Snakes Entwined on the Gatepost

London ~ February 20, 2010

Museum of Natural History

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Allegorical Bridled Fish

Paris ~ May 7, 2004

Notre Dame Cathedral

(I believe this was outside near the main doors.)

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A Lemur at the Zoo? This One is Unusual.

Dudley, West Midlands, England ~ February 16, 2010

One of the many thinks that makes Dudley Zoo unique and charming is the animals carved in high relief that top some of the entryways at the zoo. This ring-tailed lemur (oddly enough) marks the entrance to the lemur walk-through exhibit (but I suppose they would call it "home," where you can get reasonable up-close and personal with several species. Just don't try to touch or taunt them. If you behave nicely, they'll pose for you with no bars or fencing between your camera and the lemurs - and close enough that you don't need a long lens.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Dolphin Sign

Sayulita, Mexico ~ February 3, 2003

You may have to enlarge the photo to see the dolphin on this simple but pleasant painted sign on a business in Sayulita.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Water-horse Fountain, Taormina

Taormina, Sicily ~ April 26, 2004

Square of the Church of St. Nicola

The church ws built around the year 1400. For those interested in pavement, note the wonderful checkerboard paving behind the fountain. Also take a good look at the horse's feet and tail. There is some discussion of the mythological water-horse here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Critters on a Wall at the Oregon Zoo

Portland, Oregon, 2010

Guest Photographer: Lee Spangler

Oregon Zoo

Lee found these Oregon animals represented in a ceramic tile mosaic on the wall of a covered eating and restroom facility at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. He says, "They may be on a field trip from Bend in Central Oregon to visit friends at the zoo." (He said this because at first I thought the photo was taken in Bend.)

We have many of these animals in our online gift shop. Check out our cougars (mountain lions), raccoons, salmon, elk, owls, and more! Since we love animals, we try to keep them somewhat realistic and not overly cartoonish.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Leopard and Antelope among the Carvings

New York ~ May 6, 2010

We found this street vendor selling African masks outside of MoMA. I could have taken home both the leopard in the middle and the antelope at the back. Instead, all I took was a (much cheaper) photo.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Too Cool in Colorado

Salida, Colorado

Guest Photographer: Jacob

I am so jealous that Jacob found this bovine (?) in Salida! But he dedicated the post to me and let me use it on "Animal Art Along the Way," so what can I say? Check out Jacob's wonderfully colorful and descriptive photos on "Colorado in Color." Here's a link to the orginal post on Jacob's blog.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Early Morning, Horse on a Gate

Portland, Oregon  May 3, 2008

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Two Ancient Greek "Fish Bowls"

Chicago ~ April 21, 2005

Art Institute of Chicago Museum

In all, I took photos of four delightful ancient Greek bowls with fish designs. Here are two of them. I showed one in an earlier post, and I have another yet to come. Wouldn't you love to have dinnerware like that? I would!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Chinese Dragon in Astoria

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 8, 2010

I am blatantly cheating today, using the same photo for two blogs, but I thought it was too good not to put in on "Animal Art." See the rest of the story and another photo on Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Stegosaurus in Paris

Paleontology Museum, Jardin des Plantes, Paris ~

October 14, 2008

Here are two more views of the stegosaurus at the Paleontology Museum in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. I posted him/her earlier from the front.

I like the top view best, but this shows more of the dino. I don't think that fence will do much good if the stegosaurus feels like moving on to greener ferns, do you? This museum has always haunted me, because it's been closed every time I've been there. I've seen photos of the inside, and I can't wait to find a way to see it.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Gryphon and Chimera

Paris ~ October 15, 2008

Tour St-Jacques

I've left this photo large so you can see the cool critters at the top of this Flamboyant Gothic tower. As Francisca says, "Click on the image and click again." Do you know that as much time as I've spent around blogs, I only learned a few weeks ago that this method enlarges a photo to its full size? I thought you had to drag the window to open it up after you'd clicked on it once! I remember a friend telling me a number of years ago that she'd just learned that you can open the software by clicking on a file (i.e., open Word by clicking on a Word doc). There is SO much to learn! It's always fun to find new things. Thanks, Francisca!  :)

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Bas Relief Rhino and Water Buffalo in NYC

New York ~ May 5, 2009

It's going to take three photos to show this beautiful bas relief on the outside of the Natural History Museum in New York City. I've already shown the horse statue in another post, although it was a silhouette.

I don't know why I didn't wait and take a better photo without the car, but this may have been a drive-by through the bus window.

This beautiful, naturalistic bas relief carving of two water buffalo and a long-horned rhino adds much to the facade of the museum.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Front View

Bend, Oregon ~ May 31, 2010

It's not his best angle. The angle on this bald eagle is goofy, but I was so tired on this long walk that I didn't go around to take the picture from somewhere else. There are many, many wildlife sculptures of various kinds on people's houses and property in Bend. I don't know if this is a new trend, if Bend has always been like this, or what. I thought the carving was pretty nice and well detailed.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Pacific Northwest Salmon

Bend, Oregon ~ October 15, 2010

Here's a completely different kind of fish found at the sushi restaurant, "Bend Fish Company" (see yesterday's post for the wood carving). This is just one of many versions of the black, white, and red stylized salmon derived from Native American art of the Pacific Northwest.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Swimmers of Painted Wood

Bend, Oregon ~ October 15, 2010

I found this painted wood carving above the door in the Bend Fish Company, a sushi restaurant.

