By the time I first discovered Dave McKean’s stunning Vertigo Tarot
I’m so glad that the deck contains the full 78 cards and can actually be used. I’m a big fan of the tarot, not in any supernatural sense, but as a rich visual representation of archetypes. Placing these archetypes in the particular context of one’s life often gives way to new ideas, meaning and insight.
The deck is now available for pre-order
I’m really impressed with Jamie Noel’s hand crafted circus themed “interactive” jewelry. Look at what she does with the classic Zoltar fortune teller:
It’s actually WORKS, with a tiny built in drawer containing fortune cards (and it comes with refills)!
The Jack O’Lantern King Locket is one of the most incredible pieces of handmade jewelry I’ve ever seen. Go explore it!
Her Etsy shop contains all kinds of jewelry wonders: puppet shows, acrobats, animals. Amazing!
Ben Tolman’s work combines ornate, Hieronymous Bosch style scenery with the feeling of antique medical diagrams.
It’s a winning combination in my opinion.
All of his work is best viewed very large because the intricacies are incredible. The size I have posted omits entire worlds in the details! The gallery on his site allows for close zooming.
I try to keep personal politics out of SheWalksSoftly. We’ll just say that posting the 1932 cartoon Betty Boop for President has to do with my interest in vintage animation (along with the atrocious “isms” we may or may not have overcome in the past century).
She sings “I’ll give you all a great big kiss when I am president” and states her groundbreaking worldview:
“What this country is in need of
Is a lot of hi-de-ho,
Boop-a-doop and chocolate ice cream.”
If you dare preview Boop’s proposed utopian society, let this play past the three minute mark. Proceed at your own risk.
As she strikes her cutesy poses and winks repeatedly at the audience causing a public sensation, I’m certainly not reminded of any current Vice Presidential candidate. At no point does Betty mention war, hockey or the word “maverick.”
I’m a HUGE fan of Mr. Nobody, Boop’s opponent.
ROA leaves incredible animal anatomy graffiti in cities all over the world.
His archived calendar was the only comprehensive source of work I could find. Perhaps he wishes to maintain a degree of anonymity due to the nature of his medium. He covers a whole host of subject matter, but the anatomical animals are my favorite.
Lest some of us forget that our obsession with miniaturizing technology began long before the advent of the iPod Nano (or even the 90’s mini disc player that never quite caught on), I bring you the Mighty Tiny record player:
I can’t imagine many tiny records were made for this device. Proud owners were probably stuck with the same few tunes, a limitation hopefully balanced out by the novelty factor.
This ad reminded me of the flash in the pan 80’s trend, Pocket Rockers; mini tape players designed to be used as a fashion accessory.
The song selection was limited to this short and painfully 80’s list.
If you really want to bring yourself back in time, watch the commercial:
That song will now be stuck in your head all day. I apologize.
Marmite-Sue creates fantastic digital and traditional art, combining Victorian and Gothic Lolita aesthetics with mechanics, dolls and pieces of nature.
Of course, most of her work produces that mildly unsettling feeling that I love so much in doll art.
Vintage diving suits blow my mind. Here we have an apparatus that probably weighs more than the average compact car, and people were somehow expected to maneuver themselves underwater in such a contraption.
From the Musee Marin in Paris:
From the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco:
I was lucky enough to see some of Zombienose’s paintings and sculptures at the C.A.V.E. show the other day, which prompted me to find his work online.
I love the way he makes colorful, vivid figures emerge from the shadows.
…and the awkwardness of his human subjects.
The paintings and sculptures are my favorites, but I do suggest browsing all of the gallery.
You really have to see this way to (allegedly) “add stunning originality to your art collection”
Artist Chen Changwei breaks with tradition, reinventing the Chinese zodiac in a series of surrealist busts in the time-honored tradition of pâte de cristal.
“People Belong to Dog,” $12,250.00 (yes, you read that right)
And check out this Special Edition:
“People Belong to Elephant,” $76,500.00 (oh yes, you read THAT right too)
Are there actually people walking this earth who can throw down 76 and half thousand dollars for an elephant bust? Shouldn’t there be professionals to counsel these folks on better spending choices?
SheWalksSoftly 