Explorers

Click any image to enlarge

It took a long time to flesh out the map of the Earth. For most of human history travelling any distance has been slow, arduous and frequently dangerous. In California Spanish missions were spaced about 30 miles apart because that was a day's travel on horseback. In these days of airplanes, automobiles, and passports that is a hard fact to grasp. Our ancestors had a greatly diminished horizon. 

Of course, there were always people who wandered far to see what was beyond their homeland's borders. The Romans and Chinese knew of each other, the Vikings pushed west to Newfoundland, The Polynesians opened up the South Pacific, the Chinese explored the Indian Ocean, and so forth. 

However, when we think of explorers we tend to think of the Age of Exploration -- that period when Europeans spread out and explored the globe, leading to the colonization of the New World, the seizing India, scrambling for Africa, and imposing Concession areas in China. 

Regardless of the outcome (and cultural admixtures are frequently very disruptive) the original explorers are quite fascinating. To leave one's home on a long and uncertain trip just so see what's there is a special sort of an ambition.     

Runtah (Trash)

Get ready for a strumpet shaming weekend with

3 Pemuda Berbahaya and Sallsa Bintan.

 

Gigantic bugs

The above animated video show insect sizes in comparison to each other. To portray the insects at a human scale, he concocts a scenario where space aliens land, zap the bugs with an embiggening ray, where they then rampage about causing mayhem. I felt sorry for the poor office workers who got stuck in the spider's web. 

Come to think of it, this would make a pretty good plot for a Sci-Fi channel movie of the week. They might even be able to top the CGI of this video. They would need a washed-up actress to play the female lead. Rachel Zegler comes to mind, now that she tanked her career, she probably could come for cheap.

      

The artwork of Firmin Baes

Click any image to enlarge

Firmin Baes (1874-1943) was a Belgian artist who, although he also worked in oils, is primarily known for his pastel on canvas works. He was from a family of artists and began his career painting interior and exterior designs on buildings with his father. He soon moved onto paintings where he had considerable success. It is his work with pastels on canvas that he is most remembered for,

Firmin Baes

Livin' On The Edge

Get ready for a turbid weekend with

Séverine Ol, Bastien Phillips, Stefán J-Yvesson,

Sylvain Bizon, David Talbot, and Vincent Migeira.

 

Ebroin's Miniatures

A fellow named Ebroin runs the YouTube channel Ebroin's Miniatures. He builds dioramas and there are quite a few videos at his channel. The one above is of a small boat tied up to a pier. I must say I like the overly dramatic music used in the soundtrack -- it is rather majestic. 

  

Still life with glass

Click any image to enlarge

Glass is an interesting subject for a painter. Being transparent, its form is primarily revealed by the light reflecting from it, or the distortion of the light passing through it. Add water to the glass and you have two transparent layers reflecting and light distorting areas to add complexion to the composition.