Broken is Beautiful: The story of Stephanie and her interesting approach to art. She demonstrates how broken can be made beautiful through art and creativity.

From People of the Second Chance

Turning currency into art with these hand carved coins.

Although the history of carving miniature bas relief sculptures into coins stretches back to the 18th century if not earlier, it was greatly popularized in the early 20th century with the introduction of the Buffalo nickel. This particular coin was minted using soft metal and was imprinted with the portrait of an indian with bold features, making it easier to deface and transform into the portraits of other people, animals, or even scenery.

Add to that the idle hands of unemployed artists struggling to let out their creativity during the depression (thus, “hobo”) and soon a flood of curious treasures were born. Most of the images on hobo nickels are too folk artsy for my taste, however a number of artists etched away the flesh of the subject to reveal these awesomely macabre skulls.

Hobo nickel carving remains a popular hobby today and it even has a society. Don’t you wish we had actual money that looked like this? Images linked to their sources, most of which are live Ebay auctions and have sold for quite a bit.

View more of these coins here.

Paper sculptures of household objects… Jennifer Collier’s art is achieved by bonding, waxing, trapping and stitching unusual paper ‘fabrics’.

The papers are treated as if cloth, with the main technique employed being stitch; a contemporary twist on traditional textiles.

The papers themselves serve as both the inspiration and the media for her work, with the narrative of the books and papers suggesting the forms.

Jennifer (as I do also) gives new life to things that would otherwise go unloved or be thrown away.

Jennifer’s website

(Source: danceabletragedy)

Persist. An inspirational letter from Pixar animator Austin Madison.

To Whom it May Inspire,

I, like many of you artists out there, constantly shift between two states. The first (and far more preferable of the two) is white-hot, “in the zone” seat-of-the-pants, firing on all cylinders creative mode. This is when you lay your pen down and the ideas pour out like wine from a royal chalice! This happens about 3% of the time.

The other 97% of the time I am in the frustrated, struggling, office-corner-full-of-crumpled-up-paper mode. The important thing is to slog diligently through this quagmire of discouragement and despair. Put on some audio commentary and listen to the stories of professionals who have been making films for decades going through the same slings and arrows of outrageous production problems.

In a word: PERSIST.

PERSIST on telling your story. PERSIST on reaching your audience. PERSIST on staying true to your vision. Remember what Peter Jackson said, “Pain is temporary. Film is forever.” And he of all people should know.

So next time you hit writer’s block, or your computer crashes and you lose an entire night’s work because you didn’t hit save (always hit save), just remember: you’re never far from that next burst of divine creativity. Work through that 97% of murky abyssmal mediocrity to get to that 3% which everyone will remember you for!

I guarantee you, the art will be well worth the work!

Your friend and mine,

Austin Madison

“ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!”

(Source: nquo)

Grinning rocks… Slightly disturbing but very creative in an unexpected yet humorous way. By Hirotoshi Ito.

Cows Made From Recycled Car Parts by Miina Äkkijyrkkä

Having spent most of her life working with cows, Miina behan purchasing used cars from around Finland and turning the scraps into giant metal idols of her favorite bovine. Just give them the ability to walk, Miina, and we can march on the rebel base. You and me, let’s do this.

(Source: ianbrooks)