CORONAVIRUS SOCIAL DISTANCING SURVIVAL SITES, INSALLMENT #4…..ENJOY!

Continue scrolling down after checking out these sites for more stories!.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/in-these-quarantine-tableaus-household-items-turn-into-art-history-propsIn these quarantine tableaus, household items turn into art history props…this is what we did for our Lesson in Week 1!

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9689396/getty-museum-challenge-twitter?utm_source=googlenewsstand&utm_medium=rssDressing Up As Famous Art? Count Us In

https://www.demilked.com/creative-quarantine-diy-projects/ 32 Creative Projects People Finished While Stuck In Quarantine…these are AWESOME!

https://www.insider.com/video-veteran-danced-cant-stop-the-feeling-justin-timberlake-2020-4Justin Timberlake responded to a video of a WWII Veteran dancing to 'Can't Stop the Feeling!'

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/colossal/~3/m2m2qElTwo Curious Gerbils Visit (and Chew on) a Miniature Art Museum Made by Their Quarantined Owners.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/post-office-muralsAppreciating America's Overlooked, Forgotten, and Discarded Post Office Murals

https://www.creativebloq.com/news/artists-activity-pack-firstsiteThis artists' activity pack will keep you busy for days.

https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/macon-couple-photoshops-famous-works-art-paintings-iain-susan-jones-quarantine/93-7ab8cfea-5d23-4c12-8127-86d625cf47d2Fun in Quarantine: Macon couple Photoshops themselves into famous paintings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C49M1tf3S-Y

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Quarantine Remix with Justin Timberlake (The Tonight Show: At Home Edition).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tvpg7F2hVcWhen Musicians Get Quarantined With Pets.

https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/lego-masterpieces-the-art-of-the-brick/amp/LEGO Masterpieces. The Art of the Brick Exhibit

https://www.purewow.com/family/virtual-museum-tours-for-kids12 Virtual Museum Tours for Kids You Can Do Right This Second.

https://mashable.com/article/tie-dye-paintings-how-to/Check out these cool tie-dye paintings!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8245543/Florida-toddler-keeps-arguing-parents-tell-playing-dogs-food.htmlFlorida toddler keeps arguing back when her parents tell her off for playing with dog's food

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qc-ez4cA4c Anwar Jibawi: Is this a $50000 Painting? This is great!

https://www.demilked.com/drawing-car-logos-from-memory-van-monster/Company Asks 100 People To Draw 10 Car Logos From Memory, Receives Hilarious Results

https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/a32068355/watch-bob-ross-joy-of-painting-free/You Can Watch Every Episode of Bob Ross’s “The Joy of Painting” for Free Right Now.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2020/04/9671350/cute-pet-portrait-photosTake A 5-Minute Break To Look At These Delightful Pet Portraits — You Deserve It.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/colossal/~3/_wMo5jpPhMs/Play a Game of Pandemic-Themed Lotería and Draw Soap, a Zoom Call, and Takeout.

https://www.thetravel.com/sand-sculptures-jaw-dropping-hampton-beach-competition/These 12 Sand Sculptures From The Hampton Beach Competition Are Jaw-Dropping

http://www.boredpanda.com/photography-heartwarming-dog-portraits-alicja-zmyslowska/I Want To Make Your Day A Little Brighter During These Hard Times With My 82 Heartwarming Portraits Of Dogs

https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/this-video-adds-to-the-age-old-debate-of-cats-vs-dogs-watch/story-Yz5XPgQvFpDGAuBfEF89VL.htmlThis video adds to the age old debate of cats vs dogs. Watch. This is great! Go kitties!

https://mymodernmet.com/chris-wallace-lego-wedding/Wedding Photographer Shoots a LEGO Wedding to Stay Creative During the Coronavirus Lockdown

https://www.creativebloq.com/news/apple-free-creative-activitiesApple's 30 FREE activities to keep kids (and you) creative all month.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/colossal/~3/NO0MsQ5yT00/Extraordinarily Intricate Cardboard Robots by Greg Olijnyk Feature Embedded Lights and Moveable Limbs.

http://www.boredpanda.com/people-create-artwork-using-their-dogs-paw-prints/30 Adorable Artwork Made By Even More Adorable Pawcassos.

