Laurie Lipton is an American artist who is amazing. Just… look at this:

Splendor Solis 1989

That’s coloured pencil on paper.

That’s almost too beautiful to be allowed. But I’m going to give her a break.

That’s one of her pieces for Splendor Solis , an alchemical manuscript from the Middle Ages. I love me some alchemy, and I love illuminated manuscripts. The original illuminations can be seen here . Lipton’s versions are on the first two pages of her Commissions here .

Laurie Lipton Splendor Solis ‘The Sun’

Laurie Lipton Splendor Solis ‘Black Sun’

But I found those after doing research for this post. I was originally enthralled by her charcoal and pencil drawings, which are often macabre and intricate and always impressive.

Laurie Lipton ‘Bone China’

Laurie Lipton ‘Fourth Horseman’

Laurie Lipton ‘Maskers’

Maskers puts me in mind of ‘The Masque of the Red Death’. Always a good thing.

Laurie Lipton ‘Queen of Bones’

Laurie Lipton ‘Umpteenth Anniversary’

Laurie Lipton ‘Nuit D’Amour’

Which is a take on Gabrielle d’Estrees et une de ses soeurs.

Laurie Lipton ‘Prime Time’

Laurie Lipton ‘Reunion’

Lipton’s official website

You can also follow her on Twitter (she is hilarious and smart, follow her)

She’s also on Facebook . Like her.

1866

Originally posted on Le Marche Morte .

I’m fascinated by the concept of a folie a deux , which is when two people who’d otherwise by law-abiding citizens, become criminals when with one particular other person. See Juliet Hume and Pauline Parker, Leopold and Loeb, the Papin Sisters, etc.

So I really enjoyed these paintings by Kazuki Takamatsu, of a pair of girls that are clearly going to wreck someone’s day. Possibly yours.

Being me, I made up a little story to go with my favourites.

First, they meet and discover they have things in common. Ominous music plays in the background.

After discovering an affinity for weaponry…

They begin accessorizing and hovering above the ground.

Then they take up playing with sharp things… in the fog.

After a trip to the local BAMF shop they walk into town.

Then the screaming begins.

The end.

A few others for you:

Takamatsu’s homepage.

A Juztapoz article on his methods.

Individually created porcelain skulls from Skullhouse .

Pieter Claesz. Vanitas still life. 1630.

Thanks to Le Marche Morte .

From Society6 .