# Zany Bearded Viking Portraits These Works by Mulga the Artist are Surreally Hairy By | Published 2013-06-01 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mulga-the-artist References: [lostateminor](http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/05/30/beardy-weirdy-genius-by-mulga-the-artist/) & [mulgatheartist.au](http://mulgatheartist.com.au/) Australia-based illustrator Mulga the Artist, or Joel Moore, is a wacky visionary who loves drawing strange and unpredictable characters. He's tackled everything from zombies to frogs and now he has tackled large bearded vikings and other sea-goers. Mulga the Artist's illustrations appear simplistic at first glance, but after looking a little closer it's clear that a lot of patience and time went into each of his pieces. Swirling lines, pointillism and small minimalist images all combine to form a larger piece. In fact each of Mulga's works could be dissected into dozens of smaller works. These illustrations are demonstrative of Mulga's tribal influences. The mishmash of designs and the organic feeling of each work indicates a style that goes back thousands of years. With his bearded viking portraits Mulga the Artist has shown that artistic value doesn't have to be sacrificed in the name of wackiness. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.6/10 - Popularity: 5% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Simplistic-yet-complex Illustrations:** Opportunity for artists to create artwork that appears simplistic at first glance but contains intricate details upon closer examination. - **Tribal-inspired Artistic Style:** Potential for artists to explore and incorporate tribal influences into their works, creating unique and organic designs. - **Combining Minimalism and Pointillism:** Emerging trend of blending minimalist images and pointillism techniques to create visually striking and detailed artworks. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art and Design:** Artists can leverage the trend of simplistic-yet-complex illustrations to attract and engage audiences in various art forms and mediums. - **Tattoo and Body Art:** Tribal-inspired artistic styles present an opportunity for tattoo artists to offer unique and culturally influenced designs to their clients. - **Home Decor and Interior Design:** The combination of minimalism and pointillism can inspire designers to create visually captivating patterns and artwork for home decor and interior design purposes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Artistic Rum Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artists-of-the-abyss.md) - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Playful Doodle-Emblazoned Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sam-cox.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Limited Humorous Art Prints](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/david-shrigley-1.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Personality-Packed Wines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mullet.md) - [Character Art-Infused Leather Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moynat-x-kasing.md) - [Surreal Love-Themed Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joakim-ojanen.md)