When it comes to art and design trends of 2012, DIY living stands out above the rest. Bloggers and creatives everywhere took to fashioning a variety of chic objects from scratch, including jewelry and candles.
Illustrators were also hard at work taking the best items from popular culture and giving them a unique twist. Portraits featuring the Little Mermaid all grown up with children were a popular hit, and proved to be a subtle update on a classic tale.
Art and design developments over the past year signaled how the public is finding new ways to look good for less. DIY finds are one way this is achieved, but many are also looking towards cheaper vintage looks for a timeless, yet affordable look.
Making sense of all of the innovations in art and design can be tough. If you want to learn more on this subject, Trend Hunter's Art and Design Trend Report offers professional insights on this topic sourced from over one billion views of data.
Top 100 Art and Design Trends in 2012
From Quirky Digital Dames to Disney Family Portraits:
Jamie Danielle Munro — Jan 19, 2013 — Art & Design
100
DIY Glowing Containers
The 'From Panka with Love' Blog Shows How to Make Glow-in-the-Dark Jars
99
Race Re-imagined Damsels
Racially Altered Disney Princesses Touch on Feminist Issues
98
Friendship Necklace Tutorials
Learn How to Make These DIY Utility Rope Necklaces by Honestly Wtf
97
Hipster Princess Depictions
The DeviantART User Viria13 'Fashion Princesses' are Rad Recreations
96
Disney Family Portraits
DeviantART User Grodansnagel Illustrates the Kin of Classic Cartoons
95
DIY Nail Polish Glassware
Make Colorful Glasses with this Project by Joanna Bean Martin
94
Sinister Disney Remix Paintings
The Rodolfo Loaiza DisasterLand Exhibit Taints Childhood Memories
93
DIY Mantra Bracelets
The Lumi Blog Shows You How to Make Customized Jewelry
92
DIY Spandex Jewelry
The Brit & Co. Chunky Necklace Makes Use of Unconventional Materials
91
Anime-Style Superheroes
Santi Casas Illustrates Western Comics with Eastern Aesthetics
90
Fashion Icon Illustrations
Hayden Williams Depicts Stylish Stars in Impressive Drawing Series
89
DIY LED Party Balloons
Sharon Vaknin Shows How to Light up Any Occasion
88
Pixar-Styled Superheroes
Daniel Araya Renders Comic Book Characters with Kid-Friendly Aesthetics
87
DIY Magnetic Sunglasses
The Brit & Co. Blog Shows How to Make Fashionable Eyewear
86
DIY Tin Can Treats
The 'OUR BEST BITES' Blog Shows How to Make Customized Gifts
85
Floating Balcony Pools
The Aquaria Grande is Sculptural and Luxurious
84
Classy Sentimental Scenes
Jack Vettriano Paints Romantic Depictions with a Hard-Boiled, Noir Feel
83
Cinematic Notebook Sketches
Marie Bergeron Renders Iconic Imagery from Famous Films
82
Character Connection Cartoons
'I Know That Feel Bro' Creates Bonds Between Pop Culture Figures
81
Disturbing Liplock Depictions
David Ho Paints Bizarre Creatures Kissing One Another
80
Transformed Iconic Images
These Historic Color Photos Get an Outstanding Makeover
79
Gritty Villainous Visages
David Rodriguez Renders Batman's Enemies in Horrifying Style
78
TV Apartment Floor Plans
Inaki Aliste Lizarralde Illustrates Famous Fictional Living Spaces
77
Culture-Clashed Iconic Paintings
Robert Brandenburg's Changes Will Make You Giggle
76
Blunt Designer Truths
