Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Skyrim Daedric Sword
From David Carpenter, a detailed build video for his recreation of a Daedric Sword from "Skyrim". It's mind boggling what a skilled artisan can do with EVA foam.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Amazing World of Ukronium 1828
I've always had a fondness for the stories of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and the early pulps. When the initial wave of retro-futuristic "steampunk" artifacts arrived last decade I almost instantly fell in love. Artists were creating beautiful rayguns, flickering laboratory gear, and infernal devices that brought those worlds to life in a unique new way. It was a combination of the "worn future" aesthetic of the original "Star Wars" with an attention to craftsmanship that harkened back to the Victorian era. It was glorious.
And, like all wonderful things, it wouldn't last.
Today the world of "steampunk" art is an embarrassing ghetto. With a few notable exceptions the "artists", and I use that term very loosely, are incompetent hacks. Most of the work infesting the genre consists of thrift store finds covered in brass gears slapped on with a big sloppy dollop of epoxy. It's ugly, shoddy stuff without any real creativity, craftsmanship, or artistic merit, well deserving of the "steamjunk" epithet.
But now and again something pops up that makes me forget all my bitterness over what happened to steampunk and reignites my love for what it can be. A genre that plays with the past's dreams of the future and our present perceptions of the possibilities of the past. Something beautiful and filled with wonder, brought to life with flair and attention to detail.
ToNToN CoPT of Cré’à’Vapeur collaborated with Cristophe of Petites-Curiosités to create a variety of interactive steampunk displays for Ukronium 1828, a new gaming shop in Lyon, France. All of the displays are fantastic, and you really should head over to ToNToN's blog to view the full gallery. What makes this project so likeable is the whole-hearted commitment to total theming by both the artists and the store. It's very reminiscent of the design work done by Disney's Imagineers at their best, blending traditional prop creation with interactive electronics.
Of all the projects the Time Machine is my favorite. The design work and craftsmanship that went into it are outstanding on their own...
...but it's also animated, triggering a realignment of the rings every fifteen minutes.
You can see videos of all the interactive displays in action over on Vimeo.
And, like all wonderful things, it wouldn't last.
Today the world of "steampunk" art is an embarrassing ghetto. With a few notable exceptions the "artists", and I use that term very loosely, are incompetent hacks. Most of the work infesting the genre consists of thrift store finds covered in brass gears slapped on with a big sloppy dollop of epoxy. It's ugly, shoddy stuff without any real creativity, craftsmanship, or artistic merit, well deserving of the "steamjunk" epithet.
But now and again something pops up that makes me forget all my bitterness over what happened to steampunk and reignites my love for what it can be. A genre that plays with the past's dreams of the future and our present perceptions of the possibilities of the past. Something beautiful and filled with wonder, brought to life with flair and attention to detail.
ToNToN CoPT of Cré’à’Vapeur collaborated with Cristophe of Petites-Curiosités to create a variety of interactive steampunk displays for Ukronium 1828, a new gaming shop in Lyon, France. All of the displays are fantastic, and you really should head over to ToNToN's blog to view the full gallery. What makes this project so likeable is the whole-hearted commitment to total theming by both the artists and the store. It's very reminiscent of the design work done by Disney's Imagineers at their best, blending traditional prop creation with interactive electronics.
Of all the projects the Time Machine is my favorite. The design work and craftsmanship that went into it are outstanding on their own...
...but it's also animated, triggering a realignment of the rings every fifteen minutes.
You can see videos of all the interactive displays in action over on Vimeo.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Great Old One
Heiner Stiller brings us this small resin bust of H.P. Lovecraft. It's available from the Space Art site in Germany.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Cthulhu Fhtagn! Henderson Edition.
Fox Henderson brings us this very nice Cthulhu statue. I really like the engraved detail and geometric embellishment. You can follow along as the sculpt comes together at his blog.
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Cultist Chest
For years I've been featuring things like vampire hunting kits designed to fight malevolent occult forces, but what about the other side? Even the servants of dark powers have to appreciate the benefits of a well organized collection of tools. The gifted Jason McKittrick brings us an example of just such a thing with his cultist's chest, featuring a variety of implements including a sacrificial knife, Cthulhu idol, and a ring of power.
The chest and all of it's contents are currently available on Ebay.
The chest and all of it's contents are currently available on Ebay.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Reality Show Casting
Sharp Entertainment is the production company behind dozens of reality shows, ranging from "Man v. Food" to "Doomsday Preppers". They're currently looking for some diehard collectors of horror memorabilia to participate in an upcoming program. I was contacted by Associate Producer Jessica Ribeiro, but given my love of privacy it's not something I'm personally comfortable with.
That said, it would be a wonderful opportunity for an aficionado to show off their treasures. I'm sure many of the respondents will be mainstream horror fans, but I would love to see some Lovecraftian collectors get a bit of exposure. If it sounds like something you would be interested in you can contact Ms. Ribeiro via email at:
jessicas-putasqigglyahereandfightspam-sharpentertainment.com
That said, it would be a wonderful opportunity for an aficionado to show off their treasures. I'm sure many of the respondents will be mainstream horror fans, but I would love to see some Lovecraftian collectors get a bit of exposure. If it sounds like something you would be interested in you can contact Ms. Ribeiro via email at:
jessicas-putasqigglyahereandfightspam-sharpentertainment.com
The Devil Fish
Nick Storm brings us this collection of Deep One related items from the South Seas. It's currently available on Ebay. I like the fact the set is pristine, leaving any aging up to the end user.
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