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Showing posts with label dinosaurs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dinosaurs. Show all posts

Ceramic Sculptures That REALLY Look Inflated by artist Brett Kern.





I discovered Brett Kern's fabulous ceramic sculptures while reading about them on io9. The sculptures look remarkably like inflatable vinyl toys, but are made of glazed ceramic, complete with blow-up tab glazed in gold or silver and featuring the artist's stamp. I couldn't help myself and did something I rarely do. I bought one immediately - a large yellow T-Rex.


above: Brett's work on display

above: Brett working on one of his "baby" sized dinosaur sculptures

Some snarky critics might find his work derivative of Jeff Koons' inflatables (actual vinyl inflated toys placed on mirrors), Hybrids and blown-up looking metal Rabbit (made of stainless steel with chromium color coatings). But Brett's are of a different subject matter, different medium, different process and of course, a different end result.


above: Jeff Koons' various 'inflatable' sculptures are made of different materials and using a different process

That said, you've now got to see his work.

Triceratops ceramic, glaze, 12.5" x 28" x 13":


Brontosaurus ceramic, glaze, 4" x 13" x 23":



Stegasaurus ceramic, glaze, 4" x 13" x 23":


Tyrannosaurus Rex ceramic, glaze, 15.5" x 13" x 8":



The sculptures shown above range in price from $500 - $800.

Also available are "baby" sized sculptures for approximately $100. These ceramic smaller versions measure approximately  (6" x 5" x 8") depending on the dinosaur.

Baby Dinosaur sculptures:



He also collaborated with artist Justin Rothshank on a cool series of his ceramic dinos embellished with decals.




Of these, only the one shown below is still available for purchase at the price of $1,250. - at least it was at the time I am writing this post:


Also available is a fabulous Astronaut that looks like a blow-up toy ($1,500):


Brett, who hails from Pennsylvania and now lives and works in Elkins, West Virginia, started out as a graphic design major but after one year of college he discovered his love of clay and switched his focus to ceramics.

Upon graduating in 2010, Brett was awarded a long term Artist-In-Residence position at the Red Lodge Clay Center in Red Lodge, MT. After a year there Brett returned to West Virginia to begin his teaching career at Davis & Elkins College and to continue his own work.

His self-professed infatuation with pop culture of the late eighties and the nineties influences the subject matter and purpose of his work.  'My predilection for producing collectible objects comes from my training as a potter and my persistent preoccupation with collecting toys, pop memorabilia, and nostalgic items from my youth." says the artist.

The resulting products are a collection of what look uncannily like inflatable dinosaurs whoopie cushions and toys, but are made of cast clay ceramic and glazed in various colors. (Brett has also crafted other ceramics that don't look as though they are inflated).


above: Brett creates other ceramic works, such as the items shown above

Brett's work is available to purchase here at his etsy store

While maintaining his teaching career, Brett continues to show nationally and regionally. Taylor Books in Charleston, WV and The White Room in Thomas, WV both display his art. Brett received Best in Show in the HxWxD juried sculpture show at the Rosewood Arts Center in Kettering, OH and has work in the 5th annual Beyond the Brickyard show at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT.

Brett Kern Art

Meet BB Billosaur, A Ceramic Piggy Bank for Paper Currency by Lemouton Noir & Co.




Meet BB Billosaur, The Newest Ceramic Piggy Bank by Lemouton Noir & Co.




A prehistoric version of the traditional piggy bank, BB Billosaur is a cute, handmade porcelain character with holes down his back emulating a Stegasaurus-like Mohawk. Forget piddly coin savings, this bank takes bills for some serious savings.




Natural corks secure the 7 openings perfectly when not in use.



This revolutionized version of the the traditional piggy bank design allows you to make a deposit by simply rolling up bills and popping them into the back. The cavity inside allows you to save oodles of moola for whatever it is you're hoping for.

Materials - Ceramic, cork
Size - 6.5" tall x 5" diam.

The cute character has feet and a bellybutton like his predecessors, BB Bank and BB Kids (shown below), from Lemouton Noir & Co.



About le moutin noir & co (from their site):

For many years we have followed the heard like a flock of sheep.
Working hard, learning and growing, we have never let go of our dream.
The black sheep finally wakes up and steps forward to have some fun.

le moutin noir & co. launched in New York City Spring 2010. The principle is to introduce fun, quirky, safe & interesting design products to the market. We have a simple aesthetic and understand and live an ordinary life style. We hope that by consistently finding fresh and new designers with original ideas our customers' lives will be made a bit easier. Our goal is to bring a smile to your face.

$39, buy the BB Billosaur here at Gessato



Dressing Up Dogs For Halloween Is Mean. And Here's A Really Good One For Only $14.




I'm really not a fan of putting dogs in clothes - ever. I think it demeans the dog AND the owner and both end up looking ridock. That said, Halloween is one of the few times I can stomach canines in costume. And for my own little monster, headgear only.


above: Last year I made my own dog, Indie, wear devil horns and now there's a special place in hell for me.

