Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 48

29 July 2021 - BRILLIANT ART USING A BALLPOINT PEN

 

 

 BRILLIANT ART 

USING A BALLPOINT PEN

 

G'day folks,

When you think of the supplies one needs to create a work of art, ballpoint pens aren’t exactly the first thing to come to mind. Well, it depends who you ask. The artist and illustrator Mostafa Khodeir needs nothing but a ballpoint pen to draw incredible hyper-realistic portraits of historical figures, athletes, animals, and more. The drawings of the talented Cairo-based artist are so detailed and accurate, they can easily be mistaken for photographs.

It took years of practice for Khodeir to achieve this level of precision in his drawings. He first discovered his talent in primary school and has dedicated all his free time to improve his skills ever since. The examples of his work prove what one can achieve when they pour their entire soul into what they love!











Clancy's comment: Extraordinary detail. Well done, Mustafa!

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22 July 2021 - MONA LISA'S SMILE EXPLAINED

 

MONA LISA'S 

SMILE EXPLAINED

 

G'day folks,

 It’s a smile that has beguiled art lovers for nearly 600 years and made the Mona Lisa probably the most famous work of art in the world. 

But the lady in the painting was not being coy or enigmatic, according to the views of a doctor published on this day: she was suffering from Bell’s Palsy.

Those afflicted by the temporary condition find that a weakness on one side of the face causes the corner of the mouth to droop and that it is difficult or even impossible to close the eye on the affected side. Smiles are distorted. It happens because a nerve controlling specific facial muscles has become swollen or pinched.

And that, Dr. Kedar Adour was reported in Physicians’ Weekly as saying, is precisely what happened to the subject of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. The condition would explain why her smile is a little higher on the left side of her face and why her left eye is narrower than her right, he said.

The Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda, was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. Aged 24 when da Vinci began painting her in 1503, she outlived her husband and had five children. The painting is displayed at the Louvre in Paris.

In 1959, British doctor Kenneth Keele reported that the woman in the painting had a "puffy neck" caused by an enlarged thyroid gland, a sure sign that she was pregnant. And in 2011, Canadian scientists who had subjected the painting to extensive three-dimensional laser and infra-red scans, concluded that if not pregnant, Mona had just given birth.

Nobody, of course, knows for sure. If she were alive today, would the lady tell? Or just smile enigmatically?

 

Clancy's comment: I asked that question when I first had the pleasure of seeing this work of art.

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15 July 2021 - AMAZING CREATIVE CAKES by EMMA JAYNE

 

AMAZING CREATIVE CAKES

 by EMMA JAYNE

G'day folks,

Besides being delicious, cakes can also be beautiful.  With the right ingredients and skills, a baker can turn an ordinary cake into a real work of art. This is exactly what the UK-based baker Emma Jayne does with her incredibly-detailed and realistic cakes. Besides being a cake artist, Emma is also a sculptor, and she utilizes her artistic talent when she decorates her signature cakes.

Emma Jayne stumbled upon the world of cake-decorating in 2012 when she made a cake for her son and daughter’s birthday. "Not knowing anything about cake decorating products, I learned the hard way, with many mistakes; but having a background in art, for me, this was like creating artworks in a different medium, which is why I fell in love with it in the first place," Emma said.  Scrolling through Emma’s unique and masterful cake designs will certainly leave you in awe!














Clancy's comment: Maaaaagnificent work!
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14 July 2021 - NATURE NEVER GIVES UP

 

NATURE NEVER 

GIVES UP

 

G'day folks,

Nature is resilient. If left alone, it can almost always find a way to flourish.  Even the desolated exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, which was destroyed in a nuclear explosion in 1986, is now thriving with small animals and birds. In these photos, you'll get to see the unique ways nature finds to adapt to its surroundings: from a tree that has modified itself according to the urban environment, to abandoned places being reclaimed by the wild. These fascinating examples show that nature just never gives up. Perhaps there's a lesson there for us. 






 

Clancy's comment: We've seen examples of this all over the world, especially in abandoned places.

 

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15 June 2021 - ELAINE OUSTON - GUEST AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER

 

ELAINE OUSTON 

- GUEST AUTHOR & PUBLISHER -

 

G'day folks,

Today, I welcome a friend, fellow author, and publisher from Australia. Elaine Ouston is a prolific writer, and today she is promoting her latest book.

Welcome, Elaine ...

 

'I have long been bothered by the amount of graffiti and other forms of destruction of public and private property and decided to write a book for children that would help them realise how wrong it is, how the person on the other end of their abuse feels, and how they would feel if it was done to them or something or someone they loved.’

 The book is 'Fearless Friends- Graffiti Fighters'. Hopefully, some will take the message on board.

