Art is one of the defining characteristics of us humans. It’s in our genes. It is there in all of us in some form. And that is why we all stop to enjoy and interpret art whenever we get a chance. But for many, merely commenting about a great work of art just isn’t enough. Inspired by works of the masters, they create their own art.
Vincent Van Gogh
The Starry Night
After cutting off his left ear, Vincent Van Gogh admitted himself to a lunatic asylum called the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole back in 1889. That year he drew one of his masterpieces, which depicted the world that he saw from his asylum room’s east-facing window. Named The Starry Night, the oil on canvas painting is currently located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
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A Glowing Bicycle Path Inspired by The Starry Night
Something that has been inspired by a masterpiece like The Starry Night will certainly be a beautiful creation. An example is Daan Roosegaarde‘s glowing bicycle path in Holland. This amazing work was created using solar-powered LEDs and glow-in-the-dark technology. Being eco-friendly, the path is surely a big tribute to the master painter who was in love with nature. It was made in Brabant, which is where Van Gogh was born.
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Don McLean’s Vincent
Written as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, the song titled Vincent (also known by its first line, “Starry Starry Night”) describes several paintings done by the painter. The singer wrote the lyrics after reading a book about Van Gogh’s life.
Taiwan’s Replica of The Starry Night
To promote recycling, some folks in Taiwan created a giant replica of Van Gogh’s painting with four million plastic bottles. The installation is located in Keelung city and covers 53 hectares of the Starry Paradise park. It was opened to the public to mark the 125th death anniversary of Van Gogh.
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Pablo Picasso
The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso
Picasso, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the previous century, created The Weeping Woman in 1937. The work is a good example of Picasso’s cubism and anti-war stance. The model for the oil on canvas painting was Dora Maar, Picasso’s mistress from 1936 to 1944.
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Inspired by Picasso, and many other masters, Californian Lexie Lazear is recreating famous works right on her face and posting them on her Instagram page. She is not just copying the paintings onto her cheeks, eyelids and lips, but is reinterpreting them as you can see below.
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Speaking of cubism, Hannes Grebin from Germany seems to have been inspired by the style. As you can see, his creations aren’t exactly the ones you would show off to your neighbors. Yet, they are a tribute to all those artists who were behind the early-20th century movement.
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Jackson Pollock
A major figure in abstract expressionism, Jackson Pollock was famous for his unique style of drip painting. His famous paintings were created during the “drip period” (1947 to 1950). Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) is one among them.
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But there can be a Pollock in all of us; we have created many abstract works of art on the walls, in our text books, and on our palms when we were young. Let those ideas flow and turn those old pair of shoes lying around in your home or your mom’s old cupboard or that dirty old bean bag into a work of art. Similar to what some folks have done here.
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Michelangelo
The Creation of Adam
It’s a painting that has been reproduced in various imitations and parodies. The Creation of Adam is part of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling and it was created by Michelangelo, described as one of the greatest artists ever, more than 500 years ago.
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Now, check out a wall decor light inspired by the painting and it has been made from recycled materials. All you need is a fishing line, paper mache, acrylic and LED light. It’s not a very complicated creation, but it is interesting. Maybe you can do a better job with the sculpting.
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James McNeill Whistler
Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1
You may not have heard about the painting mentioned above but you most probably are familiar with its colloquial name, Whistler’s Mother. Created in 1871, the oil on canvas work is by American-born James McNeill Whistler. Yes, the model in the painting is actually Whistler’s mother. It is currently located at Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
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But you probably only knew about the painting after watching the movie Bean. In the movie Rowan Atkinson, as you might know, edits the work to create this:
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And it appears like Bean’s work of art looks cool as a laptop skin and on a drawstring bag.
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Salvador DalÃ
You certainly should know who Salvador Dalà is; the great Spanish surrealist painter who also loved to indulge in unusual and grandiose behavior. But just in case you are unable to remember his face (more importantly, his mustache), take a peek at the picture below. You can see the painter on some guy’s head. The artwork has been created by San Antonio, Texas-based artist and hair stylist Roberto Perez, who turns his clients’ heads into his canvases and cuts, shaves, and dyes hair to create beautiful portraits and patterns.
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One of DalÃ’s most famous works is The Persistence of Memory, which was painted in 1931 and is currently located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
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Here is another version of the painting featuring America’s favorite family, The Simpsons. Click here if you like to check out many of the art references in the animated sitcom.
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And SpongeBob seems to have done his job to inspire the young. Can you name all the works of art recreated below? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Liked any of these?
Which one is your favorite?
