Naturlich Harz sticker, 1980?

Actually, I have no real idea when this sticker was printed and sold or given away [now updated, see below ], but I believe the caption translates as “Naturally, Harz.”

The caption might seem a little cryptic, unless you imagine a sticker with a women wearing nothing but a ten-gallon hat, with the caption “Naturally Texas.” That is because the witch is from the Harz mountains naturally (i.e., obviously), she is a witch and witches congregate on The Brocken in the Harz mountains, just as ten-gallon hats breed on the heads of Texans. Or something.

The witch is also as naked. That is, she is “naked as nature intended”—she is a natural beauty—and she is presented in her natural state (remember that nudists were also called—and may still be called—naturists [not naturalists, though they may be naturalists too].)

The Brocken, and large parts of the Harz mountains for all I know, sells itself as a tourist destination because it is an area of natural beauty, like a nature reserve or national or state park. So, the caption seems to also be both a claim (the Harz mountains is an area of natural beauty) and an invitation (“Come to the Harz Mountains to enjoy nature”).

Combine these three and you see that we should all go to the Harz mountains, to see nature and naked witches, or to enjoy nature and naked witches. Or something. I swear I am not making this up!

[UPDATE 18 July 2011: As Twixraider comments, the typography, photography, makeup and poor colour separation suggest a date earlier than 2000—which is the date given to it by the person I bought it from. I have chosen the mid-point of "the late 1970's or early 1980's": thanks Twix!]

Witchy Woman, 2003

Whether you call it a sticker, a patch or a decal, I think you’d agree that the artwork is very pretty. It is not really clear who the artist is—unless “Delight’s Fantasy Art” means fantasy art by “Delight,” whoever that is—but the publisher is “Yujeans Stickems.” The places I can find online who are still selling this sticker (like this one), don’t offer any details beyond the title: “Witchy Woman.” [See update below.]

The copyright date is 2003, I didn’t buy my copy of this sticker until 2007, and there is no knowing how much longer it will be available. So get one while you can, they are certainly cheap enough!

[UPDATE 11 September 2010: As you can see in the feedback below, Kay Warren informs me that the talented artist behind this piece is Delight Prescott-Spall; her website is here, where she sells Jewel Prints, tapestries etc. Check it out!]

Coop Witches, 1999 and 2001

Coop is a hot-rod artist based in Los Angeles, best known for his Devil Girls (see the Wikipedia entry on him here). He has created a couple of witch-images and he provided the inspiration for Zille The Witch’s delightful “starter tattoo” (see here). As Zille explained on feedback to this blog

I was casting about for what to do for my first tattoo, when I saw a Coop drawing of his infamous “devil girl” with the same three genital peircings as I had, and she had three pubic curls on her mons, and I realized with delight that they were not just sylized curls, but also “666″ (what else would a devil girl wear?). It reminded me how, during witchcraft trials, women would be shaved all over, looking for “the devil’s mark.” “Well,” I thought to myself, “I’ll make it easy for them, since I already shave!” and thus it all came about.

As you can see below, Coop likes his witches with a tattoo and has his own—very traditional—recommendation for a design. As you can also see, Coop likes his models with a bit of flesh on their bones!

These two designs are printed on stickers. If you go here you can buy your own and plaster them on your car, bike, board etc. Or try here for a book of Coop’s art. Have fun!