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If you’re creating amazing art but struggling to gain exposure, art contests are a great opportunity for publicity. And if you’re living the infamous “starving artist” lifestyle, this is also a way to pull yourself out of a rough spot by potentially winning cash prizes, allowing you to gain an extra financial boost towards your dream creative projects.

There are loads of different competitions out there, from world-renowned painting contests to inspiring digital art challenges, that will place you in the art world. With so much to choose from, we’ve created a guide to help you decide which visual arts competitions are best suited to you and your artistic talents. Depending on your eligibility, you can try for these annual awards year after year.

Ready to show off your art to the world? Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.

Painting Competitions

“Tower of Towers” by Kimball Geisler, 12th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition Grand Prize Winner

PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Prize: $50,000 in All Cash Prizes. $15,000 Grand Prize for annual competition, $24,200 in additional annual cash awards, and $25,800 in cash awards throughout the year for monthly competitions.
Entry Fee: $29 for the first entry, $12 for each additional entry (early bird fee, expires the 15th of each month). Regular Fee: $38 for the first image, $16 for subsequent images.
Requirements: Open to international artists, not just plein air artists, age 18 years of age and older.
Closing Date:  Each monthly competition ends at midnight Pacific Time on the published final day of that competition. Winners are announced on the last day of the month following the competition. The Annual Competition closes on March 15th, 2025.

PleinAir magazine hosts monthly painting competitions that award artists across a variety of painting mediums. The winners of the monthly competitions will be entered into the annual competition with a chance to win $15,000. The winner of the annual competition will also see their work placed on the cover of PleinAir magazine, the #1 representational art magazine at Barnes & Noble. There are 19 categories to select from, some reserved specifically for plein air painting, while others also accept studio paintings. The winners will be showcased in PleinAir magazine, and all winners and finalists will have their work promoted online on sites like FineArtConnoisseur.com, OutdoorPainter.com, PleinAirSalon.com, and in a variety of e-newsletters.

Enter now

AcrylicWorks 11

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize.
Entry Fee: $45 ($35 before February 27, 2024).
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada.
Closing Date: April 9, 2024

For the AcrylicWorks 11 competition, the organizers are looking for the best in acrylic painting over a variety of styles and subjects. The eligible entries will be judged in two rounds according to artistic technique, handling of the medium, design, and creative elements, as well as overall impression and impact. Winners’ works will be featured in Artists Magazine.

Enter now

Splash 26

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize.
Entry Fee: $45
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada.
Closing Date: Fall/Winter 2024 (TBD)

For the Splash 26 contest, Artists Network is looking for original watercolor paintings. Each entry must be rendered predominantly with watercolor; however, some minor use of other mediums may be acceptable. Top winners and a selection of other winners will appear in a special edition of Watercolor Artist magazine.

Enter now

Jackson's Painting Prize

Prize: £6,000 first prize
Entry Fee: £5 per entry.
Requirements: Open to international artists of all ages.
Closing Date: March 1, 2024

Jackson's Painting Prize was created to reward excellence in two-dimensional works of fine art. Both painting and drawing media are accepted and in addition to the main prize, there are also awards for emerging artists, best watercolor, and people's choice.

Enter now

Digital Art Contests

Photo: Howard Lawrence B

The Lumen Prize for Digital Art

Prize: $4,000 first prize, with a $13,500 total prize fund.
Entry Fee: $40 for two works ($32 for two works if submitted prior to March 24).
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: May 25, 2024

This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. The contest guidelines are relatively loose—the only requirement is that the submitted artworks must somehow engage with technology. Categories include Still, Moving Image, XR, 3D/Interactive and Artificial Intelligence.  Several awards categories are also rewarded with artist residencies and exhibitions in addition to the cash prize.

Find out more.

animago Award

Prize: €3,000 cash prize for Best Young Production, all nominees provided lodging and tickets to animago.
Entry Fee: Free
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

For over 20 years the prestigious animago Award competition has spotlighted talent in the fields of 3d animation and stills, visual effects, visualization, and design. Organized by the German magazine Digital Production, all winners are announced during a gala at the annual animago conference in Munich, Germany. Though, due to the pandemic, animago has not taken place since 2019, artists are still encouraged to submit their work for the next time that the conference occurs.

Enter now

Illustration Contests

Photo: rawpixel

World Illustration Awards

Prize: A cash prize of £2,000 and more publicity opportunities.
Entry Fee: £29 (approximately $33)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: February 22, 2024

Anyone who’s into illustration is bound to have heard of the prestigious World Illustration Awards. Illustrators are invited to submit work created or published since January 2018 to 8 different categories. Winners will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also be awarded invaluable global exposure, such as a marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, a feature in a major exhibition in central London, and an invitation to the Awards Evening in October.

Enter now

Society of Illustrators Annual Competition

Prize: Medals, work published in a full-color catalog and displayed in an exhibition.
Entry Fee: $20 for members ($35 for non-members)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

The Society of Illustrators Annual Competition is known as the premier showcase for illustrators and animators. Open to artists worldwide, work can be entered in one of the six categories: Editorial, Book, Advertising, Institutional, Uncommissioned, and Surface/ Product Design. The selected entries will be exhibited at the Society of Illustrators’ gallery in New York City and be printed in full color in their annual catalog. In addition to the entry fee, there is a hanging/publication fee of $90 for non-members and $80 for members.

Enter now

Drawing Contests

Photo: Stock Photos from Iuliia Tarabanova/Shutterstock

Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize
Entry Fee: $45
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada.
Closing Date: Spring/Summer 2024 (TBD)

The Strokes of Genius Competition celebrates original work made in drawing mediums; including pencil, charcoal, Conté crayon, pen and ink, scratchboard, silverpoint, colored pencil, pastels, and even some wet paint mediums if used in a linear or sketchy manner. Winning entries plus an additional 85+ finalists will be published in a special edition publication, The Best of Drawing, from the editors of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

Drawing of the Year

Prize: Total prize fund of £100,000, with £55,000 spread across six categories.
Entry Fee: Free
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: March 17, 2024

Run by architecture and design collective Archisource, Drawing of the Year recognizes excellence in drawing and image creation, celebrating imagery and creations across all styles, typologies, and across digital and physical media.

