Franco Matticchio

In the Garden of the Mind

I imagine that many of Animalarium's readers are already familiar with the celebrated

 German illustrator Olaf Hajek, but I couldn't resist posting some of his works.

I can't get enough of these luscious paintings, so unique and

full of life, color and artistic inspirations!

Most of these images were created for numerous corporate and editorial clients.

For more info, check out the interesting interview on Sprayblog and the video 

posted by Gestalten, which last year published a monograph on Hajek's work.

From the Field

Yellow Warblers

Holly Ward Bimba, the artist behind Golly Bard, paints lovely watercolors inspired

by the nature surrounding her cottage in the rural village of Upperville, VIrginia.

After learning how to work with watercolor from her high school art teacher, 

she studied printmaking, papermaking, and book arts at Syracuse University. 

Watercolor still remains her favorite medium, and she uses it to create 

delicate portraits of wild animals, plants, and other tiny wonders.

Wild Hare and Honey Bees

Web Weaver no. 5

Ant Hill

I love the way she combines her methodic, science–oriented approach to observing and recording

details and patterns, with a spontaneous, whimsical style and wonderful feeling for color. 

Frolic in the Fernwood

Wild Hare and Honey Bees

Black Swan and Water Lily Bog

RIng Necked Pheasant no. 2

Bard is fascinated by natural history, repetition, and cataloguing. She often creates

artworks featuring series of animals, or series of artworks with the same subject. 

Swarm of Empresses

Migration

Fanciful Feather Collection no. 1

Beetles, Weevils and Flies no. 8

You can view the rest of the series on Bard's Flickr gallery. 

Bard has recently designed the Woodland Collection of fabrics. These charming works can be bought 

from Spoonflower, a company that allows artists to print their own designs using digital textile printers 

and eco-friendly inks on natural fiber fabrics.

Monday Matticchio

Life is Change

I am very happy to be able to feature more elegant creations from one 

of my favorite artists, the lovely and mysterious Kazumasa Nagai.

These images span a period of almost 30 years, from 1969 to 2007.

Many thanks to Vintage Poster, Pink Tentacle and I Desire Vintage Posters.

Sunday Safari - The Chicken & the Egg

G. Douanne propaganda poster,1916

thanks to trialsanderrors

And the chicks, of course.

Mariacininha, Comunidade

Marietje Vitteveen, De Gouden Haan, 1940

thanks to BibliOdissey

Mai Miturich, illustration from The Rainbow Book by Samuil Marshak, 1974,

thanks to art.crazed

Vyacheslav Legkobit illustration, 1976,

found thanks to Kickcan and Conkers

Eva Johanna Rubin, illustration for 3 x 3 three by three by James Kruss, 1963, 

thanks to eliz.avery

Hollie Wright, thanks to Art Finds

K. Kalinichevoy, illustration from 1962 Soviet book

Christopher Wormell

Jim Flora, Little Hatchy Hen

George Him cover from Graphis Annual 1961–62, 

thanks to the amazing Sandi Vincent, now a contributor at Aqua-Velvet

Saul Steinberg

Francesco Bongiorni