Dive into the Black Lake

Many thanks to shape+color for leading me to take a plunge into the eerily beautiful waters 

of Black Lake, a stunning poetic reverie born from a collaboration between the creative minds 

David OReilly and Jon Klassen. And if like me you love animation, it might be a good idea 

to subscribe to the very interesting shape+colour vimeo channel!

Sunday Safari – The Circus is in Town

Christmastime in Italy is also Circus time (ok, here everyday is Circus time - 

but that's another story). I have never been a fan of traditional circus animal acts, 

but how could I escape the charm of their colorful and quirky transfiguration into 

a rainbow of shapes, silhouettes and symmetries by imaginative artists across the land?

Two illustrations from the comic book Alex, Il Piccolo fantastico Giocoliere

(Alex, the Amazing Juggler) by Gianni Peg, 1981

Cyrk by Józef Wilkon

Illustration from Wio, Leokadio by Elzbieta Murawska, 1974,

thanks to Ksiazki / Books

Hooggeëerd publiek. Circus in Nederland Toneelmuseum poster,

Amsterdam, 1978, from ReclameArsenaal

Cirque de Moscou sur Glace poster by Henri Galeron, 1990

3 Beagles, Monkey on bicycle, 2 growling tigers, and 2 hugging bears

posters by Wiktor Gorka, 1968–71

Bobinski's Mouse Circus Band, drawings for Coraline by Jon Klassen, 2007

Illustration by Violeta Lopiz, 2007

2 circus posters from bpx' fantastic USSR posters collection on flickr

Sunday Safari - To all the little red foxes

Cover illustration for 3 tours de Renard by André Paul, 1944

I consider myself lucky to live at the edge between city and country. I can take a walk to downtown, 

but when I am home I can forget about the intense pace of urban life and immerse myself in nature. 

For the past few years, a family of foxes has been living in a wooded area on the hill in front of our house. 

We usually observe them through the lenses of binoculars, but my two encounters with them at close distance 

in the afternoon field where truly special. One evening in the garden last summer I turned to see one 

walking a few meters from me. We both froze and stood looking at each other for sometime, 

then with quick and light steps she continued her way. I love to think of my little neighbours

 and sometimes worry about them. This post is my way of wishing them a safe and generous winter.

 Thanks to all the artists for expressing their foxy spirit so well!

Red by Camilla Engman

Fox fabric sculpture by Jennifer Muskopf at Clive + Sunshine

another illustration from Kto w lesie mieszka by Zdzislaw Witwicki, 1958,

again thanks to Our Patron Saint of Forgotten Beauty A Journey Round My Skull

Fox in the snow by Jon Klassen at burst of beaden

illustrations from Yaboki by L. Mileeva, thanks to the always lovely Kickcans and Conkers

Sitting fox by Nicky Clacy

Pinzorro by Javier Jaén

Winter illustration from Seasons by John Burningham, thanks to Masha

fox by Karolin Schnoor

stuffed fox by Natasha Fadeeva

illustration from Cuento populares rusos by Violeta Lópiz

fox by John Reddinger on flickr