Enter now

General Art Contests

Photo: Pixabay via Pexels

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Prize: Over $65,000 in cash and prizes to be won (overall winner receives $10,000 to develop their practice). Plus global exposure through Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s 1 million+ social media community, along with website and print editorial.
Entry Fee: $40 per entry (artists can enter up to 10 times)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide working in the representational visual arts.
Closing Date: midnight PT on July 17, 2024

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 7th year, is an annual non-acquisitive international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts. It includes all static mediums including Traditional Art media, Digital Art media, and Photographic media; and all styles from realism and hyperrealism to pop surrealism and lowbrow. The Prize seeks to inspire creatives from around the world to pursue a life and career in the arts, and to help careers grow through funding and increased exposure of their work to galleries, collectors, and media, globally.

Enter now

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

Prize: Over $29,000 in cash prizes and publication in Artists Magazine.
Entry Fee: $40
Requirements: Open to artists over 18 worldwide working in a traditional medium.
Closing Date: Spring/Summer 2024

Artists Magazine’s Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, digital art, and much more. Winners will be chosen from a variety of categories including Portrait/Figure, Still Life, Landscape, Abstract, and Animal/Wildlife.

Along with generous cash prizes, this contest provides a huge opportunity to gain exposure—all winners’ work will be featured in the January/February 2025 issue of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

The Sunny Art Prize

Prize: A total cash fund of £6,000 plus a month-long art residency in China, and a solo exhibition in London.
Entry Fee: £25 for one artwork, up to £45 for four artworks.
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide age 18 and over.
Closing Date: June 30, 2024

One of the most inclusive and diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists. Winners will be granted an opportunity to have their work shown in an exhibition in London, and develop their work during a month-long residency in China. A £6,000 (approximately $7,600) total cash prize will be split between the first three winning artists.

The art contest accepts entries in a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramic art, printmaking, installation art, mixed media, video art, and photography.

Enter now

YICCA International Contest of Contemporary Art

Prize: €3,000 first prize and solo exhibition, €1,000 second prize and exhibition opportunity
Entry Fee: €50 per entry (up to 6 submissions possible)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide
Closing Date: April 11, 2024

YICCA is an international call for artists, open to professionals and not only from any country in the world. All kinds of contemporary artworks are allowed in the art contest: drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, graphics, mixed media, video, installations, and performances. The jury's final decision will lead to a selection of 18 artists who will participate in the final exhibition in Venice. The overall winner will also receive a solo exhibition.

Enter now

Wildlife Artist of the Year

Prize: £10,000 for the overall winner (including a £5,000 conservation donation to a DSWF project of the winner’s choice), £2,000 for the runner-up (including a £1,000 conservation donation to a DSWF project of the winner’s choice), and category prizes of £500 each.
Entry Fee: £25 per entry (£15 per entry for youth category)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide (age 15 and over)
Closing Date: March 11, 2024

Organized by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, this contest encourages artists to use the natural world as a source of inspiration for a piece of art and, in doing so, raise vital awareness for some of the most pressing environmental issues our planet faces. Mediums can include but are not restricted to, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, mixed media, bronze, plaster, wire, collage, and textiles, with styles encompassing traditional, abstract, monochrome, and many others.

Enter now

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: 15 of the Best Art Competitions To Enter in 2024

René Magritte is one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th-century Surrealist movement, alongside André Breton and Salvador Dalí. In the 1920s, the Belgium painter joined a group of young artists who wanted to create work that celebrated the subconscious mind and the world of dreams. During these years and beyond, Magritte defined his unique artistic style that critics called “Magic realism.” Throughout his long career, he produced paintings that blurred the line between reality and fantasy and invited the viewer to question what they thought they knew.

Here are some René Magritte paintings that give an insight into the artist’s mind.

The Treachery of Images, 1929

Photo: “The Treachery of Images” by René Magritte (1929). Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Painted when Magritte was 30 years-old and living in Paris, The Treachery of Images is part of a series of paintings featuring images paired with words. This particular piece shows a pipe with the French phrase, “Ceci n'est pas une pipe” (“This is not a pipe”). Magritte wanted to highlight that the painting is not a pipe, but rather a picture of one. The Treachery of Images is one of the most iconic artworks of the Surrealist movement, as it challenges the paradoxes of language and visual representation.

The Lovers II, 1928

 

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This oil-on-canvas painting depicts a man and a woman locked in an embrace and kissing each other through cloths wrapped around their heads. The mysterious scene invites viewers to question why the lovers are unable to truly communicate or touch.

It’s difficult to speculate on a singular meaning, but the painting’s hues allude to certain themes. The color blue in the background is associated with water, which often symbolizes life. The woman wears red, perhaps representing love or passion. The man in the painting wears a black suit, a color frequently associated with death. The veils are of a whitish or grayish color, possibly representing purity or purity that is tainted. Some interpret the work as a portrait of human isolation, and a depiction of the inability to fully understand even our closest companions.

On March 12, 1912, Magritte’s mother sadly died by suicide after drowning herself in the Sambre river in northern France. When she was found, 13-year-old Magritte was present at the scene. Her dress was covering her face, an image that perhaps influenced several oil paintings the artist painted of people with cloth obscuring their faces, including The Lovers II.

The False Mirror, 1929

 

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The human eye was a subject that fascinated many Surrealist artists, as they believed it represented the bridge between the self and the external world. The False Mirror, painted in 1929, features a single eye that consumes the entire canvas. It stares out at the viewer with realistic detail and texture. The eye’s pupil floats against a cloud-filled sky, appearing as though the iris is a circular window. Surrealist photographer Man Ray—who owned the work from 1933 to 1936—recognized the duality of The False Mirror, when he described the work as a painting that, “sees as much as it itself is seen.”

