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Funny Animals Interesting Freaky Pop Culture

40 Absurd And Amusing Illustrations Unveiling The Literal Meanings Of Words And Word Combinations

by Damjan

Meet Nadia Tolstoy, the Stockholm-based illustrator and cartoonist who has taken the world of social media by storm. With her "mildly amusing doodles" that are both surreal and frequently silly, she has managed to capture the attention of many. Nadia's unique artistic creations combine different elements to represent a single word, resulting in absurd and amusing visuals that challenge the way we perceive language.

"I'm a Swedish mother (yes, despite the "dad" humor) of two who grew up in a small French village where I felt I never quite fit in. My mother is a Tarot-reading Buddhist, and my father was a Russian aristocrat. When we moved to London, I learned to worship tea and the English language. How do I like my tea? Warm and bitter but surprisingly nice, just like myself.
After a BA in Product Design and ten years in the UK, I moved back to Stockholm to work as an interior designer. And now, on my Instagram account, it's my mission to make the world a little sillier, one ridiculous pun at a time.
As I mentioned earlier, I love the amazing possibilities that the English language offers to word nerds like me. I do sometimes worry that I'll run out of puns, and then I remember that there are an estimated 170,000 words currently in use in the English language. So I should be all right. At least for a coming couple of years…"

1. Goose bumps

1. Goose bumps
Surrealians

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"The idea of doodling came to me while recovering from a cold. It was a happy accident that I discovered this style of cartooning, and therefore it is pure play for me. In this space, I can be playful and joyful, and I don't worry too much about making flawless illustrations. I share doodles and puns simply because they make me smile.
My family background is a mixed bag, so I have developed a pared-down and graphic style that is very clear and direct, accessible to everyone. At least everyone who speaks (some) English."

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2. Knight owl

2. Knight owl
Surrealians

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3. Sleeping pill

3. Sleeping pill
Surrealians

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"Playfulness is something I've rediscovered thanks to this Instagram account. It's always been important in my work and in my life, but it got shoved aside when I was too busy adulting. I think all humans are playful in childhood, but growing up, it's hard to hold onto your playfulness when life becomes chock-full of adult responsibilities.
What I do now is I try to just draw in my sketchbook regularly without the pressure of posting anything, just for fun. I think perfectionism can easily kill creativity, so it's crucial to find a form for being creative that is SO small that the monster that is perfectionism isn't alerted to what you do. I call it The Smallest Thing. As in, what's the smallest thing I can do creatively to get me going."

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4. Eye shadow

4. Eye shadow
Surrealians

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5. Pepper spray

5. Pepper spray
Surrealians

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"My various creative pursuits as an interior architect, writer, and illustrator are sometimes difficult to balance with my personal life because there simply aren't enough hours in the day. But they do inspire each other quite often because life is full of serendipity, and even an everyday situation can trigger an idea for a doodle or an illustrated story.

Inversely, I'm now introducing my doodles in my work as an interior architect, and (it's not all decided yet) I'm hoping to do a mural with my black and white doodles on the interior wall of a project soon."

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6. Super glue

6. Super glue
Surrealians

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7. Butt-erfly

7. Butt-erfly
Surrealians

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"I have a passion for the English language and wordplay, but funnily enough, the people whose work I admire use words quite sparingly (if at all). I love the cartoonists Saul Steinberg and Sempé and also the writer and illustrator Edward Gorey. And of course, the Japanese graphic designer Shigeo Fukuda, the tattooist Michele Volpi, and the songwriting of Amy Winehouse and Leonard Cohen. And there are so many. I'll have to come back and add to the list!"

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8. Cereal killer

8. Cereal killer
Surrealians

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9. Coconut milk

9. Coconut milk
Surrealians

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10. Sweat pants

10. Sweat pants
Surrealians

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11. Kit-tea

11. Kit-tea
Surrealians

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12. USBee

12. USBee
Surrealians

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13. Star fish

13. Star fish
Surrealians

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14. Bottle cap

14. Bottle cap
Surrealians

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15. Clown fish

15. Clown fish
Surrealians

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16. Fish fingers

16. Fish fingers
Surrealians

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17. Buffalo bill

17. Buffalo bill
Surrealians

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18. Fire crackers

18. Fire crackers
Surrealians

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19. Peanut butter cup

19. Peanut butter cup
Surrealians

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20. Key board

20. Key board
Surrealians

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21. Straight face

21. Straight face
Surrealians

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22. Squeaky clean

22. Squeaky clean
Surrealians

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23. Carry all

23. Carry all
Surrealians

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24. Alley cats

24. Alley cats
Surrealians

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25. Sharp dresser

25. Sharp dresser
Surrealians

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26. Egg-cercise

26. Egg-cercise
Surrealians

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27. Milk man

27. Milk man
Surrealians

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29. Belly laugh

29. Belly laugh
Surrealians

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30. Looking sharp

30. Looking sharp
Surrealians

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31. Fruit cake

31. Fruit cake
Surrealians

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32. Sharp cheese

32. Sharp cheese
Surrealians

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33. Snow white

33. Snow white
Surrealians

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34. Water shed

34. Water shed
Surrealians

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35. It sucks

35. It sucks
Surrealians

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36. Knight shift

36. Knight shift
Surrealians

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37. Hare

37. Hare
Surrealians

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38. U-kelele

38. U-kelele
Surrealians

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40. Green fingers

40. Green fingers
Surrealians

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41. Sticky

41. Sticky
Surrealians

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42. Straight jacket

42. Straight jacket
Surrealians

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It comes as no surprise that Nadia's work has garnered significant attention. Her illustrations offer a delightful and imaginative perspective on words, while her unwavering commitment to nurturing curiosity and playfulness serves as an inspiration to us all.

Prepare to be captivated by Nadia Tolstoy's extraordinary talent and embrace the whimsical world she has created.

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