http://www.boredpanda.com/custom-pet-portraits-new-crownandpaw/30 Pets With Royal Portraits They Deserve Made By Crown & Paw

http://www.boredpanda.com/old-paintings-added-monsters-christopher-mcmahon/30 Thrift Shop Paintings Made Interesting Again With Funny Monsters By Chris McMahon.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/colossal/~3/l0zA1xkEv9k/Sprawling Pen Illustrations in Sketchbooks by Mattias Adolfsson Incite the Wild and Absurd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRwsHPwz3mACreativity in quarantine: The genius inventions sparked by a pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6xF7mATE30Local Artist Creates Work Of Art To Honor The Late Kobe Bryant.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/world/gallery/creative-face-masks-trnd/index.htmlCreative Face Masks fFrom Around the World

https://cheezburger.com/11133957/sanity-break-with-emergency-dose-of-kittensSanity Break With Emergency Dose Of Kittens

https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/world-art-day-try-out-activity-whole-family/On World Art Day, try out this activity for the whole family

https://www.al.com/life/2020/04/easter-disney-spongebob-and-more-inspire-amazing-sidewalk-chalk-art-across-alabama.htmlEaster, Disney, SpongeBob and more inspire amazing sidewalk chalk art across Alabama.

https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/world-art-day-try-out-activity-whole-family/On World Art Day, try out this activity for the whole family

https://www.insider.com/artist-makes-portraits-glass-hammer-2020-4The artist who makes portraits on glass with just a hammer - Insider.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/gecko-gallery-turtle-museum-1837563Bubba the Turtle and a Gecko Named ‘The Mayor’ Are the Latest Pets to Get Their Own Private Museums in a Marvelous Trend Sweeping the Globe

http://www.boredpanda.com/students-share-photos-pets-doing-class-work/Professor Asks Her Students To Show Their Dogs Doing Classwork, 30 People Send Her Their Photos

A Man Filed an HR Complaint Against His Cat While Working From Home — and It Rings So True

April 7, 2020 by MURPHY MORONEY

Working from home during self-isolation can be hard to begin with. But throw a few pets in there, and well, many more hijinks usually take place. No one quite knows this better than Andrew Stych and his wife, Sheila, who are proud parents of four cats and a pit bull. Recently, Andrew and Sheila had been experiencing some mischief courtesy of their cat, Penelope, so Andrew decided to send a written complaint to his furry friend on behalf of HR to cheer Sheila up.

"Penelope, this letter serves to formally document your failure to comply with household regulations, and your lack of adherence to workspace polices," says the hilarious letter. "You have been a great contributor to workplace morale and have been meeting your quota with regards to cuteness and chasing hair ties."

He continues, writing: "However, your continual insistence on attempting to (or succeeding in) shutting off the power strip and computer in the middle of work hours, insistence on stepping on the keyboard during critical company events, and general mayhem has resulted in significant loss of productivity. We value your contribution to the household, but you must demonstrate an immediate and permanent alteration to your workplace habits or you may face more severe repercussions up to and and including withholding treats."

When pressed for more details via text message, Andrew shared what Penelope has been up to for the last few weeks. "She likes to 'help' my wife with her spreadsheets and emails by walking on her laptop keyboard," he told POPSUGAR. "She actually sent an unfinished email to one of her coworkers." Yup, that sounds about right!

After getting Penelope to "sign" her name on the document, he showed it to Sheila, who absolutely loved the overly formal warning. "I love it, and it was well-deserved," she said. "As household supervisor I have no problem putting my signature on it."

I'm Deeply in Love With This Dad's Wonderfully Weird Re-Creations of His Kids' DrawingsApril 7, 2020 by ANGELA LAW

Last weekend, I was scrolling through Instagram and came across an account that has quickly become my favorite: Things I Have Drawn. The concept is genius. For the past five years, a dad named Tom has been photoshopping animals to look exactly like his childrens' drawings, and the result is so wonderfully weird that I've become obsessed. Get ready to giggle at the one-eyed goldfish with two pointy fangs; smirk at the scorpion that looks far too pleased with itself; and laugh out loud at the sausage-looking interpretation of the family's late cat. This kooky account is so beautifully pure, and you need it in your life immediately.

I touched base with Tom to find out why he started photoshopping his kids' (Dom, 11 and Al, 8) drawings, and he admitted that it all begun as just a bit of fun. "I saw a picture Dom had drawn of a weird looking animal, and it occurred to me that, like most children, he always seemed to draw the eyes and mouth on the same side of the animal's head," Tom explained. "The thought crossed my mind that maybe it was us adults not looking at the world correctly and that maybe the kids had it right. So I decided to take to Photoshop and reimagine animals, faces, vehicles, and objects just like kids had drawn them." Clearly, it was a hit, if his 650,000+ Instagram followers — which includes Eva Chen and Zachary Levi — are any indication.

"The thought crossed my mind that maybe it was us adults not looking at the world correctly and that maybe the kids had it right."Since starting Things I Have Drawn in 2015, the London-based dad has been adding to his funny Instagram page, and although it all started with Al and Dom's drawings, Tom now creates images "from all sorts of places," he said. "But it's mainly from kids of parents who have submitted them to us on social media (we get tons sent to us) and from friends." Naturally, I had to know which was his — and of course Al and Dom's — favorites. Personally, I can't stop looking (and cackling) at the ugly/cute Easter Bunny. Al and Dom, however, still love their dad's first ever Photoshop job — of their late family cat — and Tom still finds the "weird turkey, emu, elephant hybrid that Al drew" hilarious. As the story goes, he found this drawing laying around the house one day and has no idea when it was drawn.