Personal Values, 1952

 

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“I don't paint visions,” Magritte once said. “To the best of my capability, by painterly means, I describe objects—and the mutual relationship of objects—in such a way that none of our habitual concepts or feelings is necessarily linked with them.” In no other painting does this shine through as it does in Personal Values. Here, the artist depicts a seemingly common bedroom. The surreal twist comes in the human-sized objects that inhabit it—a comb, a wine glass, a shaving brush. It's in the dissonance of presenting familiar items in an unexpected and unnerving way that Magritte gets to challenge common sense.

Golconda, 1953

 

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Although Magritte lived a quiet, middle-class life in Brussels, he was able to turn the ordinary into something wondrous. Golconda depicts a surreal suburban scene where countless nearly identical men dressed in dark overcoats and bowler hats float in the air like balloons. Magritte himself lived in a similar environment and dressed similarly to the subjects in the painting, so it’s easy to assume this piece is perhaps a self-portrait. However, the title Golconda was provided by Magritte’s friend and poet Louis Scutenaire. Golconda is a ruined city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, near Hyderabad. From the mid-14th century until the end of the 17th century, the city was the capital of two wealthy kingdoms and was the center of the region's legendary diamond industry. In the painting, the large man by the chimney of the house on the right of the composition is believed to represent Scutenaire.

The Son of Man, 1964

 

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Perhaps Magritte’s most famous work, The Son of Man painted in 1964 is the artist’s take on a self-portrait. The oil painting features the artist himself, dressed in an overcoat and a bowler hat, standing next to a short wall with a seaside setting in the background. His face is largely obscured by a hovering green apple, but if you look close enough, you can just about see his eyes peeking over the edge of the fruit and its leaves.

The painting is part of a series and is often grouped with two other works produced in the same year. The first is Magritte's Man in the Bowler Hat that features a similar figure whose face is obscured by a flying bird. The second is The Great War of the Facades that depicts an elegantly dressed woman with blossoming flowers blocking her face.

Speaking about The Son of Man, Magritte said, “At least it hides the face partly. Well, so you have the apparent face, the apple, hiding the visible but hidden, the face of the person. It's something that happens constantly. Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see. There is an interest in that which is hidden and which the visible does not show us. This interest can take the form of a quite intense feeling, a sort of conflict, one might say, between the visible that is hidden and the visible that is present.”

This article has been edited and updated.

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If you know an illustrator, you know that they’re experts in visualizing ideas, stories, and much more. Whether they’re already a seasoned professional or just starting to make a career change, those in the field of illustration are constantly drawing, painting, and creating. So, why not give them something to help and inspire their creativity?

We’ve curated 20 brilliant gift ideas for illustrators, from art materials to inspiring books. If your loved one prefers the old-school way of drawing on paper, they’re sure to love our selection of pens, markers, and sketchbooks. And if they draw digitally, check out the graphics drawing tablet, artist glove, and the official training workbook for Adobe Illustrator.

Scroll down for more wonderfully inspiring gifts for illustrators in your life.

Do you have an illustrator in your life? Check out these gift ideas that are sure to inspire them to keep drawing.

642 Things to Draw Book

Chronicle Books | $16.95

Rainbow Pencils

Duncan Shotton | $15

Copic Markers, Floral Favorites (Set of 6)

Copic | $47.94

Digital Artist Glove

DigitalArtistStore | $30

Botanical Art Techniques Book

American Society of Botanical Artists | $40

Moleskine Classic Hardcover Sketchbook

Moleskine | $24.95

Marvel Illustrator's Sketchbook

Marvel | $14.99

Wacom CTL4100 Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet

Wacom | $69.95

Gouache Brushes for Procreate

FreyaArtProcreate | $49.59

“Not Paint Water” Mug

Panvola | $14.97

Watercolor Wooden Travel Box

WOODENWATERCOLORBOX | $26.36+

365 Days of Art in Nature Book

Lorna Scobie | $22.99

iPad Pro for Digital Art

Apple | $999.97

Viviva Colorsheets

Viviva Colorsheets | $19.95

Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book

Adobe Press | $21+

Uni-Posca Paint Marker Pens

Uni-Posca | $26.49

Flower Color Pencils

Trinus | $22

J.C. Leyendecker: American Imagist Book

Judy Goffman Cutler, Laurence S. Cutler | $60

Sakura Prisma Fineliner 

Sakura | $17.99

A Big Important Artist: A Womanual Book

Danielle Krysa | $16.99

This article has been edited and updated.

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

What do you buy the person in your life who can make basically everything themselves? Crafters are famously, well, crafty—meaning they’re always keeping busy with DIY projects and probably have an “idea list” as long as their arm. But no matter how many artistic activities they may have on the go, there’s always room for more. That’s why we’ve curated a list of gift ideas that are sure to spark the imagination of your favorite creators.

From a DIY diorama to a bookbinding kit, there are plenty of giftable projects that will suit all types of crafters and makers. For textile artists, we’ve included a variety of fun embroidery kits, a soap kit, and even a miniature weaving loom. For nature lovers, why not give a beautiful flower press so they can create their own botanical art? Or for those who love to give handmade gifts, check out the jewelry-making kit, as well as the shrink plastic pin kit that allows you to turn your own illustrations into wearable accessories.

These kits, many of which are curated by independent makers on Etsy, often include everything your crafter will need for the project. From yarn to glue to beads and clay, they'll just need to follow the instructions to create their masterpiece. So, whatever the occasion, let your favorite crafter unleash their creativity and learn something new by checking out this hand-selected list of the best gifts.

Know someone who loves to make things? Check out our list of craft gift ideas that are sure to keep them busy.

