Tag Archives: fantasy

Puzzle: Faery by Nadia Strelkina

Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: Lafayette Puzzle Factory, Goldenline Fairies series, #3921
Artist: Nadia Strelkina
Painting: photo
Box: photo
Notes:  A fairy (also faery, faerie, fay, fae; euphemistically wee folk, good folk, people of peace, fair folk, etc.) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.

Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term fairy offers many definitions. Sometimes the term describes any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes: at other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature.

Much of the folklore about fairies revolves around protection from their malice, by such means as cold iron (iron is like poison to fairies, and they will not go near it) or charms of rowan and herbs, or avoiding offense by shunning locations known to be theirs. In particular, folklore describes how to prevent the fairies from stealing babies and substituting changelings, and abducting older people as well. Many folktales are told of fairies, and they appear as characters in stories from medieval tales of chivalry, to Victorian fairy tales, and up to the present day in modern literature. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Above the Clouds by Ciro Marchetti

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer:  LPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle, #3921
Artist: Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content and style of recent illustrations directly reflect his sources of interest and inspiration, allowing him to create richly detailed images that conjure up retro- tech worlds of fantasy and imagination. [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: From the same series as City of Wands, City of Coins, and Shangri-La Winter, by Ciro Marchetti.

Notes: Within the troposphere, red, orange, and pink clouds occur almost entirely at sunrise/sunset and are the result of the scattering of sunlight by the atmosphere. When the angle between the sun and the horizon is less than 10 percent, as it is just after sunrise or just prior to sunset, sunlight becomes too red due to refraction for any colors other than those with a reddish hue to be seen. The clouds do not become that color; they are reflecting long and unscattered rays of sunlight, which are predominant at those hours. The effect is much like if one were to shine a red spotlight on a white sheet. In combination with large, mature thunderheads, this can produce blood-red clouds. Clouds look darker in the near-infrared because water absorbs solar radiation at those wavelengths.

In high latitude regions of the stratosphere, nacreous clouds occasionally found there during the polar winter tend to display quite striking displays of mother-of-pearl colorations due to the refraction and diffusion of the sun’s rays through thin ice crystal clouds that often contain compounds other than water. At still higher altitudes up in the mesospere, noctilucent clouds sometimes seen in polar regions in the summer usually appear a silvery white that can resemble brightly illuminated cirrus. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Magic Fire by Nadia Strelkina


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: Lafayette Puzzle Factory, Goldenline Fairies series, #3921
Artist: Nadia Strelkina
Painting: photo
Box: photo
Notes: Within a work of fantasy, magic can function to move the plot forward, providing both power for the hero of the story and power for those who oppose him/her. The use of magic is often transformative of the character, if not the world.

In order to carry out this function, magic often carries a price, equal to its value.

In most fantasy works, magic is either depicted as an innate talent, is acquired through studying, or is given to someone who makes a pact, usually with a devil, spirit or other sorcerer.

Sometimes, too, a place will have magic; perhaps a certain location is “close to the spirit realm” or there are residues from powerful spells once cast there, or a place is magical by nature, as in the case of an enchanted forest. One such magical place is Faerie or Elfland. Its location may not be fixed — in some cases it acts as a parallel world — but magic is both found and occurs there. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Alice in Wonderland


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 49cm x 68cm
Producer: Master Pieces, #71143
Notes: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world (Wonderland) populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre, and its narrative course and structure have been enormously influential, especially in the fantasy genre.

“How Doth the Little Crocodile” is a poem by Lewis Carroll which appears in his novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It’s recited by Alice in Chapter 2. It describes a crafty crocodile which lures fish into its mouth with a welcoming smile.

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

Puzzle: The Wood Fairy by Josephine Wall


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 48.5cm x 73cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall, #40699-104
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes:  In a sunlit glade, far from human sight the wood fairy happily gathers wild anemones. Full of the joys of spring, she adores the suns warm rays and delights in the freedom of Nature’s woodland bounty. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Child of the Universe by Josephine Wall


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 48.5cm x 73cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall, #40699-103
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes:  She blows us kisses across time and space, gaining everlasting goodness and energy from her crystal. Legend has it that crystals embody the power to heal and protect so it is no wonder that the child of the universe draws from the crystal before her. Beside her is a galactic jet emitting a flood of charged particles to fill her with light and life. She gently blows her magic kisses across time and space, sending peace and beauty into our world. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Titania & Oberon by Josephine Wall


