Awesome Art & Design

These days, many visual effects are produced using computer animation. Artist and filmmaker Markus Rothkranz looks back at some low-budget practical effects he created in the 1980s and 1990s. The tricks include miniatures, multiplane backgrounds, mirrors, and set pieces made from everyday objects.

Arcade cabinets are usually made from plywood or particle board. For his entry into DainerMade’s Pallet Challenge, Wooden It Be Grand decided to make an arcade machine. He built its panels by gluing the wood planks side by side, then planed and sanded them even. It’s one of the coolest arcade machines we’ve seen.

Artist Isaac Dushku, aka the Lord of Maps created this print that illustrates the tallest point in each U.S. state. It’s the only place you can see the rolling hills of Virginia, the Colorado Rockies, and Alaska’s Denali in the same place. Available in 16″x20″ and 22″x28″ sizes. Global travelers, check out The Seven Summits.

One of the most elaborate custom pianos in history, Pictures at an Exhibition, was created by noted painter/pianist Paul Wyse. The one-of-a-kind Steinway & Sons Model D concert grand piano features 24-carat gold, cast bronze, and classically painted scenes to pay tribute to Modest Mussorgsky’s most profound composition for solo piano.

Steelpan drums are made from the bottom of an oil drum. Filmmaker Chas Sheppard met artist Jimi Phillip to see how they’re made. He starts by pounding a concave shape, then sketches each pan and hammers them before heating, tempering, and tuning by ear. This BTS footage from Sounds Like Steel stands on its own.

JBV Creative has engineered all kinds of neat mechanical devices, including an overcomplicated candy dispenser and a robot that types. This time, he built a pair of machines that endlessly toss tiny basketballs into each other’s hoops. You can purchase a 3D printable model of the Roboballer on JBV’s website.

Ilya from That Works has made some impressive historical weapons, but this is the first time he’s built a samurai helmet. He created the headgear with inspiration from the character Takeda in the game Naraka Bladepoint. The steel helmet is made from five pieces, with a two-piece Mempo mask and layered neck armor.

We love the smooth looks of Craighill’s latest writing instrument. Its all-metal body features an undulating ripple pattern with gradually larger waves as you move from its tip to its tail. There’s a reassuring clicker mechanism and it takes off-the-shelf Schmidt 635 refills. Comes in brass, stainless steel, or PVD black stainless.

The Commodore Amiga was one of the most graphically-capable PCs of the 1980s. Stuart Brown of Ahoy dives deep into one of the greatest pieces of digital art from the era – a gloriously colorful cheeseburger designed by Commodore’s Art Director Jack Haeger. Sadly, the original file wasn’t saved, so Ahoy reproduced it from scratch.

Photographer Christopher Dormoy’s short film offers a fascinating look at how ice melts as it gradually warms up, both symbolizing the start of spring and as a commentary on climate change. He shot the macro time-lapse footage using a Nikon Z6 camera, a Laowa 24mm probe lens, and a Nikkor 105mm macro lens.

Rumpl teamed up with textile artist Maggie Thompson to create this eye-catching Original Puffy Blanket. The interleaved blocks of color were inspired by the artist’s Ojibwe heritage. Like other Rumpl’s, the blanket repels water, has corner loops for staking, and a clip so you can wear it as a cape. Also available as a beach towel.

After artist Kayakasaurus saw a photo of a colorful slug caterpillar, he wanted to make a larger-than-life version. He started by sculpting a digital model of the blue and yellow creature’s body, then output it on a Elegoo Jupiter resin 3D printer. His application of transparent paint and fuzzy flocking really bring it to life.

The shot of Homer Simpson backing into a bush is a classic meme. It’s appeared on t-shirts, mugs, prints, and even sneakers. Now it’s a handmade rug. In this video from RugTrade, you’ll see how the textile artist used a rug tufting machine to replicate the iconic moment with yarn. Shearing off the excess yarn looks mighty satisfying.

Aluminum cans are highly recyclable, with their metal finding its way into everything from cars to appliances to more cans. But after watching this short video, we realize they can also be recycled into costumes. These two were spotted wearing outfits fabricated from recycled cans. Not only do they look cool, they sound fantastic too.

Ivresse Films shot this awesome promo spot for Decathlon ski and snowboard brand Wedze. Filmed in the wee hours at Saint Gervais Mont Blanc, they captured video of three skiers heading down the slopes with LED-wrapped skis and poles. Check out the behind-the-scenes video for a look at the post-production work.

Uncommon Goods sells this fun and fanciful chess set for opposing fans of felines and canines. The set comes with a folding game board that doubles as a storage box and a full set of handpainted cats and dogs wearing playful hats to represent their roles in the game.