Oil Painting

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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March 7, 2023

What Is the Difference Between Acrylic vs Oil Paint?

There are many choices you can make when you begin to learn how to paint. The most basic is the kind of paint you're going to use; three of the biggest types are watercolor, acrylics, and oils. While it's easy to distinguish the differences between watercolor paint versus acrylics and oils, it's trickier to understand what separates the other two. They are often packaged in similar-looking paint tubes, but they have many differences.

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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.