Size: 750 pieces, 1 missing
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall, #40599-104
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: The inspiration for this image is drawn from the masterly writings of William Shakespeare. Whether he envisioned them the same, I will never know. The King & Queen of fairyland are soaring high with their winged entourage. With the beating of many wings and the heady fragrance of woodland flowers they gather for a moonlit revel. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Leo by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes:  Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. In astrology, Leo is considered to be a “masculine”, positive (extrovert) sign. It is also considered a fire sign and is one of four fixed signs ruled by the Sun. [Wiki]

The Persians called Leo Ser or Shir; the Turks, Artan; the Syrians, Aryo; the Jewish, Arye; the Indians, Simha, all meaning “lion”. In Babylonian astronomy the constellation was called UR.GU.LA – the ‘Great Lion’; the bright star, Regulus, that stands at the Lion’s breast also had distinctly regal associations as it was known as the King Star.

In Greek mythology, Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his twelve labours, and subsequently put into the sky.

The Roman poet Ovid called it Herculeus Leo and Violentus Leo. Bacchi Sidus (star of Bacchus) was another of its titles, the god Bacchus always being identified with this animal. However, Manilius called it Jovis et Junonis Sidus (Star of Jupiter and Juno).

Early Hindu astronomers knew it as Asleha and as Sinha, the Tamil Simham. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Enchanted Manor by Josephine Wall


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall, #40599-103
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: Josephine’s work was featured during the making of a television programme called Homes Under the Hammer.

The programme followed the refurbishment of a property called the Windcliffe Hotel on the Isle of Wight, from the auction purchase to it’s conversion into what has become the “Enchanted Manor”. [Josephine Wall’s site]

History of the Enchanted Manor – http://www.enchantedmanor.co.uk/our-story.html

Josephine’s work was featured during the making of a television programme called Homes Under the Hammer.

The programme followed the refurbishment of a property called the Windcliffe Hotel on the Isle of Wight, from the auction purchase to it’s conversion into what has become the “Enchanted Manor”.

Puzzle: Spirit of Flight by Josephine Wall

Josephine Wall - Spirit of Flight, med
Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall, #40599-102
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: The Spirit of Flight, the force responsible for the powers of movement of the wind and air, has gathered around her all the flying things she loves. Birds, insects, flying fish, swirling leaves, seeds of dandelions and sycamore trees, butterflies and fairies all dance around her in a grand array of wild free motion. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: City of Wands by Ciro Marchetti

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer:  LPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle, #3921
Artist: Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content and style of recent illustrations directly reflect his sources of interest and inspiration, allowing him to create richly detailed images that conjure up retro- tech worlds of fantasy and imagination. [Puzzle box]
Notes: Beautiful puzzle and a pleasure to put together, from the same series as Above the Clouds, City of Coins, and Shangri-La Winter, by Ciro Marchetti. It now adorns a wall in my studio as one of my favourites. There is supposedly another one in this series by the same artist, but I have not been able to find it yet.

Puzzle: Spirit of the Elements by Josephine Wall


Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: The powerful spirit rises up to fill our lives with all the elements we need to complete the cycle of nature. Raging seas challenge our courage to the limits, teaching us the skills and strength we will need to endure the storms and darkness ahead.

A winter wonderland in which the landscape is transformed into a playground for us, and allows nature to slumber, gathering strength to burst forth in all it’s splendour, as the first signs of spring approach.

As the dark skies clear, and we feel the tranquil breath of spring, we are greeted by a gleaming sun, which colludes with the gentle rain to bring us a myriad rainbows, and to restart the cycle of life. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Honeysuckle by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes:  Tender trumpets of sweetest honey wind their vines up garden walls, sharing their essence with birds and bees, bringing contentment to one and all. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Honeysuckles (Lonicera) are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, 100 of which occur in China; Europe, India and North America have only about 20 native species each.

Many of the species have sweetly-scented, bell-shaped flowers that produce a sweet, edible nectar. Breaking of the Honeysuckle’s stem will release this powerful sweet odor. The fruit is a red, blue or black berry containing several seeds; in most species the berries are mildly poisonous, but a few (notably Lonicera caerulea) have edible berries. [Wiki]

