The Art of Fantasy Researcher Diego Cusano

We particularly love when artists give everyday objects new context. Not only does this type of work capitalize on the element of surprise, but it also gives the viewer a glimpse into a creative mind. Artists who create these works (some past features here and here and here) see the world from a unique perspective.…

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Throwback Thursday: 8-bit Portraiture by A.Mulli

Nostalgia is a prominent theme in art and design… simply a reflection of the human experience and human nature in general. We’ve seen it take many forms time and time again. Our latest find is a “bit” unexpected (no pun intended). Taking larger-than-life personas of rap and hip-hop artists, and minimizing them into pixelated 8-bit…

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Palm Portraits That Will Blow Your Mind

California-based artist and teacher Russell Powell gives new meaning to the term “hand painted.” Inspiring his young students and tens of thousands of Instagram followers, Powell has mastered the art of hand stamping, which is way more difficult than it sounds. We’re not talking elementary finger painting… Powell operates on a much higher artistic level.…

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Pop Culture-Centric Poster Art by Joshua Budich

The landing page of Baltimore-based artist Joshua Budich’s website simply states “born to illustrate.” That’s a loaded declaration, but Budich certainly has the goods to back it up. His eclectic body of work is quite impressive, with an obvious love for pop culture. His style is reminiscent of comic book art, which lends itself to…

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Chart-Topping Typographic Portraiture

Typography geeks everywhere (including ourselves) are applauding (or should be applauding) Canadian designer/art director Sean Williams for a job well done on his growing series of musical artist portraits made entirely of lyrics and song titles. Many have tried, but we’re not sure any attempts are nearly as successful as these conceptually strong, brilliantly executed…

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Print and T-Shirt Designs by Mark Books

Designer/art director Mark Brooks, who splits his time between his native Barcelona and New York City, designed this terrific series of limited edition prints and t-shirts for Barcelona retailer SantaMonica. The bold, sophisticated designs are really something. We especially like the star grid pieces, which are best viewed from a distance. Via Behance and markbrooksgraphikdesign.com

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Illustrations by Yo Az

French illustrator best known as Yo Az has some excellent illustration skills, with an eye for details and texture. We really love his unique style… particularly fond of Kanye West and Paul McCartney pieces. Some prints available here. Via Behance

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Standing Head and Shoulders Above

British artist Steve Payne marries 17th-century Russian general portraiture with our current celebrity-obsessed culture… with remarkable results. He uses digital copies of Napoleon-era portraits by English portraitist George Dawe, then quite seamlessly photoshops celebrity heads on top. “One thing I’ve always wanted to try is to incorporate someone into a painting, mimicking the painterly brush…

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