Tesla the Timelord

In this work of art by Bandlith, a scientist favourite to the steampunk scene, Nikola Tesla, has a cross over with Doctor Who.  Behold the Timelord Tesla and his TARDIS.

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The Art of Voitv

I recently came across an artist called Voitv over on deviantART.  His real name is Vadim Voitekhovitch and he proiduces some of the most amazing steampunk art you will see, or at least I think so.

 Chasing Time

Arrival

Heavenly Guardian

His full catalogue of steampunk works can be seen here.   I highly recommend paying it a visit to see the rest of his art.

Airships

When it comes to steampunk, it seems the only way to travel is airship.  Along with goggles, airships seem the most common feature of steampunk.  You can't swing a parasol around without hitting one half the time.  Why are they so common?  Perhaps it is because they represent freedom.  Perhaps it is simply because now they are seen as steampunk and therefore they have to be included by everyone new who comes along.

Steampunk being steampunk, airships come in a wide variety of types and forms, everything from typical, hard science zeppelins to blimps to fanciful flying ships powered by mad science.

They are piloted by pirates and adventurers, mad scientists, merchants and navies and everything else in between.

 

Steampunk Trains

When it comes to travel seampunk style, besides airships, there is little more ubiquitous way to go than by steam train.  A couple of days back thinking about it, I though how cool it would be to have one of those model trains but done steampunk style.  I've always wanted an entire room where I could model and built a model train diorama, at least when I am no longer a penniless writer, so combining that with my interest with steampunk seemed a logical step.

It seems there actually isn't much in the way of that out there yet.  A bit of a google search revealed a couple of instances where there were some steampunk influences, but not a full on steampunk diorama.

So for inspiration, here are some steampunk styles steam trains, model and otherwise.

 

 

Escape Plan B

This is one of those works of art you go 'wait, what did I just see? That is so awesome!' on first viewing it.  Behold Escape Plan B by Michael Dashow.

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Steamfest Australia 2013 Moving Picture Trailer

A moving picture trailer for the upcoming Steamfest Australia 2013 convention, which I have mentioned previous.

Steampunk Tractors

Yesterday my fiancee and I went to visit Whiteman Park in Perth (Australia).  One of the places there is the tractor museum, housing a variety of tractors, new and old.  One was this piece of machinery.

A 1921 Fowler Traction Engine, it dates to a little after the general era associated with steampunk, but it wouldn't exactly be out of place in it.  It is also much larger that the photograph indicates.  The rear wheel actually stands as tall as I do.

Of course it would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to post some images of other tractors of a steampunk look.

Steampunk Butterflies

My fiancee loves butterflies, so for her today a collection of steampunk inspired butterflies, both in forms of art and craft.

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Steampunk in Space!

During the era on which steampunk is based, the nature of the planets was not entirely known.  There were many who thought, under its clouds, that Venus possessed a rich primeval world, while Mars had canals across it surface, built by dying civilisations.

This, of course led to a wide variety of stories in which men went to the moon, or Mars or Venus (such as in Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars series), or of Martians coming to Earth (War of the Worlds).

As steampunk has in its origins that time period, it is not uncommon to find that it can reflect the ideas of that time, where Mars and Venus can be visited by man, or weird steampunk ships (and even airships) can sail through space.

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There has even been a game based upon the concept - Space 1889.

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Weta Workshop even got into the act with Dr Grordbort, including a couple of very short animated moving pictures, designed as a means to provoke interest in their Infallible Aether Oscillators.

So prepare to go boldly where steampunk has gone before - to space and beyond.

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Steampunk: An Illustrated History

I have recently finished reading a non-fiction steampunk book, properly titled Steampunk: An Illustrated History of Fantastical Fiction, Fanciful Film and other Victorian Visions, by Brian J. Robb, with foreword by James. P. Blaylock.

That rather is a mouthful.

Steampunk; An Illustrated History - let us call it that, otherwise it will take too long to read each time - was published only towards the end of last year, which makes it remarkably up to date (even though things move fast in the world, so already new trends ideas are emerging which aren't covered in it.)
I have been interested in the steampunk aesthetic from before I knew what steampunk was.  As a relative newcomer onto the scene, my knowledge of its origins and parts was a bit lacking, which is part of the reason I commenced this blog, as a journey of discovery as much for myself as to entertain and highlight for others.

As  result, I found the book rather fascinating, as it charts the history of steampunk, from the writers who influenced it, such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, through to the current time.  It covers a number of subjects (with appropriately sounding titles), such as the role of women in steampunk (A Young Lady's Primer), film and TV (Nitrate Nightmares and Selenium Dreams), as well as graphic novels, the Japanese steampunk scene, costumes and emporiums, and what the future may hold.

At times it does seem he does draw rather a long bow trying to incorporate anything that may be vaguely steampunk related to give weight to what he sees as the history of steampunk.  As with all things steampunk, it can be open for debate.  Also such areas, such as games and the whole lifestyle culture, warrant only a meager mention in comparison to other areas.

As a book, I wouldn't label it definitive, but it a handy reference starer for those new to the genre, and due to its lavish array of pictures and photos, it would make a good coffee table book.

Moving Pictures - Just Glue Some Gears On It

This short musical moving picture, entitled Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk), grew out of a discussion about things that were not steampunk.  It refers to the lamentable habit of some to simply slap a few gears on an object in the mistaken belief that that is what makes a thing steampunky, when in fact it goes well beyond that.

Steampunk Telephones

The telephone came into existence and use during the Victorian Era, which makes it a perfect item to receive the steampunk overhaul treatment.

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The Six Rules of Steampunk Fashion

As a followup to the post yesterday about steampunk fashion going mainstream, a link to the six rules of steampunk fashion, as viewed by G. D. Falksen

Steampunk Fashion Going Mainstream?

According to the rather large corporation IBM, steampunk fashion is on the cusp of going mainstream.

 
On the face of it, such a statement would seem a tad incongruous.  How exactly would artificers of the technological be able to forecast what sentiments may take the industry of fashion?

By using what they titled 'sentiment analysis' apparently, to produce what they call the 'IBM Social Sentiment Index.'

This is undertaken by analyzing social media, in the form of blogs, forums, news sources and other forms, to develop a picture of the trends that are emerging.  According to their data, between 2009 and 2012, steampunk underwent an 11-fold increase in chatter, a remarkably large jump.

They further point out that since 2010 more than two dozen US department stores and specialty retailers have become steampunk savvy.

They also predict that during the next two years steampunk will shift from low production, high cost “craft” manufacturing to mass production.  While this may make it more affordable to the masses, I am certain that many will fear that it is somewhat contrary to the artisanship that the steampunk aesthetic is built around.

Other interesting points of analysis that they released are;

·        33 percent of online fashion chatter around steampunk can be found on gaming sites
·        2010 saw a year on year increase in chatter of 296 percent. This increase can be attributed to steampunk-inspired NYC ComicCon events in October of 2010
·        Twitter is the #1 social network for steampunk chatter; hosts six times the number of discussions as Facebook
·        63 percent of fashion discussions around steampunk are initiated by individuals less than 30 years old
·        55 percent of social sentiment chatter for steampunk fashion derived by blogs

An example of how it has managed to penetrate into more mainstream circles is the Prada 2012 Fall/Winter collection for men.

Steampunk Weddings

To celebrate my recent engagement to an amazing woman who also enjoys steampunk, I share a few images of steampunk style weddings that may just inspire us as we begin to plan for our own.

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