Block Printing Scarf Kit

The Artsy Crafty Place | $76.49+

Decorate Your Own Bud Vase Kit

Sun Sprinkles | $49+

Flower Pressing Online Art Class

My Modern Met Academy | $34.95

Weaving Loom

WoolCoutureCompany | $16.25+

Rainbow Yarn Bowl

NerdpreneurCreations | $32

“I'm So Crafty I Sweat Glitter” Mug

HeartAndWillowPrints | $14.95+

DIY Air Dry Clay Kit

Mesh and Cloth | $54.58+

Easy Macrame Dreamcatcher Kit

Bean Daikon | $28.53+

Robins Needle Felting Kit

Felt and Dandy | $23.58

DIY Solar Printing Kit

Elemental Leaf | $12.45+

Beginner Weaving Kit

Olivia Art Craft | $62.99

The Fine Art of Paper Flowers: A Guide to Making Beautiful and Lifelike Botanicals Book

Tiffanie Turner | $19.49

Interchangeable Knitting Needles Set

The Fabulous Krafts | $93.50+

Adult Paint by Numbers Kit

elle crée | $34

DIY Kintsugi Kit

Kintsugi Planet | $16.37+

Sew Your Own Tote Bag Kit

Sew Make It By Judy | $24.86+

Botanical Heirloom Flower Press Kit

Em and Me Studio | $48+

Learn to Crochet a Bag Online Class

My Modern Met Academy | $34.95

Moss Wall Art Kit

Naturely Box | $30+

DIY Purse Craft Kit

Handmaid Purses | $21.35

Make Your Own Polymer Clay Earrings Kit

Dew Drop Inc | $41.55+

Robin Crochet Kit

Little Conkers | $18.35+

Cactus Desert Embroidery Kit

MCreativeJ | $37.40

DIY Soap Making Kit

The Hobbyist Box | $37.99

Macrame Coaster Kit

Bergin and Bath | $25.50

DIY Basketry Kit

Wonder Weaver Design | $52

Botanical Paper Making Kit

Mano Monai | $27.57

Fox Knitting Needle Gauge

Tangerine 8 | $10

Lino Cutting and Printing Kit

Armadillo Art | $39.99

“Bees and Wildflowers” Embroidery Kit

Oh Sew Bootiful | $27.50

Small Rainbow Banner Embroidery

Cotton Clara | $8.86+

Mini Copper Hoop Decoration Kit

May Contain Glitter | $15.30

DIY Beaded Earrings Kit

UnicornBeadsArt | $16.80

Dachshund Mini Needle Felting Kit

Hawthorn Handmade | $14.29+

Hedgehog Doll Embroidery Kit

Kiriki Press | $22

Jewelry Making Kit

Yoola | $57

Autumn Leaf Stamp Set

PaperGrapePrints | $10.20+

Beginner Embroidery Stitch Sampler

Dropcloth Samplers | $18

DIY Felt Unicorn Kit

DelilahIris | $32

Needle Punching and Tufting Kit

Wholepunching | $46.05

DIY Paper Garden

My Papercut Forest | $50.99

Bookbinding Kit

cleverhands | $48

Fabric Boxes Sewing Project

Consciously Create | $19.06

DIY Miniature Dollhouse Kit of “Kevin's Studio”

Craftismo | $60.43

Build Your Own Robot Wooden Puzzle Pot

Craftismo | $36.64

DIY Shrink Plastic Pin Kit

Yellow Owl | $18.50

“You Crafty B*tch” Mug

Ink Pop Co | $21.49+

André the Anteater Pattern

Irene Strange | $6.66

Pretty Simple Lettering Book

Whitney Farnsworth | $25.06

String Art Kit and Masterclass

Studio Mira UK | $95.61

DIY Cosmetic Bag Embroidery Kit

55tree | $12.78+

This article has been edited and updated.

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While many publishers are embracing the digital world, others are campaigning to keep print alive. When it comes to reading articles and features, many readers still prefer the tangible experience of flipping through glossy pages. There is something special about sitting down with a cup of coffee and holding a magazine in your hands—not to mention that a magazine subscription gives us a welcome break from our screens and something to look forward to in the mail!

In the art world, there are plenty of publications that favor print over digital; some magazines have been going strong for several decades. So if you are looking to keep up on culture news, gain inspiration, and discover new artist projects, there are plenty of publications to choose from. In this list, we’ve included both long-established as well as new independent publishers to give you a broad range of magazines to choose from. So, if you’re looking for art-focused reading material, check out some of the best art magazine subscriptions you can order online today.

Art in America

Founded in 1913, Art in America is one of the oldest and most well-known art magazines. It reports on the art, people, issues, trends, and events shaping the American and international art world. A subscription to the monthly magazine includes a bonus issue—the ARTnews Top 200 Collectors issue. Find out more here, where you can subscribe to either one or two years of magazines that will arrive straight to your doorstep.

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine

Beautiful Bizarre is the freshest contemporary art magazine for artists, designers, enthusiasts, collectors, and curators. This carefully curated and beautifully published quarterly contemporary art magazine showcases the work of emerging and mid-career artists, photographers, and wearable art designers from Australia and around the world.

Available worldwide with a total reach in the millions and a truly engaged audience, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is uniquely tailored to promote artists, designers, makers, original and print galleries, artistic supplies manufacturers and retail outlets, cultural event promoters, arts colleges and universities, and producers or distributors of unique and beautiful goods. You can purchase a 12 or 24-month subscription here.

Apollo

Founded in 1925, Apollo is one of the world’s oldest and most respected magazines on the visual arts. Published monthly, it covers everything from art news and debates to the work and lives of inspiring artists—both past and present. It also features exclusive interviews with some of the greatest collectors and creatives. Subscribe here to start receiving one magazine a month. The best part? You also get access to the Apollo digital app!

Beneficial Shock!

Beneficial Shock! is an annual magazine for film lovers and illustration enthusiasts that champions progressive thinking. Each issue follows a theme (such as “the mind” and “war and peace”) and visually presents ideas in humorous and unconventional ways. You can buy magazines here.

Hi-Fructose

Hi-Fructose is a quarterly printed art magazine that was founded by artists Attaboy and Annie Owens in 2005. The popular publication is beautifully designed and covers the contemporary art world. They focus on emerging as well as distinguished artists with a spotlight on the weird and wonderful. Subscribe here.

Aesthetica

Aesthetica explores the best in international contemporary art, design, photography, film, music, and performance with in-depth features. You can choose between a print or digital subscription. Aesthetica often has sales on subscriptions and is currently offering a free tote bag to new subscribers. Check it out here.

Eyeyah

With the belief that children are “visual learners,” Singapore-based Eyeyah magazine aims to encourage creativity in children. The vibrant publication features eye-catching illustrations, puzzles, and activities that introduce kids to contemporary creativity while teaching them about important social issues such as global warming. Buy your copies here.

Juxtapoz

Juxtapoz magazine celebrates the underground contemporary art world, specifically highlighting street art, graffiti, and illustration. The first issue was published in 1994 by a group of artists and art collectors who wanted to share their affinity with Southern California pop culture and freedom from the conventions of the “established” New York City art world. Today, it continues to give a voice to a broad range of alternative genres. Subscribe here.

Graffiti Art Magazine

This bimonthly magazine, published in French and English, is focused on urban contemporary art. With features on leading street artists, it fills a unique niche in the contemporary art magazine world. Graffiti Art Magazine has interviews, book reviews, and exhibition listings that will appeal to anyone interested in urban art not featured in classic art magazines. Once a year, they also publish the Urban Contemporary Art Guide. Subscribe here.

The Art Newspaper

Keep up with the international art world with The Art Newspaper. Since 1990, it has been covering global art events and industry news. It also publishes exhibition reviews and expert commentary by major players in the art scene, such as former directors of major art museums. Purchase digital and print subscriptions here.

PleinAir Magazine

This bi-monthly art magazine focuses on landscape paintings by historical and contemporary artists, art collections, events, and the process of creating plein air paintings. Geared toward practicing artists, the magazine includes expert insight and advice from top painters with step-by-step painting demonstrations and techniques. PleinAir Magazine offers both digital and print subscriptions.

This article has been edited and updated.

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and being transported into another world—especially for those who want to avoid the winter season. And while a novel is a welcome gift for any book lover, there are also plenty of other delightful, reading-related products out there. Even though some might prefer e-books, gift-giving is more special when you exchange something thoughtful and physical, hand-to-hand. Not to mention, it’s hard to beat the scent of an old book (we found a candle for that), or simply the tangibility of a page-turn.

Our book lover gift guide is full of great gift ideas for bibliophiles, including a personal library and a 100 book scratch-off poster for those with an ever-growing reading list. There are also plenty of book-themed accessories—such as enamel pins and colorful statement earrings—for bookworms who want to show off their literary love.

From blankets to curl up under to page holders that will ensure you don't skip part of the story, there is plenty to choose from. So if you are looking for the best gifts to give the literary lover in your life, look no further. Avid readers will most certainly enjoy being gifted any of the presents on this list, whether it's an item that helps them enjoy their favorite book or simply shows their passion for literature.

Know someone who loves to read? Check out our selection of perfect gifts for book lovers.

Personalized Bookend

MijMoj | $50.84+

“Just One More Chapter” Enamel Book Pin

LiteraryEmporium | $9.54

Lit Chat: Conversation Starters about Books and Life

Book Riot | $24.95

Custom Book Earrings

HappyFutureStudio | $17.82

Banned Book Socks

Uncommon Goods | $12

Book Soap

NewLeafCandleCo | $15

Great Writers: The Classics Page Flags Set

Girl of All Work | $7.50

Bookworm Sweatshirt

SpratlinDesignCo | $32+

Bookshop Scented Candle

candle | $8.90+

Book Socks

2 Trouble Boys | $11.01+

Personal Library Kit

Knock Knock | $22.77

Library Card Mug

JoyfulMoose | $18.99+

Bibliophile: Diverse Spine Book by Jane Mount and Jamise Harper

Jane Mount and Jamise Harper | $19

Out of Print Zipper Pouch

Out of Print | $14

Hoop Library Earrings

Puddleandink | $18

Book Cover Locket Jewelry

BMore Books | $16

Fabric Plant Pot Cover

ZinniasCloset | $19+

Book Brooch

LifeBaubles | $12

Rose Gold “Page Anchor”

Page Anchor | $44.99

Folding Book Lamp

Anwick Store | $22.99

The Little Library Cookbook

Kate Young | $15.36

Superman Floating Bookshelf

Artori Design | $32

Book Locket

SilkPurseSowsEar | $28+

LED Neck Reading Light

enclize | $17.99

“This Weekend Is Gonna Be Lit-erary” Mug

LookHUMAN | $14.99

Book-Stack Tote Bag

Picomodi | $34+

Novel Tea Literary Blends

Uncommon Goods | $20+

“Books” Art Print

Carlos ARL | $20+

Cozy Reading Blanket

Janeece Design Studio | $25.99+

Book-Wrapped Pencils

bouncingballcreation | $14.99

Rooms of Their Own: Where Great Writers Write by Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson | $26

Upcycled Spoon Bookmark

Stamp and Soul | $13.49

Book Phone Wallets

chicklitdesigns | $29

Bookworm Twist Ring

TheSilverDiva | $10

Fiction Prescription Card Deck

Uncommon Goods | $20

“Book nerd” Enamel Pin

RatherKeen | $10

“100 Books” Scratch Off Poster

Gift Republic | $20.77

Literary Women Puzzle

Cobble Hill | $20.99

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: Stock Photos from Pavel Malitskyi/Shutterstock

Have you ever looked up to the night sky and wondered how to identify famous star patterns? You may have heard of the “Big Dipper” or know the signs of the zodiac, but finding famous constellations among the stars requires knowledge of their fascinating history.

