Critter Cocktails: Animals Raise a Glass on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy

At first glance, the idea of cocktailing critters elicits a smile. Upon closer scrutiny of the imagery, a recognizable human story is revealed in these creations by Etsy artists.

Anthropomorphism in arts and literature is the attribution of human aspects to inanimate objects and non-human beings. Today I'm again featuring creations in which Etsy artists have projected human characteristics and behavior onto animals in these charming images. These depictions range from comical to poignant, capturing human silliness or pathos associated with having a drink. I was drawn both to imaginitive subject matter and skill demonstrated in these examples, which include embellished magnets, tiles, cards, prints and small originals. For a closer look, click on the pictures to go directly to these listings. Prices range from $4.25 to $59.00.

Today's featured artists include: amberalexander, shesocreative, sublimeimages, kate 1031, franticmeerkate, amberalexander, lulunjay, delarenaissance, elizacoral, HollyCampCards

Guest Post: The Wierd, The Odd and The Ugly on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy, with comments provided by April of lunasheart
What if the Ugly Duckling never turned into a Swan but was nonetheless alluring? What if everything malformed and disturbingly different were passed through an Alice’s Wonderland-type of 2-way mirror to emerge both captivating and glamorous?
Let’s just turn the world as we know it upside-down and see everything through different eyes. Today we seek the Beauty within the Beast.
Can people be persuaded to look-at/see things differently? When we think of insects, for example, it is easy for us to associate beauty with butterflies and moths. On the other hand, rarely are beetles, the dominant insect species on earth, considered so lovely. If we open our eyes, however, we discover that many beetles have dazzling, shining, jewel-like coloration that can rival any precious mineral.
An important role of the artist is to help us perceive what we often overlook because it fails to meet the archetypal properties of ‘Beauty’. A courageous artist who ignores convention may stimulate us to survey beyond traditional prototypes of perfection, and appreciate the splendor inherent in every animate organism, whether or not it conforms to our ingrained cultural yardstick.
All too often we forget that Beauty is not just what meets the eye and triggers pleasurable sensations by conforming to primal ideals. It lives in a smile or a laugh, feeling good inside, feeling inspired. Things that provoke these responses certainly deserve the name “Beauty.”
Here’s to the offbeat and the Belle laide: “… attractive despite having ugly features… “

Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $10.00 tp $185.00. From top left to bottom right,the artists are: ingeniouslycreative, essentialmonsters, clairepayne, manymonkeys, stinkberryfairy, nouveaumotley, ElinThomas, nouveaumotely, Grotesquesins, ingeniouslycreative, ElinThomas, manymonkeys

About Today's Guest Curator: April is the creative force behind lunasheart. April's selections and comments reflect her interest in how Nature inspires artistic expression. Visit April in her Etsy store, Cherry Icing!