In 2018, Tom also created a book with a series of exclusive drawings. Titled, Things I Have Drawn: At the Zoo ($19), the book follows Dom, Al, and Tom as they explore a zoo and discover a bunch of weird animals along the way. Keep reading to see a fabulous collection of drawings from Things I Have Drawn, handpicked by Tom himself.

     

     

     

     

     

Start Slideshow 

Montevallo High School teacher & his daughter make masks using 3D printerLocal teacher making medical masksBy Christina Chambers | April 7, 2020 at 5:39 PM CDT

MONTEVALLO, Ala. (WBRC) - Michael Martin teaches math and an underwater robotics class at Montevallo High School, but when he saw the need for personal protection equipment during this COVID-19 pandemic, he turned to a 3D printer in his classroom and to his daughter for help.

In his many years of teaching, Martin never thought a 3D printer would help in a time like this.

“No, not at all. We were looking at this as an educational tool and helping kids develop that skill, but now in this time of need, its not just meeting a skill but meeting a need, and I find that much more important,” Michael Martin said.

Martin and his daughter Miranda, a senior at Montevallo High School, are manning the 3D printer 24 hours a day. It takes about five hours to make one mask and about two hours for a face shield.

“It’s really emotional on my point of view because I want to help those people who can’t help themselves and who have compromised immune systems and who are older and who need this kind of help,” Miranda said.

Martin said they got the idea to use a 3D from an online group in Tennessee and have since teamed up with the University of Montevallo to help make masks and distribute them across Shelby County.

“We’re stronger together than we are separate so we joined forces to meet that need," Martin added.

The 3D printer can make about 10 face shields and masks a day. The masks even have a space to put an N-95 filter for those in the medical field.

“I never thought that we’d be able to mass produce face shields or mass produce face masks for local hospitals and I think its something incredible that we can turn this bad thing into something better,” Miranda said.

Photographer takes funny snaps of squirrel 'panic buying' nuts, toilet paper

Using hazelnuts to attract the squirrel, Jeffrey Wang managed to get within 10 feet of the creature and capture his humorous shots. (SWNS)

These hilarious pictures show a red squirrel “stockpiling” nuts and “panic buying” toilet paper.

Amateur wildlife photographer Jeffrey Wang, 26, felt “bombarded” by news of the coronavirus pandemic, and used it for inspiration as he snapped a red squirrel.He used props for the first time, while

taking pictures of the squirrel appearing to shop for essentials in Carnie Wood in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, UK.

Using hazelnuts to attract the squirrel, Wang managed to get within 10 feet of the creature and capture his humorous shots.

Wang said, “Every single day we’re being bombarded with virus news and all the impact it’s having with people stockpiling groceries.

“I got the [shopping cart] from eBay for about £3 ($3.69) and I already had a 2kg (4.4 pound) box of hazelnuts.

“I think it’s the same squirrel I’ve been familiar with, it likes hazelnuts the most.

The amateur wildlife photographer felt “bombarded” by news of the coronavirus pandemic, and used it for inspiration as he snapped a red squirrel. (SWNS)

“I know if I leave them out it’ll come running.

“Carnie woods is just a 15 minute walk from where I live - I’m quite familiar with the area and go there for walks.

“I started taking pictures of squirrels last year and that’s the first time I’ve used props.

“Usually I just take pictures of squirrels naturally doing their own thing, but that was just an idea I had.

“I know a spot that particular squirrel roams and I’ll go along, leave them and in about half-an-hour it’ll come and go and each time I’ll move closer.

“I started taking pictures of squirrels last year and that’s the first time I’ve used props," he said. (SWNS)“It gets comfortable with me being around,” he said.

“The toilet roll was the harder one,” he continued.

“With the trolley one it was easier for it to see the nuts, but within the toilet roll it can’t see it, so I put the nuts on the ground next to the loo roll and it took one at a time.”

Despite admitting that a lot of the shots are down to “luck,” Jeffrey was happy with his striking pictures.

Jeffrey, who works as a music tutor, said, “A lot of it’s just luck and I just hope some interesting shots come out of it.”

How to Recycle Markers into Watercolors

My favorite color exploration: recycle markers into watercolors.

If you are like us, washable markers can be found on tabletops or in the marker drawer of the art cart on any given day. So before allowing it to make us crazy, or tossing dried out markers in the trash, I’ve got an exciting idea for your family to try. Recycling markers into watercolors was so much fun that we even did it twice

in one day! It’s one Science experiment that you do not want to breeze past.

