Tag Archives: Art

Victorian Monster Portraiture

Posted on January 25, 2010 | 3 comments

Its ironic but I think there are few things that can make us humans feel as alive as a well-executed fantasy. When I first heard that Avatar goers were reporting depression I was totally in the “you’ve got to be kidding me” camp but I think I’ve moved a little to the “I get it” side. It’s like waking up from a night of flying dreams. I’m always bummed that I’m awake and try to fall back into the same dream, but it never works.

I think Brooklyn artist, Travis Louie, probably gets it too. He specializes in what I’d call Victorian monster portraiture. His mythical beings appear to be upper-class elites, each possessing a personality and unique story. I spent a good hour looking through his paintings and reading the little blurbs that tell their tales. It’s a little like digging up a photograph-filled time capsule on an alien planet. He does a fantastic job of creating mysterious little worlds that leave you wanting to know more.

You can purchase his work at a number of fine art galleries, including Roq La Rue.

Choking Krampus

Maxo the Ultra-Chimp

Miss Bunny

Stack of Demons

Uncle Victor

Richard the Small

3 Comments

Posted in Art

Tagged Art, artist, fantasy, Monster, oddities, paintings, portraiture, Roq La Rue, Travis Louie

Minimal Strokes

Posted on January 6, 2010 | 2 comments

Mask III

One of my favorite classes in college was Arts of Asia. In the Western world, art for art’s sake is a relatively new thing. In times past it was usually commissioned by religious bodies to recreate scenes from scripture or by the aristocracy for portraiture. And while the East had plenty of that, they also created fantastic pieces centered around nature.

Apriori

I’m a huge of fan of Sumi-e painting in which the subject is more representative than realistic and each brush stroke is deliberate.

I recently ran across the art of Adam S. Doyle whose work reminds me of some of my favorite Sumi-e paintings. He uses minimal, but perfectly placed, colorful strokes to create typical Sumi-e subject matter such as birds and fish and not-so-typical subject matter such as teapots and masks. His signature resembles a hanko seal which is a nice touch too.

You can buy a painting at his store or you can get a print from Thumbtack Press.

I’m dying to own Magic Fish!

Magic Fish

Birds of Paradise

Mask IV

Hive

Howl

2 Comments

Posted in Art

Tagged Adam S. Doyle, Apriori, Art, Asain, Birds of Baradise, Brush Stroke, Hive, Howl, Magic Fish, Mask, Minimalism, Sumi-e

Assemble Robot Assemble

Posted on January 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

What’s better than a robot? A retro robot! And what’s better than a retro robot? A retro robot that blasts music from your iPod through it’s chest, of course!

New York based Lipson Robotics, is the mastermind and creator responsible for these uber cool sculptures. They’re composed of random pieces found at thrift stores, recycle shops, junkyards, retail stores, construction sites and off of the street. Think Bender from Futurama meets a 1957 Chevy Bel Air and they decide to swap scraps. I love the idea of owning something that was created through a scavenger hunt, of sorts. If only the individual pieces could tell their life stories!

You can purchase one at the Lipson Robotics Etsy page. Or if the robots themselves are a little too pricey, you can pick up one of these 80-page books which contain over 100 photos.

Next Stop Adventure

Posted on December 8, 2009 | 4 comments

Next Stop Adventure is Matt Gauck, an artist and illustrator from Portland, OR. I want to live in his fanciful world where robots groom trees and albino sperm whales find themselves wedged in tree tops. I think I love the way he makes use of color in his backdrops as much as the images themselves. Also, my friend Jason wanted me to mention that I like the tiny red speckles in the monster painting below. He thinks that I’m retarded and wants the rest of you to know it too.

It doesn’t look like Matt’s site is working, but if you want to own something as much as I want to own this whale painting, you could hit him up on his Myspace or Flickr account.

4 Comments

Posted in Art, Robots

Tagged Art, Matt Gauck, Monster, Next Stop Adventure, Painting, Robot, Whale

Patterned Antlers

Posted on December 3, 2009 | 2 comments

San Antonio artist, Jennifer Khoshbin, is the creator of these fabulous paper resin deer heads. I know, I know.. you won’t get the thrill of killing a shy peaceful creature from 100 ft away with your technologically advanced weapon, but it’d still look pretty awesome against a dark accent wall. You can purchase her work at her Etsy store, Ruby’s Lounge.

2 Comments

Posted in Art

Tagged Antlers, Art, deer head, Etsy, Jennifer Khoshbin, Resin, Ruby's Lounge

Ganesha and Mac ‘n Cheese

Posted on November 25, 2009 | Leave a comment

How cool are these Keds by Methane Studios? And they’re customizable so you can enhance (or decrease, depending on your aesthetic sense) their appeal! My studies in art history left me with a real affinity for religious iconography. My stomach’s studies in high fat, nutrition-less foods left me with an affinity for mac ‘n cheese. I really want a pair of the Ganesha design… and maybe a doughnut too.

Covet, customize and buy them at Zazzle.

Candied Cowboys

Posted on November 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Tossed

My heart immediately fell victim to these paintings by JW Caldwell. His figures are minimally detailed and largely faceless, constructed from wild folds that focus your attention on motion rather than emotion. They flip and twist to one side or the other of the canvas, suspended for that split-second before they crumple into a pile of hurt. He coats his broncos with the same bright saccharine-sweet colors as his cowboys, tying them to each other even as they are flung apart.

With its dark background and shimmery blue figures, “Spooked” appears, to me, to be unfolding on the moon. And Moon Cowboys is celebrating with a “yeehaw!”. I also love the colors in “Tossed” (above) and “Yellow Slip”. There’s nothing better than a little candy-dipped Americana!

You can purchase his work at Trifecta Gallery in Las Vegas.

Yellow Slip

Reared

My Hat

Flap

Spooked

Chiara Bautista (MILK) Illustrations

Posted on October 28, 2009 | 2 comments

ohmydeer

Chiara Butista aka MILK is an enigmatic artist from Tucson, Arizona. Her work is insanely detailed and appears to be riddled with symbolism. Many of her subjects, which sport antlers or tentacles, are captured in chaotic, angst-ridden moments which are balanced perfectly by femininely decorated backgrounds and cartoonish animal friends. You could scour these images for hours and still find new details every time you revisit them. Check out her myspace page for more and larger images which show better detail. Her pieces will be available for purchase at her site once it’s functioning.

nina22

Misyu

roundhere

St-Sebastian

bellos&falsos

AnaMary2

2 Comments

Posted in Art

Tagged Art, Chiara Bautista, Illustrations, MILK

Cardboard Buck

Posted on October 27, 2009 | 2 comments

I totally want to have a painting night where everyone paints one of these cardboard buck busts from Fred Flare.

buck

2 Comments

Posted in Art

Tagged Antlers, Art, Buck, Bust, Fred Flare, Painting

Steampunk Insects

Posted on October 26, 2009 | 1 comment

RutelidaeP108

Yay! Two of my favorite things together at last! Mike Libby, starts with real insects from around the world which he dissects and restructures using old pocket and wristwatch parts. You can purchase his pieces at Insect Lab, for between $375 – $2200. If that’s too rich for your blood, consider one of his giclee prints. The grasshopper is my favorite (and most expensive, of course). I love the little gears and springs on his hind legs.

Rhino09