Monkeys stealing your nose. Or maybe picking it
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
11.03.2014
8.24.2010
James Hance - Relentlessly Cheerful Art
James Hance - Relentlessly Cheerful Art
Some fabulous stuff here and the prints seem very reasonably priced. We have a few bare walls that need decorating...
Some fabulous stuff here and the prints seem very reasonably priced. We have a few bare walls that need decorating...
7.16.2010
Archaeological Field Records as Art
I was just messing around surfing on Wiki and glanced at the entry for the Hallstatt culture (Iron Age in Central Europe) and found this glorious watercolor of a series of graves excavated by Johann Georg Ramsauer in the mid 19th Century. The records were apparently never published, but survived as folios.
Really, really awesome (to me at least). Field records can be that way, especially when dealing with highly decorative or "artistic" assemblages, but making these pit burials beautiful and alive was probably far more challenging. Very cool.
Really, really awesome (to me at least). Field records can be that way, especially when dealing with highly decorative or "artistic" assemblages, but making these pit burials beautiful and alive was probably far more challenging. Very cool.
6.22.2010
3.18.2010
Egyptology Snark: Photo Filler
A stunning example of the finest of Egyptian carving from the Seti Temple at Abydos:
Before anyone freaks out, this is on a modern reconstruction block. I'm seriously impressed by the detail here - I think that's actually a fairly decent rendering of a was scepter or possibly a very long barbeque skewer that Anubis or maybe Wepwawet is holding.
Anyway, no longer post this week as I am having some fairly sucktastic symptom flare ups this week. My neck is seriously messed up and making my head hurt badly enough to make concentration more of a challenge than usual and my hands are starting to get hurty again. And I had several appointments and running around today trying to get a prescription filled and finding out it's not in the formulary and trying to get the refusal over-ridden and...yeah... Anyway, hopefully I'll get my drugs soon and they'll help.
Hopefully we'll get back on track next week with more extensive Egyptological snarkery.
7.18.2009
Egyptian Art/Egyptology Series Part 2
I was messing around on Digital Egypt for Universities (one of my very favorite on-line Egyptology resources) and found these reliefs from the mastaba of Tepemankh at Saqqara. A mastaba is a type of tomb, particularly popular during the Old Kingdom among high officials. The burial itself was typically at the bottom of a deep shaft. The mastaba was built up over the shaft usually with mudbrick, rubble, and a nicer facing of limestone, with a flat top and slightly sloped sides. Niches and internal chambers were often included to allow the deceased to receive offerings from priests and/or from their descendants and this is where the majority of the decoration appears. The word is actually Arabic and is the term for a sort of bench often appearing on the exterior of houses and shops.
Anyway, I particularly like these not only for their wonderful Old Kingdom quality, but also for the translations available. If you click on UC14309 you can see translations of the writing around the craftsmen. I am a particular fan of the overseer saying to one of the craftsmen: "Sloth is unbearable to Sokar, O Craftsman." In a less literal translation - "Get off your lazy ass and work faster, you!" I love that such a slightly humorous and very normal human interchange was recorded in Tepemankh's tomb. The interchanges about bartering for sandals and carrying goods seen on UC14310 are also pretty fun.
This is one of the best parts of visiting museum collections (or the in situ monuments) or examining exhibition catalogues numerous times - you begin to notice more the smaller details included in scenes that are absolutely charming, whether it's a conversation between workers, a fight between dancing girls, a little boy about to pull the tail of a pet monkey, or the inclusion of a farmer's bald spot.
6.30.2009
Favorite Egyptian Pieces
I've decided to start up a new series here featuring ancient Egyptian "art" pieces on a semi-regular basis. At some point I will also put together a post explaining why I have art in quotation marks up there - today my brain is simply not up to it.
And here is a closer view of Selket:
Personally, I think the finest photos of the Tutankhamun objects were probably taken by Harry Burton, the original expedition photographer "loaned" to Howard Carter by the Metropolitan Museum, New York. There is (or was) a traveling special exhibit of Burton's photos and there is also a lovely book featuring them.
I thought I would inaugurate the series with one of my very favorite pieces from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The goddess statues from the canopic shrine - Isis, Selket, Neith, and Nephthys. The goddesses stand with their bodies toward the shrine, arms outstretched, faces to the side in a protective pose on the edges of the shrine containing Tutankhamun's preserved internal organs. The symbols on their heads indicate their identities. They wear very fine pleated linen gowns typical of the late 18th Dynasty. It is their faces in particular that I adore - the sweet, serene expressions are absolutely captivating to me.