 FEARLESS FRIENDS - GRAFFITI FIGHTERS BY ELAINE OUSTON

 

THEME: 

With a theme of 'do unto others what you would have done to you', this book teaches the importance of respecting other people's property.

SYNOPSIS:

 
When Evie discovered someone had sprayed graffiti on her neighbour’s fence her blood boiled from anger and she vowed to find out who it was. And then he made it personal and she became furious. 

With help from her cousin Willem, and a special pen from her neighbour, she set out to catch the culprit. But she could never have imagined the danger they would face when they found him and the things she would discover along the way – things like magic, ghosts and witchcraft. 

 

REVIEW: Robert Favretto, author.

Ouston’s first book in the Fearless Friends series, Graffiti Fighters, makes an exciting read for those who enjoy a junior action-packed mystery.

Magic, ghosts, and witchcraft are all rolled into the mix of this story, underlining the theme: ''Do unto others as you would like them to do to you".

Evie is shocked when she discovers a graffiti vandal has targeted her neighbor’s fence – and she’s determined to track down the person responsible. But her shock escalates to anger when the vandal makes it personal. With the support of her cousin, Willem, and a neighbor’s special pen, she sets out on a dangerous mission to catch the culprit.

I found Fearless Friends – Graffiti Hunters a gripping and enjoyable read. Ouston weaves a suspenseful tale of drama and excitement. I particularly like the way the characters shine through with their courage and spirit. The story is fast-paced, with an intriguing plot that leaves you wanting more.

Middle primary readers will love this book and the installments to follow.

 

WHOLESALE ORDERS:  

Morris Publishing Australia - Wholesale orders page. WHOLESALE ORDERS
https://www.ingramcontent.com/retailers/ordering
https://www.bennett.com.au/
http://www.peterpal.com.au/
 

RETAIL ORDERS:

 
Bookshops and signed copies are availbele from Morris Publishing Australia:

Fearless Friends - Graffiti Fighters - Morris Publishing Australia

and Elaine's website: Elaine J Ouston Author - Home

Also available from Amazon:
Fearless Friends - Graffiti Fighters eBook: Ouston, Elaine: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
and other online stores.

 

Clancy's comment: Go, Elaine! Well done! Bring on the next book in the series.

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12 June 2021 - INTRICATE PAPER ART

 

INTRICATE PAPER ART

 

G'day folks,

For artist Calvin Nicholls, paper art that comes in one of its two forms, two-dimensional and three-dimensional, is a little too confining. His technique seems to be a cross between drawing and sculpture. He uses fine lines of an intricate sketch, yet captures three-dimensionality of a statue. This is a collection of some of his spectacular work. 

Clancy's comment: Brilliant work. Imagine the time involved? Well done, Calvin!

 

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19 July 2021 - MASTERPIECES MADE OF WIRE

 

MASTERPIECES 

MADE OF WIRE

 

G'day folks,

From the wide range of materials to make art out of, wire would probably not be the one to come to mind first. It turns out, however, that in the right hands, this minimalist material can come to life in numerous ways. You may have heard of Alexander Calder or Ruth Asawa, both prominent artists who developed the medium of wire sculpture throughout the 20th century. 











Clancy's comment: Incredible art, eh?
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21 July 2021 - EXTRAORDINARY WOODWORK

 

 

EXTRAORDINARY

 WOODWORK

 

G'day folks,

Wood is a long-lasting and versatile material that has genuine value. It can be used to build furniture, household items, and a myriad of other items. Some might think woodworking is a forgotten art. However, looking at the images below proves otherwise. We're glad to see that so many people still practice woodworking, and some of them are also extraordinarily gifted at it. Scrolling through these images might just inspire you to try your hand at woodworking, too! 

Clancy's comment: Beautiful and classy.

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24 July 2021 - NORMAN ROCKWELL'S ART

 

NORMAN 

ROCKWELL'S 

ART

G'day folks,

Norman Perceval Rockwell (1894-1978) was a 20th century American author, illusionist, and painter who is well known for his illustrations of everyday life, for capturing the spirit of small town America, and for his patriotic depictions during WWII. He was the most widely known and popular commercial artist of mid-20th century America. Below you’ll find a few  of his most famous paintings.











Clancy's comment: Brilliant!
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13 July 2021 - CREATIVE TINY HOMES

 

CREATIVE TINY HOMES

 

G'day folks,

In an increasingly dense world, the importance of building right and sometimes, building small, have enormous advantages.  Those with less means often find they must settle for less space. However, it is what they do with that space that really turns a potential house into a home. Here some creative ideas for creating great homes from tiny potentials.












Clancy's coment: Cute, eh? Bigger ain't always better.
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