PAXINOS — Their art has been described as "dark" and "haunting" but that doesn't bother Jody and Cheryl Fallon because in many cases, that's exactly what they want people to see.

"We aren't going for shock value," explained Jody. "We just try to show people what they don't want to see -- a lot of people don't want to see the darkness in the world or themselves."

Cheryl agrees. "Art is supposed to be universal," she said. "That includes love and life but also hate and death."

Jody, a 1990 graduate of Mifflinburg Area High School, is a contemporary artist, well-known for his figurative work and dark landscapes. He works in oils, watercolor, pastel and pencil. His wife, Cheryl, is a 1997 graduate of Bloomsburg University where she earned a degree in biology but now spends her time taking photographs that she hopes force people to "slow down and appreciate what's around them."

Their work will be on display in the Main and Café galleries at Java, Juice and Art Café, 125 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, through Sunday. They'll also be part of a series of artists featured at the Pajama Factory's upcoming First Friday event, "Get Your Nature On," which opens with a reception from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 7. The Pajama Factory is located at 1307 Park Ave.,Williamsport.

Jody's desire to become an artist has been around since childhood — he said he's been "drawn to the dark side" of the human condition since he was a kid.

"I knew that art was what I wanted to do with my life early on," he said.

He had a strong interest in drawing science fiction and idolized American science fiction and fantasy artist Frank Frazetta, who was noted for his work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media.

"I used to look at his stuff a lot when I was a kid," said Jody. "Anyone who had any sort of inclination toward fantasy art did. And I'd always had an interest in drawing science fiction."

Other science fiction artists, like Paul Lehr, also influenced Jody, but it wasn't until meeting a man named Ron Wing in 2001 that he knew for sure that he wanted to become a full-time painter. Jody met Wing through Lehr, who he got to know following an event hosted by Bloomsburg University.

"He (Wing) has become a dear friend," said Jody. "His work blows me away. When I met him, I was starving to learn (something)." So was Cheryl. While Jody was busy painting in the field at Wing's, Cheryl tried her hand with paint and canvas as well.

"I tried to paint," she said. "But I couldn't do it." Instead, she began focusing more on photographs, specifically landscapes and self-portraits. Those self-portraits, she said, are her most personal and real art -- and are also her biggest sellers. Some people don't get it, she admits, and others think they're too provocative. But to her, they're an honest representation of who she is as a woman.

"All of my self-portraits are bits and pieces of stories," she explained. "And they are a reflection of the viewer as well. They aren't really me, but I am the vessel through which the viewer sees themselves." "In each and every picture there is something I'd very much like to convey," she said. "It's about the experience of being a woman." Take, for instance, a photograph in which she's balanced on railroad tracks holding a parasol.

"That's what it's about for me," she said. "Life is about balance, a circus act." To give her photos a painting-like appearance, Cheryl does utilize Photoshop, but insists it doesn't change the integrity of her work.

"It's not like I just hit a 'make pretty' button," she said. "It's about the manipulation of tones, using light and shadow to make an image the way I see it." In addition to sometimes expressing a haunting darkness, Cheryl's work has been described as "dreamlike with a unique fusion of grittiness and vintage feeling tones."

The use of shadow and light is also apparent in much of Jody's work, which he does primarily at the couple's home in Paxinos. Unlike his wife, who sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night with ideas for future projects, Jody said he often simply "sets up and starts to paint." What comes out is what comes out. Sometimes he finds inspiration in a landscape and other times it's a vision of something or someone in his life.

"Sometimes (my art) is representative of people who are close to me who have died," he said.

But if Jody had to pick one inspiration for his work, it would likely be his wife and two boys, Jack and Cole.

"She affects my work," he said. "Just by walking into my studio and showing no reaction, she affects it. I can be painting something and she'll come into the room and I'll paint over it."

Regardless of how it's described by others, Jody and Cheryl said the most important thing viewers find in their work is honesty.

"It's really about the struggle," said Jody. "You (as an artist) struggle with your own honesty — sure, there are a lot of short cuts you can take, but honesty is the most important thing in our work."

The Fallons' artwork can be viewed at www.cherylfallonphotography.com, www.Moxiemamastudios.com.and www.pariahfineart.com or on Facebook.

They routinely take part in exhibitions in New York City and in cities across Pennsylvania including Harrisburg, Williamsport and Lewisburg.

"Sure, as an artist you want to show people what you do — and you do hope people like it," said Jody. "But as artists, we just want to share what we do. Art is for everyone."

And if people don't like it, the Fallons don't much care.

"If people come to a show and they like her photos, that's good. If they like my work, that's good," he said. "But either way, for us, it's been a great ride."