Saturday, April 13, 2013

L is for LEGO Art

Happy Saturday!

Today's inspiration comes from a man who's simply fantastic at what he does: LEGO Artist Nathan Sawaya. (You can find his Web site here.) Sawaya, a former New York City attorney, builds custom three-dimensional LEGO sculptures that are commissioned by people and galleries all over the world. Most of his pieces sell for $10,000 to $20,000, and one of his large pieces sold for six figures. Amazing!

I admire Sawaya not only for his remarkable talent but because he wasn't afraid to go after what he knew would make him happy in life. He left his job as a corporate attorney in 2004 to focus on becoming a full-time artist. That took determination, and I admire that.

I decided to post two short videos about Sawaya and his art. In the first, he talks a little about his process, and in the second, he tells how he got started as a LEGO artist. In both, you'll see wonderful examples of his work. I hope you enjoy them!





Also, my daily haiku for the Pulitzer Remix project is now up. You can find it here. Thanks again to those of you who have been reading and commenting on my poems. I'm so grateful for your support!


Wishing you all a creative Saturday. ☺

71 comments:

  1. I love the Lego chair he was sitting in during the interview:) Happy Saturday!

    Jaime at Awakenings and Reflections

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  2. I'm going to have to show this to my son. He'd be crazy about this artist!

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  3. I never had legos as a child, I blame my mother who blames us for never being neat with our toys.

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    1. You should buy yourself some. They have some wonderful kits out there. The truth is, I still like them, and I love playing with them with the kids.

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  4. Wow, my grandson loves lego, I will have to show him these videos. I love it when he says he sees the world in little squares.

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    1. Isn't that the best line? I think one would have to see the world that way in order to create such fascinating and realistic pieces.

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  5. This is so cool, Dana! I hadn't heard of him before. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Kathy M.

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  6. My nephew Jake loves Legos and he would find this fascinating!!

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    1. It's amazing what you can create, isn't it?

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  7. That was great. I'll have to show that to my son. He built something for his 8th grade project using Lego.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. These are just great...such imagination.

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    1. I know! As Sally mentioned above, I think it's so cool that he sees the world in little squares.

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  9. Oh goodie, I love legos. Nathan is pretty much the coolest.

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    1. I do, too—still love building with them!

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  10. My brothers and I played with LEGO growing up, and now my kids play with it. Such a cool, constructive, and creative medium--and so simple. Yet look at what amazing work can be done. Thanks for sharing these videos, Dana! :)

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    1. I'm glad you liked watching them, Colin. It's amazing what can be done when people see with creative eyes!

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  11. My sons & nephews love Legos! Got to space the buying though cuz they're pretty expensive & it adds up! Shoot, 6 figures ..sweet!

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    1. We're careful about spacing them out, too. They're expensive, and having more of them around means more chances of stepping on them. Ouch!

      Have a nice weekend. ☺

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  12. Imagine him telling his parents as a child, "Someday I am going to build things with Legos and become rich and famous!" Nothing makes me smile more than someone who broke free from the mold, followed their heart and ended up doing something they love... and doing it so very well! This was a fun post, how I admire his talent!

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    1. I admire him, too. As you said, it takes a lot of courage to go off the expected path. I'm not sure what I would think if one of my kids said that to me today. Probably "That's nice." LOL

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  13. Very creative day for me, I managed fit the gate to the back yard I had been planning on doing for a while. Love the Lego makes me want visit Legoland again and it's only three quarters of an hour from me.

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    1. Good for you! I'm sick today and haven't done much of anything. Oh, well. :)

      I would love to go to Legoland. Maybe someday...

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  14. There's a huge Lego elephant on display at one of the children's hospitals in the health system I work for. The kids - and adults - get a nice kick out of it!

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    1. How fun! Do you know who the artist is?

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    2. No, there's probably a sign though. I should look.

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  15. Wow! Who would have thought so much art could be made with those tiny little Legos? Very intriguing! :-)

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    1. And to think many people believe it's just a children's toy!

      Happy Saturday. ☺

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  16. Another FUN and INSPIRING video. Thanks! You have made this a great week of AtoZ Learning. Here in Texas we NEED a hard spring rain. Have a great weekend.
    My Letter 'L'..The Leatherwood Lace Collar
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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    1. Thanks, Sue. I hope you get your rain!

      Happy weekend. ☺

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  17. Wonderful! Oh, that we all had the courage to chase our dreams to fruition! Great find, Dana :-)

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  18. That is the coolest thing ever!!! Love all his art. And I love his organization of all his Lego pieces...looks like he has them size and color coded. So cool. :)

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    1. I thought the same thing about his organization. If I were in his position, I'd probably have everything scattered around all disorganized. LOL

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  19. it is very cool--and i so admire that one is able to go after their passion and has the drive for it!!

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  20. Looking at these, I feel soooo inadequate. the only things I can make with MY Legos is a man and a plane.

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    1. There, there. You just need a little more practice. ;)

      (Your man and plane put my LEGO towers to shame.)

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    1. Haha! Yes, indeed. :) Thanks for reading!

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  22. Inspiring to hear folks leave lucrative jobs to follow their heart. A lot to be admired about this man.
    Silvia @ Silvia Writes

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    1. Yes, you have to have a lot of belief in yourself and in your abilities. I admire that.

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  23. I am such a lego geek. I have followed him for a while...he does fascinating things with legos and the depth perception he creates is incredible. I want to go to the Lego Village in Denmark. My friends who live there send me pics ....its an entire fun park made of legos.

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    1. That park sounds fantastic! I'd love to go there, too.

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  24. Replies
    1. Let me know what he thinks. He's such a creative boy!

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  25. Wow, he's got a lot more patience than I have.

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  26. Very cool!
    Happy A-Z Saturday!

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  27. I'd love to give up my job and build Lego all day!
    Just goes to show, you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
    :-)

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  28. That's pretty inspiring. I like your theme for the challenge. keep up the awesome posts!

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm glad you stopped by. :)

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  29. this wks posts are geared for my son! didnt you know?

    he says morgan freeman is the best narrator of all time! and he could get a job with legs (but then he'd have to admit he's not cool...whatever!)
    love dance mobs! & kelly c!

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    1. Why, of course I knew that, Tara! ;)

      Glad you (and your kids!) enjoyed the posts. ☺

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  30. What amazing models. I love the man with his insides falling out and you've got to admire someone who can walk away from a good job and go for what they really want to do. Brilliant.

    Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

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    1. I find it amazing that he just knows how to build these things. I wouldn't know where to begin!

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  31. Between this and the Etch-a-Sketch, I feel so unworthy!!

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    1. You and me both—and just wait until you see the work I'm featuring tomorrow! :)

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  32. Lego artists like this are pretty amazing in what they can do.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. They sure are. Thanks for stopping by, Arlee!

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  33. I just am amazed that people have that kind of vision. Wow.

    Heather

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