Oil Painting

October 31, 2023

Artist Reimagines Original 151 Pokémon as Renaissance Paintings

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of the Renaissance? Is it Pokémon? Probably not, but a series of paintings by artist Jochum Van der Woude (aka Joccum) might change that. The Netherlands-based painter has set out to recreate the original 151 Pokémon as Renaissance paintings, and the results are very promising so far.

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July 1, 2023

Expressive Abstract Paintings Depict the Turbulent Landscape of Human Psyche

Vibrant blues and yellows collide on Samantha Keely Smith‘s canvases. These abstract paintings resemble stormy oceans and turbulent skies, sometimes inhabited by enigmatic figures who sink into the pathways of the brush strokes. Rather than depicting the places we see, Smith is portraying our internal landscape—where consciousness and unconsciousness meet. This ongoing series is titled Imagined Landscapes and focuses on personal and existential feelings that can also be universally applied.

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May 18, 2023

Kehinde Wiley Depicts Cuba and the Carnivalesque in Monumental Portrait Series

Artist Kehinde Wiley draws inspiration from the past to inform his contemporary portraiture. The subjects of his paintings are front and center among verdant imagery. Colorful blooms and repeating patterns surround them like the decadent wallpaper you’d expect in a palatial setting. They recall paintings you’d find in a museum created by the Old Masters. Here, however, Wiley centers the work on Black and Brown figures.

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April 15, 2023

Dizzying Hyperrealistic Paintings Capture the Shift Perspectives of Bustling Cities

Cities like New York and Paris are so large and complex that it is hard to contain them on one canvas. Artist Nathan Walsh, however, manages to create an incredibly detailed picture of urban living in his hyperrealistic paintings. By using different vantage points and incorporating reflections, these depictions feel like snapshots of a specific place in time, and sometimes of multiple places spanning different moments.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.