The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia
David MacCandless
MacCandless’ book is an example of graphic design at its finest – a perfect combination of attractive art and a clear message. From the serious (carbon footprints) to the frivolous (dictators mustaches) creative graphic design makes the data beautiful and...
Little People in the City
Slinkachu
Artist Slinkachu sets up teeny-tiny dioramas of teeny-tiny people doing naughty things throughout London. Using the surrounding “big people world” his minute people interact with their sets as though their size is perfectly normal. Amazing and devious.
http://slinkachu.com
Pheromone
Christopher Marley
On our honeymoon last year we stopped by the gallery in Prairie Edge Art Gallerie in South Dakota. A few of Marley’s insect pieces were on display and we were fascinated. Each piece is a small collection of real, exotic insects. Pheromone shows many of his pieces, along with some additional macro-photography. Often the insects are laid out into a pattern to show wing color gradation or sizing. Other images are show incredibly sharp and clear close-ups of insects so oddly constructed they don’t seem real. All the images are stunning. While Pheromone focuses solely on Marley’s insect work, his online portfolio also contains minerals, sea-life,...
The Quilted Garden
Jane Sassaman
I had seen a couple of samples of Sassaman’s work in the book Masters Art Quilts. Coming from a strong graphic design background, Sassaman’s works are unlike any quilts I have ever seen. The designs are strong and bold, rarely using more than the smallest of patterns in the fabric. Nor are there any of the traditional patterns or maudlin, saccharine themes so commonly seen in quilt art. Sassaman incorporates weed leaves, writhing vines, jagged spikes and more into her nature-inspired quilts. Check out her site for the book, her line of Prairie Gothic fabric and a portfolio of her amazing work.
http://www.janesassaman.com/...
Masters – Art Quilts – Major Works by Leading Artists
An inspiring collection of modern art quilts made by masters. Rich and detailed, these quilts rival any painting. From photo realistic trees, portraits and modernist grids this thick beautiful collection shows a dazzling array of fabric masterpieces.
http://www.janesassaman.com/Quilt_Gallery.html
http://www.bryerpatch.com/gallery/gallery.htm
Pete and Pickles
Berkeley Breathed
I was kind of shocked when Breathed killed off Opus earlier this year. I understand his rationale that the world is really just too messed up for an Opus, no matter how feisty he is. However, I think Breathed did a great disservice by taking away a gently sarcastic bright spot in a cynical world. Regardless, he has partially redeemed himself with his gorgeous new children’s book Pete and Pickles. Full of Breathed’s luminous illustrations, Pete and Pickles tells the story of a quite little pig who spends his days tending his wife’s grave. However, once he rescues an elephant named Pickles, his whole quiet life goes out the door....