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This Artist Repurposes Scrap Metal, Discarded Objects, And Textile Into Lifelike Animal Sculptures (116 Pics)
London-based upcycling artist Barbara Franc uses materials that would otherwise end up in a trash can and add up to the billions of tons of waste we accumulate every year to create amazing sculptures full of movement and unique characters. If you look closely into these lively animals in realistic shapes, you'll notice kitchen utensils, keys, watches, guitar strings, cans—things you've probably been hoarding at some point and never thought they could be brought to life again. Cleverly arranged repurposed objects not only make beautiful works of art, but are equally fascinating to explore.
Franc mostly creates intricate steampunk animals from scrap metal and discarded household objects and shaggy dogs and other animals handcrafted from old and unused textile.
Dive into the wondrous world of discarded materials turned into stunning animal sculptures and tell us which ones you liked the most!
More info: barbarafranc.co.uk | Instagram | Facebook | twitter.com
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Btw, did you know that cats only say "Meow" to talk with us? They don't meow to other cats, just humans?
"I have always been fascinated by the shapes and sculptural forms of animals," Franc says on her website. "I increasingly use recycled and discarded materials as I enjoy the challenge of transforming something with a past history into something new and exciting."
She tries to preserve the natural shape and pose of animals, so the sculptures look as if these animals were caught in a moment.
That's so cool. Btw, did you know that foxes can make 40 different sounds including screams
Awwwwww. Btw, did you know that squirrels are responsible for planting thousands of trees
Barbara Franc has been particularly recognized for her textile animals and has taught several workshops in Australia, France, and the UK in 2020. The artist told Bored Panda about how she came up with the idea to turn her hoard of old fabrics into animals.
"I have a large hoard of old fabrics, especially natural fibers like wool, linen, and cotton. I just hate to see them being thrown out, so that’s when I came up with the idea of making animals with textile coverings. Dogs were the first that came to mind and Rufus, my dog, has been used quite a bit as my model and inspiration."
So cool. Btw, did you know that not all owls hoot! Barn Owls make hissing sounds, the Eastern Screech-Owl whinnies like a horse, and Saw-whet Owls sound like, well, an old whetstone sharpening a saw.
Nice. Btw, did you know that rabbits teeth never stop growing?
"I start with my wire armature which I stuff very firmly with old newspapers, creating the muscular structure. I bind this form very tightly with a stretch material stitched into place. At this stage it looks a touch unsettling as it looks as if the dog has no hair." Franc uncovered what goes on behind the scenes of crafting a textile animal. "I can then judge if the form needs extra muscle shape or fat anywhere, which I can add on with more padding. Then the very enjoyable and fairly relaxing part of choosing which fabrics to use, fraying the edges, and then stitching them into place can happen. They are definitely the most enjoyable pieces to work on, it is a joy to see them start to take on their own character."
Cool. Hmmm, did you know that chickens can remember over 100 different faces of people or animals and that they can fly over a fence or into a tree.
The cat on the right is clearly the one who keeps track of when the kitty biscuits are done baking...she’s keeping an EYE on the CLOCK!
nice. Again, squirrels are responsible for planting thousands of trees
I love these. Btw, did you know that horses can sleep both lying down and standing up?
I love dogs. Btw, did you know that a dog's sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than a human's.
This red Thistle Chest took “Best in Show” in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015, and is now contentedly retired from the circuit
If ever a dog was meant to be named Ruff, it’s this one right here!
Did you know that ravens have been known to trap and kill prey twice their size. They will also hide their food from other predators, even other ravens. In fact, they often “pretend” to hide food in a safe place while another raven is watching—only to move the food cache to another location when unobserved!
Nice. Btw, did you know that hens talk to the chicks in their womb just like our mothers do
Cool. Hmmm, did you know that rabbits perform an athletic leap, known as a 'binky', when they're happy — performing twists and kicks in mid air!
Nice. Did you know that some owls eat their prey whole, with bones and everything
Cool. Btw, did you know that Albatrosses spend the first six or more years of their long lives in the air without touching the ground?
If this is a ferret, then did you know that ferrets can team up with falcons
Cool. Btw, did you know that there are rooster cawing competitions
If this is a deer then each year, their antlers fall off and regrow.
woah. I love these birds. Btw, The Toucans bill releases heat and they actually don't like to fly.
The elusive Blue-backed Gecko, a much lesser known species than the Blue-bellied Lizard
Hmmm, even though they are tiny, praying mantis will successfully capture, kill, and eat a hummingbird
I like the old-fashioned typewriter key—it looks like it’s from an Underwood.
Nice.Did you know that if you have treated a swan kindly, it will remember you as a friend forever.
Fun fact: hummingbirds have such intense metabolisms that they need to go into semi-hibernation each night to keep from starving to death before morning.
You are so adept at capturing the inquisitive ways different animals stand, or sit or perch!! They are so wonderfully life like while being so cool & funky!
Sarjana, it is virtually impossible for this artist to copy the Finnish artist's work, unless she copied from the original with all of the same materials, from the same country. For myself, it would be impossible to copy this work - we don't have the same products in Canada.
A hummingbird’s metabolism is so high that it goes into semi-hibernation each night because otherwise it would starve to death by morning.
Sequoia needs to go out for one last pee before she settles in for the night...
The bit of metal at the neck is gorgeous, and...bonus...she’s wearing a dainty little necklace.
I did NOT know that chickens carry their babies on their heads! 😁😁😁
I can’t believe I looked at all of them! There were some really pretty and unique ones at the bottom.
I cant see that, those are unique what has so much stuff that copying is impossible. Many of these are easy to copy, too simple. Has to be really really simple to be smart and clever. Genius. Rare that minimalist reach it.
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Adding all little birds to same tree would make great art piece. Great art to public space to innovate and inspire others do same, up-cycle/recycle. And some symbolism, it doesn't have to be tree, Brains example. And chicks:) Now these are grafts, artifacts.. More is more when talk is about environmentalism, mentalism indeed!
Has to criti-size from simplelism, looks poor. When recycling is richness, make gold from s**t, alchemy. Bountyfull-nesss, more you consume used material what cant be used anything else than art ...better art comes.Heart to it.
Load More Replies... I can’t believe I looked at all of them! There were some really pretty and unique ones at the bottom.
I cant see that, those are unique what has so much stuff that copying is impossible. Many of these are easy to copy, too simple. Has to be really really simple to be smart and clever. Genius. Rare that minimalist reach it.
Load More Replies... Adding all little birds to same tree would make great art piece. Great art to public space to innovate and inspire others do same, up-cycle/recycle. And some symbolism, it doesn't have to be tree, Brains example. And chicks:) Now these are grafts, artifacts.. More is more when talk is about environmentalism, mentalism indeed!
Has to criti-size from simplelism, looks poor. When recycling is richness, make gold from s**t, alchemy. Bountyfull-nesss, more you consume used material what cant be used anything else than art ...better art comes.Heart to it.
Load More Replies...