Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Category Archive: Applied Art

Feather painting by Marina Nesterova

Feather painting by self-taught artist of applied art Marina Nesterova

Feather painting by self-taught artist of applied art Marina Nesterova

Feather painting by Marina Nesterova. Russian mixed media artist of applied art Marina Nesterova is a professional nurse, born in Belozerskoye, Donetsk region of Ukraine. Her collection of artworks includes mosaics, painting on bark, silk, charming dolls, miniature sculptures, embroidered egg shell, 3D embroidery, and paintings made entirely of feathers. Thanks to breeders of birds and pet shops Marina ‘paints’ her animals, floral still lifes, landscapes and folk scenes. When Marina is lack of feathers, she finds something to occupy herself – embroidery, floral, pottery, silk painting, sculpting. Her work can be found in private collections of the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. Marina often exhibits her artworks abroad, where her master classes are visited by a huge number of admirers.
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Soap carving in Thailand

Carved soap flowers in Thailand

Carved soap flowers in Thailand

Soap carving in Thailand is a very popular kind of applied art. To date, soap flower souvenirs are produced throughout Thailand, but such luxurious works of art are made only in the town of Chiang Ray and its nearby villages. The only difference between these beautiful flowers and natural flowers that they will never fade. Made of ordinary soap these carved exotic flowers are very realistic to their originals – roses, orchids, tulips, daffodils and their smell is also amazing. Such unusual souvenirs sold on the Thai market near Chiang Rai. Tourists and locals may try their hand in carving a flower from soap.
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Krakazyabra Art by Maryana Kopylova

Krakazyabra Art by Maryana Kopylova

Amazing Krakazyabra Art by Maryana Kopylova, Kharkov based artist

Krakazyabra Art by Maryana Kopylova

Young Ukrainian artist Maryana Kopylova, who obviously has her own space channel, creates strange, not like anything and absolutely charming toys. She calls her crafts “Krakazyabra Art”. Krakazyabras are lively and emotional, they are not from this world, and they bring light. According to Maryana, they come into this world, using her as a mediator. Mariana was born and lives in the city of Kharkov, Ukraine. She graduated from the Kharkov Pedagogical University, majoring in fine arts and advertising design. Maryana Kopylova draws pictures, engaged in sand animation, and creates colorful “monsters.”
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Antique European embroidery art

Garden of Eden, last quarter of 16th century. England

Garden of Eden, last quarter of 16th century. England

The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibits a unique collection of Antique European embroidery art of 15-19 centuries. The most striking sample of antique embroidery art is “Garden of Eden”, made in the 16th century in England. This panel is decorated with small elements—fruits, flowers, and leaves, worked in tent stitch on canvas and then applied to the dark velvet foundation on which was worked the river in the Garden of Eden, the figures of Adam and Eve, and God the Father, in polychrome silk and metal threads. The garden is monumental, almost overwhelming the figures.
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Masterpiece of Topiary art

Masterpiece of Topiary art. Stunning work of topiary artists - green zoo

Stunning work of topiary artists – green zoo. Masterpiece of Topiary art

Masterpiece of Topiary art
Topiary is a creative partnership of a human and mother nature. And the result of this complex but beautiful artistic process is a stunning living art. However, the art is available not only for professional artists and designers, but also for those among us with the green thumbs and the space to do it.

In fact, these fantastic green worlds begin with a steel frame covered with steel mesh. Next, this mesh is covered with sphagnum moss and soil (seeded with all sorts of plants). Underneath the mesh, a network of irrigation channels supply water to the plants on the surface, helping them grow.
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Realistic Miniature Animal Sculptures by Reve

Realistic Miniature Animal Sculptures by Reve

One-of-a-kind Tiger Cub. Realistic Miniature Animal Sculptures by Reve

Realistic Miniature Animal Sculptures by Reve
American self-taught artist sculptor, working under the pseudonym ‘Reve’, has created a large gallery of one of a kind miniature animals from polymer clay. The additional material the amateur artist uses – textile, mohair, natural fibers (yarn), with a touch of and hand painted details.

These incredibly realistic miniature animals show an inimitable combination of expression, coloring and coat pattern, with its own characteristics and personality. Besides, each sculpture is unique and its price on eBay is approximately $ 100.
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Stumpwork embroidery by Christine Paris

Stumpwork embroidery by Christine Paris

Hedgehog with an apple. Stumpwork embroidery by Christine Paris, Belgian artist of applied art

First of all, Stumpwork embroidery by Christine Paris, artist of applied art from Belgium is incredible. These stitched figures of squirrels, hedgehogs, and birds rising from the surface to form a 3-dimensional effect, look so realistic. In appearance, this type of embroidery is somewhat reminiscent of a bas-relief or sculpture. Maybe that’s why it bears a strange name, composed of two English words “stump” and “work.” The techniques of stumpwork differs, depending on material used in it – wire, rubber, textile, and anything that can create a 3D effect. Stitches are worked around pieces of wire, then applied to the main body of work by piercing the background fabric and securing tightly. Meanwhile, a master can create other shapes using padding under the stitches, usually in the form of felt layers sewn one upon the other in increasingly smaller sizes. And finally, the master then covers felt with a layer of embroidery stitches.
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