SheWalksSoftly

Google Image Odyssey: Sushi Cake

October 20th, 2008

I’m not sure if sushi maintains its status as the ultra chic cultural phenomenon it once was…but I personally don’t like it, and don’t mind if that makes me uncool. I will, however, eat any number of bastardized sushi-styled delicacies like this wonderful cake I saw on flickr:

…which led to me seek out other “sushi cake” photos.

Look how beautiful! I’d have to pass on the coconut parts though:

And leave it to the inimitable Charm City Cakes to create fantastic cake realism:

I am curious and slightly wary of this much black confection material (which I can’t identify, but my knowledge of culinary arts is limited):

And for a slight variation, this candy platter takes the prize:

As far as I can tell, the next two are made of real sushi. But I must give credit where credit is due for the amazing work that went into these displays:
Calendrier Magique

October 20th, 2008

This book of late 19th century color lithographs by Manuel Orazi is quite compelling.

A rare piece of occultist ephemera, printed in an edition of 777 copies to commemorate magic for the coming year of 1896. Each double page spread mimics the Christian calendar in some respect (name days, iconography). The document is at once a spoof and an attempt to chart the year of magic.

The entire set is extremely unique in style and composition; somewhere between medieval manuscripts, tarot cards and underground occult handbooks. I wish a publisher would pick it up and make reproductions.
The Human Eye Enlarged

October 19th, 2008

I’ve always found eyes to be the most fascinating human feature. I’ve never seen photos that so masterfully detail the intricate configurations of pattern and color in the human eye.

The one below resembles the color scheme of my own eyes (though the brown in mine is a small circle around the center and doesn’t extend outward), which has been notoriously hard to describe.

I highly recommend the rest of these photos!
Pig Necklace

October 19th, 2008

Due to my compulsive habit of collecting online images, I’ve literally amassed thousands of intriguing unlabeled pictures.

I have no recollection of where this comes from…I can only assure you it actually exists (and might even grace the neckline of some individual). The size of this piece alone renders it an effort to wear.

Observe the gleeful satisfaction on the pig.

To the best of my knowledge, this is not an art project laden with social commentary on Capitalist decadence. Nevertheless, I’ve seen satirical art pieces far less poignant than this creation.
Pumpkin Megapost

October 18th, 2008

I was going to do “Pumpkin Week” but decided to cram all of my crazy pumpkin love into a giant post, just in case not everyone shares my extreme Halloween enthusiasm.

First, I bring you Pumpkin Way, a simple site with some pumpkins that have major personality. I like the technique a lot, particularly how the shape of the pumpkin matches the facial expression.

Just hoover your cursor over the pumpkin to see it displayed here.

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The Travel Channel featured Tom Nardone’s Extreme Pumpkins on a Halloween special. Nardone is a fan of using unconventional materials to carve ugly, grotesque and otherwise shocking designs. Pyrotechnics are also involved.

The contest winners on the site are extremely creative, often employing very unique materials.

“Frozen in Time” pumpkin:

“Burger” pumpkin:

Even the semi-traditional carving examples are entertaining:

Here is the site.
And books:
Extreme Pumpkins
Extreme Pumpkins II

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Now onto Pumpkin Gutter who has some of my favorite carving examples, and I’m indebted to them for enabling to me post ALIEN .V. PREDATOR pumpkins!

However, there are incredible pumpkins of all types/themes on the site.

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And lastly, though it pales in comparison to all of the above, my own Cheshire Cat pumpkin from last year:
DRAT!

October 18th, 2008

I accidentally deleted the Banksy Megapost I spent *forever* on last night! Now I have to try to muster up the energy to post it all again. Maybe one day soon…
Baby Laugh-A-Lot and Baby Alive

October 18th, 2008

Okay, we all know that THE original bad*ss doll was Talky Tina from the Twilight Zone.

I had Baby Alive, which was only slightly less terrifying because it didn’t possess the power to kill. I remember mixing the “food,” which came in three blindingly unnatural shades of red, yellow and green gel. After spoon feeding, the substance would drip through the doll and into the diaper. Even as a toddler, the sight of neon gel dripping from my doll’s nether regions was disturbing.

Do you dare to remember?

Now, Baby Alive is back, with a modern (though no less uncomfortable) twist on her appearance:

On a related note, I came across this commercial for Baby Laugh-a-Lot, whose frozen open mouthed grin and maniacal cackle put Talking Tina and Baby Alive to shame. Even the children in the ad look shocked and miserable as they whip their head around to see where the awful racket is coming from.

Anyone have a favorite old toy which is, in retrospect, absolutely unholy?
Bhakti Baxter

October 17th, 2008

At first glance, Bhakti Baxter’s images are intriguing, and I was quite impressed to see that they are created with India ink on mylar.

During my formative years I tried to paint on every surface known to man, including mylar…and it was no easy task. I can’t imagine how he gets the ink and mylar canvas to cooperate so beautifully!

You can see a small gallery here and a larger one, with mixed media, here.
One Up’s Inc Bear

October 17th, 2008

I’ve got toys on the brain today, perhaps because I’m heading to the Wacko Toy Swap and Sale tomorrow.

One Up is releasing a very limited edition “Inc Bear” later this month; a wonderful item for vinyl toy collectors. The very sight of him instantly piques one’s curiosity.

Curious about the face on his behind? It will all make sense if you watch this one minute clip about the bear’s origin (that fateful day when a blob of infectious black ooze pounces on an unsuspecting bear, overtakes its body and merges with it):

Inc Bear even has glow in the dark details:

It looks like a really well done piece. Too bad the release is so limited.

Source
Jimmy Pickering

October 17th, 2008

After posting about the incredible Laurie Lipton, I’d like to pay tribute to another artist in the same Corpro Nason show.

Jimmy Pickering’s work makes me smile. Big, giddy, goofy grins.

I want to hug his sweet little monsters and depictions of “evil.”

From his website bio:

i guess if my style had a recipe it would read “a dash of pirates of the caribbean, a smidgen of the haunted mansion, a pinch of its a small world, combined with equal parts funny face drink mix, freakies cereal and crazy foam. then add even amounts of dr. seuss, edward gorey, puff-n-stuff, star wars and everyone of those television stop motion animated x-mas specials and bake.”

I think that sums it up nicely.

View the new Corpro Nason Halloween exhibit.
And check out the galleries on his regular site.
He also has a collection of children’s books.