Skip to main content

Katie McCann's delightfully grotesque paper creatures


Every now and then I like to go to Katie McCann's tumblr and dig through her wonderfully weird creations once again to see what new can I find in them. Her collages are insane, and I mean that in the best possible way. 

Katie (aka Beetle Blossom) is an English artist currently living and working in Berkeley, California with a passion for everything unusual, grotesque and unique. Using cut outs from old medical books and magazines, she creates intricate Frankenstein-like figures "who are sometimes static like specimens and at other times are surviving in a unique habitat." She often incorporates lace, beads and fabric into her work to make them appear more elegant.

Artist Statement:
"I have known such a creature (Charles Altamont Doyle) is how I start my collages. As a child, I lived in a wonder world of faeries, witches, science fiction and botany. Not much has changed, the only difference being that I record all of my thoughts and stories in the form of intricately cut and pieced together collages. I like everything old and a little tired so I seek out images and photographs that are antique, vintage and forgotten. I transform these paper memories and records into other worldly creatures who are sometimes static like specimens and at other times are surviving in a unique habitat. I am rooted in the tradition of old fashioned childhood where discovery was at the bottom of the garden in amongst the crushed leaves, the lilac and the fungi. I hope that the creatures I uncovered in that quiet landscape are reflected in my collages."




Follow Katie's tumblr for more disturbing goodness.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

'Star Wars' cutaway illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore

These illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore explore the inner workings of some of the most famous Star Wars vehicles, from the AT-AT walker to the Millennium Falcon. The interesting part about these images is that they're completely hand drawn, with no help from a computer whatsoever. Prepare to marvel at these wonderful examples of sci-fi art!  [h/t: Galactic Academy ]

'The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling' is a book every LEGO enthusiast should have

If you're a LEGO enthusiast, this book is an absolute delight. If you know nothing about those colorful interlocking plastic bricks, this book will save you from ignorance. Compiled by LEGO modelers Dennis Glaasker and Dennis Bosman, The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling "displays amazing, fan-built LEGO recreations of real-life vehicles, showing off every amazing detail with high-quality photographs." The models featured on the 204-page hardcover are truly astounding. There's a four-foot-long ship constructed from more than 20,000 LEGO elements; a Caterpillar bulldozer complete with two motors; a U.S. military aircraft; F1 race cars; trains and other mechanical wonders rendered perfectly in bricks. The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling  will be available in bookstores everywhere this month and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com . [h/t: Car and Driver ]

Unseen Beauty

The winners of the Nikon Small World photo contest have been announced , showcasing truly breathtaking talent under the lens. For over fifty years, this competition has masterfully blended scientific technique with artistry, giving us an unparalleled view into the hidden biome around us. These aren't just macro photos; they are stunning, hyper-detailed portraits that transform ordinary, overlooked specks—from microscopic invertebrates to plant architecture—into monumental subjects. They prove that the greatest jungles often exist in the smallest spaces. This year’s top prize goes to Zhang You from China. His winning image is a perfectly timed and illuminated shot of a rice weevil perched on a grain. With its wings fully extended, the humble insect looks less like a pest and more like an armored shuttle preparing for an epic interplanetary battle. Below are some of my favorites. After seeing these phenomenal close-ups, you'll never look at a speck of dust or a houseplant the sam...