Ever since humans walked the Earth, great significance has been given to the celestial objects in the sky. Throughout history, names and mythical stories have been attributed to the star patterns, giving birth to what is now known as constellations. The International Astronomical Union lists 88 constellations—48 of which were recorded by Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy during the 2nd century.

For the Greeks, stars were a way of preserving folklore and mythology. The images depicted in their constellations are of heroes and beasts who received a place among the stars as tribute for their deeds on Earth.

Read on to discover the stories of some of the most famous constellations, as well as some tips for identifying them in the night sky.

Here are 10 famous constellations you should know.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Aquarius is one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac and is situated between Capricornus and Pisces. Aquarius was first recorded in the second century by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy, making it one of the oldest documented constellations. It’s also one of the biggest, spreading out over 980 square degrees. Despite its size, it can be difficult to see with the naked eye as there are no particularly bright stars that stand out. Aquarius is located near other water-related constellations—Cetus (the whale), Pisces (the fish), Delphinus (the dolphin), and Eridanus (the river)—in what is often referred to as the water or sea section of the sky.

The name Aquarius means “cupbearer” or “water bearer” in Latin. In Greek mythology, the constellation represents Ganymede, a handsome young man who was the object of Zeus’ affection. According to lore, he was brought to Mount Olympus where he served as cupbearer to the gods and was granted eternal youth.

Aquarius can be seen in the spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

Aries

Aries (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Located in the Northern celestial hemisphere between Pisces and Taurus, Aries is a zodiac constellation that was one of 48 constellations described by Ptolemy. Though now known as a ram, in Babylonian times, Aries was known as “The Agrarian Worker” and was featured in an agricultural calendar.

The transformation of the constellation into a ram likely occurred in later Babylonian times when it was closely associated with the figure of a shepherd. In ancient Greek mythology, Aries was connected with a golden ram that rescued Phrixus and Helle, the twin sons of a king, on the orders of Hermes.

Aries has three major stars that form an asterism, or pattern of stars—Hamal, Sheratan, and Mesarthim. Hamal is the brightest star and the 48th brightest in the sky. Its name is taken from the Arabic word meaning “lamb” or “head of the ram.” The constellation is visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It's easiest to view it in the Northern Hemisphere in autumn and winter, while spring to mid-summer are the easiest times to spot it in the Southern Hemisphere.

Cancer

Cancer (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Cancer, meaning “crab” in Latin, is the fourth sign of the zodiac. It’s one of the dimmest constellations, featuring only two stars above the 4th magnitude (measurement of brightness). The Cancer constellation occupies an area of 506 square degrees and lies between Leo and Gemini.

In Greek mythology, Cancer represents the giant crab that attacked Hercules during the second of the 12 labors he performed as punishment for killing his family. It was sent by the jealous goddess Hera to hinder Hercules as he battled the water serpent Hydra, but he killed it with his club.

Cancer is visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the early spring. It can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere during autumn. When trying to find it, don’t expect to find the shape of a crab in the sky—it looks more like a faint, upside-down Y.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

With its distinctive “W” shape formed by five bright stars, Cassiopeia is one of the most easily recognizable constellations in the northern night sky.

The constellation is named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek Mythology, wife of the King Cepheus of Aethiopia. As the legend goes, Cassiopeia boasted that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs called the Nereids. Her claim angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster called Cetus to destroy the kingdom. Cassiopeia’s daughter, Princess Andromeda, was left bound to a rock as prey for the monster, but she was rescued by Perseus the Hero whom she later married.

Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Princess Andromeda were all elevated to the sky as stars. Only Cassiopeia suffered humiliation; she was forced to wheel around the North Celestial Pole on her throne, spending half of her time upside-down, clinging to it so she does’t fall off.

Cassiopeia can be found high in the northeastern sky on October evenings, not far from Polaris, the North Star.

Gemini

Gemini (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac and is located in the Northern Sky. Gemini is the 30th largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 514 square degrees.

Gemini means “the twins” in Latin. The constellation represents the twins Castor and Polydeuces (or Pollux) in Greek Mythology. The twins’ mother, Spartan Queen Leda, was seduced by Zeus, who visited the queen in the form of a swan. She became pregnant with the immortal Polydeuces and Helen (who later became the legendary Helen of Troy). Leda later also became pregnant with Castor and Clytemnestra. These siblings were fathered by Tyndareus and, unlike Zeus’ children, they were mortal.

Despite having different fathers, Castor and Polydeuces grew up together and were very close. One day, the brothers clashed with another set of twins, Idas and Lynceus, when they fought over two women, Phoebe and Hilaira. Lynceus killed Castor by stabbing him with a sword. Devastated Polydeuces asked Zeus to share his immortality with his murdered brother and the god placed them both in the sky, where they remain inseparable as the constellation Gemini.

The Gemini constellation is best viewed is during February. Look northeast of the constellation Orion and between the Taurus and Cancer constellations and you should find its two bright stars representing Castor and Pollux. Alongside them are a couple of star lines forming their bodies, giving the constellation a rough “U” shape.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

One of the constellations described by Ptolemy, Sagittarius is located in the Southern celestial hemisphere. Latin for the word “archer,” Sagittarius is usually depicted as a centaur with a bow and arrow. It sits right in the center of the Milky Way between Scorpius and Ophiuchus and is easy to spot for the “teapot” pattern created by its brightest stars.

The story behind this famous constellation is based on Sumerian mythology, and there are different interpretations. The most common is that Sagittarius is Crotus, a mythological character who was a satyr that lived among the Muses. He is credited by the Greeks as inventing archery and asked Zeus to place him in the sky where he could show off his skills. A second story states that Sagittarius is the centaur Chiron, who transformed himself into a horse to escape his jealous wife, though some associated Chiron with another constellation Centaurus.

Sagittarius is visible in most of the Northern Hemisphere in the summer, with August being the best month for viewing. Winter is the best time to view the constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Taurus

Taurus (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The constellation Taurus, also known as “the bull,” is one of the oldest and most recognizable constellations. Covering over 797 square degrees, it is most famous for its giant red star called Aldebaran. It forms the bull’s right eye and is the brightest star in the constellation as well as the 14th brightest star in the sky.

