Born in Japan, now based in Austria Haruko Maeda draws from the Shinto traditions of her homeland, the baroque architecture that abounds in her current location, and produces luxuriant Vanitas with a twist. A sizable twist.
Although she depicts a great deal of death, it is often counterbalanced by profusions of beautiful life.
Some of her work also includes technology…
…or Hieronymus Bosch-ian modern/futuristic dystopian scenes. I wish I could find large, HQ versions of her pieces online!
I love David Griessel’s quizzical vingettes…
Most of these whimsical creatures and the various contraptions that accompany them are drawn in ball point pen!
The titles and descriptions are fun to read as well. For example, this one is entitled “Tea Party for the Perplexed.”
I’m particularly fond of the texture he achieves in his Fynbos Animal Hybrid series (click to enlarge these next two images, so you can see what they are made of!).
Truly beautiful…
Today, I bring you the creatures of Peter Goode.
From the excellent description in the artist bio:
His rich and detailed paintings depict emotive creatures in various stages of self reflection and spiritual illumination.
They are neurotic do-gooders, abandoned explorers and sentinels, estranged lovers, wooly bodhisattvas, aimless angelic oracles, whispering wratihs, reformed scoundrels, weathered widows, impish frolickers, and hungry ghosts.
I really should start a “monster pathos” tag on this blog, for the sweet, forlorn, misunderstood monsters who make their way onto these pages.
The color scheme of my posts seems to be reflecting the spell of dreary autumn weather we’re having here. GOTO Atsuko creates beautiful portraits in grayscale with pops of pastel color, often teeming with nature.
They all have a quiet, soft soulful intensity about them. Beautiful…
Brian Mashburn paints intriguing juxtapositions of the natural and industrial world that are, at once, bleak and luminous, opaque yet finely detailed.
The scenes contain incongruous architecture, flora and fauna. Stunning manmade creations of no definable time and place rise into the sky, adjacent to curious or somber wildlife and bits of industrial waste.
I received the Ceccoli Tarot as a random gift from a very special person who truly knows the strange, surreal depths of my soul.
This deck is STUNNING. It’s a masterpiece.
I had a blast going through each card of the deck and seeing how Ceccoli’s interpretation of the cards ties into the Rider Waite deck, and every thread of discovery was exciting.
The fact that she does take creative liberty opens the mind up to all sorts of visions and connections. It’s like therapeutic dreamwork!
I highly recommend this deck And of course, check out Nicoletta Ceccoli’s website.
Currently unable to travel to NYC for art shows due to health, I’m thrilled beyond measure about the recent opening of Haven Gallery, very close my home!
Haven showcases incredible rosters of pop surrealism/contemporary artists. I couldn’t have conjured a venue more aligned with my aesthetic preferences and I’m truly excited to support the place.
The current group show is entitled Into the Woods.
“Into the Woods” is a group show focused on the bi-fold nature of the forest. The mystery, intrigue and surmised dangers of the woods make it an untrodden domain for some. While others find a home and haven in the beauty of the fecund faunascape. This exhibition explores the physical and metaphorical nature of this integral eco-system embracing personal tales, folklore and more.
Some of the pieces in the show evoke an almost visceral sadness or empathy, while others marinate the eyes in an ethereal glowing wonderland.
The owners are lovely people with stellar taste (I’m already drooling over the upcoming show…which I’ll feature as well). If you can get there, pay Haven a visit.
…or visit online.
We’ve seen creepy makeup and neon zombie body paint. Here we have some cosmetic creations with an artistic slant.
Gore and shock value can be great for Halloween, but illusions are quite impressive in their own unique way.
Who had these as a kid? (Thanks for reminding me of them, Colleen!)
Not sure if this is what The Weather Girls had in mind when they belted out “IT’S RAINING MEN! HALLELUJAH!”
Side note: if you haven’t seen the video for It’s Raining Men in a while (or ever), I highly recommend you go enjoy the neon chaos at the cardboard weather station.
There’s something I really love about this. Perhaps the simplicity.
Why didn’t I think of this? Next year…
That Pumpkin.
It looked so much cuter in her head when she thought she wanted to look like a doll.
I wish they still sold these!
Gorgeous Green Man.
The shading on Cruella is absolutely impeccable.
I feel this has meme potential. Why don’t more memes involve vintage monster illustrations?
Poor kitty…
Guiseppe Balestra creates spooky pieces inspired by beloved horror stories (new and old).
I encourage you to visit his portfolio and click on the larger versions of each drawing in order to really see the detail of cross hatching and pointilism. His mastery of these techniques is truly among the best I’ve seen in modern illustrators.
SheWalksSoftly 