SheWalksSoftly

Shoichi Tsurukawa

Posted in art, japan with tags art, japan, Shoichi Tsurukawa, tsutsugaki on September 25, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Shoichi Tsurukawa uses a dyeing technique called tsutsugaki (staining cotton with colored rice paste) to create brightly colored works. Traditional tsutsugaki pieces are usually indigo dye on a light colored canvas, but clearly Tsurukawa makes the process his own!

From the artist statement:
I can easily indulge myself in the colors of happiness, anger and grief as my heart is always drawn by the vividness of my own emotions. What I want to portray is humans, namely the common “something” that lies underneath our appearance.

Shoichi Tsurukawa

Inge Vandormael

Posted in alchemy, anatomy, art, nature with tags alchemy, anatomy, art, Inge Vandormael, nature on September 23, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Inge Vandormael sticks to a simple color palette; black, white, red and silver for drawings, muted autumnal tones for watercolor. But the symbolism in her work is profound.

Much of her older work was inspired by Eastern religion, myth and philosophy. Clearly influenced by nature and the beautiful structure within the ephemeral cycles of life and death, her newer works delve into alchemical and sacred geometry.

Inge Vandormael

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Life Sized Octopus Backpack

Posted in accessories, craft, sea with tags accessories, backpack, craft, octopus, sea on September 21, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Although it’s certainly not the most practical accessory, I must admit I still checked to see if this life sized octopus backpack by Olga Kotova was for sale (it’s not…but I swear I would’ve had restraint!).

I’ve seen cutesy octopus bags before, but I admire her choice to throw caution to the wind and go for realism here.

Would you use this backpack just for the fun of it?

Olga Kotova

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Muertos Ruz

Posted in anatomy, art, skulls and skeletons with tags anatomy, art, skulls and skeletons on September 19, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

I’ve just been browsing Muertos Ruz on Instagram…

I love her sweet, slightly warped drawings. They remain so innocent despite the proliferation of bugs, ghosts and guts.

Muertos Ruz

Desktop Goodies 9/17

Posted in 80's, absurd, anatomy, anthropomorphic, art, comics, creatures, death, ephemera, food, humor, illustration, macabre, meat, postcards, religion, retro, skulls and skeletons, vintage, you can't handle the cute with tags 80's, absurd, anatomy, anthropomorphic, art, comics, creatures, death, ephemera, food, humor, illustration, macabre, meat, postcards, religion, retro, skulls and skeletons, vintage, you can't handle the cute on September 17, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Be warned:

Sometimes I write fictional surrealist resumes in my head just for fun. I’m definitely adding “Can appear as a disembodied head and hypnotize crocodiles” to my skill set.

The daintiest amphibious juggler.

There is something very wrong with this cat’s hind quarters (or maybe very right as far as he’s concerned).

An unlikely friendship, indeed.

There are not nearly enough meat puns in the sentimental postcard industry.

So delightfully subtle…until you step in the wrong spot, that is.

Thank you, Rachel, for these next two. I’ll quote her here: “No means NO, Jesus!”

…but this is a sweater that many can afford. (I’m sure this man’s parrot has become clinically depressed from living with him).

Genuinely creepy. Not sure where this comes from. Hell, presumably.

I was going to write an individual comment for each of these, but they kind of work as a dyad.

I spent a while trying to figure out this “twelfth finger” thing. Does anyone get it?

Now, a giant chicken absconding with a child, anyone can understand.

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ARYZ

Posted in anatomy, art, street art with tags anatomy, art, street art on September 16, 2016 by shewalkssoftly

Years ago, I saved this lovely little box of skeletons by Spanish artist ARYZ, not knowing who the artist was (neither did Google image search at the time).

I eventually stumbled upon the image again, properly credited, which allowed me to delve into his small scale prints and street art, all of which I was quite fond.

He paints giant murals, often on the sides of abandoned factories where he can have time to work undisturbed. Despite the high volume of skeletons and the innards of various creatures, his work has a kind of sweetness to it at times.