Modern Times

Symbols of modern life (or as current technology radically changed some habits of the past).

Source: http://strollingontherainbow.tumblr.com/.

Color Me Creative by Kristina Webb

19-year-old artist uses real-life objects to complete her illustrations

New Zealand artist Kristina Webb doesn’t limit herself to just paper. Flowers, salads, and even spaghetti become part of  her illustrations. The 19-year-old found Instagram fame early on in life, and now has almost two million followers. Recently, Webb’s first book “Color Me Creative,” was released to positive reviews – click here to buy. It challenges creative youths with 50 different artistic projects.

Webb achieves the surreal effect in these photos by taking pictures, scanning them, and then combining them with her illustrations. She gets inspiration from whatever is around her: a blue binder turns out to be the perfect pool for an illustrated mermaid! Follow Kristina Webb on Instagram. Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/.

Street Artists paint amazing, playful optical illusions

To bring awareness to the worn out and abandoned buildings in the city of Saint-Étienne, French street artists Ella and Pitr have created a series of wonderful anamorphic murals. Whimsical and playful, each piece in this public art series typically features a gigantic illustrated picture frame that appears to be a portal to another world that is more colorful and fantastical than our own.

By strategically placing people—who are volunteers living in the city—in these picture frames, the artists are able to create surreal images where it is difficult to distinguish between the second and third dimensions. The vibrancy of the images captured within these painted frames also stands in stark contrast to their dilapidated surroundings, thus bringing attention to the sorry states of the buildings. View the rest of these incredible artworks below — or check out more of the talented artists’ work here. Source: http://lustik.tumblr.com/.

SW Picture of the Day: Leia goes to the beach

After defeating Jabba and escape from slavery, our heroine takes a good time on a beach far, far away with some friends and… her daddy???

Since Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters in 1983 geeks around the world have fallen in love with Princess Leia’s metal bikini, but we only saw her being pawed by Jabba the Hutt. Back to the 1980s we got to see a lot more of Leia in these vintage funny Star Wars photos published on Rolling Stone magazine’s August 1983 edition promoting the third Star Wars movie. I already had seeing one or two pictures but it’s the first time I found the complete series including an interview with Carrie Fisher. Behold the glory of Slave Leia frolicking on the beach. It’s great to see how much fun Carrie Fisher has in the costume because we already know she hated wearing it in the movie. And, oh my God, she is absolutely stunning.

Visual Guide to Lightsabers

“This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary.” ― Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Designed as much for elegance in combat as for ceremony, the lightsaber, also referred to as the “laser sword” by those who were unfamiliar with it, was a distinctive weapon, the very image of which was inextricably bound with the mythos of the Jedi Order and their polar opposites, the Sith. The lightsaber also became synonymous with the Jedi Order’s values to uphold peace and justice throughout the galaxy. This perception endured, despite the many conflicts with lightsaber-wielding Sith and Dark Jedi.

“These weapons are not playthings. A lightsaber is a dangerous and destructive instrument, a powerful blade that can strike down an opponent—or a friend, if you’re not careful.”―Luke Skywalker to his students.

The weapon consisted of a blade of pure plasma emitted from the hilt and suspended in a force containment field. The field contained the immense heat of the plasma, protecting the wielder, and allowed the blade to keep its shape. The hilt was almost always self-fabricated by the wielder to match his or her specific needs, preferences and style. The hilt was also built similarly to his or her master’s lightsaber as a mark of respect. Due to the weightlessness of plasma and the strong gyroscopic effect generated by it, lightsabers required a great deal of strength and dexterity to wield, and it was extremely difficult—and dangerous—for the untrained to attempt using. However, in the hands of an expert of the Force, the lightsaber was a weapon to be greatly respected and feared. To wield a lightsaber was to demonstrate incredible skill and confidence, as well as masterful dexterity and attunement to the Force.

Physical and technical specifications:

Shape: Cylindrical
Size: Small, typically hand-held
Color(s): Various blade colors depending on crystal
Material(s): Various, usually metal
Length:
Hilt: Usually 24-30 centimeters
Blade: Usually 145 centimeters
Weight: 1 kg
Range: 130 cm

Source for text: Wookieepedia.