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Hand-painted Frog Pins

I've been looking at this particular scan of frog pins in one of my folders for months. I enjoy marvelling at these miniature pieces of art so much that I wanted to share them with you.

About 2003, I was attending a toy and gift trade show in Seattle, and I had about walked my feet off, spent more than the budget and was ready to call it quits when I stumbled onto a small booth I had apparently missed before. A local Washington artist was selling hand-painted animal pins (many, many animals, not only frogs). I sell animal stuff online. I'd been looking for animals. I remember saying, "I'm almost sorry I found you." Meaning, I knew I'd be pulling out the credit card again. Bye-bye budget. I couldn't help it. I did limit my spending that day; I got a few beautiful animal pins, and have been buying and selling his artwork ever since. There is such a variety, and it takes me so long put each one online that the collection on my site is relatively small compared to what's available. However, they've been selling better and better, and this year one of my goals is to get more of them where they can be seen, appreciated, and - yes - purchased. The plastic animals and stuffed animals are still the bread and butter of Tapir and Friends Animal Store, but more and more I am including hand-made art as part of the repertoire. It feeds my soul, and it helps feed people whose talent and creativity I so admire.

The pins are designed in Washington, cast in pewter in Washington, and painted by three or four artists in the Northwest, including the talented man I met at the trade show.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Constellations on High

New York ~ May 4, 2009

Ceiling of Grand Central Station

You never know where you will find animal art. If you look up from all of the other things that capture your attention in the great hall of Grand Cenral Station, you can make out these beautifully-drawn and painted animals representing constellations. The "sky" in Grand Central is based on a Medieval manuscript and contains some interesting anomalies.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Strange Buffalo from Jacob

Salida, Colorado ~ November 2010

Photo by Jacob from Colorado in Color

When I saw this bison sculpture on Jacob's Colorado in Color blog, I knew I had to resurrect "Animal Art Along the Way." I discontined and merged the blog a few weeks ago, but I've been missing it! Thank you Jacob, for the inspiration and the use of your photo!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Gryphons on a Stone Shield

St-Denis, France ~ October 15, 2008

St-Denis Basilica

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Eastern Hercules Beetle

Eastern Hercules beetle

US Postage Stamp, 1999

It's amazing what you can find on stamps. I think this image is particularly well done.

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"Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream"

Bend, Oregon ~ May 31, 2010

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Fish Mola from Panama

Panama City, Panama ~ January 17, 2006

I'm sorry about the lousy photo quality, but I couldn't resist taking pictures of several of the framed molas hanging in the restaurant area of a hotel we stayed in. Molas are a very particular kind of reverse applique stitchery made by the Indians in the Kuna Islands of Panama. Every little detail is stitched by hand, the edges of the cloth are turned under, and you end up with layer upon layer of beautifully intricate stitching as well as fascinating, artistic designs. As you can tell, I love molas. They were originally made to be worn as blouses by the women. When the sleeves and the seams wore out, they would take the design off and make it into a new blouse. Now they are sold to tourists as artwork in its own right with ragged fabric edges rather than turning into something to wear. The ragged edges are usually hidden under a frame.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wombat at the Lugnasa Festival

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 26, 2008

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For Lovers

London ~ February 14, 2010

See Weekend Reflections from around the world.

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The Lion at Captain Fishhead's

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 19, 2010

See Captain Fishhead's Front Porch

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Baby Elephant

“Baby Tembo” by Derrick Hudson,

Clare Market, London School of Economics

October 31, 2009

Borrowed from one of my favorite blogs:

Daily Photostream by VP

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Ancient-looking Beasts in Modern Pompeii

Pompeii, Italy ~ April 18, 2004

This was the floor in a hotel lobby where we stayed. The black thing is nothing more than a rubber mat to keep people from slipping in the rainy weather. Of course, now I wish I'd gone down and removed it before taking the photo, but you know how it is - you've been walking all day, you're exhausted, and one more step seems like one step too many. *Snap!*

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Sailfish from Mexico

Mexico ~ Sailfish on a Postage Stamp

Stamp collectors may note that someone (yours truly) has carelessly slashed the stamp between the picture and the perforations. It wasn't out of meanness, but many of the stamps I've saved over the years are for use in the collages I've enjoyed making since 1968, when I discovered that I liked this art form. I've saved bits, images, and whole magazines to play around with when the mood strikes. This stamp was left out of some collage I was making at the time, but saved in the "collage box," and when it came up again, I was thinking "Animal Art" blog.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Classical Eagle and Gryphon

