A series of luscious illustrations by 零 (REI), courtesy of pixiv.
The great conservation of value by using hue changes to denote lights and darks is really impressive, and something to study up on myself!
(via bendoverboy)
Basically upside down Sea Stars, Feather Stars, also known as Crinoids, are a very interesting class with approximately 625 species known. Generally stationary during the day, they tend to come out at night or extend their arms in order to trap food. Like other Echinoderms, Feather Stars have tube feet, however their tube feet lack the suction cups that are present in Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, etc. They instead secrete mucus that traps food particles and directs it into grooves where cilia move the particles to the mouth. [x]
(via rinfish)
This violin would have been made for the Royal Household either late in the reign of Charles II (r. 1660-1685) or during the reign of James II (r. 1685-1688). The ornate carving on the back would have been highly fashionable at about this time, and it includes the Royal Stuart coat of arms before the royal arms were modified at the time of the accession of William III and Queen Mary in 1688. (x)
(Source: omgthatartifact, via sourpoppyseed)