Cool Finds from the Web!

As usual, there are lots of amazing things to find on the web in the arts and crafts niche, so I thought I’d show you a few that caught my eye this week!

Portuguese-born Alexandre Farto, aka Vhils, specializes in a unique art of deconstruction.  Among many of his acclaimed pieces include large portraiture murals that have been carved into the sides of old buildings.  He removes outer layers of the walls to reveal the brickwork or structure beneath, essentially creating amazing portraits using the material presented to him.  Amazing work.

“Smirk” 48 x 64 Oil on Linen 2009

Alyssa Monks creates amazingly realistic oil paintings. The realistic quality of the intimate poses is all that more fascinating because she incorporates illusions of steam and water in her photos.  It is a beautiful mix of realism and abstract impressionism.  Frankly, when I found her site, I was mesmerized.

Alyssa says, “When I began painting the human body, I was obsessed with it and needed to create as much realism as possible. I chased realism until it began to unravel and deconstruct itself.  I am exploring the possibility and potential where representational painting and abstraction meet – if both can coexist in the same moment.”

Her paintings can be seen in numerous solo and group exhibitions all over the world, and are represented in public and private collections including the Savannah College of Arts, the Somerset Art Association and the collections of Howard Tullman, Danielle Steele and Eric Fischl.

Miniatur Wunderland, located in Hamburg, Germany, is the largest model railway in the world.  Check out the amazing video above.  So realistic, you almost believe that you are a part of this beautiful miniature world! 

 Maria Mercedes from New Zealand creates amazingly beautiful painted pebbles using ins, artist pens, acrylic ink or  white indelible drawing ink.  Her intricate designs make each rock an individual work of art.  Wouldn’t it be pretty to have a bowl of these painted rocks as a centerpiece?  Be sure to check out her website, Maga Merlina for much more!

And finally, it wouldn’t be the Sitcom if I didn’t have a peacock represented now and then.  So here we have an amazing cupcake created by Edith from Aalborg, Denmark.  Edith’s website, No Ordinary Cake, shows us some of her beautiful baked goods.  Edith is an artist in her own right, but she does it with chocolate and cake.  Can’t get much better than that, right?