Anneke Short Uses Simple Prints to Set the Record Straight About Design
75
Vertigo-Inducing Photography
Photographer Dennis Maitland Isn't Afraid of Heights
74
DIY Artistic Toddler Photography
Japanese Mother Mami Koide Takes Creative Pics of Sleeping Baby
73
Innocuous Tattooed Girl Illustrations
Tati Ferrigno Pairs Angelic Ladies with Intense Body Art
72
Superheroic Eye Shadows
Makeup Artist Jangsara Celebrates The Avengers with Alluring Looks
71
Cantilevered Wooden Cabins
Utriai Residence Holds an Impossible Position Lifted Up from the Lawn
70
Sleek Stiletto-Inspired Nails
Land Your Mitts on the Best Dressed List with Louboutin Nails
69
Streaky Prismatic Portraits (UPDATE)
Marion Bolognesi Renders Perfect Faces with Runny Watercolors
68
Fully Functional Garage Homes
The Michelle De La Vega 'Mini Home' Makes Use of Unusual Space
67
Offensively Remixed Cartoons
'If Life Was Like a Disney Movie' by Jeff Wysaski is Hilarious
66
Historical Hipster Portraits (UPDATE)
These Fab Ciraolo Subjects Listen to Indie Bands
65
Ombre Kicks
Converse's New Dip-Dye Chuck Taylors are Colorful and Relaxed
64
Adorably Brief Body Art
The Dottinghill Temporary Tattoos Feature Some Amazing Designs
63
Dry Marker Damsel Drawings
Chun Fui Ng Renders Fashionable Women with Faint Ink
62
Risque Overlapping Renderings
Ho Ryon Lee Paints Provocative Women in Abstract Double Vision Style
61
Piped Paperback Storage
Industrial Bookshelves Bind Your Library into the Structure of Your Home
60
Literature-Shingled Lamps
The Zipper 8 Lighting Collection Covers Bulbs with Book Contents
59
Wallpaper-Inspired Nails
The 'Faded Floral Mani' by The Beauty Department is Easier Than it Looks
58
Quirky Digital Dames
Cintia Gonzalvez Illustrates Women with Oddball Personalities
57
DIY Nail Tape
The Beauty Department Blog Shows How to Make Colorful Fingers
56
Individualized Hilltop Hideaways
Intimate Architecture by David Garcia Studio Overlooks Vineyards
55
Carnivorous High Heels
Iris van Herpen and United Nude's Fang Shoe is Literally Long in the Tooth
54
Innocuous Youth Illustrations
Ana Bagayan Paints Wide-Eyed Children in Dream-Like Depictions
53
Romancing Hipster Illustrations
Thomas Pitilli Renders Drawings of Lovey Dovey Pop Scenes
52
Love-Struck Cakes
These Red Velvet Cupcakes are Impaled on Cupid's Arrow
51
Kitty-Inspired Fonts
The Cats as Fonts Collection is a Feline-Packed Trip Through Writing Styles
50
Manmade Cloud Installations
Berndnaut Smilde's Nimbus II is Magical and Whimsical
49
Invasive Pop-Up Illustrations
Chris Booth Sculpts Paintings that Come Off Their Canvases
48
Ethereal Pastel Ensembles
The Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture Collection is Perfect for Award Season
47
Candy-Colored Children's Illustrations
These Natsuki Otani Renderings are Wildly Chromatic
46
Haunting Hippie Portraits
Dirk Kikstra Lenses Social Rebellion for the Ones2Watch
45
Whimsical Voyager Visuals
Qian Yi Depicts a Traveller Journeying Through Fantastical Lands
44
Seductively Surreal Snapshots
An Imaginative Creative Photography Series by Allen Staley Amazes
43
DIY Paper Speakers
The Plywood iVictrola Design for iPhones is a Fun Project
42
Flora-Infused Female Paintings
Jennifer Healy Renders Women with Flowery and Fishy Anatomy
41
Hyperreal Human Replicas
Bruno Walpoth Chisels Life-Like Statues Using Lime & Walnut Wood
