Leslie Ann O’Dell uses photography and digital manipulation to create haunting portraiture, often with superimposed landscapes.
All of her pieces seem to create a simultaneous feeling of strength and vulnerability in her subjects.
Although most work incorporates photography, some pieces are entirely constructed/painted/illustrated from imagination.
Dark, delicate, sensual, mystifying…
My kindred spirit Cat referred to Spoon Theory today in a kind comment about my health. I immediately wanted to symbolically give her a special spoon, and the best way I could think to do so was with an image search for the most bizarre renditions of the final Hey Diddle Diddle lines.
Even as a child, I thought this Mother Goose nursery rhyme was truly ridiculous. I guess all nursery rhymes are. But if you need a refresher for this one:
Turns out anthropomorphized plates and flatware inspire a wide spectrum of artistic interpretation, both vintage and modern. Take a look!
Lukas Brezak paints plenty of things other than cats, but I’m going to focus on cats. Because…cats.
Hypnotic…
The following image reminds me of how I often wonder what my little darlings Dr. Morbius and Ms. Nimbus are dreaming. I have yet to dress them in teeny night caps (you might peg me for a cat dresser-upper, but no).
Can you see the resemblance?
He’s grown substantially (into a mushy sweetheart) since his kitten mugshot there, but I still see the fiendish eye gleam daily. Nimbus looks on with her typical nonchalance.
I’ve posted many images of gorgeous paper cutting over the years, but Cybele Young has her own spin on papercraft: constructing miniature exact replicas of real world items, and juxtapozing them in a kind of dialogue.
This tiny curling iron is brilliantly titled “It’s Worth It This Time.”
She achieves such precise detail that it’s hard to believe these are made of paper.
I wish I could see a time lapse video of one of these pieces being made. Wouldn’t it be great to witness plain sheets of paper turn into this before our eyes?
Hikari Shimoda blurs the boundaries between cuteness and horror in her neon-spattered manga style depictions of children (often in heroic costume).
She feels the ambiguity and fluidity of childrens’ identity makes them excellent subjects
Some are sweet, yet slightly soul-less…
And some paintings look like the fallout after an explosion at a toy factory.
Here’s my favorite piece:
I just browsed about 400 embroidered Temari Balls, and I’m blown away by this art form.
Flickr user Nana Akua has uploaded a giant collection of these marvelous pieces, all crafted by her 92 year old grandmother (who, incidentally, has made over 500 balls).
From my article source:
They are traditionally cherished as objects of friendship and loyalty. The bright colors symbolize luck and happiness for the recipient of the gift. And it isn’t only considered an honor to receive a Temari ball, but also to produce them. To qualify as a Temari ball artist, the individual has to display a high level of skill and technique.
Temari were often given to children from their parents on New Year’s Day. Inside the tightly wrapped layers of each ball, the mother would have placed a small piece of paper with a goodwill wish for her child. The child would never be told what wish his or her mother had made while making the ball.
I’m so impressed with the flow of the designs, the skilled use of geometry and color…the symbolism. I want to make one of these for everyone who has stood by me (and continues to do so) through my health troubles. What a meaningful gift.
See many more and prepare to be amazed HERE.
Luca Luce is a makeup and visual artist who creates incredible illusory hand art.
He blurs dimensions and space, sometimes with the use of little “props” to complete his designs.
…and sometimes through pure technique and perspective.
My computer is having issues saving images, so check out his site for many monsters and much creepy, hand-y goodness.
Luca Luce
Source
My friend Jo posted the following image (a project benefiting The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation) which looks like paradise and simultaneously reminds me of the incredible Twilight Zone episode Time Enough at Last. It reminded me of how much I love surrealist photographer Erik Johansson’s work.
The caption with this Escheresque eye teaser entitled The Architect is The discipline of paradoxical geometry, imagine the unimaginable.
Music brings forms to life…
Landfall:
The vase remains intact…with minor consequences.
I’m pretty picky about fantasy art, but couldn’t help enjoying a few selections from Juri the Dreamer’s portfolio. I’m partial to the ones containing skulls.
Unfortunately, wordpress is being stubborn and won’t upload the other images I downloaded from the portfolio. But there are a few more skulls to be seen HERE.
Telmo Miel is a talented Dutch street art duo comprised of Telmo Pieper and Miel Krutzmann.
From the artist bio:
After [meeting at the Willem de Kooning] academy they moved to the Sober-Concept Store, where Sober-Industries (also academy-friends) just started their new studio and shop space. This is the spot where the company ‘TELMO MIEL’ became official in the beginning of October 2012.
Working together seamlessly, they both enjoy working in realistic styles. With loads of contrast in subjects. Technique and style have a high priority in the artwork of Telmo & Miel, true craftsmanship is what they want to produce.
They work separately on ideas for murals and come together with the sketches to see if combinations can be made. The result is usually very surrealistic, with attention to detail. They always work on the same piece together and are able to switch places when ever wanted or needed.
As the collaboration progressed between Telmo Miel and all the other creatives anchored at the Sober Store, the overall creative platform was named Sober Collective. A team & family of creatives that can support each other in any way necessary. Everyone with their own set of skills, so endless conceptual combinations were made possible.
SheWalksSoftly 