Posted by Dabney B. on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Image source: Walkscore.com
Aquariums are kind of like flatscreen TVs. They’re a pain to set up, but once you’ve got them up and running they’ll give you hours of entertainment. The difficult set up of aquariums make them a permanent fixture in many homes. In fact, many homeowners choose to install aquariums within the actual architecture of houses. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
Image source: Whackedup.tumblr.com
I adore art, but it can be really difficult to find a piece of art that captures the beauty of an aquascape. You can certainly find works of art that complement aquascapes, but actually capturing the organic elegance of a living aquascape is a whole different story. An aquascape moves, it grows, it sways in the current with serene grace, and it glitters beneath the light like a living gemstone. You just can’t get that kind of effect in an art piece… well, unless you throw glitter at it. That would make your art piece shine, but it would probably ruin the overall aesthetic. Alas, if only there was an art style that perfectly replicated the beauty of an aquascape. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
Image source: Okeanosgroup.com
I’m heading off to Niagara Falls tomorrow! The three waterfalls that compose Niagara Falls may not be the tallest waterfalls on Earth, but they’re definitely the wettest. Niagara trumps every other waterfall by far when it comes to water flow and volume, boasting a flow rate close to 70,000 cubic feet per second. You’ll find people gathered around Niagara Falls every day of the year because, to put it fsimply, people adore waterfalls. It’s really hard to capture mankind’s adoration for waterfalls and translate it into words. Waterfalls create beautiful movement, calming sounds, and they give us feelings of health and vitality. We try to replicate these features as best we can in fountains and manmade waterfalls, but unfortunately it’s not very practical to install a 100-foot waterfall in your living room. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Friday, January 4th, 2013
Image source: Aqueousart.co.uk
What is art? It’s a question with many answers. For some it’s an issue of meaning and context; for others it simply boils down to the question of, “Is the art piece pretty?” I often refer to aquascapes as “aquatic art,” and for good reason. Not only are they visually breathtaking, but they can also convey a wide range of meaning — from chaotic nature scenes to carefully manicured tableaus. It’s amazing how quickly an aquascape can make the transformation from aquarium to art piece. Really, all you need to do is to place it in a modern art gallery and suddenly your aquatic garden will feel like a work of art. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Thursday, December 20th, 2012
Image source: Androidnewsgator.com
Usually, aquascapers get their inspiration from the natural world. They look at the gentle slope of a mountain or a peaceful group of trees and think, “How can I translate that into an underwater scene?” Every once in a while, though, aquascapers can get inspiration from corporate advertising. Yeah, I know that a 60 second TV clip that’s intended to sell you something isn’t quite as romantic as the wild, untamed recesses of nature, but engineers and commercial marketers can come up with beautiful ideas, too. Clever engineering concepts can transform a simple aquascape into a modern masterpiece. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Wednesday, December 19th, 2012
Image source: Thisiscolossal.com
Christmas lights are everywhere! They’re on trees, they’re winding around wreathes, they’re in restaurants, and some are even hooked up to an electric eel-powered sequencer! But what about those of us who don’t have access to an electric eel? Are we just out of luck for festive holiday decorations this year? No way — a beautiful floating light display in London can provide us with all the inspiration we need. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Friday, December 7th, 2012
Image source: Dailymail.co.uk
It’s Friday! You know what that means: it’s time to sit back, kick off your shoes, and get ready for the weekend. To help you get into the mood, we’re going to take a look at some bizarre aquatic art. Grab one of these art pieces to put next to your custom home aquarium and you’ll create a truly unforgettable scene. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012
Image source: Domusweb.it
I’ve mentioned plenty of times that aquariums can act as works of art. But what about actual aquatic art pieces, the kind that were designed by artists and installed in art exhibits? Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Monday, November 12th, 2012
Image source: Reefbuilders.com
Just a short while ago, I argued that figurines could be a clever way to spice up your aquarium. If you’re going to have a rock formation with coral, why not have miniature rock climbers scaling the treacherous cliffs? Why not hide a cozy log cabin amid the aquatic plants? Unfortunately, it was hard to argue my point because there just aren’t that many pictures of miniature figurines in aquariums. It’s become popular in the terrarium hobby, but they haven’t quite caught on in the world of aquariums. Continue reading…
Posted by Dabney B. on Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
Image source: Inhabitat.com
The Japanese seem to get a kick out of LED art. A while ago, they created this stunning floating light show by letting thousands of LEDs drift through Tokyo. It would be hard to one-up a display like that, but the Nabana no Sato Botanical Garden might give it a run for its money. Continue reading…
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