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Douglas E. Welch

This Art Nouveau Hotel in Mexico City Has One of the Most Beautiful Lobbies in the World via My Modern Met [Shared]

Art Nouveau is alive and well in Mexico City. To travel in time and step into this lavish architectural style, you just need to visit the Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de México. The building is full of history and boasts one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies in the world.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/06/06

The image depicts an ornate interior space with a grand architectural design. The ceiling is a prominent feature, showcasing a large, arched stained glass skylight with intricate patterns in vibrant colors such as blue, yellow, and red. The skylight is supported by a metal framework, creating a harmonious blend of art and engineering. Below, the space is multi-leveled, with balconies and staircases that add to the grandeur. The walls are adorned with decorative moldings and sconces, enhancing the opulent atmosphere. A central elevator shaft with a dark metal structure is visible, adding to the verticality of the space. The flooring is carpeted, and there are potted plants placed strategically, contributing to the overall aesthetic. The image captures the essence of a historic building, likely a hotel or a public space, with its elaborate design and attention to detail. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#history#artnouveau#art
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Douglas E. Welch

Background Noises • Ambient Sounds • Relaxing Music via myNoise ® [Shared]

Custom Soundscapes to Focus, Relax & Sleep

Discover a world of immersive and customizable soundscapes that can enhance focus, relaxation, and sleep. Choose from noise generators, nature sounds and ambient music to create your perfect audio environment. Explore our vast library of interactive sound generators and find your audio haven!

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/06/02

The image is a screenshot of the myNoise website, a platform offering customizable soundscapes for focus, relaxation, and sleep. The background is dark, with a prominent header featuring the myNoise logo and a tagline that reads, "Discover a world of immersive and customizable soundscapes that can enhance focus, relaxation, and sleep." Below the header, there is a brief description of the website's offerings, including noise generators, nature sounds, and ambient music.
#noise#sound#environment
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Douglas E. Welch

11 creative exercises you can do in five minutes or less via Creative Bloq [Shared]

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/27

Creativity is a muscle that needs to be worked, but it can be hard to find time for creative exercises, particularly if their not part of your profession. So many people say they would love to be more creative and to develop art or design skills if only there weren't so many other things to do.

Having to the time to study from the best art books and to take online art classes is ideal. But there are things you can do to train your eye and build that creative muscle in micro doses, and they can be surprisingly satisfying.

The image features four light bulbs drawn in a sketchy, line-art style. The bulbs are hanging from wires, with the central bulb being the most prominent and detailed. This bulb is depicted with a glowing effect, indicated by radiating lines around it, suggesting it is illuminated. The filaments inside the bulb are clearly visible, with a spiral shape. The other three bulbs are less detailed, with the central one being the most defined and the others becoming progressively less detailed towards the right. The bulbs are outlined in black, with varying line thicknesses, giving a sense of depth and dimension. The background is plain white, emphasizing the bulbs. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#creative#creativity#exercise
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Douglas E. Welch

Papercut Artist Creates Intricate And Beautiful Designs Inspired By Natural Life via Bored Panda [Shared]

Pippa Dyrlaga, a papercut artist from the UK, has been perfecting her craft for 12 years. In an interview with Bored Panda, she shared: “In 2011, I completed my studies in art, and during the last two years of my Master's, I discovered the art of paper cutting. Since then, I have worked primarily in this medium.”

Much of Pippa’s inspiration comes from the natural life that inhabits rivers and waterways—a tribute to her childhood spent growing up on a canal boat. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at her beautiful art—intricately hand-cut pieces that transform simple sheets of paper into breathtaking designs.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/20

The image features a detailed paper cutout of a pangolin, a scaly mammal, arranged in a circular form. The pangolin is depicted with intricate lines representing its scales, creating a textured appearance. The cutout is held by a hand, providing a sense of scale. The background is a solid dark blue, which contrasts with the light-colored paper, making the pangolin stand out prominently. The pangolin's head is positioned at the top of the circle, with its body curving around to form the circular shape. The tail is visible, extending from the bottom right, and the overall design is symmetrical. The craftsmanship is evident in the precision of the lines and the delicate nature of the cutout. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#art#artwork#nature
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Douglas E. Welch

