Artists often worry so much about capturing the likeness of a subject when rendering portraits that they forget about creating an atmosphere for viewers, but that’s not the case with Ivan Tao. Every one of his creations, from his celebrity portraits to his video game illustrations, have great mood, which inspires discourse between viewer and painting more so than just depicting familiar faces. It's the mark of an artist who truly wants to communicate with his viewers rather than just show off his technical abilities.
Ivan Tao is a Malaysian artist who’s majorly influenced by the impressionism art period. It’s evident in his portraits of Natalie Portman and Hellboy as he uses quick brush strokes in order to approximate the likeness of the two without going into heavy refinement or detail. His penchant for wispy and flowing brush strokes also gives his pieces an ethereal dream-like quality.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Impressionistic Art
- Exploring the use of quick brush strokes and ethereal qualities to create mood and atmosphere in artwork.
- Viewer-engaging Portraits
- Focusing on creating a discourse between viewers and portrait artwork, going beyond depicting familiar faces.
- Mood-inspired Art
- Using art to evoke emotions and create a deep connection with viewers through thoughtful and atmospheric compositions.
Where This Applies
- Art Education
- Opportunity to teach students about the importance of creating mood and atmosphere in portraits, going beyond technical skills.
- Portrait Photography
- Incorporating the concept of mood and atmosphere in portrait photography to enhance the emotional impact of the images.
- Digital Media and Design
- Exploring the use of digital tools to create mood and atmosphere in illustrations and video game art, aligning with viewer engagement.
