Archive for zipizen

ZipiZen #2: April Fools the Eye

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, we’re bringing you the best trompe-l’oeil the tubes have to offer. Here are 8 jaw-dropping examples of artists transcending the limits of two dimensions.

Bored Night has three great 2-D illusions on their site (definitely check out that lurking pool mosquito), but this creepy humanoid is my favorite.


[images courtesy Bored Night]

I can’t even fathom the kind of logistics needed to execute this decorative trickery.


[image courtesy 2Loop]

With this painting (a comment on the the California Water Wars), I spent a good 15 minutes trying to figure out where the art ends and reality begins. Ceci n’est pas une pipe?


[image courtesy John Pugh]

Blue Sky’s “Tunnelvision” mural gives me chills for some reason. (It’s something about the colors — it’s like a tunnel through time.)


[image courtesy Blue Sky]

Behold: Trompe-l’oeil at its most freakout-inducing.

[image courtesy Hemmy.net]

This handpainted eagle ruffles a few feathers … IN MY BRAIN. (Click here for loads more.)


[image courtesy yoke.cc]

A bit of Banksy for you.


[image courtesy canonsnapper]

And of course, no post on modern-day trompe-l’oeil would be complete without Sidewalk Chalk Guy.


[image courtesy gprime.net]

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Posted by shaula on April 1st, 2008

ZipiZen #1: A Field Guide to Recognizing Your Eggs

Eggs are everywhere you turn this time of year, in all manner of shapes, sizes and colors. We’ve put together a handbook to help you identify and distinguish between some of the more exotic varieties of eggs. (Click the pictures to see their original sources and contexts!)

Deluxe Chocolate Egg
Description: Noted for its authentic crackable shell and chocolate center. Two known species: Ovochoccolatus naturalis and Ovochoccolatus bling.

chocolate-egg

golden egg

Vegreville Pysanka Egg
Description: Descendant of the much smaller pysanka, or Ukrainian decorated egg, and the cutting-edge (by 1974 standards) computer-aided geometric models of Ron Resch. Consists of 2,208 equilateral triangles. Commissioned as a tribute to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Vegreville, Alberta.

pysanky-egg

Military Envoy Egg
Description: Always accompanied by a flock of symbiotic Doughboys. Although the Military Envoy Egg is nigh invulnerable around its circumference, predators can easily breach it from above.

military egg

Organically Dyed Egg
Description: Easily distinguishable by its unusual coloring, derived from various organic materials such as red cabbage, cherries, onion skins, coffee and green herbs.

speckled-egg

leaf-print-egg

Emotional Egg
Description: In contrast to its blank, stoic relatives, the Emotional Egg is capable of a vast expressive range — from sheer terror to absolute panic.

scream-eggs

Woolly Egg
Description: Due to its soft, fuzzy exterior, the Woolly Egg is able to withstand falls from even the greatest heights. Enjoys being petted. May smell funny when wet.

woolly-eggs

Adorable Bento Egg
Description: The Adorable Bento Egg is an expert mimic, able to contort itself into a variety of forms.

bento-egg

Lego Egg
Description: Another master of disguise, the Lego Egg’s unusual camouflage allows it to infiltrate toy boxes and hobby shops; unfortunately, there’s not really much point to it.

lego-egg

Sprouting Egg
Description: A bizarre genetic anomaly, the Sprouting Egg’s shell hosts a variety of grasses and herbs.

eggling-egg

Hope you enjoyed ZipiZen! This is the first in what is to be a regular series of theme-based posts that owe a huge inspirational debt to Web Zen. Stay tuned!

Posted by shaula on March 23rd, 2008