In Greek Mythology, there are several stories involving the bull. In the most famous, Zeus transformed himself into a white bull with golden horns named Taurus after fell in love with the Phoenician Princess Europa. He used the disguise to carry Europa away to Crete on his back.

The Taurus constellation is fairly easy to find due to its bright Aldebaran star and its prominent “V” shape which represents the head and horns of the bull. In the Northern Hemisphere, the bull charges through the sky from November to March, but the constellation is at its most visible in January.

Ursa Major, aka the Big Dipper

Ursa Major (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

The Big Dipper is often mistaken for its own constellation, but it's actually an asterism within the constellation of Ursa Major. Always visible in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s one of the most recognized star patterns. Its name in Latin means “greater bear” or “she bear.”

As the Greek myth goes, Zeus fell in love with a young nymph named Callisto. Hera, Zeus’s wife, was jealous and transformed Callisto into a bear. While she was in animal form, she came across her son Arcas, but he didn’t recognize the bear as his mother and tried to shoot her. Zeus intervened and turned Acras into a bear too. He placed Callisto (Ursa Major) and her son (Ursa Minor) permanently in the night sky.

The seven brightest stars of the Big Dipper form part of the backside and tail of the large bear, while other smaller stars make up the rest of its shape. Ursa Major, or the “Great Bear,” is best viewed during April.

Ursa Minor, aka the Little Dipper

Ursa Minor (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Ursa Minor, meaning “lesser bear” in Latin, represents Callisto’s son Arcas in Greek Mythology.

Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper, is famous for containing Polaris, the North Star. The constellation is visualized as a baby bear with an unusually long tail. It can be distinguished from the Big Dipper not only by its smaller size but by the up-turned curvature of the tail.

Like Ursa Major, this constellation is visible all year round. When you’ve found the North Star at the end of the bear’s tail, it’s then easy to identify the rest of the constellation.

Canis Major

Canis major (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Latin for “greater dog,” Canis Major is a Southern celestial hemisphere constellation. Along with Canis Minor, it's typically seen as a dog following the hunter Orion. This constellation contains the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius.

Canis Major is often shown chasing a hare, which represents the Lepus constellation next to Orion. In Greek mythology, Canis Major represents Laelaps, a skilled hunting dog that was a gift from Zeus to Europa. Eventually it found its way into the hands of Procris, an Athenian princess. Her husband Cephalus took the dog out to hunt down a fox that no one could catch. The endless hunt went on for so long that Zeus elevated the dog into the sky in order to end it.

The Big Dog is visible in the Northern Hemisphere from December to March and in the Southern Hemisphere from November to April. Thanks to Sirius, it's fairly easy to spot. Just look at Orion's belt and draw an imaginary diagonal line down to the left. This will lead you to Sirius, which is the dog's chest.

Pegasus

Pegasus (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Pegasus is one of the most prominent constellations in the northern sky. It was listed by the astronomer Ptolemy during the 2nd century and was named after a winged horse in Greek mythology. The brightest star in the constellation is Epsilon Pegasi, which forms the creature's nose.

Pegasus belonged to Poseidon, the god of the sea, earthquakes, and storms. In a battle between Perseus and Medusa, Perseus decapitated her and the winged horse “sprang” from her blood.

Pegasus was stolen by the Greek hero Bellerophon with the help of Athena and Poseidon. Pegasus allowed Bellerophon to ride him in order to defeat the monstrous Chimera. However, Bellerophon later fell from the creature’s back while trying to reach Mount Olympus. After some time, the riderless Pegasus reached Olympus and Zeus transformed him into the famous constellation. Pegasus was also known for bringing thunder and lightning to Zeus whenever he needed it.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Pegasus constellation can be found high in the sky from the end of summer through autumn. If you are below the equator, look for Pegasus from late winter until spring.

Virgo

Virgo (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Covering 1,294 square degrees, Virgo is the largest constellation of the zodiac and the second-largest constellation overall. The Virgo name is Latin for “virgin.”

The constellation Virgo is often said to personify Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the harvest goddess. According to the Greek myth, Earth experienced eternal spring until the pivotal day when the god of the underworld abducted Persephone, the maiden of spring. Demeter was so saddened by the loss that she abandoned her role as the goddess of fruitfulness and fertility. In some parts of the world, winter turned the terrain into an icy wasteland, and elsewhere the sun scorched the earth and destroyed the harvest.

Luckily, Zeus, the king of the gods, intervened when he insisted the god of the underworld return Persephone to Demeter. He also ordered that Persephone abstain from food until her return. The god of the underworld tricked Persephone by giving her a pomegranate, knowing she would eat it on her way home.

Persephone returned to her mother, but because she ate the pomegranate, she was punished and bound to return to the underworld for four months every year. To this day, spring returns to the Northern Hemisphere when Persephone is reunited with Demeter, but winter prevails when she dwells in the underworld.

From the perspective of the Northern Hemisphere, Virgo is absent from the sky during late autumn, winter, and early spring. However, by March and April the constellation is visible all night. Virgo can easily be spotted thanks to its bright blue-white star, Spica.

Orion

Orion (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Orion constellation is named after Orion the hunter in Greek mythology. Located on the celestial equator and made up of bright young blue giants or supergiants, it is one of the most prominent and recognizable constellations in the sky and can be seen throughout the world.

In mythology, Orion was a supernaturally gifted hunter who was the son of Poseidon. He proclaimed himself as the greatest hunter in the world. This angered Hera, the wife of Zeus, who had a scorpion kill him (this later became the constellation Scorpius). Out of compassion, Zeus put Orion into the sky.

