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Sunday, November 28, 2010

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.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

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.


This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

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.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

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.