Category Archives: Art

Literary Dioramas

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Spanish artist Malena Valcarcel transforms abdondoned books into fanciful, poetic dioramas and book sculptures. You can see more of her lovely work, and even purchase a piece, on her Etsy site.

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There is a crack in everything

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

It’s hard to believe that Leonard Cohen has been gone for a year, but this week his hometown of Montreal marked his passing with a wonderful mural portrait in the heart of downtown. Created by LA-based artist El Mac, the … Continue reading →

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Art of the Cover

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As a book collector and a book seller, I have often purchased a book just because the dust jacket art caught my eye. In this terrific new book, The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, author Martin Salisbury explores the transition from plain paper … Continue reading →

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At The Bookstore

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

“ I like to loiter around the city looking for interesting things,” the artist Jenny Kroik says. Her painting for this week’s New Yorker cover depicts a serious browser at the Strand Bookstore, the cherished bookshop in lower Manhattan. “I have … Continue reading →

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America 2017

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Sometimes a work of street art perfectly sums up the pathetic state of life in these United States. This week, BK Foxx nailed our national shame with this mural in New York City.

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Have a literary coffee

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I love this wonderful illustration by Italian artist and designer Gianluca Biscalchin.

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Did you remember to get your visa

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Some of us spend more time traveling through fictional lands than we may care to admit. What if those imaginary countries actually issued their own passports and travel documents? Well, thanks to NeoMam Studios and Budget Direct we can have … Continue reading →

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David S. Pumpkins was not involved

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Oh My Gourd is a timely and wonderful stop motion animation carved from pumpkins. The amusing video, which required hours of work carving dozens of gourds, was directed by Sean Ohlenkamp and Rob Popkin.  

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and let me play among the stars

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
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Hackney not hackneyed

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I was happy to discover that London-based artist/illustrator/cartographer Jenni Sparks has released a new series of London culture maps. The highly detailed typographic illustrations are the result of a year’s research and work. Each piece incorporates Sparks’ impressions of the … Continue reading →

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