Sunday, November 17, 2019

Vanessa Barragão, Upcycling Textile Artist



Textile artist, Vanessa Barragão is dedicated to the creation of tapestries using a variety of techniques. Her artwork combines using ancestral techniques of latch hooking, crochet, weaving, knitting, basketry, and felting.




Living Coral Tapestry



Originally from the south of Portugal, Vanessa now resides in Porto, the northern region.





Ocean Tapestry



Vanessa’s inspiration for her artwork originates from her connection to the ocean acquired while growing up near the seaside. Representation of coral reefs are evidenced within her tapestries through the combination of craft and the recycled materials she uses.




Bleached Coral



While attending Lisbon University for her Master degree using an ecological artisanal process, Vanessa developed her first wool yarn collection and tapestries.





Botanical Tapestry - World Map
600 cm x 200 cm
Work in progress



The materials used in these amazing tapestries come from the deadstock of local factories, which are then cleaned, and selected for use in her projects.





Botanical Tapestry
The largest tapestry Vanessa has ever made.



In an upcycling effort to combat the negative image of pollution from the textile industry, Vanessa’s productions are comprised of craft and recycled materials to become carpets and tapestries for walls and floors.




Melissa's Garden





Visit the links below to see many more
incredible artworks by Vanessa.






Sources:
Website




Photos used with permission of the artist



Tuesday, October 29, 2019

REALfLESH Masks The Ultimate Facade



Ian Marier, a self-taught fx artist and mask fanatic began making foam latex prosthetics 25 years ago in his father’s garage. His expertise gradually turned toward his passion for making masks.



The Relic Mask
Customer Picture




REALfLESH Masks has grown from a one-man operation to working now with some of the best sculptors and skilled technicians to produce the highest quality silicone masks possible.




Sculpture work in progress
Sculptor Caroline Aquin



Each silicone mask is made entirely by hand and every step meticulously achieves the best quality there can be.





The Uncle Mask
in the mold room



The realism created by these masks comes from a combination of small eye holes, bubble-free silicone, reinforced mesh, realistic mouth movement, and chest coverage.









REALfLESH Masks are made from vacuum degassed, bubble-free silicone. Mesh reinforces the stress areas to provide a very high-tear resistance. The high-quality flexible silicone and integrated rigid nose bridge make these masks incredibly comfortable and self-adjusting.





Teacher Mask for customer
Hair work by Anne Marie



The smallest, seamless, most comfortable eye holes and realistic mouth movement, which is not possible with latex masks, provides these masks with their real-life appearance.




The Zombie
Silicone Mask




The chest area on REALfLESH masks extends very low to provide the best coverage and realism. For those wishing to be The Playmate, this mask provides a full chest and amazing mouth movement to allow to you to become the fantasy female.  This mask comes standard bald to allow your own addition of a wig and/or makeup which can be washed away gently with regular soap.




The Playmate
Silicone Mask




Visit the links below to see the many realistic masks which are truly works of art.




Sources:





Photos used with permission of REALfLESH Masks

Monday, October 21, 2019

Masks of Disguise for Halloween



After publishing a previous post on masks, I realized I did not share one of the most well-known and favorite masks which represents the Phantom of the Opera.



Phantom of the Opera Mask
Via Pinterest - AnneBeautyThings




Since the Stone Age, masks have been worn for disguise. They have been used in theatrical productions, religious ceremonies, secret societies, for holidays, and as a punishment to criminals.




Shattered 'Glass' Plastic Mirror Mask
MaskupMasks




Many masks today result from detailed creation and are amazing works of art.




Aequeor Tranquillium Mask
by Merimask on Deviant Art




Halloween is a holiday focused on disguise and masks complete the costume.




Greek Goddess of the Moon
Artemis Deer Leather Mask

B3 Designs





See the previous post,
for more fun with masks.




Sources:





Saturday, October 19, 2019

Hidden Aspects Photography by Klaus Pichler



Klaus Pichler’s photography is inspired by the hidden aspects of everyday life in the world in which we live. He became a full-time photographer after finishing his Landscape Architecture studies in 2005 and graduating from the University of Life Sciences.




"Just the two of us"







His free photo projects have been widely published and he has exhibited internationally. 



Photo Project: Just the two of us



All Hallows’ Eve, celebrated in costume on October 31st of each year, led me to Pichler’s photo project entitled, “Just the two of us,” which represents the desire of many to become for a just a little while, simply someone else by donning a costume.




Photo Project: Just the two of us



Creating an alter ego by acquiring a second skin allows a person’s behavior to adjust to the state of their new representation.




Photo Project: Just the two of us



In this series of photos, Klaus visited with owners of elaborate costumes in their own homes. “Just the two of us” approaches both the costumes and the people behind them.




Photo Project: Just the two of us



“Regardless of the motivating factors which cause somebody to acquire a costume, the main principle remains the same: the civilian steps behind the mask and turns into someone else.” (Klaus Pichler)




Photo Project: Just the two of us




Other projects by Klaus Pichler will be visited in later posts.




Sources:

Other photo projects by Klaus Pichler will be visited in later posts.



Photos used with permission by the artist.



Wednesday, October 2, 2019

The Masks Behind Which We Remain Hidden



A mask can be defined as a covering for all or part of the face which is worn as a disguise either to amuse or terrify other people. 




Tyrion Lannister Silicone Mask
Game of Thrones
The Masker



History of Masks



Throughout history, masks have been used for protection, disguise, ceremonial and practical purposes, as well as for entertainment and in the performing arts.





Stone Mask from 7,000 BC
One of the oldest in the world
Musèe "Bible et Terre Sainte"



Funeral Mask Replica
of K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Museo Nacional

de la Máscara
Mexico




While the functions of masks may be magical or religious, many ceremonial and religious masks were created never to be worn but only to serve decorative purposes.





Chokwe Tribal Mask
Photo via Pinterest/Life.Furkan.biz





Masks allow us to be transformed through our imagination into a completely different identity as entertainment or as affirmation of an existing social or spiritual identity. They add mystery and intrigue to our ordinary lives.







Unicorn
via Pinterest
River Dragon Mask "Mystique"
by Draikairion
via Pinterest/Deviant Art



Halloween Masks


Halloween, or All Hallow’s Evening, is celebrated on the evening of October 31st. Originating from an ancient Celtic Festival, the belief that this was the last night for the dead to have their vengeance before moving on, masks and costumes became customary to wear so as not to be recognized and to scare away the evil spirits and prevent them from entering homes.





Minotaur Masquerade Mask
via Pinterest/Pure Costumet



Crow Mask
The Pestilence Doctor
via Pinterest

Sanseverino Francesco







Our Halloween traditions today present an opportunity for an evening of fun, masquerade, cultural identity, and for a little while to just be someone else.






Alice in Wonderland Rabbit
DIY Tutorial

Photo: EPBOT









Gold Butterfly Mask
Higgins Creek













Rhinestone 
Masquerade Mask
via Pinterest

One Curtain Road



















Today’s Halloween masks revolve around nature, fantasy, movies, celebrities, historic figures, animals, and elegance, providing us with the frightening, the fun, and the beautiful.







Cheetah Mask
Hawk Eye Masks






It Stephen King's
Clown Pennywise

via Pinterest

Ebay-Wrus99







































Personal Masquerade


The personal masks, behind which we hide in our everyday lives, typically arise from fear.  Masks often come into play due to insecurity, anger, social pressures, abuse, and unworthiness. Only in removing those masks can we be the person we were meant to become.






Alter Ego - Oil on Canvas
Photo: Vincent Cacciotti






Oscar Wilde once said,
Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”






Visit
for more fun with masks.




Sources: