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Tom Bob is not your everyday kind of graffiti artist. Instead of vandalizing urban landscapes, he’s making cities come back to life.

From rain pipes to air conditioners and vents, from manhole covers to random objects, like tactile pavement, poles, bumps, rods, bins, and fire hydrants, everything is really one giant canvas for Tom. And this is where his signature cartoonish creatures find their home.

Initially starting with the streets of New York, the artist has since hopped from city to city, leaving their streets and corners way more colorful in return. No wonder he’s built quite a fanbase with 258k devoted Instagram followers, and many more waiting for his street artworks to pop up in cities around the US.

So scroll down, upvote your favorite ones, and make sure to check out our previous posts here and here with Tom Bob’s brilliant works that perfectly immerse into the concrete jungle.

More info: Instagram

To find out more about Tom Bob, the artist behind this amazing transformative street art, Bored Panda reached out to him for a quick interview. Tom said that “Bored Panda was a major influence in promoting my work to a worldwide audience back in 2017.” It turns out, “This exposure gave me the opportunity to travel globally and make pieces in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and throughout the United States.”

Tom Bob was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA and moved to New York City in his early 20s. “I had not come from a traditional street art background and started later in life. I loved the DIY approach to it and saw how important it was as a worldwide art movement and I wanted to be part of that.”

Living in New York City for 30 years afforded Tom Bob “the opportunity to see all the great gallery and museum shows along with all the amazing graffiti and street art during that time.” This became a great source of inspiration for his work.

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Verified Light My Fire

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zims
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the one hand this is cute, on the other hand I would hate it outside my own door. Just not my aesthetic.

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Tom Bob looks for common everyday objects like manhole covers, electrical meters, standpipes, and vents and transforms them into what he calls “fun, whimsical characters.”

“I had made a few murals, but I was attracted to the three-dimensionality of street objects. I didn't have to make sculpture, it already existed.”Most importantly, Tom Bob hopes that his work is seen as “a quick, easy-to-read image, like a graphic road sign creating the emotion of happiness.” He concluded that “I want to be of service as an artist, putting positive energy out into the world.”

The street artist Tom Bob grew up in northeastern Massachusetts and he moved to New York in the '80s, where he discovered his interest in art. But he only got into street art later in life and he’s been pursuing his colorful projects for 5 years now.

Tom Bob explained, “The emotion I try to create is happiness. That’s my focus. And the thing which I love about street art is that it's the most democratic art form, the most world-wide, expressive art form in the last 15 years. And it’s for everyone to see.”

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The artist who became famous in NYC, after spreading his colorful artworks in cities across the US, believes that the fact street art is available for everyone is what really makes it so special. “So this kind of person is walking down, who’s not going to a gallery, and it just kind of puts a smile on his face.”

#7

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로희
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only works for certain amount of time but I like this one the most!

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#9

Homer Simpson Donut

Homer Simpson Donut

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Contrary to much street art, Tom’s street pieces are not static, nor isolated. On the contrary, they’re deeply transformative as they create new meanings and fresh perspectives to mundane things that people don’t take a second look at.

Tom Bob belongs to the wave of American street artists who have been working on colorful and large-scale murals that helped to legitimize street art as an independent form of art. Meanwhile, graffiti evolved in several directions; some artists were using stencils to create more intricate drawings, and others used spray paint to put up murals around their cities. 

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The latter is also called tagging, and is thought to be a primitive and often badly regarded form of expression. In many countries across the world, tagging streets even goes against the law.

#10

Lue Bird Of Happiness

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Zoltán Gyovai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

imagine when light turns on and the bird seems puking a ray of light right onto the ground

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#11

Nurses Always Looking Out For Us

Nurses Always Looking Out For Us

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#12

Bee Kind

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know what those pipes/valves are for, but this great! He hasn't interfered with their functionality at all, and made them look so much better.

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#14

Love Birds

Love Birds

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zims
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that a mooring? If so, this will look pretty different when those birds get some ropes around their necks.

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Renowned contemporary artist Barry McGee is considered to be one of the most pivotal members of the street art movement. San Francisco-based artists have been inspired by the bold, cartoon-like forms that became typical of the movement.

Around the same time, another prominent New York street artist named Keith Haring was actively creating. In 1982, Keith Haring created his first major outdoor mural on the Houston Bowery Wall in New York City, which is now considered one of the most iconic street art pieces ever made.

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Haring’s famous mural was created using his signature style figures and bold colors, and it became firmly entrenched in the history of graffiti and street art.

#16

Better To Be 6 Feet Apart Than 6 Feet Under

Better To Be 6 Feet Apart Than 6 Feet Under

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Doggo Froggo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a good saying...... I think we should put that as a reminder in cemeteries....

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#18

Pizza Time

Pizza Time

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kjorn
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

would be funny if we saw a tmnt hand trying to grab on part

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#19

Chill Pill

Chill Pill

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Dana
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know quite a few people who need that right now... including myself

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#20

Snacktime

Snacktime

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SoozeeQ
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha ha. The "before" shot looks like Homer Simpson. I wasn't expecting a squirrel or chipmunk!

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Today, street art is widely associated with terms like "independent art," "post-graffiti," "neo-graffiti," and guerrilla art. Its key message is making art visible and available to all viewers. Oftentimes, many artists find street art as a perfect tool to spread their message, comment on the current events, and criticize what they think is wrong with our current times.

For example, the legendary British artist Banksy often goes political in his works, making harsh criticism of consumer culture and capitalist society.

#21

Robots

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A.J Milne
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You go up and down really fast whilst looking at the last picture's eyes.

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#23

Made This Bart Simpson Skydiving Piece 2 Years Ago In The Great City Of Sacramento

Made This Bart Simpson Skydiving Piece 2 Years Ago In The Great City Of Sacramento

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angelica H
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there is art like this every where in sacramento, especially in the downtown area, and old sac.

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#27

Meet Dustin Reynolds

Meet Dustin Reynolds

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh wow. What an inspiration. I'd never heard of him, so I Googled him. Sailed around the world, literally "single-handedly". https://www.cruisingworld.com/story/people/dustin-reynolds-one-arm-one-leg-all-heart/

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#31

Verified I Left My Heart In Sacramento

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#33

I Want Candy

I Want Candy

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is my favourite! Hope the store has lots of chocolate, 'cos this would prompt many to buy. Very clever.

#34

Vote!

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#35

Pencil

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#36

Zebra

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#37

Who’s Ready To Change

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#38

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#39

Screw

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로희
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know why did I wish to see a plate of spaghetti. 😅

#40

“Be Yourself Everyone Else Is Already Taken”

“Be Yourself Everyone Else Is Already Taken”

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Dana
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The before looks cool though too, it looks like splattered paint. I like the color contrast

#41

Verified Its So Hot In NYC, Even The Traffic Cones Are Wilting

Verified Its So Hot In NYC, Even The Traffic Cones Are Wilting

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#42

Xylophone Player

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#43

Escape From Alcatraz!

Escape From Alcatraz!

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#44

The Big Apple

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SoozeeQ
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's worse than a worm in your apple? Half a worm! (I'll let myself out!)

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Accordion Player

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#46

Kudu

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Jack-O-Lantern

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#49

See You Soon

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#50

Head Over Heels

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#52

Bird Love

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#53

Don’t Lose Your Head

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure if this hides the surveillance cameras, or draws attention to it!

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#54

Snake Bustin-Out

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#56

Dalmation

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#57

Spider-Man

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#59

I Come From A Land Down Under Koala

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Diving Bell

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#62

What’s Up Doc?

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zims
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never anthropomorphize something people pee in. Especially not as a cutesy cartoon!

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#65

Alley Cat

Alley Cat

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#67

Doggy Style

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#69

It Was Like Running Into A Brick Wall!

It Was Like Running Into A Brick Wall!

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#73

Blue Bird

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#74

Fish Love

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#75

Let The Sunshine In

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#76

Robots

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#77

Robot Water Fountains

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#78

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!!

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead!!

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#79

You Are Stronger Than You Think

You Are Stronger Than You Think

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#80

Hold Your Head Up High

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#81

Buzzzzz!!!!

Buzzzzz!!!!

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#82

The Solution We All Live With

The Solution We All Live With

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#83

Happy World Emoji Day

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Flamingo

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#85

Lady And The Tramp

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#87

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Putt

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#90

Alien Sighting

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#91

Frog

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one makes me think of the Short Circuit movie, rather than a frog. http://www.newvideo....rcuit-DVD-f.jpg

#92

Hitting The Slopes

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#93

Verified Butterfly

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#96

Rise & Shine

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SoozeeQ
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3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

#97

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#98

Lady Bugs

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#99

Spiders

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's play a game of "Squash the spider with the ball"!

#100

Ice Cream Cone

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#101

Vinnie The Frog

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#102

Are You Ready To Take The Leap?

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#103

Diamond Ring

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#104

Here’s To The Dreamers!

Here’s To The Dreamers!

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very clever! Shadow of the waiter looks like the Oscar trophy.

#105

Spread Your Wings!

Spread Your Wings!

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#106

“Break A Leg” Or Two!

“Break A Leg” Or Two!

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#107

Stormy Weather

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#109

Robots

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#110

Prison Break!

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#111

Hanging Around

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#112

Feed Me!!

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#116

“You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat”

“You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat”

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#118

Kit Kat Kid

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#119

Snake. Beware Of Snakes!!

Snake. Beware Of Snakes!!

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#120

Katie Eddington. Lost Her Leg Resulting From A Lawnmower Accident In 2013. Now At Age 9 She Runs, Swims, Plays Basketball & Soccer

Katie Eddington. Lost Her Leg Resulting From A Lawnmower Accident In 2013. Now At Age 9 She Runs, Swims, Plays Basketball & Soccer

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#121

“You Can Fall Many Times In Life, But Your Never A Failure Until You Refuse To Get Back Up”

“You Can Fall Many Times In Life, But Your Never A Failure Until You Refuse To Get Back Up”

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#122

Marshmello Crossing

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#124

Rat

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#125

Snake

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#126

Espresso Machine

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#127

Chihuahua

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#128

Merry Christmas

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#129

Strange Days Indeed

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#130

Stop Coronavirus

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#131

Busting Into Fort Knox

Busting Into Fort Knox

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#132

Yoga Frog

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#133

Don’t Lose Your Head

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#134

Next... Sewer... 1995...

Next... Sewer... 1995...

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#135

Baseball Catcher

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#136

Roller Girl

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#137

Kashink1

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#138

Who’s Ready For A Change?

Who’s Ready For A Change?

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#139

Who Needs A Haircut?

Who Needs A Haircut?

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#140

Say Ahhh!

Say Ahhh!

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#141

Miami Marlin

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#142

Dragonfly

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#143

Scuba Diver

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#144

Sam The Monkey

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#145

Snake In La

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#146

Mad Max

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#147

Got A Nikon Camera

Got A Nikon Camera

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#148

If You Ever Wondered Where #lovepotioncomes From It’s Made Deep In The Jungle Of #colombia

If You Ever Wondered Where #lovepotioncomes From It’s Made Deep In The Jungle Of #colombia

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