Artist Steve Casino creates miniature sculptures of iconic celebrities and fictional characters from pop culture by painting on peanut shells. Like Sadi Tekin's playful chickpea heads, Casino turns legumes into a fun cast of characters with some additional mixed media. From classic favorites like James Bond and Wonder Woman to legendary figures in the entertainment industry like Alfred Hitchcock, Casino manages to restructure tiny peanut shells into their image.
The artist's chosen medium is both unusual and a laborious material to work with. It is a time-consuming process that Casino undertakes for each peanut sculpture, which actually only utilizes the shell, as the edible seed is extracted early on. The Ohio-based toy inventor has been known to spend up to 10 hours on just one piece. It is no easy task as the artist has to carefully crack the shell, remove the peanut, refortify the husk with glue, and then proceed to sand and paint the exterior. After adding a few limbs and props, he preserves each figurine with a coat of polyurethane.
Casino is currently accepting requests for commissioned work via email, but keep in mind that most of his works go for around $300-$500 a piece.
James Bond
Alfred Hitchcock
Wonder Woman
Doctor Octopus & Spiderman
The Addams Family
Universal Monsters
front and back view
behind the scenes
Steve Casino website
Steve Casino on Facebook
via [Daily Mail]
