Painting
March 23, 2020

Poignant Paintings Depict Land Animals Half-Submerged in Rising Sea Water

Known for her hyperrealistic animal paintings, Portland-based artist Lisa Ericson is back with a new series of work that defies the natural order of the animal kingdom. Titled Islands, Ericson’s latest string of surreal paintings is a continuation from her previous Mobile Habitats and Border Crossing series. Each piece highlights our ever-changing climates by visualizing land animals half-submerged in rising waters, while marine life swims and grows around their feet.

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Drawing
March 20, 2020

Artist Purrfectly Blends Cats Into Minimalist Landscape Illustrations

Many of us have tried looking for shapes in the clouds, but what about entire landscapes? Kuala Lumpur-based artist Lim Heng Swee (aka ilovedoodle) creates graphic illustrations depicting cats that seamlessly blend into mountains, waves, and skylines. Swee’s playful Cat Landscape series of minimalist illustrations look like depictions of an otherworldly cat planet. He playfully takes inspiration from Japanese painters like the great Hokusai.

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History
March 16, 2020

A “Wee” History of the Leprechaun, a Legendary Character From Irish Folklore

Though famously short in stature, leprechauns have landed a big role in Irish folklore. These “wee folk” have captured imaginations for centuries, enchanting generation after generation with green get-ups and promises o' gold. Though the leprechaun is a staple of pop culture in the Emerald Isle and beyond, its origins are more mysterious. Fortunately, if you've ever wished you knew more about these little sprites, you're in luck!

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Photography
March 14, 2020

Colored Micrographs Reveal the Incredible Intricacies of Pollen, Seeds, and Fruit

Artist Rob Kesseler merges the disciplines of art and science in his Canopy series, which explores the up-close intricacies of plant life that are normally unseeable. To capture these incredible magnified pictures, Kesseler employs scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which he then meticulously colors by hand. These micrographs show the wondrous details of pollen, seeds, and fruit.

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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.