Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Elspeth McLean painting mandala stones

Elspeth McLean painting mandala stones. All the mandala stones Elspeth McLean created while visiting her home town in Perth, Western Australia

The artist created all mandala paintings while visiting her home town in Perth, Western Australia. Elspeth McLean painting mandala stones

Elspeth McLean painting mandala stones
Australian born artist Elspeth McLean, who now lives in Canada, creates hypnotically beautiful and colorful stone mandalas. Experimenting with thousands of colored dots and circles she expresses herself, and celebrates the colors of her soul and spirit. The artist believes that such mandala stones can soothe the soul and fill the inner world with bright light. “My art is result of a love to experiment with color and pattern. Creating is a way for me to express the colors of my soul. All I’m doing is trying to live my life and art authentically peace”.
Read more »

Realistic 3D street painting by Nikolaj Arndt

The Bear and the Rottweiler. Realistic 3D street painting by Nikolaj Arndt

The Bear and the Rottweiler. Realistic 3D street painting by Nikolaj Arndt

Realistic 3D street painting by Nikolaj Arndt

Russian street artist Nikolaj Arndt was born in a small town of Gavrilov Posad of Ivanovo region. He graduated from art and graphics department of Yuriev-Polsky pedagogical college. After graduation, he lived and worked in Ivanovo for 10 years, developing his artistic skills. In 2006, Nikolaj Arndt moved to Germany. Since 2009, he has been engaged in three-dimensional street art painting. Nikolaj is a permanent participant and a winner of several street art festivals.
Read more »

Coffee painting by Maria Aristidou

Steve McCurry's Afghan Girl. Coffee on Aquarelle

Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl. Coffee painting by Maria Aristidou

Coffee painting by Maria Aristidou
Cyprus native artist Maria A. Aristidou creates watercolor illustrations using an unusual medium – coffee. She drew the first coffee picture quite by accident. For illustrations – portraits of famous people, animals, cartoon characters the artist uses paper for watercolor and five different coffee drinks to give the pictures different tones and nuances. According to the artist herself, she draws what she loves. Particularly, in the gallery of her coffee paintings – Disney characters – Ariel, Walt Disney; Queen Elizabeth, Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Laurie, and Afghan Girl – an iconic National Geographic photo, Bob Marley, and many others.
Read more »

Sculptor Jeweler Vladimir Voichishin

Einstein birthday. Sculptor Jeweler Vladimir Voichishin

Einstein’s birthday. Sculptor Jeweler Vladimir Voichishin

Surrealist Sculptor Jeweler Vladimir Voichishin (Vlad Voychishin) has rich creative biography. In particular, almost 10 years he has lived abroad, while his compositions have been exhibited in galleries in New York, London, and Canada. Besides, he spent some time in Africa, studying the secrets of Kenyan craftsmen working with “ebony”. Meanwhile, his sculptures are in the collections of the famous people, such as actor Hugh Grant, singer Celine Dion, and even Fidel Castro. However, some years ago Vladimir Voichishin returned to Siberia, and currently he lives and works in his studio in Belokurikha of Altai region. Noteworthy, Voichishin has created eleven large sculptures (each – more than a meter in height) made of … gold, silver and platinum, inlaid with precious stones. In total, it took him over 55 kilograms of silver and more than a kilogram of gold.
Read more »

Artist engraver Viktor Morozov

Birds of paradise panel. 2006. Aluminum, anodized aluminum, copper, cold enamel, oil, blackening. Artist engraver Viktor Morozov

Birds of paradise panel. 2006. Aluminum, anodized aluminum, copper, cold enamel, oil, blackening. Artist engraver Viktor Morozov

artist engraver Viktor Morozov
In the 60s and 70s of the last century art of coinage and metal engraving were incredibly fashionable. Gradually, to the public consciousness, they began to be associated with souvenirs and simple cheap crafts. Meanwhile, the works of a talented self-taught artist Viktor Morozov prove – the art of metal engraving belongs to fine art. And the artist is passionate about history and traditions. According to him, he is interested in Ancient and Medieval History of Russia and other nations, and also philosophy, religion, lifestyle, clothing, weapons, and the armor of ancient people. All this seems very beautiful and majestic. Even from an early age he felt metal – “an elastic material”.
Read more »

Birch bark art by Vadim Komarov

Tues of birch bark 'Flowers'. Birch bark art by Vadim Komarov (BeReSta63)

Tues of birch bark ‘Flowers’. Made of several layers of birch bark, facing layer – stamping, water-based lacquered (eco-friendly). Bottom and lid – cedar. Ideal for storing food, dried herbs, mushrooms, berries. Birch bark art by Vadim Komarov (BeReSta63)

Birch bark art by Vadim Komarov

First of all “Tues”, or tuesok (tuesy, tueski – plural) – small birch-bark box with a lid. Classic tues is cylindrical. Another name – Burak. The word “Tues” is borrowed from Northern Russia Komi language, meaning “Birch bark”. Russian artist of applied art Vadim Komarov (BeReSta63) is a talented self-taught craftsman working with birch bark. He lives in the city of Beryozovsky, Siberia. Initially, birch bark folk crafts was only a hobby for him, as he worked as an electrician all his life. But as it often happens, his favorite hobby has become his second profession.
Read more »

Ryan Cook chainsaw sculpting

Eagle & owl bench. Ryan Cook chainsaw sculpting

Eagle & owl bench. Ryan Cook chainsaw sculpting

Ryan Cook chainsaw sculpting
Having entered the world of carving in 2011, Canadian chainsaw carver Ryan Cook quickly became an established name in the art. In addition, he has earned the respect of his fellow carvers competing in carving events around the world. In particular, invited to the English Open, The Dutch International, Invitational World Championships in Chetwynd, BC, and many others. Ryan Cook has also launched his own business Saw Valley, based out of Britannia Beach, British Columbia, where he creates custom carvings for customers. Initially, Ryan was an actor hired to play the role of “The Apprentice” on SAW DOGS. Surprisingly, never having actually carved a day in his life before the show.
Read more »