Coloring with Andy

Before becoming a Pop Art icon, during the 1950s Andy Warhol worked as a successful illustrator

in New York producing hundreds of drawings for advertising, record companies and fashion magazines. 

In 1961, right around the time of his first Campbell Soup paintings, the Edelman company commissioned 

Warhol to create a large format coloring book to give as a gift to its clients' children for Christmas. 

Andy drew a series of delightfully whimsical illustrations using his typical blotted line technique, 

which he claimed to have discovered accidentally when he spilled ink onto a sheet of paper 

and reproduced the stain motif by applying a second sheet onto it.

A Coloring Book was reprinted in 2007 by the French Editions Palette.

Monday Matticchio

Back from the Sea

Sorry for disappearing and missing my usual Sunday appointment, 

I was away at the sea and stayed a bit longer than expected... 

Russian master animator Alexandr Petrov used his fingertips and slow-drying oil paints 

on glass sheets to create his wonderful adaptation of Hemingway's The old man and the sea. 

It took him over two years to paint and shoot each of the 29,000+ frames composing the

20-minute short, which went on to receive the 1999 Academy Award for Animated Short Film 

and the 2000 Grand Prix at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

On a different note, congratulations to Lisa, who was randomly picked by my daughter 

as the winner of Animalarium's first giveaway. Please send me your address and  

I will put in the mail your copy of The Owl Tree right away!

Time to Play

From The Bear and the Crow, OQO Editora, 2008

In recent months I have often been spending time on tumblr, an activity which, besides being 
very self-indulgent and addictive, has led me to quite a few discoveries of new interesting artists. 
Among them, thanks to the lovely allakinda, is André Da Loba, a Portuguese illustrator 
who recently graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York. 

From Bicho de 7 Cabeças, Companhia das Letras, 2009

André uses simple shapes, lots of pure black and primary colors to build 

his imaginative and playful illustrations, sculptures and collages. 

His children's books and editorial works have been recognized and awarded by 

the Bologna Children's Book Fair, The Society of Illustrators, IBBY, The Visual Magazine, 

The Creative Quarterly magazine, the 3x3 annual and others. 

Amadeo's Monsters for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Illustration from the unpublished The Moon Prince

Illustration from the unpublished Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!

from Bichos-faz-de-conta, Porto Editora

Two illustrations for Letras Libres

Don't loose your head

from the installation The cabinet

André currently lives in New York, where he is "secretly happy".

One of the secrets of his happiness is revealed in this video, where

we see him at play with his very special collection of handmade toys!

Split Personalities

The genetic mixing and matching continues to the beat of The Chap

in this fun, fast-paced music video by the outstanding graphic design studio Non-Format.

Monday Matticchio - 18 Animals

Sunday Safari - Evolution, Remixed

Javier Jaén

Domenico Gnoli

Miguel Murugarren & Javier Saéz Castán, Animalario Universal do professor Revillod

Braldt Bralds, illustration from Aiga Graphic Design USA 4, 1983

Beat Takeshi Kitano, Hippopotamus-ranchu

Nicholas di Genova

Jennybird Alcantara, Birdie

Bhajju Shyam, illustration from That's How I See Things

Pittau et Gervais, cover of Axinamu

Toni Meeuwissen, from Remarkable Animals, thanks to Eye magazine

Chris Buzelli, Composite

Luigi Serafini, from the Codex Seraphinianus, 1983

In the Shade of the Baobab

As soon as I have found these great scans from the 1965 German book "Im Schatten de Baobab" 

on the very interesting Russian livejournal thread kidpix they have become an instant favorite. 

I love the illustrations by Eberhart Binder! I have to admit that possibly I like his trees 

even more than the animals... Many thanks to u_boot_man for uploading these beauties.

Giveaway, tips and unexpected gifts

This last fiery encounter just fell on my lap from a 1979 graphic design book picked up at the library.

From the great American illustrator and designer Paul Davis.

I've finally decided to extend the deadline for our birthday giveaway to the end of the month.

I am hoping that some of those who have been busy or away on vacation will participate, 

because I am hoping to get more feedback from your comments about what my readers enjoy 

the most at Animalarium. So, if you decide to leave a comment you'll both make me happy

AND get a chance to receive a copy of a very unusual and beautiful book!

I also wanted to thank the lovely Hazel Terry of The art room plant

for sending me this adorable rubber flea, part of her Pets in the post art project,

and Adam Jaromir for sending a copy of his beautiful book Zarafa.

Often Animalarium's readers offer suggestions and tips about various animal art 

on the web, and I am sorry about not having enough time to always follow their leads.

Today I want to thank fellow blogger Brontops, who sent me a link to this video version 

of the great Italian painter and comic book artist Andrea Pazienza's book Bestiario, 

leading me to the very rich You Tube channel of shivabel, with over 350 videos 

dedicated to interesting art and books. Check it out!

Ronald Searle

Finally, don't miss the outstandingly well researched and written post

Literary Pets by Gilbert Albert-GIlbert at A Journey Round My Skull...