With bold, black lines and blocks of color, Justin Bunting‘s paintings are extremely striking. Similar to the abstract works of Pablo Picasso, they reimagine everyday scenes with a new perspective and sense of dynamism.

One of Bunting's most recently completed pieces depicts an art exhibition attended by numerous quirky visitors. “Since galleries won’t hang my work I’ve resorted to painting galleries IN my work. Take that Big Art,” he writes in the post. Bunting goes on to unpack what is happening in the composition. “The scene shows a chaotic moment unfolding in the middle of an artist's retrospective exhibit. The horse sculpture on the top left is angrily eyeing the painting thief in the bottom right as the figures in the bottom left watch in shock that the sculpture is conscious.”

Like other works, the painting of the art exhibition features a limited color palette. In this case blues, yellows, and browns. While it focuses on one interior scene, the space is framed by the bodies of a horse and stylized human figures. “To the right in the painting, you see the main ‘painting’ in the exhibition being guarded on either side by security,” he tells My Modern Met. “But they watch on as the figure from the painting climbs out into the ‘real world’ to reach for the painting thief, knocking over a couple of attendees in the process.”

Bunting incorporates many influences into his art, ranging from famous works of art by masters to elements of design and architecture. “I’ve recently bought some mid-century modern graphic design and ‘60s furniture books,” he adds. “Keep looking for new avenues of inspiration though, or things will go stale which is gross. You don’t let your bread get stale, you keep looking for new loaves, that sort of thing. Mid-century is my favorite bread right now.”

You can keep up to date with Bunting's latest art, including how to purchase your own, by following him on Instagram.

Artist Justin Bunting creates striking abstract works of art.

Inspired by Pablo Picasso, Basquiat, as well as mid-century design, he creates mesmerizing compositions.

Stylized human figures occupy interior scenes.

Bold black outlines divide the large swatches of flat color.

Justin Bunting: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Justin Bunting.

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Street art has a way of surprising us all. Turn the corner down one street and you may stumble across a work of art that will change your perspective of the city. In Sheffield, England, there is a new mural brightening up a certain building façade with its thoughtful atmosphere. UK-based artist Elle Koziupa worked in collaboration with Global Street Art to produce this large-scale painting of a young woman sitting before a group of candles.

The piece is aptly titled Prepare to be illuminated. It features five candles in the foreground, all lit, with a young woman leaning in over their flames, seemingly lost in contemplation. The glow from the wicks lights up her face and clothing, casting her in mesmerizing golden light. This is enhanced by the solid black background which encompasses the scene, giving the illusion that the painting is set at night.

Although we do not know exactly where this building is located in Sheffield, and whether it is a quiet street or a busy one, the mural certainly brings a sense of calm to the building façade. Whether you walk past it in the day or after dark, the girl and her candles will remain illuminated for anyone walking by to see and admire. The faraway look in the woman's eyes inspires a dreamy meditation that many can relate to, especially as we hurry through modern life.

Scroll down to see more images of this incredible mural and follow Koziupa on Instagram for updates on their latest projects.

UK-based artist Elle Koziupa brightened up a building in Sheffield with a piece titled Prepare to be illuminated.

The beautiful mural brings a quiet sense of contemplation to the city.

Elle Koziupa: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Elle Koziupa.

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READ: Artist Lights Up Building Façade With Mural of a Girl With Candles

 

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Una publicación compartida por National Portrait Gallery USA (@smithsoniannpg)

Trailblazing Americans have their likeness hanging on the walls of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The latest to join the company of presidents, entertainers, and athletes with a brand new portrait is Oprah Winfrey. The entrepreneur and TV personality recently unveiled the life-size painting, created by Shawn Michael Warren, in the Washington, D.C., museum.

“As I stand here on the eve of my 70th birthday, to have a portrait included in the National Portrait Gallery, alongside all the greats: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln and Ida B. Wells, Michelle and Barack Obama, Lena Horne, John F. Kennedy… Oprah Winfrey,” Winfrey said during a speech at the unveiling of the portrait.

Finding the right artist to paint the portrait was a five-year endeavor before Winfrey personally selected Warren. Speaking about this task, the artist told Oprah Daily, “I wanted to carefully represent her, but I also thought about how she would be depicted to the generations that aren’t here yet—who will see it long after we’re gone, 100 years from now, when it starts to cross over into a piece of art history.” The painting sees Winfrey holding an olive branch on a sunny day on the grounds of her Montecito, California, home.

In the portrait, Winfrey dons a floor-length taffeta gown that represents a watershed moment of her career. In 1985, she starred in an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, cementing her as a star and media personality. Later, with her role as a producer of the Broadway musical in 2005 and an upcoming 2023 movie adaptation of the musical, Winfrey's relationship with The Color Purple has come full circle, representing her reach behind and in front of the camera.

“Of all the dreams I’ve had, I didn’t even know there was a national gallery to dream and aspire for,” Winfrey wrote on Instagram. The painting is now on view on the first floor of the National Portrait Gallery, and has been added to the museum's permanent collection. The TV personality concluded her message thanking those who made the portrait possible, and invited her fans to go to see it at the museum. She exclaimed, “I can’t wait for y’all to visit the portrait and meet her!”

A new Oprah Winfrey portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Shawn Michael Warren (@warrenart)

The life-size painting was created by artist Shawn Michael Warren, and is now part of the museum's permanent collection.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Oprah Daily (@oprahdaily)

Oprah Winfrey: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Today]

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READ: Oprah Winfrey Is Honored With a Painting Permanently at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery

 

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Una publicación compartida por @nkmann5

New York City has long been a bustling city—a characteristic that transcends its financial hubs and runs through all of its neighborhoods. In a tribute to its robust history, multimedia artist Adrian Sas partnered with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for Broadway: Now & Then, a new piece of public art that offers a look into the past. When looking it at it from different angles, the lenticular photo installation shifts between a photograph taken in 1910 and an image snapped in the present day, both captured at the same location—the corner of 157th Street and Broadway.

Broadway: Now & Then builds a bridge between old and new in architecture, urban planning, design, culture, technology, and photography. The 1910 image was taken by photographer Thaddeus Wilkerson, and depicts a horse and buggy, which have been replaced by cars and e-bikes. Most notably, the building in the foreground still stands and maintains its architectural style, having evolved from the distribution hub among the first to supply New Yorkers with pasteurized, bottled milk, to a gym and a fast food locale. The subway, which opened six years before the picture was taken, had its entrance moved to the sidewalk.

“It's a time machine, of sorts, that I built to transport passersby from a contemporary moment to one more than a century ago,” Sas explains on Instagram. “Flipping between an archival image from 1910 (courtesy of [the Museum of the City of New York]) and a photograph I took earlier this year, of the very same street corner where it is installed, this 4-foot-wide lenticular composition provides a unique perspective on the ever-evolving city I love.”

The installation, which was funded by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, will be on view at Ilka Tanya Payán Park for the next six months. To stay up to date with the artist, follow Sas on Instagram.

Broadway: Now & Then is a new lenticular installation by multimedia artist Adrian Sas that offers a look into the past of a New York City street corner.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por Adrian Sas (@pixsas)

Adrian Sas: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Laughing Squid]

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Wild Indian (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor / @jasondecairestaylor)

In 2006, British artist Jason deCaires Taylor founded The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, a unique display of art that is submerged off the coast of Grenada. Recently, the underwater garden welcomed 27 new sculptures by Taylor and four by local artists, all of which are inspired by Grenada's annual Spicemas carnival. This new collection is titled The Coral Carnival, and features an array of figurative works embodying characters from the carnival, some of which are even rendered in color.

Taylor is known for using his artistic practice to help conserve the environment. All of the sculptural works are made with high-grade stainless steel and pH-neutral marine cement, ensuring that they are not only safe for sea creatures, but also beneficial. Additionally, the bases of the sculptures are rendered as lifelike rock formations with crevices and holes for marine life like octopi and lobsters to find protection and refuge. For the first time, there is even colorful details painted onto some of the works, which is made from a environmentally safe calcium carbonate base and natural pigments.

The newest additions are located in a linear procession along the sea floor at a depth of about 3 meters (just under 10 feet), so snorkelers can easily explore the gallery. Twenty-five of the sculptures from The Coral Carnival are life-cast from people of the local community. Some of the most iconic masqueraders from the carnival are depicted, including Jab Jab, a main character unique to Grenada, who wears a chain that symbolizes emancipation. Others include Short Knee, dressed in a 3/4 jumpsuit and ankle bells; and Vieux Corps, who can be identified by tall pointed hats and full-length cloaks. Also featured is the Wild Indian character, which originates “from the Amerindian heritage of immigrants from South America,” and costumed dancers of Fancy Mas, who are decorated in painted jewels, sequins, and feathers. Eventually, the painted color will be replaced by vibrant marine life as it grows over the sculptures, so this art remains ever-evolving.

Scroll down to see more amazing pieces from the collection, and be sure to follow Taylor on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest projects.

In 2006, British artist Jason deCaires Taylor founded The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, a unique display of art that is submerged off the coast of Grenada.

Fancy Mas dancer (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Fancy Mas dancer (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Recently, the underwater garden welcomed a new collection titled The Coral Carnival.

“The Coral Carnival” Collection (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Jab Jab, right; and Fancy Mas dancer, left (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor

Wild Indian, front; and Fancy Mas dancer, back (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

It includes 27 new sculptures by Taylor and 4 by local artists, all of which are inspired by Grenada's annual Spicemas carnival.

Short Knee (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Short Knee (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Wild Indian (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Wild Indian (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor / @jasondecairestaylor)

The collection features an array of figurative works embodying characters from the carnival, some of which are even rendered in color (a first for the underwater exhibit).

Wild Indian (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Fancy Mas dancer (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

The new sculptures are located along the sea bed at a depth of 3 meters (just under 10 feet), making them easily visible to snorkelers.

Short Knee (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor

25 of the sculptures from The Coral Carnival are life-cast from people of the local community.

Short Knee (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Vieux Corps (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Vieux Corps (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Some of the most iconic masqueraders from the carnival are depicted, including Jab Jab, Short Knee, and Vieux Corps.

Vieux Corps (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Vieux Corps (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Jab Jab (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Jab Jab (Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor | @jasondecairestaylor)

Jason deCaires Taylor: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jason deCaires Taylor.

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READ: Stunning Sculptures Inspired by Grenada’s Carnival Characters Are Added to Underwater Installation

Art & Photo: Audrey Smit

Have you ever imagined your dream house? For some, it may include a white picket fence and a garden, while others may imagine a dashing townhouse. French-born and Berkley-based artist Audrey Smit puts her own spin on urban spaces in an ongoing project called Paint the World. This playful series imagines buildings covered in Smit's whimsical floral designs by photoshopping the prints onto photos of actual structures.

From houses in France to streets in England and Italy, this project travels around the world. Some of the photos are taken by Smit's friends and fans, while others are captured by Smit herself as she travels. The colorful designs are pasted onto the exterior of buildings in an amazingly natural fashion, so it seems like these façades have been painted in real life and not just digitally altered. Even though these floral abodes may not actually exist yet, these assemblages let us imagine what it would look like to walk down the sidewalk and see a house that's unlike any other.

Smit's art pairs perfectly with these houses, and it's no surprise. She runs a shop called This Little Street, where her vibrant artwork is sold as wallpaper, art prints, and even clothing. Blooms are usually at the center of her creative practice, which she arranges in an array of interesting and appealing patterns.

You can purchase wallpaper and murals via Smit's online shop, and check out her book series The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry. Be sure to follow Smit's Instagram for the latest updates in Paint the World.

French-born and Berkley-based artist Audrey Smit creates whimsical floral designs.

Art & Photo: Audrey Smit

Art: Audrey Smit, Photo: @la.giuliag

Her project Paint the World involves photoshopping these flower prints onto houses around the world.

Art: Audrey Smit, Photo: @yeseniaperezcruz

Art: Audrey Smit, Photo: @bmseventh

These works reimagine a city where buildings big and small are transformed by colorful blooms.

Art: Audrey Smit, Photo: @icebaby_icecreamvan

Art & Photo: Audrey Smit

Art: Audrey Smit, Photo: @bmseventh

Audrey Smit: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Audrey Smit.

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Many painters use a grid to transfer drawings to the canvas. Rather than hide this artistic tool, Stelios Pupet takes it a step further. The Greek artist uses grids to construct both figures and landscapes with squares of different hues, highlighting how color can create forms.

While this system appears organized, Pupet says that he cannot always predict how a piece will turn out. “Starting from the grid, I create and choose shapes during the process, color them, change them, etc., without having a clear plan,” Pupet tells My Modern Met. “Everything happens during the process, so there is a surprising feeling, which I like.” Although the pixelated areas are noticeable, he also blends the geometric sections with a traditional approach to painting.

The softened effect of the grid gives these compositions a peaceful, almost dreamlike, atmosphere. There are no harsh black lines delineating the forms, so the eye follows the panels of colors—all of which have hues that go harmoniously together. “The theme of my artworks is mostly figurative, and sometimes with women in ‘mysterious' poses. Other times, I focus on nature and animals, with a tendency to distort reality,” Pupet adds. “My main focus is on creating a nice image, different or contemporary, and easy on the eye.”

You can purchase prints of Pupet's paintings via his online store, and keep up to date with the artist's latest works by following his Instagram.

Greek painter Stelios Pupet creates captivating paintings contained in a grid.

Both figures and landscapes are constructed from numerous colorful squares.

The softened look of these geometric shapes gives these works a peaceful atmosphere.

Instead of dark outlines, it is the difference in hues from the shapes that creates the forms on the canvas, paper, or sometimes, in murals.

Stelios Pupet: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Stelios Pupet.

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German street artist Hera has just transformed a train platform in Stavanger, Norway, into a work of art. Made in collaboration with the NuArt Festival, Hera's 328-foot-long mural will greet passengers as trains move along the tracks. The stunning piece shows a young girl wearing a backpack and holding onto the tail of a narwhal as if she's ready to be pulled along on her own journey.

Accompanying the image is text that reads, “We all are Birds of Migration. Some With Feathers, Some Without.” These beautiful words add layers of meaning to the piece, which Hera completed over the course of several days. The girl's eyes look straight at the viewer, almost as if she implores us to come along on her voyage. It's a fitting composition for the space, and taps into the itch that many of us have to travel.

For the artist, the piece speak to our inherent need to move about, whether freely or by force. “We all exist today, because our ancestors at some point either freely migrated to greener pastures, more fertile grounds, greater resources and safer living conditions, or were forcibly moved from one place to another at some point in history,” she shares.

“My mural is a tribute to those travelers, nomads, explorers, survivors,” she continues. “There are some voices in society who demand that everyone stay in their place of origin, basically to stay where they were born, ‘where they have come from.' Some even expect not just people but wildlife, and animals, to also forever stay within certain assigned areas and away from others, to never cross fences, respect stop signs and borderlines. What an unnatural thought to have. I wholeheartedly wish people realized how insanely absurd they sound when opposing the most natural, most intrinsic urge of life itself: the freedom of movement. It is life itself.”

This freedom of movement also translates into Hera's creativity, as she also found time to paint smaller artworks throughout Stavanger. Thanks to the NuArt Festival, the city is already dotted with work by famous street artists in addition to Hera's creative touches. From a bird on a unicycle to a cat and mouse sharing a cup of tea while reading books, these small pieces also speak to the different ways in which we may travel, whether physically or mentally.

To see where Hera's own journey will bring her next, follow her artistic travels on Instagram.

German street artist Hera recently completed a 328-foot-long mural along a train platform in Stavanger, Norway.

The work speaks to the inherent human desire to travel.

While in town, Hera also painted several smaller works that are equally charming.

Hera: Instagram

All images by Brian Tallman. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by NuArt.

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Photo: PeopleImages.com/Depositphotos

There's a lot that goes into making art. Paint, brushes, pastels, and markers are just some of the materials that creatives will have in their studio. However, you don't need to go on a shopping spree to dip your toes into drawing. With just a pencil and some paper, you can start honing your skills—one sketch at a time.

As with any medium, drawing with pencil requires time and practice. We've put together a list of ideas that will take you through the animal kingdom, across landscapes, and into your own home. By learning how to draw a variety of subjects, you will grow more comfortable with pencils and what they can do. You can also gain more confidence rendering whatever sparks your interest.

Some of these prompts will be more challenging (like drawing horses and hands), while others may be a bit easier (such as sketching an egg or a book). Try your best to tackle them all and see what kind of progress you make by the end.

Scroll down to see our full list of pencil drawing ideas.

Need a new utensil before you get started? Then, be sure to take a look at our guide to the best drawing pencils.

Start creating with these 20 pencil drawing ideas.

Animal Drawings

Squirrel

Photo: Mikhaylova/Depositphotos

Lion

Photo: VolodymyrBur/Depositphotos

Wolf

Photo: nico99/Depositphotos

Birds

Photo: Gvinevera88/Depositphotos

Horse

Photo: JozefKlopacka/Depositphotos

Nature

Rose

Photo: nnreee@gmail.com/Depositphotos

Windy Landscape

Photo: L.Kramer/Depositphotos

Leaves

Photo: OlesiaFrolowa/Depositphotos

Objects

Cut Fruit or Vegetables

Photo: kostik2photo/Depositphotos

Egg

Photo: ummuibraxim@mail.ru/Depositphotos

Still Life

Photo: EgnisMoore/Depositphotos

Makeup

Photo: Sashsmir/Depositphotos

Ballet Pointe Shoe

Photo: NadinArt/Depositphotos

Stack of Books

Photo: vad_1/Depositphotos

Column Capital

Photo: aleksstupnikov.mail.ru/Depositphotos

People

Eyes

Photo: nadyaus/Depositphotos

Hands

Photo: 7slonov/Depositphotos

Feet

Photo: PantherMediaSeller/Depositphotos

Portrait

Photo: pittore/Depositphotos

Sculpture Head

Photo: allween/Depositphotos

Want to learn alongside an instructor? These online classes go over how to draw different subjects with pencil.

