We’ve all seen impressive miniature art, but have you ever seen anyone create them inside corks? Artist Cobtoya (pronounced Co-b-toe-ya) creates miniatures they find cute, and this is their newest series. Entire rooms are created with the greatest care and attention to detail inside hollowed out corks. Check it out!
#多分私しかやってない
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) August 21, 2022
コルク栓の中に部屋を作ってみたり pic.twitter.com/vsBe63Syg0
Cobtoya’s pinned tweet uses the hashtag #多分私しかやってない (tabun watashi shika yattenai) which means “I’m probably the only one who does this” and has 13,000 likes. It’s hard to get a sense of the size when the cork art is seen on its own and zoomed in, but having a hand in the photo is helpful! It’s about the size of one’s thumb.
Here’s one of their more popular creations, the bookshop. It even lights up inside.
コルク栓の中に本屋さんが出来ました。
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) January 9, 2023
コルクの世界の住人たちは本好きな方が多いので沢山の本を用意してます
開店前の準備中なのか、ここの主人が本の整理をしています#コルクアート pic.twitter.com/SH44yPQDtD
But how is it made?
Here’s a video of the process of making the bookstore, starting with the stained glass window and shelves, putting in the books little by little, and adding finishing touches until the room is complete.
おはようございます!
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) January 12, 2023
コルクの中の本屋さんの写真を繋げてみました
もっと写真枚数あったら良かった
(音がでます pic.twitter.com/dVwAHeHqQc
You can see from the photos below just how small the books are and how carefully and meticulously each one must be placed on the shelves to complete the look.
どうやって作ってるの?とたまに聞かれますが、
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) January 9, 2023
一冊一冊ピンセットで並べていきます(´∀`)✨ pic.twitter.com/ewCSTcYoiE
Other Works in the Cork Art Series
Cobtoya has already created several works within their cork art series. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Here’s a video showing a closeup of one called “A lush, green small room”. It also lights up. All of the lights are battery operated and come with an on/off switch.
動画はサイズおおきいかな? pic.twitter.com/ZLrq919Tj4
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) January 11, 2023
Here’s a person relaxing in the work called “A Fleeting Moment”.
束の間のひととき
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 8, 2022
fleeting moment
#ミニチュアコルク #miniature pic.twitter.com/AioyoeB7sL
And here’s an especially detailed work called “secret den”. The tiny picture frame is incredible!
秘密の書斎・壱号館
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) September 27, 2022
secret den#ミニチュアコルク #miniature pic.twitter.com/P6cjPTBLPI
Cobtoya has also made some cork art that are vertical. The amount of care that goes into each one can be seen from the “in progress” second photo compared to the finished products in the first and third photos!
少しずつ製作活動を再開し始めております。#ミニチュアコルク pic.twitter.com/MBhtVtR5wN
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) August 11, 2022
And there’s even Halloween versions:
🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 30, 2022
良い一日を!#Halloween #ミニチュアコルク #ミニチュア pic.twitter.com/nHm0SyMTU7
And if you think it’s just the inside that has all the details, think again!
ハロウィンまでもうすぐ🦇🌘 pic.twitter.com/r8E3X1ixAN
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 19, 2022
Writer's Pick
Details of the Cork Art
Let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the finer details that go into each work.
For example, look at this tiny yet sophisticated wine bottles! Considering the size of the cork, these bottles must be so small!
And take a closer look at the stained glass attached to the outside, which truly accomplishes its purpose when light is let through.
やっぱステンドグラス調は綺麗#コルクアート pic.twitter.com/qkZloYPSxr
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) December 23, 2022
And a personal favorite, check out this tiny shelf which holds so many different even smaller trinkets, including a clock, plant, picture frame, books and bottles. It’s so cute and must be so fun imagining where to put it within the cork art.
爪のサイズくらいの飾られた棚
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 18, 2022
時計の指す時間は23時半少し前 pic.twitter.com/KYuuZNm1K9
The Miniature People
And as if that wasn’t enough to convince you how incredibly talented and creative Cobtoya is, they also create their own miniature people that they put inside!
It’s incredible how they start as these white figurines, but with paint, they come to life. Watch how these two go from white faceless figures to a beautiful couple on a date!
冬のカップルの住人が出来ました(´∀`)✨
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) December 22, 2022
置く位置によっては手を繋ぐ様にみえます pic.twitter.com/BtRllFgWEZ
They’re so small yet look like they have expressions and personalities of their own. Plus they’re fashionable!
ちょっとイケメンぽくなってきた pic.twitter.com/cZPEcNHwDk
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) December 13, 2022
Cobtoya has created so many of these miniature people, both for the cork art and for other works. Take a look!
こんなミニチュア人形(ジオラマ1:100スケール)があったら楽しいな✨と思うやつはありますか?
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) December 2, 2022
買う買わない・作る作らないは置いておいて、参考にしてもいいよ!という方が居たらリプくれると嬉しいです! pic.twitter.com/jFdpQ0UJ9w
Other Works
Before creating the cork art series, Cobtoya created other miniature works.
For example, here’s one using a photo frame to capture a romantic scene, complete with a lit-up moon.
絵画調に仕立てたミニチュアが出来ました
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) December 1, 2022
明日辺りにminneにて販売をする予定です
ご興味がありましたら是非ご覧ください✨ pic.twitter.com/iK53jjynv8
Here’s a little house that can fit in the palm of your hand. It’s so small yet looks so welcoming and warm inside!
秋色のちいさな家に明かりが灯り
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 31, 2022
住人が帰ってきました
日中は奥さんが洗濯物をこなし、陽が当たるちいさな庭で読書をして過ごします
手のひらサイズのちいさな家ができました
こちらminneで販売中です pic.twitter.com/jcaNQm8GKC
And speaking of warm, they’ve even created a miniature fireplace. The flickering lights imitate flames perfectly.
今日も沢山のRT・いいね♡ありがとうございます
— こびと屋 (@cobtoya) October 31, 2022
日中は陽がさしてまだ少し暖かいですが夜は冷えます
暖かくしておやすみなさい🌘 pic.twitter.com/k3Pjl5NQIp
To Close
Cobtoya sells some of their work on the site Minne at https://minne.com/@cobtoya. It’s the perfect gift, either for yourself or a loved one, to decorate on a shelf. It doesn’t take up much space but will be sure to draw attention!
Follow them on Twitter and Instagram so you don’t miss their next work! And comments are also welcome, no matter what language you speak!
Photos provided courtesy of Cobtoya.