Tag: American

Dynamic Character Sketches in Ink: Interview with Cutty Bage

Portraits come to life in the tattoos of Cutty Bage, an artist working from Speakeasy Tattoo Co. in Boone, North Carolina. Inspired by horror and mystery, she uses her skill to add new dimensions to peculiar characters from comics, film, and literature, such as Wednesday Addams, Agent Cooper, and Edgar Allen Poe. Cutty Bage began […]

Color, Shape & Movement: An interview with Arielle Bobb-Willis

New York-based photographer Arielle Bobb-Willis initially turned to photography to help manage her depression and it has been her art form of choice ever since. Using bold, monochromatic clothing and atypical poses, her work has a distinct painterly influence. In fact, she views her models more as shapes than anything else, showing the deep influence […]

Mallozzi Examines the Intricacies of Personal Relationships in Series “Familiars”

In Jean-Paul Mallozzi’s “Familiars,” his latest series of paintings and drawings, he broadens his fascination with the human condition and the inherent, nuanced complexities of personal relationships, specifically intimate male relationships, which are often hyper-sexualized, stigmatized and pigeon-holed for queer/lgbt eyes only in the visual art world. These images challenge society’s rigid and conflicting constructs […]

Origami and Mathematics Go Hand and Hand: The Paper Sculptures of Robby Kraft

Origami grandmaster Akira Yoshizawa has led the way for paper artists by turning this craft into a solid art form. Many newcomers have been inspired by his pioneering creations, such as American artist and engineer Robby Kraft who uses the wet-folding technique (invented by Yoshizawa) to give a more realistic, sculptural feel to his animal […]

Blank William’s New Helmet Series Fuses Stormtroopers with Wildlife

Some of us at Illusion are getting ready for the long-awaited premiere of “Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens” on December 17, 2015. Will it succeed as one of the best movies of the year? We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime let’s take a look at the artistic helmets by Blank William […]

Naturalistic Tattoos Resemble Vintage Etchings

Artist Pony Reinhardt transports us to the woods with her naturalistic tattoos. The monochromatic line drawings feature animals, flowers, and even fungi, stitched together in sprawling scenes that highlight the Earth’s beauty. Their detailed style showcases all of the outdoors, from meticulously-etched veins in leaves to roughly-textured bird beaks to the grain of wood on […]

Eric Wert’s Beautiful Still Lifes of Fruit and Vegetables

Vibrant colored foods contrast against muted tapestry backgrounds. This is what we see in Eric Wert’s Flemish-inspired still lifes created with a palette of oil paintings and hyperrealist patience. An admirer and academic of fine arts, Wert has been exhibiting his work in numerous galleries in the US, and this year, has a group show […]

Bang Bang! Tattoos from New York City

BANG BANG is a NY tattoo shop owned by famous artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy who has been responsible for tattooing celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Adele. From beautiful scripting like the one on Rihanna’s neck to movie scenes and portraiture, McCurdy’s portfolio is versatile and includes styles like traditional American, photorealism […]