Sublime Socks
Description: Nathaniel Hawthorne quote: Alas that the artist, whether in poetry or whatever other material, may not content himself with the inward enjoyment of the beautiful, but must chase the flitting mystery beyond the verge of his ethereal domain, and crush its frail being in seizing it with a material grasp.
Description: I thought this quote by modern day American author and philosopher, Eric Weiner, went well with a jester as the backdrop illustration. Weiner has served over a decade as foreign correspondent for NPR so he’s certainly had the time and experience to make such an assertion. But a deeper truth echoes from history concerning the real role of the jester. It is most clearly discerned by what is symbolized by the pointed cap and the heyoka - the sacred clown in the tradition of the American Indian. And there are many ways to interpret that all-knowing look in the eyes of the jester. (Jester illustration licensed to me courtesy of Ash and Fern Creations.)
Description: A surreal retro artwork for Fantastic Planet (1973), featuring the iconic blue alien holding a tiny human in its palm. The minimalist yet striking composition, bold typography, and worn texture evoke the film’s psychedelic and philosophical tone, celebrating this cult-classic animated masterpiece of sci-fi cinema.