Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Matchbox holder Art

Matchbox holder Art

Scene from every day life in the village. Matchbox holder Art

Matchbox holder Art
A relatively recent invention of mankind, matches have replaced the flint about two centuries ago, and safety matches appeared only in 1844. However, match holders have neither an inventor nor a homeland, as they appeared simultaneously in several countries, in the era before 1900. Matchbox holders were made for the living room, office, bedroom, and of course, kitchen. They were in the form of figures and grandiose compositions and made of different materials, such as gold, nickel, silver, brass, aluminum, bronze, iron and even porcelain. And some unique memorable “Match Safes” are a real work of art. Even nowadays, the same as previously, these cute little things are passed as heirlooms. Besides, they are popular among connoisseurs and collectors of antiques. Undoubtfully, vintage matchbox holders, carrying the spirit of others and passing time, beauty and grace, will be always valued.
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Exquisite Meenakshi Amman Temple

Exquisite Meenakshi Amman Temple

Colorful sculpture decorates Exquisite Meenakshi Amman Temple

Exquisite Meenakshi Amman Temple in India can impress anyone who ever saw it, without making exceptions. Even such experienced and sophisticated traveler as Marco Polo could not help praising its delightful architecture. The Temple listed among New Seven Wonders of the World is true work of architectural art. 33 thousand magnificent sculptures, painted in bright colors cover the walls and pillars from top to bottom. Besides, the temple is the center of education, culture, literature, art, music and dance for Tamil people. Among the prominent people depicted in carved figures – Rati (wife of Kama), Karthikeya, Ganesha, Shiva, and many more. And of course, alongside with them – endless number of mythical figures of yali – beast with body of lion and head of an elephant. The Temple includes Art Museum exhibiting icons, photographs, drawings, and other exhibits of the 1200 years old history of the temple. And among the most interesting objects of the temple are the Musical Pillars, which produce a different musical note when struck.
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Soo Kim pencil drawings

Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany's. Colored pencils, pen and marker. Soo Kim pencil drawings

Iconic image of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Colored pencils, pen and marker. Soo Kim pencil drawings

Soo Kim pencil drawings
Los Angeles, California based Graphic artist and web designer Soo Kim prefers old ways of creating art – drawing with a pencil and pen, instead of using Photoshop. The talented young illustrator has created a gallery of wonderful pencil portraits of iconic faces of the last century – Audrey Hepburn (series of portraits), Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, and Brigitte Bardot. In addition, her gallery includes characters of our favorite films, such as The Great Gatsby and Game of Thrones (celebrities and movies series). In her work, Korean artist Soo Kim uses graphite, colored pencils, pastels, Conte and charcoal. Among her favorite artists – Pablo Picasso, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent Van Gogh and her compatriot Lee Chul Soo – woodcut artist depicting humble life in rural Korea.
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Jane Perkins junk art

Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer

Girl with a Pearl Earring, Jan Vermeer. Jane Perkins junk art

Jane Perkins junk art
This artist does not mind if you call it junk art: Jane Perkins creates amazing portraits of the things that are on dumps and flea markets. 55-year-old British artist skillfully recreates famous and legendary faces from buttons, pieces of cheap jewelry, shells, old toys, curtain hooks, and more. The idea of making portraits of buttons and found materials came into her head ten years ago, when she started recreating “Portrait with Green Stripe” – a famous Matisse portrait of his wife, which she had always liked. The creative artist not only finds things at the flea markets and the trashcans – something is brought by her friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Sometimes she finds packages with things on her doorstep, and then she is happy to examine them all. Two local charities also collect material for her future work, and Jane then donates them part of the earned money.
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Victoria Chernysheva miniature toys

Victoria Chernysheva miniature toys

Sphinx. Sculpted by hand, without the use of mold, painted with acrylic paints. Victoria Chernysheva miniature toys

Victoria Chernysheva miniature toys
Russian mixed media artist Victoria Chernysheva has created a wonderful gallery of life-like realistic toys of dogs, teddy bears, cats, ferrets, mice and birds. Traditionally, the artist works in a variety of techniques. These cute miniature toys are not more than 3 cm tall!
Born 3 October, 1977 in Rostov-on-Don, Victoria is currently living here with her husband and their two wonderful children. Before she started making teddy bears and dolls, Victoria tried her hand in different directions of applied art, but miniature has conquered her completely. According to the artist, the world of miniature captivates. Noteworhy, she creates her detailed miniature works manually, and very carefully, so every work is unique.
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Kaliningrad Amber painting

Kaliningrad Amber painting Kiss, inspired by Gustav Klimt

Kiss, inspired by Gustav Klimt. Kaliningrad Amber painting

Kaliningrad Amber painting
These paintings are made by hand from amber. Every stone of amber is a frozen ray of sunshine kept for 40 million years. So, the picture from the amber is not only a unique work of art, but also a part of the sun’s heat, zipped through millions of years. Landscapes, portraits, icons, images of fauna and flora made of amber radiate a positive energy and have a positive effect on a person. Love for amber painting is due to the very nature of the origin of the material. The magic of the stone in the hands of artists becomes a work of art. It is the secret that fascinates, and turns painting into something more.
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Russian Doll master Olga Yegupets

Kiss, inspired by Klimt. 2006. Art by Russian Doll master Olga Yegupets

Kiss, inspired by Klimt. 2006. Art by Russian Doll master Olga Yegupets

Doll master Olga Yegupets

Talented doll master Olga Yegupets – member of Union of artists of Russia (2007). She was born Olga Sergeyeva, into a family of artists, in Kazakhstan. But grew up and studied in the northern town of Russia – Nadym. In 1994, Olga entered Abramtsevo Industrial Arts College where she studied artistic ceramics to become an artist-master of arts and crafts. After graduating from the College with honors in 2000, she entered Moscow Pedagogical University, faculty of Art graphics. And she graduated from it with a degree in Applied and folk art. Creativity of Olga Yegupets became very popular among collectors and lovers of art dolls, both in Russia and abroad. When making her cute dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including plastics, Paper clay, and others. Besides, all dolls are made by hand, without the use of pre-printed forms. And, of course, each work is made in one piece.
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