One day last week, when I was feeling particularly stir-crazy at home, I ordered some canvases, oil paints, and acrylic paints online. The moment they arrived, I felt an immediate sense of relaxation. Painting has always made me feel at ease, especially during times of stress.
Although I’m an Art History major, I haven’t taken much time to paint on my own in a little while. While I would never put all of you through the pain of having to look at my own paintings, I wanted to share some of my new favorite artists who I’ve discovered over the last few months.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the best thing we can all do for our communities, our loved ones, and ourselves is to stay home. However, because the thought of remaining inside for long periods of time can be anxiety-producing, I wanted to share some gorgeous paintings that will undoubtedly brighten your day and set your mind at ease.
Plus, you can enjoy all of these artists’ incredible creations from the comfort of your own home. Wishing everyone good health and sending lots of love during these strange times. We’ll be back with more artists soon!
When I first came across Hilary’s work, I was immediately struck by her many beautiful interior paintings. During these times at home, her paintings make me appreciate the beauty of the indoors. Image courtesy of Instagram.
Every time I travel, I always like taking home a small memento that reminds me of the trip. Or, when I’m away at college, I enjoy looking at art that reminds me of home. The moment I discovered Matchbook Diaries, I bought two photographs that represent some of my favorite places. One of them pays homage to Chateau Marmont, the iconic LA hotel, and the other depicts a matchbox from Lyford Cay in The Bahamas. Image courtesy of Instagram.
Gabriella Sanchez’s bright, mixed-media paintings are incredibly compelling. This one, entitled Down is Up is one of my all-time favorites. Image courtesy of Charlie James Gallery.
I was lucky enough to experience Jordan Casteel’s exhibit “Returning the Gaze” at The Cantor Museum at Stanford University a few months ago. I featured this painting, called Fatima, on my Instagram Stories at the time, as it was one of my favorite ones shown at the exhibit. Image courtesy of The Cantor.
Matthew Brannon’s work has been featured at numerous prominent galleries around the country, including two of my favorites– David Kordansky (LA) and Casey Kaplan (NY). The above painting really appeals to me because of the stark contrast between bright and muted tones. I also love the fact that Brannon includes witty sayings and phrases in many of his paintings. Image courtesy of Matthew Brannon.
Jonathan Gardner’s pictorial abstractions caught my eye immediately. While I am obsessed with nearly all of his works, I particularly gravitate toward the more colorful ones, such as the one above. Image courtesy of Casey Kaplan Gallery.
When I first saw this painting by Alec Egan on Instagram, I stopped scrolling and stared at it for a few minutes. It’s almost an optical illusion, and the vivid color palette is incredible. Image courtesy of Instagram.
One of Ramiro Gomez Jr.’s latest exhibitions took place at Charlie James Gallery in LA. I appreciate how his paintings highlight contrasting aspects of society– beautiful settings people pay attention to, and the people who care for them who are often overlooked. Image courtesy of Charlie James Gallery.
I first saw Greg Ito’s work in-person at Penske Projects’ amazing LA pop-up called “The Garden.” This is one of my favorite paintings of his. Image courtesy of Instagram.