Photo & Art: Demi Lang / My Modern Met Academy

Architectural Illustration for Everyone: Draw Buildings in Ink and Colored Pencil — Draw architecture like a pro with this course by Demi Lang. She'll take you step by step through the process of drawing buildings using ink and colored pencil.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole / My Modern Met

Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching — Learn the fundamentals of drawing and gain the confidence to sketch any subject you like.

Photo & Art: Melissa De Nobrega / My Modern Met

Portrait Drawing for Beginners: Learn How to Draw Anyone You’d Like — Learn to draw facial features, characters, and people! In bite-sized lessons, this portrait drawing course will break down one of the most complex subjects, the human face, into something simple and approachable.

Love drawing? Be sure to sign up for our Drawing Club newsletter to receive monthly drawing tips, prompts, tutorials, and more.

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LaToya Hobbs. “Erin and Anyah with Hydrangeas,” 2023. Acrylic and collage on carved wood panel; 48 x 60 in. (Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Ariston Jacks)

Baltimore-based artist LaToya Hobbs is presenting a series of recent woodblock prints and mixed-media portraits at Nashville's Frist Art Museum. The powerful pieces demonstrate how Hobbs deftly merges her printmaking and painting practices to create work that speaks to Black womanhood, family, labor, and self-care.

Often using her friends and family as models, much of her work starts via collaborative photography sessions with her husband Ariston Jacks. From there, Hobbs begins carving and pushes the boundaries of what we know about printmaking. Not only does she create traditional woodblock prints produced by running a carved matrix through a printing press, but the painted matrixes also become stand-alone mixed-media pieces that incorporate collage. In this way, she elevates a material often left in the artist's studio to high art.

For her exhibition at Frist Art Museum, which opens January 26, 2024, Hobbs will display some of her recent artwork. This includes her monumental work Carving Out Time, making its debut loan after being acquired by the Baltimore Museum of Art. These carved cherrywood panels are life-size scenes that follow the artist on her daily routine as a woman, mother, wife, and artist. Along the walls of the domestic spaces, Hobbs depicts work by renowned African-American artists like Kerry James Marshall and Alma Thomas. This is only the second time that the large installation will be shown in its entirety.

Standing alongside these scenes are intimate portraits such as Erin and Anyah with Hydrangeas. The mixed-media work depicts the artist's stepdaughter and niece against lush foliage in the background. The patterned background shows Hobbs' prowess for creating texture in her work, as well as symbolizing her own growth as an artist.

“Throughout her practice, Hobbs charts a new course in which depictions of the Black family, Black women, Black rest, and Black creative labor are recognized, celebrated, and elevated. In both form and content, Hobbs carves a new tradition,” shares guest curator Dr. Rebecca VanDiver, associate professor of African-American art at Vanderbilt University.

Carving a New Tradition: The Art of LaToya Hobbs will be on view at Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, from January 26, 2024 to April 28, 2024.

Artist LaToya Hobbs merges her printmaking and painting practices to create powerful mixed-media pieces.

LaToya Hobbs. “Unbothered,” 2023. Woodcut on Rieves BFK cotton paper; 24 x 32 1/4 in. (Courtesy of the artist)

A selection of her recent work will go on display at Nashville's Frist Art Museum starting in early 2024.

LaToya M. Hobbs. “Flourish,” 2023. Acrylic on carved wood panel; 96 x 96 x 2 1/2 in. (Courtesy of the artist)

This includes a complete installation of her monumental work Carving Out Time, which is on loan from the Baltimore Museum of Art.

LaToya Hobbs. “Carving Out Time (detail),” 2020–21. Oil-based printing ink and acrylic paint on 15 carved cherry plywood panels; 96 x 720 in. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Anonymous Gift; and Art Fund established with exchange funds from gifts of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar F. Berman, Equitable Bank, N.A., Geoffrey Gates, Sandra O. Moose, National Endowment for the Arts, Lawrence Rubin, Philip M. Stern, and Alan J. Zakon; BMA 2022.11. (Image courtesy of The Baltimore Museum of Art)

Hobbs uses her personal experiences to speak to Black womanhood, family, labor, and self-care.

Latoya M. Hobbs. “In need of rest,” 2023. Woodcut; 14 1/2 x 33 in. (Courtesy of the artist)

Carving a New Tradition: The Art of LaToya Hobbs will run from January 26, 2024 to April 28, 2024.

LaToya M. Hobbs. “A Moment of Care,” 2023. Woodcut; 32 1/4 x 24 in. (Courtesy of the artist)

LaToya Hobbs: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the Frist Art Museum.

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