Tiny Food

April 15, 2012 9:45 AM

Incredibly detailed miniature food sculptures by Shay Aaron: Flickr, Etsy.
posted by Gator (25 comments total)

Those are pretty incredible. It's amazing the kind of detail people can do at that scale.
posted by triggerfinger at 9:53 AM on April 15, 2012

Also
posted by Trurl at 9:57 AM on April 15, 2012

The shellfish needs work, but the baked goods...!
posted by Sys Rq at 10:07 AM on April 15, 2012

now I am hungry a little bit
posted by growabrain at 10:09 AM on April 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

Those are great. Also, very tiny ... unless they just made regular sized food and a GIGANTIC FINGER to hold them.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:12 AM on April 15, 2012 [5 favorites]

The Japanese were crazy for tiny food models a few years back -- I got a coworker a set while I was on a trip, then later found a miniature "restaurant window display model" for her of a cheeseburger with a bottle dispensing ketchup hovering above it. It fills me with glee every time I see it. It's like a model of a model!
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:18 AM on April 15, 2012

As portrayed by Woody Harrelson on an old episode of Saturday Night Live, I recall.
posted by ShutterBun at 10:22 AM on April 15, 2012

I was kind of meh until I got to the kiwi tart.

Good grief - I've done things with polymer clay, and I don't quite see how she did that except maybe with magic.
posted by winna at 10:26 AM on April 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Answer: giant pennies.
posted by ShutterBun at 10:38 AM on April 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

Those are great. Also, very tiny ... unless they just made regular sized food and a GIGANTIC FINGER to hold them.

I picture the artist reading that and facepalming SO hard: "one fucking giant finger! That would have been so EASY! I could have finished this project in a week!"
posted by yoink at 10:47 AM on April 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

..and such small portions!
posted by Abiezer at 11:04 AM on April 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

The fact that I feel hungry while looking at these tiny clay sculptures is testament to the artist's skill.
posted by hypotheticole at 11:26 AM on April 15, 2012

Holy crap, that etsy shop is my go to store for last second gifts, everyone loves little cupcake earrings and the like.
posted by The Whelk at 11:42 AM on April 15, 2012

Wow, bookmarking for inspiration. Strangely, making miniature food out of polymer clay is my crafty hobby (started out as boardgame pieces for Agricola), but I am leagues away from this in terms of ability.
posted by arcticwoman at 1:31 PM on April 15, 2012

The connective tissue lines in the sushi tuna are what should get this artist the Nobel Prize for Miniatures.
posted by univac at 1:38 PM on April 15, 2012

Seeing how these are made actually makes them even more impressive.
posted by DrMew at 1:48 PM on April 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

12th scale fimo food is a thing for dolls houses. A lot of people have spent a lot of years figuring out how to do it... there's a touch of "standing on the shoulders of giants" here.
posted by Leon at 2:16 PM on April 15, 2012

Unlike every other art form, Leon.
posted by milk white peacock at 2:36 PM on April 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

No argument; I just like to see the hobbyists get some love.
posted by Leon at 2:44 PM on April 15, 2012

These are pretty damn cool... but the colors on the Californian and Mexican Guacamoles are just wrong - they look like perfect little bowls of snot, instead of baby poop. (And I love guacamole!)
posted by John Smallberries at 4:04 PM on April 15, 2012

I know people that when it's aliens or spaceships, miniatures are silly and childish, but when it's food... oh it's so magical!

Reflecting on that kind of shallowness is unfortunately taking off a little of the gloss for me seeing this right now, but regardless, it's nice work. :)
posted by -harlequin- at 5:13 PM on April 15, 2012

I really want to get a breakfast one so I can ask a guest if they want breakfast then give it to them. (Then go make breakfast.)

-harlequin-, I'm destroyed that people discriminate against other types of miniatures. I think they're great. I always go to the miniatures rooms in the Art Institute in Chicago.
posted by sfkiddo at 7:53 PM on April 15, 2012

I probably need to get one of those cauliflower rings to remind me to eat my 5 veggies a day.
posted by MelanieL at 12:13 AM on April 16, 2012

WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT MINIATURES ROOM? Also I heart the mushroom digging earrings.

I've been following this blog to look at adorable pictures of tiny food: http://theminifoodblog.blogspot.com/
posted by brilliantine at 8:53 AM on April 16, 2012

I don't quite see how she did that except maybe with magic.

Looks like this artist is male. (but yeah, it's magic.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:47 AM on April 16, 2012