New from Vanishing Inc. Magic, Justin Flom’s “Card Artistry” is an unexpected revelation of a selected card in which the magician turns the deck into a famous painting (or if you prefer, a brain-scan image).

It’s the rarest kind of magic effect: it captures the imaginations of both magicians and audiences. Evoking a comparison of magician as artist, the performer “paints” his deck of cards into a four-by-four card mosaic of the Mona-Lisa. The spectator’s selection appears in the painting! Inspired by a great Chris Kenner effect, “Card Artistry” is full of touches by professional performer Justin Flom.

Get it now, exclusively from Vanishing Inc. Magic.

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Justin Willman, formerly Kredible, is the host of Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing on the Food Network as well as Scrabble Showdown on the Hub. He achieved all of this on the back of his magic career which has seen him perform at colleges across the country. We ask him which three non-magic role models he’s been most influenced by…

Jimmy Fallon

First off, he’s just a hilarious, sincere, and downright likable guy. But in just a year of having his own late night show, he reinvigorated the genre to create a tone and comedic sensibility that’s all his own. My favorite Fallon moments are the unscripted, off the cuff ad-libs that show he’s truly present in every moment. He never seems like he’s phoning it in. That’s a trait we should all strive for.

The Black Keys

The Black Keys are one of my favorite bands. Their rough-around-the-edges brand of blues/rock flew below the mainstream radar for years. They toured out of their van, busted their asses, and stayed true to their musical roots. Alas, their most recent two albums have catapulted them to (unlikely) massive success. The two-man-band sold out Madison Square Garden in 15 minutes! Their story reminds me that you don’t have to sacrifice your true essence for success.

Marian Sexton

I’ve been a diehard fan of Martin Sexton’s music since I was a freshman in college. The man is a brilliant songwriter and has a voice like you’ve never heard. I’ve seen him perform live about 25 times and it always gives me chills. What I love about Martin, is that he’s a troubadour in every sense of the word. He usually plays solo, just him and a guitar. But you’d never know it if you shut your eyes.

He strums bass with his thumb, drums on the guitar, and has the vocal ability to scat, trumpet and howl like no one else. He can fill any room with sound. I’ve seen him captivate a festival of thousands all by himself. Talk about pack small, play huge. Seeing what he can do solo reminds me that it’s not about the props, it’s about the performer. If he can do a two-hour show out of his guitar case, we can certainly do a one hour show out of our carry-on.

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More Burt Wonderstone pics!

Jim Carrey, who plays street magician Steve Haines “Brain Rapist” prepares for a stunt where he is broken open like a human pinata. Also, according to The Daily Mail, candy falls out. Which is pretty amazing.

Meanwhile, who is that curvy luchador with a heart cut out to reveal her cleavage? It’s none other than Olivia Wilde, whose character defects from our protagonist Wonderstone to work for Haines in the film.

We’ve gotten word that there is possibly some more footage and pictures coming our way from the set… stay tuned.

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The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is packed with smart people. Folks who make their living creating, buying and selling the tech devices that shape our society. So what better crowd to continually fry with a simple shell game?

This German magician, whose name we cannot find at the moment, does just that with his “find the ball” act. His betting patter is particularly sparkling, as he continues to slam the brains of those in front of him.

I am sure someone can tell us who this guy is in the comments. He deserves credit.

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Reveal anything – anytime and anywhere.

Burn Notice is a unique principle that allows you to reveal what a spectator is thinking with simple, everyday items. Your spectator thinks of a playing card, an object, or anything else. You pull a receipt out of your wallet, touch it to the flame of a lighter, and the spectator’s thought instantly appears on the receipt! The receipt can be given out as a memorable souvenir!

Learn it today: http://www.thebluecrown.com/store/burn-notice-christopher-wiehl.html

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Steve Cohen has carved out a great niche in the New York City magic scene, performing for small but loyal, well-heeled crowds at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. But a year ago, after a conversation with his friend Anne-Sophie Mutter, who happens to be a world famous violinist, he began the process of putting a magic show in Carnegie Hall.

Steve does a great job of explaining how the show came together and the process of putting on a magic performance at a venue which has seen little of it. However, we did want to excerpt this part of the post. In it, Steve explains his state of mind right before hitting the stage.

By this point, my mind was hyper-alert, my body surging with positive energy. I became keenly aware of small details: a fleck of dust on my lapel, the shuffling of people’s feet down the hall. The entire show ran through my head — like a fast-forwarded movie — and as it neared the end I came to the calm conclusion: “I can do this.” I’d trained my entire life for this moment. Planning was no longer necessary. There was nothing else I could do now except go out and perform.

It’s a great read and inspiring to anyone who wants to take their shows to another level, no matter what that level is.

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Stare at the model’s nose for 30 seconds. Then look away to a white wall and blink a few times. Look back at the model and the monochromatic beauty will appear to be in color.

Credit to FStoppers.com

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