Download 10,000 of the First Recordings of Music Ever Made, Courtesy of the University of California-Santa Barbara via Open Culture [Shared]

Long before vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs and MP3s came along, people first experienced audio recordings through another medium — through cylinders made of tin foil, wax and plastic. In recent years, we’ve featured cylinder recordings from the 19th century that allow you to hear the voices of Leo Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky, Walt Whitman, Otto von Bismarck and other historic figures. Those recordings were originally recorded and played on a cylinder phonograph invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. But those were obviously just a handful of the cylinder recordings produced at the beginning of the recorded sound era.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/16

The image features a vintage Edison Records cylinder and its protective sleeve. The cylinder is cylindrical with a light brown color and a label that reads "EDISON RECORDS WHO ALL OVER THE WORLD." The label is ornate, with decorative elements and text in a serif font. The top of the cylinder is open, revealing a green paper insert with the text "No. 4705 Minstrel Record. Three Minutes with the Minstrels." The insert is partially pulled out, showing the text clearly. Next to the cylinder is a matching protective sleeve, also light brown, with a threaded top, indicating it was designed to fit over the cylinder. The background is black, providing a stark contrast to the objects. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#recording#history#cylinders
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Douglas E. Welch

Book Highlights Cats in Japanese Woodblock Prints

Cats been companions to people for centuries, but they've also served as creative muses for countless artists across the world. In Japan, felines have held particular importance ever since they arrived in the 6th century by way of Buddhist monks from China. Their popularity became so widespread that by the mid-1800s, kitties were frequently depicted in ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock prints. Artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) was especially fond of cats and created a variety of illustrations where felines are the stars.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/14

The image is a traditional Japanese triptych artwork featuring a variety of cats in different poses and expressions. The background is a light beige color, and the cats are depicted in a detailed and realistic style, with a focus on their fur patterns and postures. The cats are shown in various activities, such as sitting, lying down, playing, and interacting with objects like baskets and balls of yarn. Each cat is accompanied by red text boxes, likely containing Japanese characters that may describe the cat or its characteristics. The artwork is divided into three panels, with the rightmost panel featuring a vertical column of text. The overall composition is dense with cats, creating a lively and engaging scene. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#cats#history#prints
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Douglas E. Welch

You don't know these 10 Mozart works - but you really should via BBC Music [Shared]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is best known for his iconic symphonies, operas, and piano concertos, but beyond these masterpieces lies a treasure trove of lesser-known works that showcase his genius in unexpected ways. From hidden gems in chamber music to overlooked choral pieces and theatrical curiosities, these compositions reveal different facets of Mozart’s creativity.

Here are ten remarkable yet underappreciated Mozart works that deserve a closer listen. And, by the way, which is your favourite Mozart work? We asked several top performers for their favourite piece by Mozart - the results are intriguing...

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/13

The image depicts a painting of two individuals seated at a piano. The person on the left is wearing a dark brown dress with white lace trim and a large, elaborate hat with a red ribbon. The person on the right is dressed in a red coat with gold trim and white lace cuffs, and has white powdered hair. Both individuals are playing the piano, with their hands on the keys. The piano is positioned on a wooden stand, and there is sheet music on a music stand in front of them. The background features a muted green wall with a framed portrait above the piano. The overall style of the painting is reminiscent of 18th-century European portraiture, with attention to detail in the clothing and accessories. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
#music#mozart#history
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Douglas E. Welch

Snow Crystals | Wilson Bentley via Iconic Photos [Shared]

When Wilson Bentley died in 1931, his hometown newspaper eulogized him thus: “Longfellow said that genius is infinite painstaking. John Ruskin declared that genius is only a superior power of seeing. Wilson Bentley was a living example of this type of genius.”

