Category Archives: Inspiring folks

Obsessive love

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Dear reader, I’m in love! Or maybe “obsessed” is more accurate. The lucky bastard: Dick Vincent. A Manchester-based illustrator – whose work you may have seen in Flow Magazine par exemple – that won my heart about a year ago with his watercolour-illustrations. And since then I follow him where ever he goes: Instagram, Etsy, facebook… *sighs*
I’m drooling all over his work and desperately heart every picture he posts to Instagram. But when he posted the new print of “The Log Lady” from Twin Peaks (the series is returning in 2016!) he really set me on fire. Whoooosh! I mean, that clearly means he and I are meant to be – if he loves Twin Peaks and its characters then I don’t need any more proof.

Twin Peaks' Log Lady by Dick Vincent

Twin Peaks’ Log Lady by Dick Vincent

But before Dick Vincent is requesting a restraining order to stop me from getting any nearer, let me be clear: I’m exaggerating of course. However, I do love his work immensely. The dry sense of humour, a certain love for pets and other animals, simple yet (mostly) colourful and detailed – I can’t stop looking at him, er…it. With his amazing fantasy Vincent – who graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2007, having studied Illustration with Animation – always manages to put a smile on my face.

The best people love cats and dogs. Another of Vincent's prints.

The best people love cats and dogs. Another of Vincent’s prints.

In the new year (currently December-broke even though it’s only November) I’m gonna treat myself to the fantastic print of the Twin Peaks‘ Log Lady. Excited already! Dick also showed us a little painting of Twin Peaks director David Lynch on his blog, so I’m hopeful this means the start of a Twin Peaks series of portraits. I would love to have Cooper, Harold the Orchid man, Andy, Lucy , Leo “New Shoes” and Nadine on my wall too. Do it for me Dickie, do it for me!
If not, I’ll expand my Vincent-collection with the pictures of Mark Twain and his marvellous friends. All is fine by me, really Dick. Just promise me to never give up on illustrating. And tell me you love me… my! Christmas cards too.

Who doesn't want this Peruvian farmer and his larma on the wall?

Who doesn’t want this Peruvian farmer and his larma on the wall?

 

 

The microscopic art of magnifying nature

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A long while and a shorter while ago I read two articles about two different projects. These articles shared one thing: magnification. The first article was about the pictures of magnified sand grains by Dr Gary Greenberg. The other article told about the project of Rose-Lynn Fisher photographing tears. The results both magical.

Sand grains

Blue, orange & pink sand grains. Photographed by Dr Greenberg.

By photographing sand grains through a high-powered light microscope Greenberg has revealed that sand grains in reality are crystal-like pieces that come in stunning colours. The sand used comes from places all over the world. And from the moon…
For her project The Topography of Tears Rose-Lynn Fisher studied a 100 tears which she photographed through a microscope. She questioned herself whether tears of grief would look similar to tears of onions or laughter. The results are published on her website – no one picture is the same. No one tear is the same. I am struck by the difference of the tears, from modern graphic designs to a frosty ice flower mesh. Not just drops of water.

Tears of laughing till I'm crying. Photographed by Rose-Lynn Fisher, copyright 2013

Tears of laughing till I’m crying. Photographed by Rose-Lynn Fisher, copyright 2013

It’s genius and talented minds like Fisher and Greenberg that make me stand still, think and marvel at things we usually kind of take for granted. The pictures show crystals, little gems. My magpie-eye fixed on these tiny pieces of art. Showing a beauty so overwhelming and enormous. Coming from something so small. Coming from our eyes or filling up the gaps between our toes. It shows how there’s more than just sand, just tears, just emotions, just nature. It shows that nature is art. Art that can’t be beaten by us. Just revealed.

Next time a tears rolls down my cheek, I’ll think of its shape and content. And walking bare feet along the coast line I’ll be walking on a million crystals. I find that an inspiring thought.