Colossal | A blog about art and visual ingenuity.

Photocopied Hand Typography

Photocopied Hand Typography xerox typography body

Handschrift is an experimental typeface by designer José Ernesto Rodriguez out of Berlin who created each letterform with a single photocopy of his hands. (via typegoodness)

Head sculpture made from intricately cut street maps

(click for details)

New to me, artist Nikki Rosato creates these incredibly delicate busts using the mesh from cut-out street maps. Check out her portfolio for additional map cuttings. (via illusion)

By Christopher on May 9, 2011 • faces maps paper sculpture

Don’t let the rather simple geometric images above fool you, watch the video. Using small pieces of paper (just 2-3cm wide) artist Etienne Cliquet has created delicately folded origami pieces that once placed in water begin to bloom, the result of capillary action as the paper absorbs water. Beautiful. (via reddit)

By Christopher on May 9, 2011 • origami paper water

Five Questions with Cartwheel Galaxy

Today I’m starting a new regular feature, taking a few minutes to chat with some of the people behing the blogs and Tumblrs that I’ve found inspiring and that regularly influence what you see here on Colossal. First up is a fantastic site called Cartwheel Galaxy run by Katey Nicosia. Her broad taste in art is something to take note of and I encourage you to add her to your bookmarks.

Who are you?
I am Katey. I’m 30 years old. An artist, writer, designer, dabbler.

Why did you start Cartwheel Galaxy?
I started Cartwheel Galaxy in an attempt to somehow take inventory or perhaps keep up with all the great art and artists that I discover online. I also like to share and promote artists so I intend it for that too.

How do you find stuff to post? Do you have a routine?
There are several ways. First, I follow a lot of blogs and the bulk of the art I post is found through other blogs. I also use Flickr a lot, of course. But my favorite way to find and discover art and artists is through museums and galleries. My daily routine consists of me flipping through my blog subscriptions, picking out the stuff I’m interested and going from there. I do this every day after work.

What sites inspire you?
I’m in love with But Does It Float, JESU, Artlog, and My Love For You is another current favorite.

What happens next?
I wish I had further plans but for the time being I’m content sticking with what I’m doing. Maybe some day I’ll take it all a step further, but for now my goal is just to keep posting and sharing. :)

Thanks Katey, and head on over to Cartwheel Galaxy to see what all the fuss is about!

By Christopher on May 9, 2011 • interview website

Michael Beitz

(click images for detail)

I am thrilled to share with you the work of sculptor Michael Beitz who makes some of the most bizarre and humorous sculptures I’ve seen in quite some time by subverting familiar forms of anatomy, nature, and even furniture. Beitz is currently at the John Michael Kohler Art Center Residency in Kohler, Wisconsin and will join artist Larry Bob Phillips in July for a project at Recess Space in New York. He is also planning to have a piece in the Smack Mellon Emerging Artists show in July. On his website, check out his Folding House, a structure erected entirely with a bicycle pedal-powered device. (via beautiful decay)

By Christopher on May 9, 2011 • body sculpture wood

Coffee Time Stop-Motion Animation

Coffee Time Stop Motion Animation video art stop motion coffee animation

This is designer Ching-Wen Wu’s first foray into stop-motion animation. She was inspired by the SNASK stop-motion short by Mike Crozier, and indeed many of the shots, sequences, and effects are almost identical shot for shot. However Wu’s seems more refined and perfect, it’s hard to believe this is her first attempt at something like this. Some making-of shots here.

By Christopher on May 8, 2011 • animation coffee stop motion video art

Neil Warburton

Neil Warburton love illustration balloons

I was genuinely excited to find these wonderful illustrations in my in-box this weekend. Neil Warburton is a designer and artist who has found creative outlets in illustration, photography, sculpture, and painting. This striking series of buildings and balloons grapples with ideas of love. Neil via email:

The series came to fruition after a troubled time I went through a few years back with a relationship, producing the work really helped me by creating something positive from an otherwise negative situation. I had been fascinated by the use of narrative within illustration for a long time and had wanted to use it in some work. The balloons represent love and have drifted into other works I have done since. Combining these with some epic repetitive architecture seemed to give the pieces real depth and a sense of time and space.

Check out more of his work via his website. Thanks Neil for sharing your work with Colossal!

By Christopher on May 8, 2011 • balloons illustration love

New work from Jeremy Mayer

An awesome new piece entitled Bust V (Grandfather) by Jeremy Mayer who disassembles typewriters and reassembles them into human and animal figures without the use of solder, weld, or glue (or even objects that don’t originate from typewriters).