paintings

And no one seems to be talking about it!

There are "illuminated manuscripts" that were created by Medieval monks that are holy books, filled with beautiful and meaningful works of art. And sometimes, the Medieval monks would just draw cats...licking their butts.  

I know what you're thinking, basically we are thinking it too, "Why?" 

No one really seems to know for sure. Apparently, butt licking cats is a weirdly common theme in medieval art. There is one theory that we also believe in, that theory is these cats were just etched in the margins by bored monks who did so to amuse themselves. Remember that scene in Superbad, where the main character had a fascination with drawing a certain phallic part of the male anatomy? 

Perhaps, this is sort of like that. Perhaps the idea of sneaking these lewd cats into these holy books was just a funny inside joke that the monks would pass along, and on those particularly long and boring days, scribble pictures of cats taking care of their basic hygiene. 

In the end, we'll probably never learn the truth but in the meantime, we can enjoy the art. 

Meet Young-sung Kim, the extraordinary artist from Seoul, Korea, that is about to take your senses on a magic ride! Kim creates insane hyperrealistic pictures that look way too real for the mind to even comprehend that it's just a painting! 

His paintings, oil on canvas, look more realistic than actual photographs!

The Insider interviewed Kim on his process of what he calls, "an advanced, extreme hyperrealism that precedes any reality — more real than photographs and high-definition monitors." 

He continued describing the process and how planning each new piece involves, "collecting small animals, taking photographs, preparing a canvas, sketching, drawing, and painting with small brushes."

Kim also informed the Insider that he works 12 hours per day on creating these masterpieces.It can take anywhere from 3 to 10 months to complete one painting. 

Since Kim was a small child, he's been "collecting, observing, and studying .. I was amazed at the detail and the subtle colors that I saw in my work, just as I looked through a microscope." 

Why hyperrealism? Kim explains, "I have chosen my genre as hyperrealism because people in today's society think of animals and nature as methods of ornament, experiment, and edibility, My genre may be able to make the people think twice about the unintentionally abusive nature of their behavior towards animals and nature."

"Let's take care of small animals," Kim said. "If they cannot live, humans cannot live either."

We completely agree, Kim! Keep creating and loving life! 

Via The Insider

Pigcasso, a pig rescued from the slaughterhouse at just 3 years old is now a world-famous painter! You can follow her incredible journey on Instagram! 

Take out people and replace them with animals in famous paintings, what do you get? A masterpiece all over again! 

Check out this collection of dramatic animal photos that look like they were taken straight from a Renaissance art with the dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, contortions of the body, and a gold ratio composition.

People love their pets. And why shouldn't they? They are family... in fact they are more than just a family member, they are like the royal in the family. So those royals are usually treated as so. So it's no surprise that owners would go above and beyond for their royal pets. Point in take...  Mantelpiece Masterpiece. The creative website allows owners to send in photos of their pets and attach them to classic bodies from paintings. Can't picture it? Don't worry, we have the photos to help you out! 

More info:  Website | Instagram h/t: MyModernMet

Artist Gill Bustamante who is based in Sussex, England, is the creator of large-scale, ethereal landscape oil paintings. Working with a vibrant color palette, she described her style as "a fusion of Expressionist, Impressionist, Semi-abstract, Art Deco, a little Art Nouveau and whatever mood I'm in that day." Sounds like a true artist. 

So, what inspires her? "...the patterns of nature and the energy, colors, and spaces of the landscapes and animals" that are around her. And wow, are we glad that is what gives her the inspiration for such gorgeous paintings! 

If you're amazed by Bustamante's paintings, then make sure to check her out on Etsy and Saatchi Art.

h/t: MyModernMet

Remember those days of just nap times and finger painting when you were a kid? Ya, we don't either. But Iris Scott is about to change all of that! Not only is she out to prove that not only children can enjoy the fun art activity but, also a viable way to produce stunning works of art! For years, the Brooklyn-based creative has broken the barrier between herself and the canvas by creating elaborate, colorful paintings using her hand in place of a brush!

Iris Scott's book, Finger Painting Weekend Workshop, invites anyone to try this type of Impressionist art. 

(h/t) mymodernmet

Tal Peleg is a visual artist from Israel who does some pretty impressive eye make-up, giving new meaning to the term "eye candy".

American painter and illustrator Danial Ryan is far more obsessed with cats than the average kitty fanatic. They play a lead role in his artistic creations. Using acrylic paint on canvas, Ryan portrays our feline friends in a variety of surreal, absurd and often bizarre scenarios from his studio in Tampa Florida. We've handpicked a few of our personal favorites from his collection below, but you can see the entire on-going series via his official site or through his personal Instagram profile @artofdanialryan.

Artist Eldar Zakirov has illustrated the regal appearance that cats already imagine would be nothing but a fitting display of sophistication for all felines.