Animals of a Different Stripe

Animals Drawn with Moiré Patterns This beautiful series of animal illustrations by Milan-based designer Andrea Minini began as a design experiment to obtain complex shapes and depth starting with just a few lines. Using Adobe Illustrator, Minini created textured moiré patterns that give each illustration a surprising intensity.   Internal Landscapes: Sweeping Abstract Oceans by Samantha Keely Smith Artist Samantha Keely Smith paints abstract oceanic landscapes that are at once menacing and serene, a clash of light and color that she refers to as "internal landscapes." Using oil paint, enamel, and shellac, Smith uses an additive and subtractive process by partially destroying her progress several times before completion. This cyclical process, much like the timeless crash of ocean tides against the shore, adds an additional level of texture to her work.     Detailed Stencil Street Art by Jana & JS UJana & JS are a street art duo currently based in Austria who specialize in detailed stencil work, frequently depicting people with cameras or couples sharing intimate moments.   Spectacular Genetic Anomaly Results in Butterflies with Male and Female Wings In the realm of genetic anomalies found in living organisms perhaps none is more visually striking than bilateral gynandromorphism, a condition where an animal or insect contains both male and female characteristics, evenly split, right down the middle. It seems butterflies and moths lucked out with the visual splendor of having both male and female wings as a result of the anomaly. These are a few incredible examples.   Mixed Media Portraits by Florian Nicolle Digital artist and illustrator Florian Nicolle blends layers of newsprint, watercolor, pencil, and digital painting to create rich, frenetic portraits that seem to fly off the canvas. Over the past few years, Nicolle has been tapped by some of the world's largest brands including Nike, Adobe, Warner Brothers, and ESPN, but still finds time for personal work.   Our Changing Seas: A Ceramic Coral Reef by Courtney Mattison Our Changing Seas III is the third piece in a series of large-scale ceramic coral reef sculptures by artist Courtney Mattison. The sprawling installation is entirely hand-built and is meant to show the devastating transition coral reefs endure when faced with climate change, a process called bleaching. Our Changing Seas III is currently on view at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College through June 15, 2014.   From the Colossal Shop: A Special Gift for Newsletter Subscribers...and Their Moms!