40
Text-Infused Hipster Renderings
Mr.Frivolous Pairs Cryptic Messages with Cool Female Drawings
39
Gravity-Defying Installations
German Artist Cornelia Konrads Explores the Temporality of Objects
38
Illuminated Public Sculptures
The Luminous Field Installation Turns Cloud Gate into a Disco Ball
37
Creepy Corpse Dolls
Kamila Mlynarczyk Crafts Whimsical Victorian Toy Zombies
36
Gold-Laced Girl Illustrations
Ikenaga Yasunari Uses Expensive Element as a Medium
35
Vibrant Hallucinatory Visions
Joanna Krotka Renders Psychedelic Pictures with an Asian Twist
34
Puny Comic Protagonists
Ryodita Renders Geeky Characters at Half their Original Size
33
Funky Four-Eyed Fashionistas
Young Chun Paints Women with Impressive Ocular Wear
32
Elegant Flower Cakes
The Instructables Blog Shows How to Make Edible Mason Jar Treats
31
Wing-Widened Campers
The Odorico Pordenone Caravan Expands to Offer Provide Spaciousness
30
Teenage Anime-Style Avengers
Artist Ricken Illustrates American Superheroes in a Japanese Style
29
Grandiose Disney Depictions
Thomas Kinkade Illustrates Majestic Pictures from Childhood Favorites
28
Horror Film Pin-Ups
Alastair Fell Paints Beautiful Women with Monstrous Make-Up & Features
27
Expressive Animal Confections
Bakerella's Panda Cupcakes are the Cutest Way to Get Your Sugar Fix
26
Punk Fashion Pictorials
Carbon Copy Magazine's Latest Shoot Will Rock Your World
25
Instagram Throw Pillows
'Stitchtagram' Creates Handmade Memories
24
Rustic Cavemen Hotels
The Caves of Civita Hotel in Sextantio Italy Offers Primitive Luxury
23
Luxury Floating Hotels
The M/V Aria Cruise Ship Travels Along the Amazon River
22
Whimsical Apparel Artistry
Katie Rodgers Renders Fashion Models in Chic & Stylish Gear
21
$21-Million Apartments
'The House' in Tokyo is the World's Most Expensive One-Bedroom Apartment
20
Famous Feline Crime Fighters
Marvel Cats Meme Invites Artists to Reinterpret Beloved Superheroes
19
Fierce Facial Jewelry Shots
The Givenchy Spring 2012 Couture Collection is Gothic-Chic
18
Photoreal Silver Screen Portraits (UPDATE)
Dan LuVisi Illustrates Memorable Movie Characters
17
Prismatic Paper Jewelry
Suite by Kirsten Hassenfeld Addresses Wealth and Luxury
16
Hunkified Disney Villains
Pixiv Artist J Gives Ugly Antagonists a Handsome Makeover
15
Adult-Themed Disney Artistry
Darko Kreculj Paints Mickey Mouse & Friends as Seedy Citizens
14
Romantic Retro Superhero Renderings
Des Taylor Depicts Comic Protagonists in Sentimental Scenes
13
Digitally Distorted Architecture
A Wayward World of Surreal Structures by Philip Dujardin
12
Social Network Stats
The Facebook 2012 Infographic is an Update on the Leading Online Community
11
Costumed Children Cartoons
Amy Mullen Illustrates Kids Dressed as Beloved Superheroes
10
Earthy DIY Eateries
Viet Hoa Mess Offers Patrons an Underground Dining Experience
9
Concealed Compartment Phone Covers
The iLID MK-1 iPhone Wallet Declutters Your Pants Pockets
8
Simple Superhero Silhouettes
Calvin Lin Creates a Series of Minimalist Comic Character Posters
7
Pixelated Pop Culture Ensembles
Paulo Capdeville Renders Comic Book Favorites Using Chunky Blocks
6
Superheroic Pocket Monsters
Artist Binsbilyas Mashes Comic Book Favorites with Pokemon
5
Disney Superhero Doodles
James Silvani Recasts Comic Books with Mickey Mouse & Friends