So, you can imagine my joy at finding this little beauty. For only $14, here's a slightly respectable way to turn your four-legged furry companion- of any size-  into a an extinct reptile for All Hallow's Eve.


Measurements:
* X-small: 8"l; 12-16" chest
* Small: 12"l; 16-20" chest
* Medium: 16"l; 20-24" chest
* Large: 20"l; 24-28" chest

available online only. $14. Shop for it here

All My Friends Are Dead. The Book, The Video, The Authors.




Released by Chronicle Books on August 1st, All My Friends Are Dead is a funny and bittersweet illustrated book by two young guys with a wonderful twisted sense of humor and a love of the absurd; Avery Monson and Jory John*.



If you're a dinosaur, all of your friends are dead. If you're a pirate, all of your friends have scurvy. If you're a tree, all of your friends are end tables. Each page of this laugh-out-loud illustrated humor book showcases the downside of being everything from a clown to a cassette tape to a zombie. Cute and dark all at once, this hilarious children's book for adults teaches valuable lessons about life while exploring each cartoon character's unique grievance and wide-eyed predicament. From the sock whose only friends have gone missing to the houseplant whose friends are being slowly killed by irresponsible plant owners (like you), All My Friends Are Dead presents a delightful primer for laughing at the inevitable.








The book is getting lots of buzz and already sold out/back ordered at Chronicle. But can be purchased here

A companion video by the authors:


*About the Authors:
In addition to writing books, Avery and Jory have a site (combination blog and online store) named Big Stone Head which sells shirts, books, cards and pillows... all with their witty illustrations and sayings.

You can see from the following t-shirts, they had a few designs in mind for the lonely Dinosaur which ended up gracing the cover of the book. These are presently available as t-shirts on their site:



Buy the above t-shirts here.

Other examples of their collaborative items:
Greeting cards:

Ira Glass Pillow:

Other t-shirts:


Shop Big Stone Head.


above left: Avery Monsen is an actor, artist, and writer; above right: Jory John is a writer, editor, and journalist.

They are friends, and neither is dead. Yet.

This Christmas' Must Have Toy: Pleo





Wouldn't you like to be the coolest parent (or grandparent or Aunt or Uncle) this holiday season?

Then get on board with what will be the hottest purchase this holiday. It's Pleo, the adorable, computerized, 'smart' toy brought to you by the same creator of Furby. At $349.00 the price may actually go up if demand is like that for hot toys in the past. It isn't avialable until October in the US, but you can pre-order now.

You may laugh at my thinking about Christmas gifts in June, but I can assure you this one will be a nightmare to attempt to find once it's hit the market.

Read on and learn why it's an unusual, inventive, adorable toy.



Pleo, a one week-old dinosaur, is a robotic marvel and the newest member of your family! Pleo interacts with you – moving organically, expressing emotion, autonomously exploring and responding to the world around him. Each Pleo has a unique personality that develops based on Pleo’s life experiences with you.




On Pleoworld.com owners connect, find training tips and download new enhancements to Pleo. Pleo’s sophisticated sensory system has devices that enable him to hear, to see, to sense touch, and to detect objects: a color camera, sound sensors, two infrared sensors, 14 motors, over 100 gears, eight touch sensors, and an orientation sensor.




Every Pleo is unique. Yes, each one begins life as a newly-hatched baby Camarasaurus*, but that's where predictability ends and individuality begins. Pleo doesn't just do what he's told. He develops his own personality, moods, and habits—all shaped by the time he spends with you. In creating this Life Form, we merely set the wheels in motion. Making the magic is up to you and Pleo.



*What is a Camarasaurus?
Camarasaurus was a late-Jurassic North American herbivore, 60 feet long in adulthood, and just Pleo's size as a newborn.



What comes in the box:
Every Pleo life form Includes
Companion guide
Training leaf
Authenticity ID Card
NiMH replaceable, rechargeable battery pack
AC charger



Measurements
Pleo: 20.7" L x 6.0" W x 7.5" H. (3.5 lbs.)
Shipping Box: 24.0” x 10.0” x 8.0: (5.0lbs)








How Do They Do It?




Significant Processing Power
32-bit Microprocessors – central and image processing
8-bit Subprocessors – motor control

Highly Articulated Movement
14 Motors
Over 100 custom-designed gears

Complex Sensory Network
Camera-based vision system – light detection and navigation
Microphones – binaural hearing
Skin sensors – head, chin, shoulders, back, feet
Foot switches – surface detection
Force-feedback sensors – one per joint
Orientation tilt sensor – body position
Infrared mouth sensor – object detection

Multiple Data Ports
Mini USB™ port – online downloads
SD™ card slot – Pleo add-ons
Infrared transceiver – Pleo-to-Pleo communications

High-Quality Sound
2 Speakers – mouth and back

Power Source
Rechargeable and replaceable NiMH battery pack

To see him moving, click here.


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Not intended for children under the age of 8.

PLEO’s NiMH battery recharges in four hours, which provides approx. one hour of operation.

Pleo will be available in the United States in October 2007.

Available for purchase and pre-order now ($349.00 USD), click here.

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C'mon people, it's only a dollar.