Puzzle: Masque of Love by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes:  Having danced the night away she can pretend no more.  Struck by Cupids arrow she coyly comes out from behind her mask of peacock feathers to reveal herself for the first time to her masked partner.  Having only been able to look into each others eyes ( the windows of the soul ) she knows their feelings for each other are true, and uncomplicated by physical appearance.  How can she resist when surrounded by the hypnotic perfume of love. [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Capricorn by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: Capricorn’s form of half goat, half fish derives from ancient Babylonian mythology, in which Ea, the Sea-Goat and Lord of Wisdom, emerges from his home in the sea to bring civilization and knowledge to mankind. In the zodiac, the placement of the constellation represents high achievement. Steady, purposeful, and long-sighted, Capricorns have a plan for the future and set their sights high. They seek security and certainty, and insist that rules be followed. But don’t let that fool you into thinking Capricorns are all work and no play: they have a lively wit, a dry sense of humor, and that rare combination, creativity coupled with organization! [Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Minerva’s Melody by Josephine Wall


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 33.02cm x 48.26cm
Producer:  The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Art of Josephine Wall
Artist: Josephine Wall

Notes: As the goddess Minerva glides gently down the eternal river of life, leaving her heavenly citadel in her wake, she sets about her task of composing beautiful music. She is accompanied by her constant companion, and confidant – the ‘owl of wisdom’. Together they travel throughout the world bringing the magic of her melodies to all. Arum lilies bearing candles light their way, and illuminate the wisteria growing from her enchanted harp.Music is a universal language understood and loved by every nation on earth – what a debt we owe to Minerva.[Josephine Wall’s site]

Puzzle: Endless Dreams by Alan Giana


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 73cm x 48.6cm
Producer: Sure-Lox, The Canadian Group
Artist: Alan Giana
Painting: http://www.muralsyourway.com/imag.aspx?sr=MMIAAG1040.jpg
Notes: Alan’s love of nature and the sea have always been a big part of his life. His appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us, even in our own backyards, plays an important part in creating the inspiring artwork he is known for today. Alan’s paintings of colorful paths, charming country hideaways, tranquil coastal waterways, and captivating Christmas scenes, bring us to peaceful places. Places where we can escape for a moment and appreciate all of the beauty around us. [Alan Giana’s site]

Puzzle: Crash Course in Italian by Thomas Barbèy


Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 59.7 cm x 39.4 cm
Producer: TreeToys, 2004, Puzzle Art series
Artist: Thomas Barbèy
Original: print
Notes:  Every single one of my images has to pass what I like to call the “So what?” test. If a combination of two or more negatives put together doesn’t touch me or have any particular meaning, I throw it out. I try to combine images and sometimes the results can be disappointing. A giant clock in the middle of the ocean can be an unusual image but if I look at it and say to myself, “So waht?” This means it isn’t good enough. If instead, an ocean liner is going down a “funnel-type” hole and I entitle it “shortcut to China,” it takes on a whole new meaning. The picture takes you into an imaginary world where you can see the captain telling the passengers to fasten their safety belts to get prepared for the descent.
At times I come up with ideas beforehand, try to materialize them and it works. At other times, it is an accident and the ideas come afterwards, when the image is already finished and the concept has yet to be understood. It is almost as if I am learning constantly through the process of creation. I travel a lot to take photographs of different things and places. Sometimes I use an image several years later, but only when it fits, like the perfect piece in a puzzle, and completes my latest project. Some images are composed of negatives that are separated by a decade in the actual time that I had taken them and only come to life when they found their perfect match. it’s the combination of two or more negatives that they give birth to a completely unsual vision, but most of all, the title I give the final image is the glue and the substance of the piece. [Thomas Barbèy]

Puzzle: Sweet Dreams by Kinuko Y. Craft


Size: 1500 pieces
Dimensions: 84cm x 60cm
Producer: Ravensburger, # 162611
Painting: photo
Artist: Kinuko Y. Craft – Kinuko Y. Craft is one of the most widely respected and well known fantasy artists in the United States today. She considers herself a story teller. Her past commissions have included paintings for the book covers of many well known fantasy authors, opera posters, fairy tale books and covers for many national magazines. During her career she has become known for meticulous attention to detail, a passionate love of fine art and a deep knowledge of art history. [Kinuko Y. Craft site]

Puzzle: Unicorn Heaven by Steve Sundram


Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.26 cm x 35.56 cm
Producer: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Keepsakes series, Reusable gift box with magnetic closure, #42220-4
Artist: Steve Sundram
Notes: The unicorn is a legendary animal commonly portrayed as a white horse with a goat’s beard and a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. First mentioned by the ancient Greeks, it became the most important imaginary animal of the middle ages and Renaissance when it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland  creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin. In the encyclopedias its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. Until the 19th century, belief in unicorns was widespread among historians, alchemists, writers, poets, naturalists, physicians, and theologians. [Wiki]