4
Cinematic Comic Mash-Ups
The Marvel/Disney Hybrids 2 Contest Pairs Childhood Favorites
3
Geometric Bicycle Brackets
The Bike Valet Embodies the Art of Efficient Apartment Storage
2
DIY Personified Popsicles
Zoku Makes Healthy (and Fun) Summer Treats Fast
1
Orange Peel Wicks
The DIY Satsuma Candle is an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Traditional Tapers
Related Ideas
DIY Glowing Containers
The 'From Panka with Love' Blog Shows How to Make Glow-in-the-Dark Jars
Disney Family Portraits
DeviantART User Grodansnagel Illustrates the Kin of Classic Cartoons
DIY Nail Polish Glassware
Make Colorful Glasses with this Project by Joanna Bean Martin
Sinister Disney Remix Paintings
The Rodolfo Loaiza DisasterLand Exhibit Taints Childhood Memories
DIY Mantra Bracelets
The Lumi Blog Shows You How to Make Customized Jewelry
DIY Bread Designs
The 'Kotaku' Hello Kitty Toast is Shaped Out of Foil
Fashion Icon Illustrations
Hayden Williams Depicts Stylish Stars in Impressive Drawing Series
DIY LED Party Balloons
Sharon Vaknin Shows How to Light up Any Occasion
Pixar-Styled Superheroes
Daniel Araya Renders Comic Book Characters with Kid-Friendly Aesthetics
DIY Magnetic Sunglasses
The Brit & Co. Blog Shows How to Make Fashionable Eyewear
Cinematic Notebook Sketches
Marie Bergeron Renders Iconic Imagery from Famous Films
Feline Crime Fighter Paintings
Alana McCarthy Illustrates Cats in Superhero Costumes
Innocuous Tattooed Girl Illustrations
Tati Ferrigno Pairs Angelic Ladies with Intense Body Art
Sleek Stiletto-Inspired Nails
Land Your Mitts on the Best Dressed List with Louboutin Nails
Haunting Fantasy Female Portraits
Rob Shields Paints Beautiful Women with Nightmarish Features
Quirky Digital Dames
Cintia Gonzalvez Illustrates Women with Oddball Personalities
DIY Nail Tape
The Beauty Department Blog Shows How to Make Colorful Fingers
Sleeping Newborn Photography
Sweet Bambini Studio Captures Calmly Smiling Infants
Superhero Hipster Art
Nathaly Cuervo Blends Together Contemporary Fads
Illustrated Style Mavens
The Joana Avillez Fashion Icon Drawings Are Adorably Chic
Dreamy Overlapping Scenes
Lorella Paleni Illustrates Surreal Images with Elements Phasing In & Out
Crystal Clear Purses
The 'A Pair & A Spare' DIY Transparent Clutch Bag is Gorgeously Glassy
DIY Customized Flip-Flops
The Brit & Co. Blog Shows How to Dress up Your Shoes
Hilarious Comic Hero Manatees
Joel Micah Harris Renders Famous Vigilantes as Chubby Sea Creatures
Rainbow-Hued Hair Cartoons
Clarina Gonzales Renders Women with Prismatic Locks
DIY Kitchen Supply Manicures
The 'Get Nailed' Saran Wrap Nails Tutorial is Stylishly Simple
Undressed Designer Depictions
These aleXsandro Palombo 'Fashion Diaper' Drawings are Hilarious
Floral Purse Makeovers
The DIY Decoupage Bag by Honestly WTF is Dynamic
Comic Character Mugshots
Andre De Freitas Illustrates Stoic Portraits of Superheroes
Playful Polygonal Portraits
Tim Biskup Crafts Mosaic Images that Exude a Vibrant Energy
Hippie-Inspired Jean Tutorials
'DIY Tie Dye Denim' by Honestly WTF is Impactful
Hipster Mutant Fashion Drawings
Nate Bellegarde Re-Imagines Female X-Men in Stylish Duds
Psychedelic Floral Patterns
Valeria Rey Soto Renders Prismatic Flowery Images with Trippy Designs
Comic Hero Cowboys
Denis Medri Renders DC Characters with a Western Twist
