Lauren Ryan is an American artist that creates incredibly lifelike animals out of nothing more than pipe cleaners. A pipe cleaner or chenille stem is a type of brush originally intended for removing moisture and residue from smoking pipes. While they have many practical applications, they are also very popular for use in arts and crafts.

Ryan has taken their artistic usage to new levels with her amazingly detailed and lifelike sculptures. You can find many more on her blog Chenille Stems.

When not sculpting, Ryan also does colored pencil drawings, which you can find on her other blog, Anima-Life.

If you like what you see, Lauren is available for commissions. You can find contact information on her deviantART profile.

[via thegrapemind]