Portland, Oregon ~ August 7, 2010

This eagle and gryphon can be found on a building across the street from Pioneer Square. I did not desaturate or do anything with the color. It's straight color from the camera. Interesting, eh?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

African Striped Weasel

African Striped Weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
South African Postage Stamp, 1993
Art by Denis Murphy

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Lego Bear

Sacramento, California ~ April 6, 2008

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Paleontological Lizard

Paris ~ October 14, 2008

Museum of Paleontology

Jardin des Plantes

I've posted one of Mr. Lizard's friends on the same facade here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Pig in Ravello

Ravello, Italy ~ April 21, 2004

This little pig poking its nose and trotters out of the wall of an arcaded walkway in Ravello has to be one of the most unexpected discoveries of animals art that I can remember. Just when you think the architecture is looking sedate and refined, here comes a surprise. Oink.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Lounge Lizards

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ~ February 4, 2006

Hotel Open-air Cafe and Lounge

Oh, and don't miss the red horse near the ceiling.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Camel Tapestry from India

January 9, 2009

A little something Lee found on one of his trips. I love this tapestry, and you can see details of it in several posts here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Concrete Capybara at a Truckstop

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ April 20, 2007

Although the artwork is not masterful, and the photograph is neither inspired nor in focus, we had fun spotting this painted concrete capybara at a truck stop between Sorocaba and Trindade. Too bad it's the only photo I took of it. I was more interested in capturing the nearby jaguar and tapir sculptures.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Orange Dino in San Diego

San Deigo, California ~ November 6, 2008

Natural History Museum, Balboa Park

I thought that the art used to create the model dinosaur and the art on the mural were both outstanding.

The Natural History Museum in Balboa Park, San Deigo, is without a doubt, one of the finest museums I've ever visited. It's not large, but the exhibits are beautifully done - world class to the max, and - unlike so many museums - the descriptive text actually made sense to me.

I have to say this since I've started the subject. I'm not stupid, and I love natural history, evolution, animal sciences in general, but while I can enjoy looking at the exhibits in most museums, I begin to feel like a dummy when I try to read the text. (Does anyone else feel this way?) I wonder who it's written for, as the casual and less casual visitors are usually given little or no context. Normally in a museum crammed with exhibits, I cannot retain any of what I read. I begin to feel as though I'm learning nothing as I wander from exhibit to exhibit unless I've already been doing a lot of outside reading on the material I'm looking at. Here in the Museum of Natural History in San Diego, I found that the text on most of the exhibits was in some way more cohesive. Perhaps it focused for a paragraph or so on an explainable point rather than hitting the reader with the shrapnel of small facts. Perhaps the exhibits tell stories, although not condescending or dumbed down. Someone has a talent. Anyway, this was one of the most exciting museum visits I can remember, and I do love museums. So, thank you Natural History Museum of San Diego.

Quite a few of my photos from this visit actually turned out well. I don't know why it took me so long to dig into this folder for my various blogs, but I will dig out more, sooner than later.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

An Eagle Watches Over Crater Lake Resort

Crater Lake Resort, Oregon ~ May 8, 2005

Someone with carving tools and an artistic bent thought it would be nice to perch one of the local bird species permanently on a living tree in the forested grounds of Crater Lake Resort near the resorts cozy cabins and picturesque stream. Real-life bald eagles enjoy this territory, too. I think what I like best about this photo, though, is the mushrooms growing out of the tree trunk occupied by the eagle. It seems to say, "This is Oregon, and it is wet." I really love all the water we get here. Blue skies are a treat, but a rainy day is a delight as well. Oregon is for wildlife.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

The Lions of Marble Arch

London ~ February 15, 2010

This is the second lion resident on Marble Arch that I've posted on this blog. Another lion is on the gate.

Both of these photos are in color without desaturation. It happened to be one of those days. I like the way they came out.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Scales and Snails

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

The scales may be easier to find than the carved wooden snail in this intriguing shop window on The High Street.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Bird Mosaic, Panama

Guadalupe, Panama ~ January 11, 2010
Los Quetzales Ecolodge

See today's post on my On the Pavement blog for another bird mosaic at Los Quetzales.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Snake Terrace Extraordinaire

Playground, Tours Aillaud

Nanterre, Paris, July 2010

This wonderful photo is thanks to my blogging friend VP of Livorno, Italy. Check out his Daily Photo Stream and Livorno Daily Photo blogs. If you want some additional fun, see VP's A Bunch of Benches blog. You will be amazed :) That blog started out as a joke and was later discovered. I have no idea what the inside joke was about, but it now has a following of folks who like seeing a daily morph of the bench theme. Back to the photo above: I have not seen this gargantuan snake myself, but I can imagine how excited I'd be to find it while walking through the city. I also love the treatment of the buildings in the background. Thanks, VP!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Sea Lion and Salmon Bench, Tacoma

Tacoma, Washington ~ August 28, 2010
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

The sea lions and salmon seem to get along pretty well on the bench outside the entrance to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington, but don't expect the salmon to be smiling when the two species meet in local waters.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.