Computer Animation Arts

Doktor A was one of the first 'Designer Toy' artists that really grabbed my attention. A mixture of big-headed, wide-eyed cuteness and patina covered robots, all tied together with a love for Steampunk. If you enjoyed the above pieces from his latest exhibition, Monsters & Misfits III , then you can find his website here . I've always found his work particularly exciting, but maybe that's because some of his creations remind me of Tik-Toc :P

(Sasha - saw this guy's work - thought of you!) "Greg Brotherton creates meticulously detailed sculpture, using steel, wood, glass, concrete and unusual found objects. Greatly inspired by the dystopian and political fiction of the early 20th century, his pieces emerge from Kafkaesque imagery around themes of escape and discovery.   Brotherton’s vision is one of lonely isolation in a post-industrial world where one being, tinkering away with silent genius, could become the hope of the future." from www.brotron.com

The steampunk motif continues with Adam Pespane's charming stop-motion animation, The Deep , commissioned for the US Showtime network - home of entertaining serial killer drama, Dexter. "The selections in “Short Stories” are certainly closer to the worlds of art and cinema than to the usual content of television (or TV Web sites). Among the most striking is “The Deep” by PES, the working name of the New York-based animator Adam Pesapane , known for his “Human Skateboard” shoe commercial, shorts like “Western Spaghetti” and “KaBoom!” and his fireplace screen saver featuring oscillating candy corn . In “The Deep” Mr. Pesapane uses stop-motion animation to create a dreamlike, hypnotic facsimile of the ocean depths in which old metal objects — pocket knives, calipers, keys, a mesh purse, a cartridge belt — stand in for slowly moving sea creatures." from nytimes.com

Daniel Proulx makes wire-wrapped 'Steampunk' jewellery with brass, copper and gemstones. I include some examples here, as I suspect their intricacy and pulpish, retro-charms will appeal. "I always was very interested in fantasy imaginary worlds, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings and science fiction. I’m also inspired by the mix of mechanical, organic shapes and contrast between ancient and futuristic designs..." from danielproulx.blogspot.com

A menagerie of steampunked, biomechanical critters from Michihiro Matsuoka , who uses clay and acrylic paint to create his largely rather cute animal/machine hybrids. There's no hint of Gigeresque froideur in Matsuoka's melding of machine and lifeform - more Brian Froud meets Jules Verne .