A fine accolade for a photographer. Born in Vermont to a family prosperous enough to gift him a microscope at his 15th birthday, Bentley, for the next half a century, would go on to perfect a process of photographing snowflakes on black velvet...

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/12

#snow#snoflake#photo
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Douglas E. Welch

These Lifelike Paper Portraits Shine a Light on Endangered Parrots via My Modern Met [Shared]

Parrots are known for being cheerful and colorful birds with a chatty side. To spotlight these beautiful birds and the many visually arresting hues they come in, Nayan Shrimal and Venus Bird from The Paper Ark have launched The Parrot Project, in which they create lifelike paper portraits in their likeness for a good cause.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/11

#parrot #paper #arts #crafts #design #artist #endangered #charity #fundraiser #shared

@altbot

The image features a detailed, handcrafted illustration of two black cockatoos perched on a branch. The cockatoos have black feathers with yellow speckles on their heads and bright red markings on their tails. One cockatoo is holding a small red object in its beak, while the other looks on. The branch is adorned with green leaves and small buds, and two butterflies are present, one on a leaf and another near the branch. The background is a plain, light color, emphasizing the intricate details of the illustration. A hand is visible in the lower right corner, holding the branch, showcasing the miniature size of the artwork. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
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Douglas E. Welch

The Architectural History of the Louvre: 800 Years in Three Minutes via Open Culture [Shared]

Setting aside just one day for the Louvre is a classic first-time Paris visitor’s mistake. The place is simply too big to comprehend on one visit, or indeed on ten visits. To grow so vast has taken eight centuries, a process explained in under three minutes by the official video animated above. First constructed around the turn of the thirteenth century as a defensive fortress, it was converted into a royal residence a century and a half later. It gained its first modern wing in 1559, under Henri II; later, his widow Catherine de’ Medici commissioned the Tuileries palace and gardens, which Henri IV had joined up to the Louvre with the Grande Galerie in 1610.

Watch the video
welchwrite.com/blog/2025/05/01

#france #history #louvre #museum #architecture #video #animation #shared
@altbot

The image is a screenshot of a YouTube video titled "The Louvre: 800 years of history." The video is in the process of playing, with the current time at 0:56 out of a total duration of 2:45. The video features a 3D architectural model of the Louvre, showcasing its layout and design. The model is overlaid on a detailed architectural drawing, highlighting the building's structure and surrounding grounds. The Louvre is depicted as a large, fortified structure with a central castle-like building, surrounded by walls and various architectural elements. The date "1589" is visible, along with the name "Catherine de' Medici," indicating a historical context related to the period. The video interface includes options to "Watch later," "Share," and "More videos," as well as a "Subscribe" button with a thumbnail of the Mona Lisa. The video is presented in a typical YouTube format, with a play/pause button, volume control, and a progress bar. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
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Douglas E. Welch

Vanishing Culture: Punch Card Knitting | Internet Archive Blogs

Punch cards are a fascinating binary data storage format that aren’t just history—they’re still used by knitting machines today! Thanks to the Internet Archive and other collections, we still have access to historic punch cards, but there are some technical challenges to using them in the format they’re stored in. Meet a few folx working on those challenges. 

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/04/30

#history #knit #knitting #technology #punchcard #fashion #machinery #programming #shared

@altbot

The image shows a patterned grid labeled "CARD 1." The grid is composed of numerous small squares, each containing either a black dot or being left blank. The pattern is predominantly diagonal, with clusters of black dots forming a zigzag design. The black dots are outlined in red, making the pattern more distinct. The grid is numbered from 1 to 60 on the right side, with numbers increasing from top to bottom. The pattern appears to be symmetrical along the vertical axis, with the design elements mirrored on either side. The overall layout is organized and structured, with the black dots creating a visually striking contrast against the white background. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
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Douglas E. Welch

Stream 385,000 Vintage 78 RPM Records at the Internet Archive: Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday & More via Open Culture[Shared]

