Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Eyelids Art by Katie Alves

Disney movies in the era of 90s probably had a big hand in creating a fantasy world in many children who grew up at that time. It is undeniable that until now, both icons and setting of the place that we've seen on our favorite movies is still strong inherent in our memory, and we still love it! Sometimes we even have fantasies about these movies, and make it as a world of our own - just close your eyes and you will see it clearly! But through this one art, not only you will be able to see it but also the people around you.
DeviantARTist Katie Alves who might be able to realize this through her Eyelids Art. Specifically, this 21-year-old makeup artist based in Canada has decided to transfer the scene from her favorite cartoons and movies for children on the eyelids. Although it sounds unbelievable, in fact she manage it to realize her imaginations, a scene from The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, The little Mermaid to Alice in Wonderland.. we could see it all on her DA. For this project Katie needed make-up standard accessories: shades, eyeliner and much, much patience and skill.



Similar with the other works of body painting, this kind of art can not be seen every day, except the artist capture it through photos. There are many artists who make the body as the medium of painting, but unfortunately not all of them capture their work well, so it does not take impression at all. This 'Eyelids Art' by Katie Alves is probably not the best detail I have ever seen, but it is covered by perfect gradations on every background she created, stunning enough to make people looked at it for a long time until they noticed the picture on the front.  It really is understandable because the skin pores are very unstable in contrast to the canvas or paper. However in my opinion, she has successfully shown us the atmosphere of Disney. Best of all, her works are well documented!! So here are some and you can also check for more through her DA, HERE or facebook page HERE! She also created the lip art and nail art, so I recommend you to see her other works now! 

                                         (Images via www.katiealves.deviantart.com)

Friday, February 22, 2013

The 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China

What is the best thing we can do in the winter? With piles of snow like everywhere, maybe this one festival will attract your attention, even with the low temperature that might make your hands numb. The Harbin Ice Festival, one event that is always awaited by many people, whether from China or any other country in the world.
Harbin Ice Festival provides the visitors each year a whole new world of ice and snow. The 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival was started on January 5, 2013 and last for over one month. The best collections of ice artworks were exhibited in the following five main places: Ice and Snow World, Ice Lantern Garden Party, Sun Island Scenic Area, Yabuli International Ski Resort, Zhaolin Park. This year we were lucky enough to get some photos sent by one of our members James Patrick, an artist based in Sydney, directly from the festival.



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Figurative Nail Sculptures by Marcus Levine

Nails are commonly used as a tool to lock a material such as wood in a building. In shape, the nail is interesting for me to be explored as an artistic medium. But I always think to use it in small amounts, because of its solidity and may be difficult to be processed. But this one British Sculptor, Marcus Levine uses nails as the media, hundreds or even thousands of nails rather, to create works of applied art, in the form of figurative sculpture that enact a physical Pointillism. Each composed of thousands of nails hammered into wood panels. All works are completed freehand without any sketches or tracing onto the boards.



It's certainly not an easy process to create figurative work without sketches or tracing, especially if you see the size of the works made mostly on a large scale. I do not doubt the value and beauty of this work, but at a glance if you look at the work from a distance, I think this work may be seen less bold, perhaps because of the size of the nails used are not too large, Applying this work really should be adjusted to the surrounding area, layout, lighting, color dominance around, and so forth, so this work would appear to be 'outstanding'.



Interview and video coverage by BBC's look north program includes footage of Levine at work in his studio 

Levine tours his exhibition at London's 'Air Gallery', depicting additional nail works