'80s-Style Sci-Fi Portraits
Craig Drake Channels Patrick Nagel while Rendering Modern Characters
Crime Fighter Cartoon Mash-Ups
Ann Marcellino Fuses The Avengers with Sailor Moon
Marvel Motorcycle Tattoos
Alivia Marie Makes Geek Art Intimidating with Her Avenger Artwork
DIY Flavored Butter Sticks
Elsie Larson Shows You How to Make Delicious Spreads
Baby Breakfast Costumes
TheCostumeCafe Egg with Bacon Ensemble is Adorable
Pop Culture Mobile Icons
iOS Icons by Konstantin Datz Would Bring a Playful Punch to Computers
Superheroic Pocket Monsters
Artist Binsbilyas Mashes Comic Book Favorites with Pokemon
Faux Frosty Cakes
Bakerella's Snow Cone Cupcakes are Surprisingly Room Temperature
DIY Ombre Tights
The Brit & Co Blog Shows You How to Make Faded Leggings
Poly-Hued Bicyclist Drawings
Adams Carvalho Renders Edgy Images of Females with Bikes
Pastry-Inspired Hair Tutorials
The Beauty Department Hot Crossed Bun Hair DIY is Gorgeous
Otherworldly Cat Illustrations
Matei Apostolescu Renders Psychedelic Images of Felines
Goth Girl Cartoons
Toon Hertz Illustrates Cutesy Females with Dark & Emotional Sides
Explicitly Nautical Cosmetic Lines
The MAC 'Hey, Sailor!' Collection is Modeled After Pin-Up Girls
Vintage Dictionary Doodles
The Etsy Seller ‘popcapopca’ Art Mixes Media and Generatio
DIY Postal Sachets
The Brit & Co. Duct Tape Envelopes are a Funky Way to Send Mail
Typographic Superhero Busts
Aurelie Scour Renders Comic Book Characters Using Text
Surreal Fantasy X-Rays
Nicolas Obery Renders Phantasmagoric Pictures Resembling Medical Photos
Summery Seaworthy Photoshoots
The Flare 'Into the Deep' Editorial Stars Meagan Callen
DIY Rose Petal Scrubs
The Beauty Department Blog Creates a Homemade Exfoliate
Child Crime Fighter Caricatures
Martin Erws Re-Imagines Superheroes with Toddler Proportions
Re-Gendered Disney Evildoers
Mae Uy Interprets Iconic Movie Villains as Females
DIY Pore Strips
The Petit Elephant Blog Shows How to Deep Cleanse Your Skin
Chic Cartoon Fashionistas
The Emma Block Style Icon Series is Divine
Baby-Inspired Grown-Up Photography
Lee Goldup for VICE Magazine Pays Tribute to Anne Geddes
Titillating Tattoo Captures
This Photography by Robin Waters is Causing a Stir
Greasy Meat Outfits
The Bacon Costume Will Make any Halloween-Goer Drool
Feminine Flower-Infused Lighting
This DIY Floral Lampshade Will Bring Some Cheer to Your Room
DIY Accessory Holders
The Beauty Department Blog Shows How to Organize Headbands
Caped Crusader Trilogy Tributes
Illustrator Florey Renders Christoper Nolan's Batman Series
DIY Jumbo Lollipop Decorations
The 'Trendy Tree' Blog Shows How to Make Affordable Party Accents
DIY Polka Dot Skirts
The 'A Beautiful Mess' Make Your Own High Low Skirt Tutorial is Simple
Mutated Mascot Drawings
Spencer Mann Imagines Mickey Mouse & Others in Psychedelic Manner
Superheroic Shot Recipes
Lily Mitchell Concocts Alcoholic Beverages Inspired by The Avengers
Kinetic Dancer Drawings
Karolina Szymkiewicz Illustrates Performers Amid Movements
Constellation-Inspired Illustrations
Chris Koehler Incorporates Accurate Astronomy into Artwork
Morbid Angelic Art
Kikyz 1313 Juxtaposes Beautiful Subjects with Grotesque Scenes
11 Foodie Finger Finds
From Fish Roe Fingernails to Soda Pop Polish
DIY Twig Decorations