We may have yet to develop the technology of time travel, but recorded music comes pretty close. Those who listen to it have experienced how a song or an album can, in some sense, transport them right back to the time they first heard it. But older records also have the much stranger power to conjure up eras we never experienced. You can musically send yourself as far back as the nineteen-twenties with the above Youtube playlist of digitized 78 RPM records from the George Blood collection.

welchwrite.com/blog/2025/04/27

The image shows a YouTube video thumbnail featuring a vinyl record label. The label is predominantly blue with gold lettering. At the top, the word "DECCA" is prominently displayed in large, bold letters. Below it, the text reads "TRADE MARK REGISTERED" and "MANUFACTURED IN U.S.A. BY DECCA RECORDS, INC." The catalog number "(64823)" is visible on the left side. The title of the record, "TOODLE LOO ON DOWN," is centered, with the subtitle "(Sturgis-Williams)" underneath. The artist's name, "RODNEY STURGIS," is listed, followed by "With Lovie Jordon's Elks Rendezvous Band." The catalog number "7550 A" is at the bottom. The label also indicates "Blues Singing with Orchestra." The video thumbnail includes a red play button in the center, and the text "Watch on YouTube" is visible at the bottom left corner. The top of the image shows the video title "Rodney Sturgis With Lovie Jordon's Elks Rendezvous Band..." along with options to "Watch later" and "Share," and a progress indicator showing "1/95."
#music#sound#soundrecording
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Douglas E. Welch

Artist Creates Fantastical Woodcuts and Engraved Paintings Suited for Fairy Tales [Interview] [Shared]

When Matt Roussel traveled to Mongolia in 2015, something critical dawned upon him: he didn’t want to work as a 3D illustrator anymore. This decision ultimately propelled him toward the multimedia practice for which he’s known today, revolving around everything from woodcuts and prints to ceramics and painted, engraved wood.

During this transition, Roussel first gravitated toward woodcutting, developing a style replete with unusual creatures, playful compositions, and defined, illustrative lines. Soon after, he complemented his prints with expressive, imaginative sculptures, inspired by Japan’s tradition of raku ceramics. It was only later that he combined woodcutting with his urge to paint, resulting in deliciously textured surfaces whose every crevice is streaked with translucent colors.

Read More
welchwrite.com/blog/2025/04/23

#woodcut#art#artist
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Douglas E. Welch

Explore Hundreds of Exquisite Botanical Collages Created by an 18th-Century Septuagenarian Artist via Colossal [Shared]

At age 72, Mary Delany (1700-1788) devoted herself to her art practice, taking up a form of decoupage to create an exquisite collection of botanical collages from dyed and cut paper. She interpreted many of the delicate specimens she encountered in Buckinghamshire while staying with her friend, the Duchess of Portland, through layered pieces on black backdrops. From the wispy clover-like leaves of an oxalis plant to the wildly splayed petals of the daffodil, the realistic works are both stunning for their beauty and faithfulness to the original lifeforms.

Read/View More
welchwrite.com/blog/2025/04/22

#plants #flowers #leaves #botany #botanical #print #art #artwork #garden #gardening #science #painting
#illustration  #vintage #shared

@altbot

The image depicts a botanical illustration of a flowering plant with a dark background. The plant is identified as "Panaverium Marilinum," commonly known as the Sea Daffodil. The illustration features a cluster of white, elongated petals with a delicate, curving structure, resembling a spider's web. The petals are arranged in a spiral pattern, with some extending outward and others curling inward. The stamens, visible at the tips of the petals, are yellow with pinkish-red anthers. The plant has broad, green leaves with a slightly glossy texture, positioned at the base of the flower. The illustration is detailed, with shading and highlights that give depth to the petals and leaves. The name of the plant is written in cursive script at the bottom right corner, with the scientific name above it. The overall composition is centered, with the plant occupying the majority of the space, creating a striking visual impact against the black background. Provided by @altbot, generated privately and locally using Ovis2-8B
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