archiemcphee:

When Tim Stellburg, a particularly geeky Minnesotan who also goes by the name Buggeye, had to have several troublesome cottonwood trees in his yard cut down, he asked that 9-10 feet of one of the trees be left standing so that he could later hire an artist to carve it into something awesome.

As soon as he figured out what he wanted, Tim hired Curtis Ingvoldstad of Wood Sculpture by Curtis to transform the stump into a magnificent Silver Dragon based on fantasy artist and illustrator Todd Lockwood’s creation for Dungeons & Dragons third edition (3.5).

“No matter how badly I mess up a Star Wars/Star Trek/whatever trivia quiz - Nobody can take away my geek card ever again.”

The process of sculpting the tree took place over 13 four hour sessions. Curtis painted the beast as well, but Tim painted the eyes himself. Click here for more photos of Buggeye’s awesome Silver Dragon.

Then click here to view more of Curtis Ingvoldstad’s on-site commissioned carvings.

[via Nerd Approved and Redditors Aboiement and Mozleron]

linxy-zn:

Panhard & Levassor PHÆTON WITH CAPOTE 1895 by stkone - Thanks for 4 Million views! on Flickr.

Panhard Levassor PHÆTON WITH CAPOTE 1895 Europa

damienkempf:

A medieval comic

This a page from the Bible of Stephen Harding, a manuscript produced in the early 12th century (Dijon, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 14). These scenes, which recount the life of biblical King David, read like a contemporary comic: from top to bottom and left to right, with captions on top of each image (and sometimes within the images). It is one of the earliest, and most striking, examples of comic-like medieval pages.

lostsplendor:

Prussian Military Bandsmen c. 1890s (by sunnybrook100)

lostsplendor:

Tea Leaves by William McGregor Paxton, 1909 (by Plum leaves)

treselegant:

“She visits among the homes of the poor.”

Cassell’s Magazine, 1879.

pinupcraze:

Ziegfeld Follies (1917)

I’ll be somewhere in France

(Source: startwithsunset)

Practice is important because you learn to write by writing. No one ever learned to write in any other way.

xixdegrees:

Black Hours, Bruges, c. 1470

This Book of Hours, referred to as the Black Hours, is one of a small handful of manuscripts written and illuminated on vellum that is stained or painted black. 

The black of its vellum—the very thing that makes the codex so striking—is also the cause of some serious flaking. The carbon used in the black renders the surface of the vellum smooth and shiny—a handsome but less than ideal supporting surface for some of the pigments. 

The anonymous painter of the Black Hours is an artist whose style depended mainly upon that of Willem Vrelant, one of the dominant illuminators working in Bruges from the late 1450s until his death in 1481. 

Digital Facsimile at the source link.

philosophia-perennis:

The Faravahar or Farohar is the symbol of Zoroastrianism. It reminds people of their purpose on earth, spiritual progress, and represents the link between the spiritual and physical worlds. The human form in the center is encircled by a ring that represents the eternal soul. The figure’s head reminds people that they have free will, a mind and an intellect with which to choose good. The right hand points upward to lead people toward Asha, the path of Truth. The left hand holds a ring symbolizing the just power of Khshathra Vairya, the Amesha Spenta (Benevolent Spirit) representing the power of Ahura Mazda as a wise ruler. The figure has wings to help the soul fly upward and progress. The tail serves as a rudder to help the soul balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. These forces are represented by the curved hooks on either side of the tail. The three sections of the tail remind people of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.