Here is how you bring a dried-out Crayola marker back to life. Instructions on how to recycle markers into watercolors:

1. Test each marker. 2. Set aside the markers that no longer work. 3. Classify each dried-out maker by color.4. Add the colored marker facedown into its reusable container. 5. Add water to each container. 6. Let the marker soak. The longer you wait, the stronger the

color. 7. Use the watercolors for painting or water pouring and color

mixing exploration.

The first steps to recycling markers into watercolors:

I laid out nine reusable jars in front of my boys. The boys then went through each marker in our art cart to determine if it was dried out or not. The useful markers went back into the cart, and the dried-out makers were classified by color into the reusable container facedown.

Next, we lined up our dried-out markers in rainbow order.

I added water to our large measuring cup and asked my preschoolers to fill each container with a steady hand. I do activities like pouring water with a steady hand on purpose. I want my boys to become more self-sufficient and confident when pouring milk into cereal and tomato sauce on their spaghetti. Activities like these recycled markers into watercolors help prepare my preschoolers for real life!

Once all of our old markers transitioned to watercolors, we headed outside for some color exploration!

Color mixing will forever be a favorite. You can see us mixing colors on ice. We also tested color expansion out on cotton balls. And here we are mixing the rainbow with our watercolors, similar to what Busy Toddler did here.

The watercolors mix pretty quickly. - the alternative idea is to offer a few watercolors at a time.

My boys were all pretty excited and couldn’t wait to dive in. They grabbed a few funnels from our outdoor supply container and immediately got to work.

When will you recycle markers into watercolors?

Daughter Replaces Family Photos With Crayon Drawings One By One, Parents Don’t Notice For 11 Days

Almost everyone is bored out of their minds during this quarantine. Well, Kristen Vogler found a way to keep herself busy. She decided to mess with her parents with an innocent prank by replacing their family photos with pictures drawn with crayons.“So I love doing harmless pranks in general and was talking to my younger sister about a prank someone pulled that involved replacing family photos with Nicolas Cage. But I don’t have a color printer, so knew that wouldn’t work. I happened to have a box of crayons and it all sort of clicked from there. That was several months ago, however. It wasn’t until COVID-19 that I found myself with more time on my hands and I actually could start it,” Kristen told Bored Panda.

The beginning: just a normal photo wall of memories

Image credits: Kristen VoglerIn her Facebook posts, she explained the whole process:“In case anyone needs a laugh or some good news, I’ve been working on a project for the last 12 days, without telling my parents, waiting for them to notice. I started poorly recreating the framed photos on our wall with top-notch art supplies, aka—a box of crayons. Every day I replaced a new photo with a new, and terrible, crayon drawing. Sneaking these masterpieces up was not easy, I had to hide in the bathroom clutching the frames multiple times.”It took her parents 11 days to see that the pictures had been replaced!“I had a lot of fun messing with my parents during the downtime between Kristen Vogler Design projects. I hope you enjoy it, and if you know someone needing a mediocre crayon drawing, you know where to find me.”

Day 1

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“The first crayon drawing is placed, bets were made on how many photos and how long it would take them to notice.”

Day 2

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“After FaceTiming with my grandparents (the subjects of my first crayon replica) for an hour near this wall, I decided to add another piece while my parents took a walk.”

Day 3

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“Up to three crayon artworks now and still not even a glance. That door on the left? It’s used multiple times a day.”

Day 4

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“Thought I would get caught today. I had been posting on Twitter about my progress and my mom chose today to try to start a Twitter account to talk to John Krasinski about Some Good News but luckily her account was locked.”

Day 5

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“At this point, it was getting harder to pick photos I thought weren’t noticeable plus I felt like I smelled like crayons constantly.”

Day 6

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“After getting a ton of rain for days I was needing to get sneakier to be able to add these to the wall. I think today I convinced my mom to go for a run before it rained haha.”

Day 7

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“Today was a twofer with these classic Christmas photos. At this point, I was starting to think I should have guessed based on weeks and not days for how long it would take them to notice.”

Day 8

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“I legit did not think I would get this far, but here we are.”

Day 9

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“Only three left to go before my work is complete. I should probably take a moment to apologize to my art teachers. You tried really hard to teach me to draw people, and this is what I’ve done.”

Day 10

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“Happy Easter. My mom was nice enough to hide Easter eggs for me, in return, I did this to the photo of her firstborn.”

Day 11

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“I almost got caught hanging this one up. They had to hide in the bathroom but they still didn’t notice.”

Day 12

Image credits: Kristen Vogler“I needed closure, Kerri wanted to be included.”

INDIAN ARTIST MAKES BREATHTAKING SCULPTURES OUT OF RECYCLED METAL

By Rosie FrostMaeve Campbell An artist in India is turning scrap metal into sculptures which have now been shown across the world at exhibitions in New York, London and Dubai.

Gopal Namajoshi takes items that have been thrown away or broken and upcycles them into lifesize sculptures of animals. One of his first series of works featured peacocks. He used to feed the birds with his mother as they lived close to his childhood home, which is where the inspiration came from.

Namajoshi's art takes inspiration from a lot of different natural formsGopal Namajoshi

Peaceful co-existence between humans and the natural world is a big inspiration for Namajoshi. Reconstructing man-made objects into natural forms opens an "ecological conversation" about how we interact with the world around us, he says.

“As I continue to investigate these 'Ecological Conversations' in metal, and the junkyard I am surrounded with, my goal is to create a new dialogue and awareness about the things that we collect, consume, and discard,” the artist explains.

These life size sculptures of cows are made from metal scraps.Gopal Namajoshi

The contrast between the piles of scrap metal he begins with and the natural forms they turn into helps to create a narrative around rejecting the harmful consumerism of modern society. Western ideas of disposability, he says, are at odds with “the happy and content lives of those animals like deers & peacocks staying amidst nature, the meditative calmness with which they utilize the resources and give back to nature forming a Life-cycle.”

Namjoshi is a follower of the Gandhian teaching about respect for all human life. It is an extension of the ancient Indian concept Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Translated from Sanskrit, this encapsulates the idea that the whole world is one single family with all of our existences inter-woven. Nature is a consistent theme for the artist who feels that the point is not to help animals by using their likeness in art, instead, they are helping us to understand the damage we do to our ecosystems.

“This is what I want to achieve through this installation, to allow for a more critical view of their value." With "consumerism and a daily dose of stress", we are losing out on the "basic simplicity" in life, he concludes.

Quarantined Couple Creates A Miniature Art Gallery For Their Gerbils With Iconic Paintings

Giedrė VaičiulaitytėBoredPanda staff

Everyone is coping with the current global situation in different ways. Some people eat through their snack stash, while others binge-watch Netflix or relive their favorite moments by going through old photos. Well, this London couple found a pretty unique way to brighten their day. They created a miniature art museum for their pet gerbils to explore.Filippo and Marianna crafted “The Gerbil Museum” using paper and cardboard, combining their artistic skills to recreate 4 famous paintings: Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”, Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, Munch’s “The Scream”, and Klimt’s “The Kiss”. Then, they let their two 9-month-old pet gerbils, Pandoro and Tiramisù, explore their creation.Bored Panda reached out to Filippo for some additional information on the project and he provided some new details. “My partner and I are Italians living in London,” Filippo introduced the pair, “Marianna works in retail while I am an employee of the V&A Museum.” He also briefed us on their pets: “Pandoro and Tiramisù are 9-month-old brothers who just love to spend time together sleeping, eating and chewing – they live the dream, basically.”

The couple decided to create this mini museum on a Sunday while being quarantined

Filippo revealed how this little project came together:“We visit museums and galleries whenever we can. We are interested in the artworks as much as in the way these are displayed. Are the QR codes to engage the public working? How comfortable are the gallery stools? Is there any audio guide? etc. When Marianna suggested to make a sort of doll house for our beloved gerbils as pastime for a lazy Sunday spent locked at home, I suggested to make a small art gallery. She is very good at painting and it was a nice opportunity to keep us busy with a fun project.”As for how the gerbils reacted to this miniature masterpiece? “They seemed interested in everything but the paintings, which made us laugh,” the owner explained. “They explored the space interacting with the stool, the signs and the benches instead,” he added.

When asked if the pair planned on making additional miniature projects after the success of “The Gerbil Museum”, Filippo revealed that while they do take suggestions for expansions of the current miniature, they don’t plan on making new sets. Yet.We also inquired how did people respond to the humorous project since the pair posted it online. “These last few days were incredible: what started as a small fun project became one of the most surreal experiences we’ve ever had with thousands of positive comments and messages about our gerbils and the gallery,” the man told us. “A lot of

people seemed happy to see gerbils taking the spotlight for once, instead of depressive stories about the current situation around the world,” he concluded.

You can watch the gerbils in action in the video below

https://www.reddit.com/r/gerbil/comments/fvir8n/day_14_of_quarantine_me_and_my_boyfriend_spent/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

Man Builds Two Kitty Towers For His Cats And So Many People Want It, He’s Gonna Start Selling The Building Plans

Rokas Laurinavičius and Ilona Baliūnaitė

Cats are natural-born climbers and most of them enjoy being in high places. Whether it’s a high shelf or the top of the refrigerator, kitties feel really comfortable in the upper half of the room, keeping an eye on the surroundings below them with greater confidence.Recently, Rob Coutu from Windsor, Connecticut, decided to embrace these instincts of his cats and built them two epic towers. The well-crafted structures provide them with both comfort and entertainment, and his little furballs are absolutely loving them.

“I have two cats, a red tabby and a Savannah cat,” Rob introduced his pets to Bored Panda, adding that the Savannah likes the towers so much, he has taken over both of them and doesn’t want to let the tabby use them.

It all started when Rob saw a real looking tree that someone else made. However, the BIM manager just could not get the design settled in his mind. This eventually made him return to his roots and he decided to build one he knew would be fun and practical but look sharp for both the cats and the humans as well.

“The larger tower was built last and is almost complete,” Rob explained. “It incorporates some design changes based on how the cats interacted with the first one, such as the balconies and the deck landings. The dormer came from Zach, the Savannah, always looking up inside the roof of the other one.”

The cat lover said the material cost for the project is still mounting, and currently stands somewhere around $3,500 plus the tons of labor he has put in. But everything’s worth it. “Zach has been very involved from the start. I can’t even find a word that best describes how much he loves it and how much he uses it.”

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Amazing! Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ in

the flesh

Sequenza di “The Last Supper: The Living Tableau”.

Jesús Colina | Apr 10, 2020

Film director Armondo Linus Acosta has brought together the talent of three Oscar winners to recreate the masterpiece in a “living painting.” The result is surprising …

 

What was Jesus’ Last Supper like? Or rather, how did one of the greatest artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, imagine it? This question was answered with surprising realism by a film genius, American director Armondo Linus Acosta in “The Last Supper: The Living Tableau“. 

To achieve the perfection he imagined, Acosta invited three Oscar winners to collaborate with him: Vittorio Storaro (cinematography), Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo (set design and decoration).

The result is not a film, even though it’s a cinematic production, but rather a true “living tableau,” a three-dimensional work of art, which throughout nine minutes allows us to relive Leonardo’s painting.The living painting shares the experience of the Last Supper “in the most passionate and divinely inspired way possible,” says Acosta in a statement sent this Holy Thursday to Aleteia.org. 

Acosta explains: “I deliberately recorded the living picture in extreme slow motion, because I do not consider it to be a film, but rather a picture.”

Every element of the “living painting” has been realized with absolute respect for Leonardo’s work, carried out between 1495

and 1497, in which the Italian artistic genius integrates his revolutionary parameters of perspective, transforming forever the history of art. Acosta explains: “I deliberately recorded the living picture in extreme slow motion, because I do not consider it to be a film, but rather a picture.”

Thus, the image allows us to meditate on the mystical implications of this extraordinary work of art left to us by the genius of Leonardo. The scene opens with a timeless landscape, over which the deep notes of Gioachino Rossini’s Stabat Mater can be heard. The room and the table (the first altar of the Eucharist) appear slowly, creating a narrative tension in which the apostles await the arrival of Jesus.

[Highlighted quote:] Armondo Linus Acosta: “I don’t consider this a film, but rather a painting.”

The apostles murmur among themselves, wondering why the Lord has gathered them together. Jesus enters, occupying the central place in the scene and, after blessing the disciples and the supper, the climax comes: the announcement of the betrayal by one of those present. For the first time, the play was transmitted on television this Holy Thursday by the Italian Catholic channel TV 2000, as a homage of the authors to Pope Francis and as an invitation to prayer in this very difficult moment that the world is going through because of the coronavirus.

LOOT COMIC BOOK STORE TURNS KIDS COMIC CHARACTERS INTO ACTION FIGURESBrooklyn, New York’s LOOT operates differently than most comic book stores: a $30 monthly subscription provides customers with unlimited access to the club and its comic collection, as well as the opportunity to take books out one at a time. For those who don’t frequent the brick and mortar store, comics are available for $5 online. LOOT founder Joseph Einhorn’s mission is simple: to give kids access to an endless supply of comic books at an

affordable rate. He hopes the stories inspire readers and keep them in the shop’s orbit.

Image by Catherine Michelle Bartlett for LOOTSeeing how young readers light up when they enter their favorite characters’ worlds, Einhorn saw an opportunity to bring more characters to life via a creative challenge for kids. He launched a contest that challenged kids to conceptualize their own comic book character and then submit their work to LOOT.

“The contest idea came to us in the best way possible… from the kids,” Einhorn tells CH. “We have been trying to encourage the kids to be as original as possible when making and selling their own comics at LOOT.” The shop also stocks original comics by children from all over and encourages storytelling, creativity, and comic-crafting through hosted workshops in their airy second-floor studio. Kids who sell their comics there also take 90% of the profits; the 10% LOOT takes simply covers transaction processing fees. “We

talk a lot about how character development is at the core of all their favorite comic franchises. As a result, kids started to submit more in-depth character profiles, sometimes in lieu of full-on comics. We decided to see where that could go and making an action figure was what they were most excited about.”

Images courtesy of LOOTEinhorn fielded the submissions from people under the age of 18 and ran through the entries with the help from a panel of guest judges: Coco Baba founder (and mother of comic-loving kids) Emma Heming Willis, comic-based movie actor Colin Ford, and prolific sculptor and graphic artist Djordje Djokovic. Together, they settled on four winners. Then, Einhorn turned the project over to Concrete Jungle Studio artist Steven Cartoccio. Using a 3D printer and his abundant experience, Cartoccio would turn each of the designs into action figures.

Images courtesy of LOOT“I was a fan of Steve’s art. He came in to the shop and was blown away,” Einhorn says. “He really loves what we are doing and he said he would help out in any way we need. When the kids asked for their own action figures, he took the call.” Cartoccio has since completed the first of the four winning submissions: Princess Anya by 12-year-old Haile.

Though the contest’s submission window has since closed, LOOT ensures (alongside the rollout of the rest of the winners’ figurines) that the shop will remain open virtually.

Image by Catherine Michelle Bartlett for LOOT“Given everything going on in the world, we have been moving our classes online and trying to come up with ways to keep families engaged in art during these challenging times,” he says. “Our DMs are open. If a kid submits anything, we will respond and try to help them develop their ideas and if we see something that is so good that we feel it needs to be made, we’ll bring it to Steve and see what we can do.”

The Wildly Popular Video Game ‘Call of Duty’ Is Now Officially a Work of Art, According to New Court RulingThe ruling establishes some legal precedence for video games to be called artworks.Sarah Cascone, April 14, 2020

Humvees as depicted in Call of Duty. Image courtesy of Activision Blizzard.

Are video games works of art? They are indeed, at least according to one recent legal decision.Last month, a New York judge ruled in favor of the video-game developer Activision Blizzard in a lawsuit brought by the carmaker AM General alleging that the appearance of Humvees in the popular modern warfare video game Call of Duty misled consumers into thinking that “AM General licenses the games.”The court found that any confusion was minimal because the two companies’ primary markets and products are so different from one another.In his ruling, District Judge George B. Daniels also wrote that the game’s inclusion of Humvees, which have been used by the US Department of Defense since 1983 and are a universally recognized symbol of the American military, enhances the realism of the game.

A Humvee as depicted in Call of Duty. Image courtesy of Activision Blizzard.“If realism is an artistic goal, then the presence in modern warfare games of vehicles employed by actual militaries undoubtedly furthers that goal,” he wrote, granting Activision’s request for summary judgement.The presence of the vehicles in the game is protected as an “‘integral element’ of artistic expression rather than a willful attempt to garnish the trademark owner’s goodwill for profit,” he ruled, quoting an earlier ruling protecting the use of trademarks in works of art.For gamers who have long argued in favor of video games as an art form, the decision is a landmark one.“When a ruling is handed down it becomes precedent,” intellectual property lawyer Leila Amineddoleh told the Art Newspaper. “This may encourage other video game creators and artists to more aggressively protect their rights because it shows a willingness by the court to recognize this medium as art.”

A Humvee as depicted in Call of Duty. Image courtesy of Activision Blizzard.There are already other precedents for deeming video games works of art. The Museum of Modern Art began acquiring classic arcade games, such as Pacman, and other titles, including Myst and SimCity2000, for its collection in 2012. And the National Endowment for the Arts has offered grants for video game creators since 2011, when it expanded its “Arts on Television and Radio” program, renaming it “Arts in Media.”That same year, video games were granted First Amendment protections in a Supreme Court ruling striking down a California law preventing the sale of violent video games to children.By acknowledging the artistic merit of Call of Duty, Daniels has made another important legal ruling by defending the idea that video games are artworks.“This appears to be the first lawsuit where that artistic protection has been tested for a specific game and licensing dispute, rather than a designation broadly applied to games as a whole,” according to CCN.

Color psychology: What does your favorite color say about your personality?Your favorite color can be linked to various personality traits, motivation, and productivity levels in your life.JAIMEE BELL

15 April, 2020

● Color psychology has been used in marketing and branding for years, but research in the last decade has taken color psychology and applied it to human personality traits.

● Colors aren't merely associated with various feelings but can actually shape our perceptions and personalities.

● Various studies across multiple years have given us insight into what each color represents in regards to our personality, work ethic, and motivation levels.

What is color psychology?Colors have been used strategically in branding for years.

Many people are unaware of the impact colors have on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in everyday life.It's extremely likely that you have purchased something in a store or chosen one product over another due to what brands call color marketing: targeting brands, colors, and adverts based on colors that will influence you to buy.You can see in the infographic above that companies that want to be associated with dependability (Dell, HP, IBM) use the color blue. Companies that want to be known for being exciting and fun (Fanta, Amazon, Nickelodeon) use a splash or orange.

Color psychology is being used around us every single day and not only in what brands we buy, but also in how we react to our environment. Extending color psychology into the realm of personalities is about proving that colors aren't just about what looks the best, but about what meaning we subconsciously attach to those colors, and how to use that to benefit our lives.

What your favorite color says about your personality

Photo by Kristin Brown on UnsplashVarious studies and experiments across multiple years have given us more insight into color personality based on color psychology.RedRed is a bold color choice that's been associated with excitement, passion, danger, thrill, energy, and action. You may notice that some brands use red for their "call to action" buttons ("order now," "shop now," etc.). This is because red is an intense color that is able to provoke strong emotions which can encourage you to buy things.Personality traits of red:

● Bold● Thrill-seeker● Adventure-lover● Can be a little impulsive● Can be perceived as intimidating

Orange

Orange is often representative of creativity, happiness, freedom, success, and the balance that brings it all together. Marketers may use this color to draw your attention to a catchy heading or important note on their website (many "alerts" are orange to catch your eye) —but orange isn't nearly as bold and enticing as red.Personality traits of orange:

● Fun and playful energy that people admire● Social, perhaps an extrovert● You nurture things● Enjoys deep conversation● Cheerful● Loves to play the host at parties or events● In regards to productivity, you like to dive right into work and get

things done

YellowHappiness, positivity, and warm summer sun is what yellow reminds us of. Brands may use a splash of yellow in their logo to make you feel happy when you see their products. Many "free shipping" icons on websites may be yellow to attract you to something that is cheerful and positive.Personality traits of yellow:

● A positive spirit● Optimistic● Cheerful● Adventurous● Calming for those around them● Infectious smiles and happiness that spreads to each person they

encounter

BlueBlue is stable, harmonious, peaceful, and trustworthy. Brands who want to be most well-known for their durability, strength, or

reliability will use blue in their logos. Many popular computer companies (Dell and HP) and websites (Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo) are known for their predominately blue and white logos.Personality traits of blue:

● Dependable● Trustworthy● Gentle● Compassionate● Peaceful● Loyal● Strong● In regards to productivity, you like to strategize the best way to

handle a task and can adapt when obstacles arise

GreenTwo of the things that make the world go 'round are associated with the color green: nature and money. Green can signify growth, fertility, health, wealth, wellness, or generosity. Green can also be associated with negative connotations such as jealousy or envy.Personality traits of green:

● Practical● Down-to-earth● Loves to give advice● Loves to help others● Enjoys the outdoors and finds balance in life important● In regards to productivity, you like to analyze the situation before

diving in, you're a problem solver and you can find inventive ways to think outside the box

PurplePurple can be connected to royalty, power, privilege, wisdom, and spirituality. Purple can be something of a frustrating color as well, as it can cause feelings of frustration or be perceived as arrogant - this

is why websites and brands (Hallmark, Yahoo) will use a splash of purple or mix purple with a warmer tone such as white.Personality traits of purple:

● Quick-witted● Craves own identity● Loves unique things and wants to stand out from the pack● Dances to the music no one else can hear● You thrive on creativity and inspiration strikes you randomly,

allowing you to tune out the world and focus on it

PinkPink is often associated with femininity, playfulness, and love, but pink can also be perceived as a somewhat immature color. You will notice a lot of pink in a child's toy packaging or brands to signal playful, whimsical fun. Other brands (Victoria Secret for example) have signified the color to mean something cute, fun, playful and sexy.Personality traits of pink:

● Fun● Playful● Maybe a little naive● You wear your heart on your sleeve and aren't afraid to express your

emotions● Love and family are important to you

WhiteWhite is often associated with purity - in Western cultures, white is for weddings and hospitals, often signifying purity, cleanliness, and order. Brands will often add a splash of white or use white to offset more intense colors (such as red).Personality traits of white:

● Calm

● Peaceful● Innocent● Perhaps a bit naive● You like things clean and orderly● You like the thought of a "fresh start" or a blank canvas

BlackBlack can mean so many different things: boldness, uniqueness, mystery, intrigue, and power. But it can also mean unhappiness, darkness, sadness, pain, or grief. Black is associated with death and mourning, but can also be associated with strength, luxury, and intensity.Personality traits of black:

● Bold● Risk-taker● Perhaps a little impulsive at times● Serious (maybe a little too serious)● You're strong and command a sense of respect from your peers● You're trustworthy● Perhaps a little intimidating