Halloween and art are two things that Putnam County resident Sheree Tharp Stanfill enjoys and two things she has managed to blend and incorporate for several years now.
At the recent Cloverween Parade, she showed her love for both with a costume that helped earn first place honors in the Open Class entry.
Now, she is looking to earn quite the prize, as she is in the running for the Face of Horror contest. The contest, in its second year, features a $13,000 prize and a photoshoot in Hollywood with Friday the 13th legend Kane Hodder, who portrayed Jason Voorhees in the franchise.
"I have been doing art work for 30-plus years, and I love creating unique costumes, which I basically come up with the day I'm putting the makeup on," Stanfill told The Putnam County Post.
As for where her ideas come from, Stanfill said they originate from "multiple, different things that in my head I combine and create an original. I'm making a voodoo costume."
While some go all out and decorate for other holidays, Halloween is the big event for Stanfill.
"It is like Christmas lights, glitter and sparkly, but in a scary world. I can be whoever or whatever I want to be when I dress up. I can't say I am into the gory part of it, but I like the abstract/odyssey, steampunk, gothic/dark fantasy of it. I have so many different genres of costumes. Honestly, the majority of the clothing part comes from Goodwill," Stanfill said.
How's the response to her costumes?
Stanfill said the response has been great from people of all ages.
"At the parade, they all were yelling, "I love your costume." Someone wanted a hug, many want pictures. The feeling in my heart and the butterflies in my stomach is so awesome when I see the expressions on their faces, and it is all ages," she said.
In addition to costumes, she has also donated a bunch of painted pumpkins to the prison in Putnamville to help raise funds for charity.
"I worked for the IDOC for 15 years and I love doing any art or creative projects, especially for a good cause," Stanfill said.
As for the Face of Horror contest, Stanfill said she competes against herself each year and tries to beat herself each year. She said she visited her mother in Florida once and her friends spent a week making witches shoes, hats and brooms to be a witch parade and dance.
"Out of 136 witches, they voted me first," Stanfill said.
The idea of running for the Face of Horror contest came almost two months ago after a tragic event.
"The reason why I entered the contest is because about eight weeks ago I wrecked my motorcycle and was lifelined to Indianapolis. I was out of work for six weeks with no pay, and I am not married, so I don't get financial help from another half. So when I saw it on social media, I saw $13,000 and I thought what do I have to lose? That's why I entered and it gave me an excuse to dress up even more," Stanfill said.
Should she win, she knows what she will do.
"I am going to pay off my debts that quickly added up during my time off. And I promised my supporters I would throw an appreciation party for them with an extended invitation to Jason Vorhees in hopes he'd come and then save the rest," said Stanfill, who added she is asking people to vote everyday and share the contest with everyone.
Those wishing to support Stanfill can do so by voting at http://faceofhorror.org/2023/sheree-stanfill .
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