banquet

Capilano Rock and Gem

 

 

i'm like a kid in a candy store at this place, never buying anything because i am always so overhwhelmed by indecision...

oarfish

i am happy to say a new atlantic sea animals print finally went off to the printers yesterday. i know some of you have been waiting for this one, and we've found lots of amazing sea creatures to share, not least of all the fascinating giant oarfish.

with a near global range, the oarfish is the largest bony fish in the world (over fifty feet in length!) and is presumably the original sea serpent. lots more information in this video (note to parents waching with their four year old; language gets a little questionable at the six minute mark. not naming any names though. who would let their kids watch an unvetted youtube video???)

palau oarfish stamp from here.

and the new sea animals of the atlantic should be in the shop by early next week.

Burrowing Animals

of all the work i do for banquet, the thing i love most are creating these science and nature themed prints.

i love the drawing part, and trying to reduce something like a mole to a simple silhouette without losing any of it's "moleness," but also the research part, which actually thrills me a little bit too much.

like that moles have toxins in their saliva that they use to stun and store worms. massive worm "larders" have been found with upwards of a 1,000 worms stored for eating.

or that the burrowing owl festoons the doorway of its hole with cow dung. scientists aren't sure why, but their best assumption is to attract insects for an easy snack.

so let me introduce the "burrowing animals," up now in the shop. chocolate brown on white paper, especially dotty with pebbles, beetles, and worms. but be forewarned: not for the faint of heart!

the badger

remember the badger?

he's finally here, and a real beauty! more details in a couple of days...

 

the stars: a new way to see them

was gifted a  thrifted copy of the stars: a new way to see them, by hans augusto rey (yes, that h.a.rey).

from his wikipedia:

before the 1952 publication of rey's the stars: a new way to see them, (isbn 0-395-24830-2) star charts used a conventional set of diagrams that were difficult to remember and relied on dim stars that are difficult to see in modern populated areas. rey invented a new set of constellation diagrams that could be seen as cartoonish depictions of the creature or character the constellations was supposed to represent—- or, at least, were memorable.

at least.

right up my alley though. thanks jm!

rock

beautiful chromolithographs from cabinet of treasures, including minerals and stones...