Matt Maldre

@spudart.bsky.social

360 Followers 287 Following

Artist & designer Museum wanderer. Noticer of small things. Open web advocate. Chicago / Glen Ellyn, Illinois 🎨 spudart.org 🏠 mattmaldre.com 🏢 tribunecontentagency.com

A snow chunk that I threw down into my driveway and it exploded into tiny, tiny little bits. The contrast between the bright white snow and the rough, dark pavement highlights the explosion-like effect, resembling a miniature supernova. (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
A snowy landscape with a series of footprints crossing from left to right. The footprints include both human shoe prints and smaller animal tracks, from a rabbit. The rabbit tracks appear to hop alongside or intersect with the human path. Shadows from nearby trees stretch across the snow, adding depth and texture to the scene. The footprints are slightly sunken into the snow, showing clear imprints against the smooth, undisturbed surface around them.
**Subject:** - **Snowman:** The primary subject is a small, three-tiered snowman. It's a classic snowman build with a rounded bottom, middle section, and a smaller head. **Details:** - **Construction:** The snowman is made of fairly dense, granular snow, it was not the best packing snow. You can see the texture and individual clumps of snow. - **Features:** - **Face:** It has a carrot nose that protrudes noticeably. The eyes and mouth are made from small, dark pieces of bark. These features are a bit uneven and simple. - **Arms:** Thin, twig-like branches serve as arms, sticking out from the middle section. - **Hat:** The snowman sports a dark-colored top hat that sits jauntily on its head. - **Accessories:** There are no other accessories visible, like a scarf or buttons. **Setting:** - **Ground:** The snowman sits on a patch of dry, browning grass with some bare patches of earth showing. You can see some debris like leaves and twigs scattered around the base. - **Background:** In the background, there's a low retaining wall made of light-colored stone or brick. Behind that, you can see the siding of a house, which appears to be a muted green or gray tone. A small evergreen shrub is visible to the right of the snowman. - **Lighting:** The light is bright and appears to be from the sun, casting a slight shadow to the left of the snowman. It suggests a clear, possibly cold day. **Overall Impression:** The image captures a simple, almost whimsical snowman built with limited materials. It conveys a sense of childlike playfulness and the fleeting nature of winter. The setting suggests a suburban home environment. The slightly imperfect construction and the simple features add to its charm.
A macro photograph of a small King Kong figure, measuring approximately one inch in height. The figure, cast in a dark plastic It looks like it's bronze or a similar alloy, as evidenced by the greenish patina visible in its crevices. But it's actually just plastic. The surface of the figure shows signs of wear, particularly on its raised areas, where the sheen has become more pronounced due to handling or polishing over time. The sculptural details are focused on conveying the muscular structure and primal ferocity of the character. The head is prominently featured, with a pronounced brow ridge that casts a shadow over the small, rounded eyes. The nose and mouth are sculpted with subtlety, the lips slightly pursed, giving the figure an intense expression. The shoulders and chest dominate the composition, emphasizing King Kong's formidable strength. The musculature is exaggerated, with deeply incised lines accentuating the pectorals and deltoids. The figure's right arm is raised in what appears to be a gesture of power or defiance, while the left arm is less visible in this close-up. The textured surface of the figure adds depth and realism, creating the impression of fur without explicitly sculpting each strand. The light source, positioned to the left of the frame, highlights the contours and adds dramatic contrast, enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the figure. Overall, this miniature King Kong figure combines artistic craftsmanship with detailed anatomy, capturing the essence of the iconic character in a compact, tactile form. The close-up perspective, coupled with the shallow depth of field, draws attention to the intricacies of the sculpture while allowing for an abstracted appreciation of its textures and proportions.
Remember when megapixels were a luxury and lens flares were the only special effect we had? A grainy, low-res shot of a chandelier, probably in the fancy Lobby of Tribune Tower. The light from the bulbs is splaying out like a disco ball gone wild, creating these crazy, ghostly streaks across the ceiling. It's like the chandelier is having a seizure, but in a cool, retro way. And the colors! Oh, the colors! It's a symphony of muted blues, greens, and yellows, all dancing around the edges of the frame. It's like someone threw a handful of crayons at the camera and hit "print." This photo is a relic of the past, a reminder of the limitations and the charm of early digital photography. It's a testament to the fact that sometimes, the best photos are the ones that aren't perfect. So next time you're snapping pics with your fancy smartphone, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of a good old-fashioned lens flare. OH YEAH! Chicago, IL 435 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. September 27, 2004.
Four fridge magnets featuring Mark Rothko's iconic painting, "Untitled (Purple, White, and Red)" from 1953. Each magnet is a square and showcases a section of the larger painting. The colors are vibrant and true to the original artwork, with deep purples, rich reds, and a stark white band. The magnets are arranged in a grid pattern, creating a mini-gallery of the famous piece. The image is taken in the Art Institute of Chicago's gift shop in 2019. This context adds to the appeal of the image, showcasing the availability of art-inspired merchandise for fans to take home. Overall, the image is a colorful and engaging representation of Rothko's work, capturing the essence of his abstract style and making it accessible to a wider audience through affordable merchandise. from https://www.artic.edu/artworks/100472/untitled-purple-white-and-red?utm_medium=spudart-website&utm_source=spudart&utm_campaign=spudart&utm_content=spudart
A rustic brown package, swathed in twine like a cozy scarf, sits atop a soft, textured surface. Its paper is stamped with playful gingerbread men, their colorful icing almost melting under the warmth of the holiday season. A miniature golden dog ornament, perched atop the bow, seems to be keeping a watchful eye on the gift, adding a touch of whimsical charm. The name "Olivia" is neatly handwritten on a tag, hinting at the excitement awaiting the recipient.
Grayscale. Um, rotating white line stuff. Kinda cool. Yeah. In Glen Ellyn, IL for people who might search alt text. What else. Um, I think it’s cool. And it’s 4 degrees outside.
A close-up of a pile of white paper scraps, release liners from sticker seals. The scraps are curled and twisted into various shapes, creating a textured and abstract pattern. The background is a light gray surface.
A plush version of the iconic Art Institute of Chicago lion, known for its statues at the museum entrance. The plush lion has teal fur and a fluffy mane, resembling the lion statues. It is dressed in a festive holiday wreath made of green plush material and decorated with a large, bright red bow, adding a cheerful Christmas touch. The plush sits on a wooden bench, with a blurred background showcasing a cozy porch setting.