Orion’s Belt includes the three most prominent stars in the constellation: Alnilam, Mintaka, and Alnitak. Betelgeuse, the second-brightest star in Orion, marks the right shoulder of the hunter, and Bellatrix serves as his left shoulder. The Orion Nebula acts as the middle “star” in Orion’s sword, which hangs off Orion's Belt. In the sky, Orion is posed fighting against Taurus the bull with a shield and club.

Orion is clearly visible in the night sky from November to February. It can be found in the southwestern sky if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or the northwestern sky if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

The article has been edited and updated.

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A paint by numbers kit. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain])
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Robbins was a Detroit-based commercial artist who began his career working for the art departments of various car manufacturers. In 1949, he started working at Palmer Show Card Paint Company alongside the company’s founder, Max Klein. At first, Robbins was hired to illustrate children’s books, but Klein soon tasked him with a new, more urgent mission: sell more paint. His solution was to devise a hobby kit that would promote the sale of Klein’s paint products.

Where did the idea for Paint by Number come from?

Robbins based his concept on Leonardo da Vinci’s teaching system of numbering sections of his canvases for apprentices to complete. “I remembered hearing about how Leonardo da Vinci would challenge his own students or apprentices with creative assignments,” Robbins recalls in his autobiography. “He would hand out numbered patterns indicating where certain colors should be used in specific projects such as underpainting, preliminary background colors or some lesser works that did not require his immediate attention.”

To create each kit, Robbins first painted an original artwork, and then placed a plastic sheet over it and outlined the shapes for each hue and shade. Each segment was then given a number and corresponding color. After trial and error, Robbins’ Paint-by-Numbers kits were born, and were introduced to the public with packaging that proclaimed, “Every man a Rembrandt.” Post-war, they were launched during a time when American people had more time for pursuing leisurely activities, and the concept quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

 

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The First Paint-by-Number Kits

Robbin’s first ever Paint-by-Numbers kit was called Abstract No. One—a vibrant, abstract still life that paid homage to the abstract expressionists of the era. Unfortunately, the design wasn’t commercial enough to appeal to the masses, so Robbins, Klein, and a new team of artists started to produce less abstract landscape and portrait hobby kits that proved to be more popular.

The Public’s Response

Palmer Show Card Paint Company was renamed to Craft Master, and the company quickly grew to 800 employees who worked around the clock to produce 50,000 Paint by Number sets a day. In 1955, around 20 million kits were sold in America, and finished works hung proudly in homes across the country. Even President Eisenhower’s presidential appointment secretary, Thomas Edwin Stephens, curated a gallery of Paint by Number pieces made by administration officials in the White House.

However, not long after its initial success, Craft Master went bankrupt, as it couldn’t keep up with the demand. Although Craft Master remains the iconic pioneer of the paint-by-numbers movement, numerous rival companies soon emerged and started producing their own versions of the hobby kits.

What did the art world think?

While the consumers’ response was positive, Paint-by-Number kits triggered a strong reaction from the art world. They were criticized for oversimplifying the creative process and undervaluing the work of “real” artists (some Paint-by-Numbers designs were based on famous paintings). One anonymous critic in American Art wrote, “I don’t know what America is coming to, when thousands of people, many of them adults, are willing to be regimented into brushing paint on a jig-saw miscellany of dictated shapes and all by rote. Can’t you rescue some of these souls—or should I say ‘morons?’ ”

Paint-by-Number kits meant that art could be infinitely copied, leaving many wondering if they could even be classified as art at all. However, the concept unsurprisingly caught the attention of Pop Art icon Andy Warhol who is known for his love of repetition. He become a dedicated fan and collector of Paint-by-Number canvases.

Despite the backlash, Robbins wasn’t overly concerned about the negative response of art critics, because he achieved his dream of bringing art to the masses. In his 1998 memoir—Whatever Happened to Paint-By-Numbers?—He wrote, “I never claim that painting by number is art. It is the experience of art, and it brings that experience to the individual who would normally not pick up a brush, not dip it in paint. That’s what it does.”

Kits to Get You Started

Feeling inspired to try painting by numbers? Here are some kits to get you started.

Vintage Paint by Number Postcard Designs by Dan Robbins

Princeton Architectural Press, Dan Robbins | $15

Atrani Lemons by Hebe Studio Paint by Numbers

letspaintanywhere | $48

“Succulent in a Hobnail Bowl” Kit

Elle Crée | $34

“Potted Cactus” Modern Paint by Numbers 

Coloready | $40

Canvas Paint by Numbers Kit

TUMOVO | $9.99

Vintage Florals Kit

Joy Boutique Art | $26.09+

“Warm Sunflower” Kit

Colour Talk | $9.91

“Sunset Wave Seascape” Kit

DreamsyUS | $10.99

The article has been edited and updated.

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READ: The Fascinating History of “Paint-by-Numbers” Kits

“My Neighbor Totoro,” 1988

For fans of anime, there’s nothing quite like the works of Studio Ghibli. The small team of animators spends years lovingly crafting each amazing story, bringing to life tales of adventure, love, and friendship through countless hand-drawn frames. From My Neighbor Totoro to Howl's Moving Castle, each captivating film allows viewers to immerse themselves in magical fantasy worlds.

Studio Ghibli was founded by animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki; Japanese film director Isao Takahata; and producer Toshio Suzuki. Over the last 37 years, they’ve created 20 feature films (and counting), plus several short films, and television commercials. Read on to discover the history and future of the legendary animation studio.

The Beginnings of Studio Ghibli

Takahata and Miyazaki first met in the 1960s when they both worked for the Japanese animation studio Tôei Dôga. They worked together for more than a decade, but it wasn't until the mid-1980s that they decided to start their own venture. In 1985—with funding from Tokyo-based publishing company Tokuma Shoten—Takahata, Miyazaki, and Suzuki founded Studio Ghibli, a small production studio in the suburbs of Tokyo.

The trio’s first feature film was Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure based on a manga of the same name published by Miyazaki. Released under the Tokuma Shoten name, it was a success and prompted the small team to begin their next production. In 1986, