Magical Paper Dioramas

Hari Panicker & Deepti Nair, are an artist couple, originally from India and currently based out of Denver, Colorado, whose hand-cut paper dioramas tell stories of adventure, travel and magical places.
Hari & Deepti have evolved an intricate paper-cutting style, partly inspired by Balinese shadow puppets, that incorporates back-lit light boxes using flexible LED strip lights. The effect is a stunning 3-D world that comes to glowing life.
Their work is available at the Black Book Gallery Website.
And more photos can be seen on their Instagram page.

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Daily Miniature Photo Calendar by Tanaka Tatsuya

Japanese artist Tanaka Tatsuya has been keeping a miniature calendar since 2011 and posting daily photos of his tiny creations.  

Incorporating food and everyday objects, his work runs the spectrum from whimsical and playful to darker and more contemplative of deeper social themes.

 Be Sure to check the artists facebook page for daily updates.

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Liz Hickok-Jell-o Cities

Liz Hickok, a San Francisco based artist, models urban landscapes in Jell-O.
"I have always been interested in architectural scale models of cities, and how photography can play with the viewer’s sense of scale, blurring differences between the real city and the constructed one."-Liz Hickok (from artists website)

Here are a few of her jiggling works:

Project: San Francisco in Jell-O

"Bay Bridge"
Photograph, Liz Hickok

Project: San Francisco in Jell-O

"The City"
Photograph, Liz Hickok

Project: Jelly NYC

"One Broadway"
Photograph, Liz Hickok

Project: San Francisco in Jell-O

"The Mission: 16th and Dolores", Liz Hickok

Project: Jelly NYC

"Downtown Buildings"
Photograph, Liz Hickok

Project: San Francisco in Jell-O

"Coit Tower"
Photograph, Liz Hickok

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How to Videos-Diorama/Model Grasses

Here are some quick videos introducing the benefits of using Heki grasses in your diorama or scale model creations.
You can purchase Heki products from Scenic Express  or other hobby retailers.
Check out the other informative how-to's found on the Jim Elster/Scenic Express Youtube Channel.

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Wild Diorama Supplies-Safari Ltd.

Looking for a tube of Civil War Soldiers? Or a bag of jungle animals? Safari Ltd., has a wide range of miniatures and replicas for all your wild dioramas. From miniature Bulaga whales to models of the solar system , Safari Ltd.'s Catalog will be sure to meet your needs, even if they include a miniature Roman Colosseum or a lair of dragons.  Their vast miniatures collection comes in a variety of scale sizes made with non-toxic materials. You can also find Safari Ltd. on Amazon.

Safari Ltd. Civil War Soldiers

Safari Ltd. Toob of Soldiers

Safari Ltd. Bulaga Whale

Safari Ltd. Bulk Bag Animals

Safari Ltd. Solar System

Colosseum Replica

Safari Ltd. Dragons Collection

Safari Ltd. Toob of Exotic of Birds

Safari Ltd. Plastic Trees

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Storywoods-Rebecca Dudley

Rebecca Dudley, is an Illinois based artist and children's story book author.  Her book Hank Finds An Egg-blends the worlds of diorama, photography and storytelling.  Her website Storywoods, contains other diorama-photo-stories that will soon be turned into books. 

Still from Hank Has a Dream-by Rebecca Dudley

 

Below is a video describing her process.

Now Available:
Hank Has A Dream

Hank Has a Dream-By Rebecca Dudley

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Falling Together-Gregory Euclide

Gregory Euclide is an artist that uses elements of Dioramas in his work.  From his painted reliefs which often feature found objects, to his intricate installations that range from tipped over paint can worlds to elaborate paintings that erupt in dioramas, his work is fluid, imaginative, and visceral.
Perhaps most recognizably, his work is featured on the 2012 Grammy Award winning album covers of the band Bon Iver.
He also has an etsy shop, where he sells "studio sketches and experiments".

 

Prints of the original art for Bon Iver, Bon Iver - Calgary Single - Towers Single - Beth/Rest Single from Gregory Euclide on Vimeo.
Announcing a limited edition print of the artwork used on Bon Iver's critically acclaimed second album.
http://gregoryeuclide.com/portfolio/print-of-bon-iver-album-art/

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Miniature Christmas Village History and Modern Makers

The tradition of setting up magical Christmas Villages on tabletops and mantels across America, began as a tradition of the Moravian Church, a Protestant denomination, and has continued to evolve over the last 130 years.
Originally set under the Christmas tree, 'Putz' houses, as they were called, were typically made from cardboard and mostly manufactured in Japan and Germany. For a thorough history of Christmas Villages, visit Family Christmas Online and for instructions on how to build your own glittered 'Putz' house visit Cardboard Christmas.

DIY-Putz Houses from Cardboard Christmas

Department 56 Ceramics https://www.department56.com/home.do

Modern Makers of the the ceramic Christmas Villages, which have become staples for the American Christmas Collector, include Department 56, a Minnesota based company whose collections range from their original Snow Village, Dickens Village, Alpine Village, to more contemporary themed villages like Disney's Frozen and Downton Abbey.

Department 56 Dickens Village

Department 56 Alpine Village

Department 56-Downton Abbey Village

Lemax Christmas Village

Another growing Christmas collectibles maker Lemax, offers merry miniaturists a variety of villages, including a Victorian Christmas Village, Santa's Wonderland, Vail Village, Caddington Village, and numerous collectible enhancements and figurines sure to complete your Christmas Village wonderland.

Lemax-Santa's Wonderland

Lemax Vail Village

Lemax Caddington Collection

 And finally, the Bradford Exchange, is also a great source for limited edition collectibles, especially if your taste ranges a bit outside of Christmas. Their wide array of collectible collections include the Nightmare Before Christmas Village, Star Wars Galatic Village and Thomas Kinkade Christmas Village collectibles. 

Bradford Exchange-Nightmare Before Christmas Collection

Bradford Exchange-Star Wars Galactic Village

Thomas Kinkade-Christmas House-Bradford Exchange

So, if you haven't started your miniature village collection, perhaps one of these collections will inspire future Holidays full of magical miniatures and diorama dreams. Happy Holidays!

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