Paintings

Filmmaker Pablo Mengin (aka Megalopolis) created this intense and surreal music video for NYC rapper Bashton by painting 2000+ images over the course of 18 months. Each of the video’s individual frames could serve as a framed work of art all on its own.

Back when science fiction was considered pulp fiction, art directors and artists had the freedom to run wild with the cover art for sci-fi books. Nerdwriter pays homage to some of these notable people and their work, and reminds us to have a greater appreciation for cover art.

They may not be as thought-provoking as Antonio Santin’s work, but Jason Seife’s take on realistic carpet paintings are no less impressive. Not limited by history or fabric, Seife often takes liberties in his choice of colors and canvas.

Artist Bruce White (aka “Velvet Geek“) creates perfect likenesses of pop culture figures using the retro-kitsch technique of painting acrylics on black velvet. His extensive collection includes everyone from Scott Pilgrim to Roy Batty to Dwight Schrute to Derek Zoolander.

“No chaos dammit.” The Art Assignment made this great overview of Jackson Pollock and his divisive drip paintings. He wasn’t the first to do it, nor will he be the last. But the timing and coverage of his short-lived peak marked a new level for abstract expressionism.

Business Insider UK shows off some the art of Patrick Hughes. In his “Reverspective” paintings, sections of the canvas project outwards making closer objects seem further away, and further objects seem closer. More trippy business here.

Art dealer Philip Mould is removing the varnish from an unidentified painting that was made in 1618. Supposedly applied to the painting 200 years ago, the varnish has caked into a thick brown coat over the colors and details.

We at TA are no stranger to Duane Keiser, and he is no stranger to making wonderfully entertaining animations of his paintings. His most recent playful piece involves the tweaking of a still life – with a white vase, of course.

Vox contextualizes Grant Wood’s 1930 painting American Gothic. One thing they failed to point out is the significance of that Gothic-style window – it’s like a carbon fiber hood on a Prius. Whether it’s pathetic, aspirational, or just how life works is up to you.

“I don’t know what painting teaches me. I just know that it frees me.” Jim Carrey has enthusiastically shared his paintings with the public. But in SGG’s documentary, we see him open up about this lifelong passion, as well as the stories behind some of his artworks.

Simon Stålenhag is back with more retro sci-fi paintings. Set in an alternate ’90s US and centered on a young girl traveling with her robot, The Electric State is a 120-page art book with a supplementary narrative written by Simon as well. More on his site.

The latest addition to Max Factory’s Table Museum is based on Ōtani Oniji III in the Role of the Servant Edobei, one of the most famous woodblock prints of 18th century Japanese artist Sharaku. It comes with swappable arms as well as samurai swords.

Did you know that The Great Wave‘s focus is arguably not the wave but Mt. Fuji, since it’s part of a series of paintings about the mountain? Or that there’s a boat at the bottom of the painting? Seriously, we missed that one big time. More on The Art Assignment’s video.

Photographer Gabriella Achadinha worked with painter Marlize Eckard to turn her photos into haunting yet melancholic expressions of mono no aware, the Japanese term for appreciating the bittersweet beauty of life’s fleeting nature.

“Pictures don’t just have histories. They exist in history.” The Art Assignment reminds us that tons of visual artworks are made from or based on previous works. Artists have tackled identity, authority, and more by recontextualizing established symbols and images.

Robert Xavier Burden is a collectible toy geek. He’s also an incredibly talented painter. He combines his passions by creating massive and intricate Renaissance-style oil paintings – sometimes as tall as 15 feet – of his toys and their related characters.

Artist Stephen Andrade loves to make realistic pulp fiction or Choose Your Own Adventure covers based on popular series such as Rick and Morty, Labyrinth and Seinfeld. Prints of the Get Schwifty cover will be available on Gallery1988’s Rick and Morty exhibit.

Studio Smack created this weird and wonderful animated re-imagining of Hieronymus Bosch’s painting The Garden Of Earthly Delights. Watch in 4K, full-screen to see all of the detail – or head to MOTI to see the full-size installation. See if you can spot Spongebob.

Stålenhag’s follow up to Tales from the Loop, Things from the Flood is still filled with paintings of Nordic countrysides invaded by mechanical beings and relics. But here a flood from a “huge abandoned underground facility” washed up strange organic creatures as well.

Artist Blake Neubert has an ongoing series of layered paintings that are best appreciated in motion. Watch him put the finishing touches on his art, scraping away the top layer to reveal what’s underneath. You can purchase his original art and prints here.

Currently on exhibit at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in NYC, IKON is a collection of exploded anatomical diagrams of famous celebrities, characters and landmarks by street artist and painter Nychos. It’s on display until 7/23/16.

Inspiured by an earlier project by mylastusernamewastoolong, Redditor melonshade shares this collection of classic Vincent van Gogh paintings which have been given added depth through the selective application of a digital tilt-shift effect.

If you love Javier de Riba’s floor graffiti and prints, check out Nisnas Industries’ Rememory Pack. It’s a set of four paint patterns, each made of two recycled plastic stencils, based on antique tile patterns in Wadi Salib, Israel.

Artist Cuyler Smith’s series Trading Cards are retro-style cards of fictional athletes from popular movies and TV shows, including Sidney Deane, Daniel LaRusso and… Goldberg?! Each card is limited to 80 copies. Also available as a framed set.

The prolific artist Carla Hananiah loves to paint landscapes of New Zealand and Australia, often at dawn and dusk. Speaking about Carla’s latest collection, Arthouse Gallery says they “form existential ruminations on human fragility and finiteness.” We just find them calming.