Here is an image of the shrine itself in the Cairo Museum. Isis and Selket are visible:
And here is a closer view of Selket:
Personally, I think the finest photos of the Tutankhamun objects were probably taken by Harry Burton, the original expedition photographer "loaned" to Howard Carter by the Metropolitan Museum, New York. There is (or was) a traveling special exhibit of Burton's photos and there is also a lovely book featuring them.Photo credits:
Photo of the outer canopic shrine by Gérard Ducher located at Wikimedia Commons
6.29.2009
ceramic dish with glass melted in the base
I love this ceramic piece. The color variation and texture along with the wonderful effect of the melted glass is wonderful. It puts me in mind of volcano calderas and hot springs and reefs. Exquisite.
6.21.2009
Minimix Blaster
How freakin' cool is this? I've always loved the shapes and colors of vintage kitchen equipment, but never thought to recombine it with other bits and pieces to make a wicked cool space-age blaster.
This would make my occasional tendency to smoosh up against walls, peer around the corner and yell "pew pew" at people way more fun. And possibly more comprehensible. Possibly.
This would make my occasional tendency to smoosh up against walls, peer around the corner and yell "pew pew" at people way more fun. And possibly more comprehensible. Possibly.
5.27.2009
"Tita De la Garza"
I haven't featured a doll in some time, so I think this is a lovely one to revive interest with. Her features are lovely, as are the clothing and accessories. Even better, she's a character from a novel. I haven't read "Like Water for Chocolate" but I love it when people take inspiration from books.
4.25.2009
a photographer
I love this simple, graceful photographer behind her camera and tripod. Another simple = wow!
4.14.2009
A great pair
I really like these two - I suspect because they sort of put me in mind of a dear friend and I if we were transported back in time. I'm the one on the left with the supercilious expression :)
Needle felted flower fairy sitting under her flower, made in wet
Needle felting results in such lovely works, and this is no exception - I really like the simple fantasy setting here.
The Birthday Girl Wears Feathers
Another fave from Applehill Dolls. I have a fondness for feathers, though I'm not quite brave enough to make and wear a fascinator or hat (yet) and the outfit is great!
4.13.2009
Toby the Elf - OOAK, polymer clay
Maybe I'm just a sucker for striped socks,but I really like this little elf with the sweet expression, fabulous hat, and excellent socks.
Yeti Trio
I love these - the fun fabric for tummies and faces, the slightly scary eyes, the punk-rock fur - all around awesomeness!
Brooding with Dove and Crow
As people may have noticed, I have a thing for art dolls. I have never made one myself, but I'm hoping one day my skills will be up for at least giving it a go.
Anyway, here is another that caught my eye recently. I love that she's not quite so distant and untouchable as some of the dolls I've posted lately (though obviously not a good candidate for playing - thus the "art" part of "art doll'). I love the hair and dress. The facial expression is fun too.
Anyway, here is another that caught my eye recently. I love that she's not quite so distant and untouchable as some of the dolls I've posted lately (though obviously not a good candidate for playing - thus the "art" part of "art doll'). I love the hair and dress. The facial expression is fun too.
4.12.2009
Cinderella by Marina Bychkova
I've featured Marina Bychkova's amazing dolls here before and new work has just been uploaded to Flickr. Her dolls are just breathtaking to me and Cinderella is no different - the distant, slightly frightened facial expression is very arresting and, as usual, the rest of the doll is exquisite.
Embroidery Pattern for Doll Face
Jacque has generously posted this fabulously fun pattern for free on Flickr (that was a lot of alliteration, there...) I don't embroider myself (or others), rather I don't do embroidery aside from a few details on my amigurumi, primarily because I don't think I can manage the small needles long-term without major hand pain and cramps, but that doesn't keep me from admiring other amazing work.
If you use the pattern, be sure to credit Jacque and share a photo of it so we can all see your creation!
If you use the pattern, be sure to credit Jacque and share a photo of it so we can all see your creation!
4.09.2009
Amazing Orangutan Amigurumi
June Gilbank of PlanetJune has completed this amazing baby orangutan - he's poseable, which makes him even more fabulous.
I'm in awe of the skill and thought that went into this. I think he's the perfect mix of life-like and adorable and the fact that he means so much to his creator is even more wonderful.
I'm in awe of the skill and thought that went into this. I think he's the perfect mix of life-like and adorable and the fact that he means so much to his creator is even more wonderful.
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