Gammell for the Scary Stories books, image via artseditor

The Bride reading and Art

Controversy 

In the 90s the Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark series was frequently the top challenged book in the US. The illustrations and book itself have been repeatedly attacked by critics who cite their macabre nature as "sick and repulsive.. violent" we at Dark Art & Craft on the other hand love them and have put this small collection of our favorite Gammell illustrations together for the Halloween season. Did you grow up with these stories too?

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981), More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1984), and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (1991)

scary stories to tell in the dark

One Sunday Morning

church from scary stories

The Church

J Meyers


@ Dark Art & Craft, print collector and Graphic Artist from Ohio, US.

https://www.artstation.com/darkartandcraft

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