Trash Golem Scout - The Charmin Extender Monster From 2007

I have something weird for you today all the way from 2007. Way back in 2007 a friend, Eric Shepard, was running a blog and doing lots of neat stuff with it and occasionally I was involved. Not sure how it all came together, but it started with Charmin (the toilet paper people) were giving away spring loaded extenders if you contacted them. The extenders were a tie-in to new toilet paper, or something, that Charmin wanted to get them into people's hands. Eric thought it would be fun if a bunch of artists and creative people all got some and made art with them. Sounded fun and I got a extender. People came up with some interesting uses for them but I really remember the kinetic objects that were made and the videos of them bouncing around. I immediately made a monster. I used the extenders to make the body and I used stuff around the house to make the rest. If I remember correctly, nothing was actually ever done with any of the stuff people made for this. Life happened, Eric got busy, or moved, or whatever and nothing was ever posted. I figured that it was about time that these were shared with the world... because obviously the world was waiting with baited breathe for a foot tall sculpture that I made in 2007 out of junk. Anyway... I still have this little guy in my office today, 11+ years later. While you are looking at the Trash Golem Scout notice the background, it is our yard from early 2007 (more on this below)...

Trash Golem Scout
Mixed media
© 2007 Christopher Burdett

I hope you noticed the yard in the image above. I know it might be a little hard to get a feel for things, but you should at least get a glimpse at what things were like. Jump ahead 11+ years and the following images should show you the progression of time and all the hard work Dear Wife has put into the yard. We have never taken the progress photos that we should have, but occasionally there will be a happy accident where the yard shows up in images and you can see just how much it has changed. Not sure how many people will find this interesting, but I think it is really really neat.

Dear Wife's jungle that she made with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

That's all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Adventures in Venice - 2015

In May the wife and I went on adventures in Italy and Germany. During our adventures I took 4200+ photos, many of which are potential reference and inspiration. Today I have some images from our time in Italy to share with you. We started in Rome and then returned to Venice for a brief visit. Today, I have images from Venice.

Returning to Venice allowed us to see our favorite places again and to explore things we missed before. We also arrived by a different route to this most magical of cities. This time around we took the train up from Rome so it allowed us to see the country side of Italy which is very beautiful in its own right. Upon arriving we got settled and then headed out to the the island of Murano to eat at one of out favorite restaurants to enjoy some of the best pizza I have ever eaten. The rest of our time in Venice was spent wandering the streets exploring and simply taking in the city and enjoying the magic of Venice. Here are but a small number of my photos from Venice...

When you walk out of the train station this is the first thing you see. The automatic doors slide open and you are facing the Grand Canal and the glory that is Venice.

One of the many beautiful buildings you can see along the Grand Canal. The water buses are a great way to see the sites and give your legs a little rest, because you are going to walk for hours and hours!

Even the hospital in Venice is a magnificent building.

A detail of a column in front of the Venice hospital. One of the things I love about Venice... monsters EVERYWHERE!

A pair of Hippocamps on the facade of the Venice hospital.

We were fortunate enough to be back in St. Mark's Square at golden hour and the architecture was alive with light and color. Everything was aglow in the light of the setting sun and it was thrilling to see.

You can learn a lot about light and color by seeing this first hand.

Love the shadows and light that the architecture creates.

My favorite image from this visit to Venice. This says it all to me and brings back so many memories.

One of the many mask shops in Venice. This one is just off of St. Mark's Square and is one of my favorites.

The Frari Church or Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (or just Frari) is one of favorite churches to visit in Venice. It is FULL of monsters and some of the most unique and interesting sculptures and displays. If you go to Venice, you owe it to yourself to visit the Frari.

Just look at this thing! Black skinned giants and black skeletons leading up to the ceiling... have you ever seen such a thing? Simply beautiful to behold!

Who doesn't like a good reliquary?

A closer view of the giants and skeletons. LOVE the details like the tore clothes that expose the black skin.

There is also a massive pyramid with a winged lion and several figures. The handling of the lion and the expression is so great. You can read all of the symbolism and meaning behind all of this at the church.

When visiting Venice you will find yourself at the Rialto, and when you do you must visit the best jewelry store in all of Venice, Jovon. It is owned by our friend Marco Jovon and his family has been selling jewelry on the Rialto since 1934. Stop by and have a look at all of the amazing and beautiful things his family creates!

All images © 2015 Christopher Burdett

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here next week! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

In search of Monsters - Vencie, Italy

I have just returned from a much needed two week vacation in Italy and England. ...hence my posts about my monsters running the blog while I was offline. I am back and am now going through over 2,900 images that I took while adventuring. Over the next several posts I will have some highlight images that I will like to share with you. I plan on doing some more targeted postings relating to what I discovered on our adventures... but I have many images to go through first.

Today I have for you a look at Venice, Italy and its neighbor, Murano, Italy. I highly recommend travel and I can't express how amazing and awe inspiring I found Venice. There are monsters on everything and so much incredible reference everywhere you look. These images are just the tip of the iceberg... but I do not want to bore, so here is a taste of Venice...

St. Mark's Basilica - Venice, Italy

 AMAZING reliquary in St. Mark's Basilica - Venice, Italy

 St. Mark's Basilica - Venice, Italy

 St. Mark's Basilica - Venice, Italy

 Found this just wandering the streets - Venice, Italy

 Monsters and creatures around every turn - Venice, Italy

Don't forget to look up - Venice, Italy

Wood carving in a church - Murano, Italy

Wood carving in a church - Murano, Italy  

The churches don't spare any expense - Venice, Italy

Grand staircase at the Doge's Palace - Venice, Italy

A view of St. Mark's Basilica from the Doge's Palace - Venice, Italy

From the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica - Venice, Italy

Inspiration everywhere you look - Venice, Italy

Even in the most unsuspecting churches you will find massive works of skill and art - Venice, Italy

Layers of detail upon layers of detail - Venice, Italy

Needless to say, all images are...

© 2013 Christopher Burdett

Hope you enjoyed a taste of Venice. Next we head to Leeds and York in England. But don't worry, I will be returning to Venice eventually... I have some specific work I want to do in response to the things I saw and experienced there.

That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog, see you back here on Friday! Until then...

 For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com