The Cakies 'Sweet Bird Hanging' is a Fun Project for the Home
Logo Tattoo Ads
The Saatchi & Saatchi Lovemarks Campaign Relies on Emotion Not Reason
DIY Tube Cakes
The 'A Beautiful Mess' Cupcake Pushpop are a Fun Treat
Vengeful Disney Vixens
DeviantArt Artist JoshWMC 'Princesses as Fighting Warriors' are Remixed
DIY Retro Cupcake Jars
The 'Running With Glitter' Blog Shows You How to Make Rainbow Cakes
DIY Giftable Paper Blouses
The FISKARS Father's Day Gift Bags Are Easy to Make & Impressionable
DIY Keyboard Designs
The 'Making It Lovely' Blog Shows How to Enhance the Computer
DIY Scrap Mats
The 'A Beautiful Mess' Braided Rug is a Funky Way to Spruce Up Your Abode
Disneyfied Marvel Mutants
Matthew Humphreys Draws X-Men as Disney Characters With Charming Results
Superheroic Animal Tamers
Steve Seeley Depicts Batman & Friends Interacting with Wildlife
Fruity Ink Illustrations
Banana Tattoos by Phil Hansen is a Series of Badass Stamped Food
Blossoming DIY Sunglasses
The Honestly WTF Floral Sunglasses Tutorial is Adorable
Cowboy-Inspired Baby Carriers
The 'Baby Hjölster' Holds Your Child Western Style
Crimped Cat-Eye Tutorials
The Beauty Department Scalloped Eyeliner Guide is Adorable
Superheroic Prom Dress Designs
Tumblr User Robinade Renders Stylish Comic-Inspired Gown Ideas
DIY Doggy Bowls
The 'A Beautiful Mess' Blog Shows How to Make Customized Dishware for Pups
Baby Star Wars Jumpers
The 'Darth Vader Onesie' is Absolutely Adorable
Mason Jar Speakers
The Audiojar by Sarah Pease is a Fun and Classy Do-It-Yourself Project
DIY Gelatin Air Fresheners
The Instructables Blog Shows How to Create Your Own JELLO Scents
Badass Body Art Beauties
Serch Galindo Paints Digital Women with Impressive Tattoos
Fibrous Face Visuals
Andre Wee Illustrates Visages Using Overlapping Threadlike Lines
Tattoo-Inspired Prints
These John C. Thurbin Works are Monochromatic and Minamalist
Superheroic Marble Masterpieces
Mauro Perucchetti Creates Stunning Sculptures of Superman & Batman
Chip-Crowned Cakes
These Highway to Heaven Cupcakes are Shamelessly Over-the-Top
Pop Culture-Inspired Onsies
The Mi Cielo Baby Bodysuits are Adorable and Eco Friendly
DIY Wooden Picture Holders
The 'Miniature Rhino' Spools Project is a Great Way to Display Photos
DIY Customized Mugs
The ‘A Beautiful Mess’ Blog Shows How to Design With Sharpie Marke
Sweeping Desert Dwellings
The Brown Residence is Defined by No Boundaries with Broad Fenestration
Vigilante Baby Costumes
The Batgirl Onesie is Perfect for a Heroic Halloween
DIY Shade Designs
'Her New Leaf' Blog Shows How to Easily Spruce up Any Sunglasses
DIY Flower Party Lights
The 'Oh Happy Day' Blog Makes Decorative Cupcake Liner Lighting
DIY Unraveling Surprise Gifts
The Cakies Blog 'Love Ball' is Packed with Excitement
Chic Celebubaby Blogs
Huggies Highchair Critics Tumblr Capitalizes on Baby Celebs
Noncommittal Bed Decor
The Bilk Decal Headboards are Temporary and Chic
Fashion Model Rockers
Heidi Klum Rocks Out With Her Debut Song ‘Turn Up the Night’
Edible Cake Decorations
Yum-Wick Creates Candles that are Great for Any Occasion
Evil Antagonist-Inspired Makeup
The MAC Venemous Villains Line Takes Cues From Disney Bad Guys
$1 Millon Parking Spot
This Private Manhattan Garage Boasts a Serious Price Tag
Disney-fied Action Trailers
The Disney Hunger Games Spoof is Shockingly Spot-on