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.

Poultry and Poetry

Another lovely animation of a French folksong by Norman McLaren.

This time he used chalk and pastels on cardboard to create his delicate 

and dreamy interpretation of an old lullaby about little hens laying eggs

in various places, from the church to the moon. Made in 1947.

Monday Matticchio - Bourrasque

Sunday Safari - Horsepower

Craig Kosak

 Cathy Rose

Ad for National City Bank NY by Clarence H. Carter, 1951, thanks to Freaky Fauna

 Deborah Butterfield

Ali Forberg, The Magic Carousel, 1967, thanks to Arthur van Kruining

 Sayaka Kajita Ganz, Night

 Dahlov Ipcar, World full of Horses, 1955, thanks to SurrednnrDorothy

Charles Keeping, Elidor, 1966

Hannah Stouffer

 Rena Holford, large glass horse, thanks to Quinquabelle

 Heather Jansch

Jess Hirsch

And let's not forget Jozef Wilkon's wonderful stampede!

Bric-à-brac Creatures

 Many thanks to Miquel Aparici for writing and inviting me into his magical world.

Just looking at his artworks makes me happy, hope to see them in person someday! 

Miquel's wonderful recycled sculptures are assemblages of disparate vintage materials

that he collects from junkyards and antique sellers. He then catalogues, stores and 
transforms them in his workshop located inside an old industrial ship near Barcelona.

Thanks to La Factoría Plástica and pad blog for the studio photos.

A fantastic box of toys made for a lucky someone called Lucas. 

On Miquel's website you can also find his series of animals painted with coffee, 

sugar and a teaspoon. And check out his blog to get the latest news!