To Krakow-based artist Dawid Planeta, the jungle is a metaphor for “the mysterious world of [our] emotions”; as children, we explore the jungle with joy and curiosity, but as we age, we detach; the landscapes become alien and filled with fear. Last year, when Planeta became depressed, he turned to art. He began “Mini People,” […]
Category: Animals
Magical Frogs and Kitties: Tattoos by Joanna Swirska
Joanna Świrska, aka Dżo Lama, focuses her colorful tattoo portfolio on nature with a psychedelic twist. The detailed portraits of birds, mushrooms, and moths come alive with splashes of neon hues. Her style, which is a mixture of realism and abstraction, began to develop over three years ago. While in art school, Świrska first designed tattoos […]
Nature’s Beautiful Tragedy Explored in Illustration by Teagan White
Illustrator Tegan White cites “picking wildflowers” and “collecting animal bones” as some of her hobbies. Both of them show up in some of her latest pieces (gouache and watercolor on paper), which highlight the beautiful decay of creatures—a concept that White is particularly interested in. Specifically, the larger scope of her work is about “nature’s […]
Autumn Dancer Interview: Illustrative Magical Realism
A relative up-and-comer in the tattoo industry, Autumn Dancer has rapidly become an in-demand artist. Describing her style as a sort of “magical photorealism,” Dancer’s dark fantasy tattoos breath life into creatures that could not possibly exist in reality. While her professional time is dedicated to working on clients and attending conventions like the Van […]
A’ Design Awards: Roundup of the Coolest Arts and Crafts From Past Years
When the “Hex Kite” by Wind Architecture Studio takes flight, it looks like an alien is making contact with Earth. But we assure you it’s not an extraterrestrial—it’s one of the past winners of the A’ Design Award! The lightweight creation won big in the “Arts, Crafts and Ready-Made Design” category last year. Now it’s […]
The Fantastically Fragile Natural World of Zoe Keller
Inspired by the natural world, illustrator Zoe Keller creates compelling combinations of plants and animals in an intricate detail. Her fascination began as a young child, and she conveys that same love in her work. With it comes a twinge of sadness for the state of our world, which happened well before the Trump became […]
Alluring Modern Fairies by Fate Troppo Belle
In Italian folklore, the fate are magical beings (like fairies) who disguise themselves as humans to play dangerous tricks on people. This is the mythology that inspires the work of Fate Troppo Belle (Alina Akhmatova), a digital artist based in Milan. Using nature imagery and unusual objects, the fate she envisions are modern tricksters, often […]
Mind-Melting Dark Art by Dusty Ray
Dusty Ray makes art for “strange but discerning” people who enjoy “a touch of weird in their life”—and you’ll very quickly see this is true. Working mostly in gouache, watercolor, and Micron pens, he brings to life surreal mutant beasts. Wolves, bears, and other North American animals (as well as the odd human) are unveiled […]
Delicate Nature Tattoos that Empower by Emily Kaul
Inspired by “the gorgeous and glorious natural world,” Portland-based Emily Kaul became interested in tattooing once she got some ink for her herself. It was during this initial session that “she fully experienced the immense power that this art form could embody.” Kaul later got licensed and created a tattoo studio where her clients could […]
Experimental Remixes by Anxo Vizcaino Create Alternate Worlds
Welcome to the pristine dream-visions of Anxo Vizcaino, an artist based in Lugo, Spain. After working as a graphic designer and illustrator for many years, he switched gears to embark on a more artistic journey. His recent personal creations involve experimental remixes that allow him to focus his “concerns and passions related to reality, outer […]