In every culture and throughout the ages people have used works of art to reduce stress and bring happiness into their lives. From the time we are babies cuddling with our favorite plush toy, doll or blanket, on into adulthood, we continue to fill our lives with these calming and nurturing objects. Some are worn or carried like crosses, amulets, crystals, birthstones, four-leaf clovers and other lucky charms. Others require that you interact with them in some way as when you rub the belly of a Buddha for good luck, play with "worry beads" or foam stress-balls to relax, or undertake more complex rituals with voodoo or wanga dolls. My answer to this universal need has been to create whimsical cartoon-like drawings to amuse, delight and distract viewers from their worries, and similar ceramic sculptures, whose smooth, highly polished surfaces invite tactile as well as visual pleasure. And because of their light-hearted appearance, I call them "whimsicals."
Whimsical drawings
If you like dark, abstruse or depressing art work, you probably won't like mine. Drawing makes me happy and much of what I draw is humorous, whimsical or just plain fun. When people look at my sketches and smile, I am delighted. I work from my imagination, and my often cartoon-like characters evoke but never represent reality. Music, too, informs my drawing as I often use a unique line or shape throughout a work as a unifying element, much as a composer uses a musical "motif" to give unity to his or her composition.
My whimsical drawings as viewed below fall into four categories: Characters, Drawings for Children, Introspective Works and Erotic Fantasies. Prints of these drawings add a light-hearted touch to any room, and many make a great gift for young people as well as children. At this time, prints are available only in black and white, and 8 1/2 x 11 inches in size; however, colored copies and other sizes may be available in the future.
To Purchase:
$15.00 ( which includes matt along with print ) plus shipping and handling. Please provide preference for air or surface mail and your address, and I will provide a shipping and handling quote. Enquiries can be addressed to flevin2@gmail.com or simply fill in the form on the ORDER page.
Special Free Offer: For a limited time, orders for two or more prints will include at no extra cost a complete set of my "disposable photocopy art" which can be seen on my BIO page.
(Click on thumbnails for larger images)
Characters
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Artur Rubinstein
Birds of a Feather
Portrait of a Man
The Thinker
The Authority
The Stalker
The Lute Player
The Gossip
The Conspirators
Samurai Warrior
Centaur
Woman With Woolly Hair
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Wizard
Peacocks
At the Zoo
Dragon-Man
Friendship
Angel Fish
Strolling
In Pursuit
Mole In A Bonnet
Her Beloved Bird
The Guardians
The Lasso Thrower
Poodle
Distracted
Private Eye
The Kiss
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(Click on thumbnails for larger images)
Introspective Drawings
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An Uneasy Truce
Crying Man
Looking Ahead
Woman Hallucinating
Contentment
Bird Mask
Humility
Irreconcilable Differences
Looking Back
Birdwatching
Man Hallucinating
Birdwatching 2
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Interlocking Forms
Erotic fantasy
Reclining Nude
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Whimsical Ceramic Sculptures
Like my drawings, the inspiration for my jade-green ceramic sculptures comes solely from my imagination and they only vaguely represent anything found in nature. These smooth, highly polished sculptures fit comfortably in the hand and invite tactile as well as visual appreciation. You can use them as decoration, as good luck charms, as paper weights and as stands to hang earrings and jewelry. Use the ones with holes as napkin rings or simply enjoy the sensation of running your fingers over their graceful surfaces to relax and meditate, much as Mediterranean peoples use "worry beads." Like the drawings, these sculptures make great gifts for adults and older children. Discounts will be provided for the purchase of two or more.
Each piece is an original creation - hand-crafted, dated and signed. No two are ever alike. A sampling can be seen below, grouped into six categories: Sententious Sea Creatures, Bodacious Birds, Merry Muses, Laughing Lizards, Funny Felines & Crafty Canines, and Whacky Whimsicals. They are individually priced and shipping costs vary by weight. To order, or to inquire about shipping costs, visit my ORDER page. If you don't see what you're looking for, please feel free to contact me: I may have a piece for you in my larger collection.
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Sententious Sea Creatures
Laughing Squid $40
Sea Snake With Ears $30
Sea Lion $40
Hollow Frog $30
Frog On Hind Legs $50
Merman $50
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Bodacious Birds
Swan $40
Eagle $50
Water Fowl $40
Hungry Sea Bird $40
Sea Bird $30
Sleeping Bird $40
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Merry Muses
Munchkin Muse $40
Laughing-Head Muse $50
Horned Muse $30
Staring Muse $30
Laughing Muse $50
One-Handed Muse $50
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Laughing Lizards
Hollow Bodied Laughing Lizard $40
Laughing Lizard With Horn $30
Broad-Faced Laughing Lizard $40
Laughing Lizard Reclining $40
Laughing Lizard Standing $40
Laughing Lizard Sticking Out Tongue $40
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Funny Felines & Crafty Canines
Seated Cat $40
Standing Cat $30
Reclining Cat $30
Dog With Lizard Body $40
Wolf Head $40
Cobra-Faced Dog $40
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Whacky Whimsicals
Alien-Faced Whimsical $30
Reclining Bear $50
Horse-Faced Whimsical $30
Snouted Lizard $30
Mouse-Faced Whimsical $30
Two-Headed Dragon $50
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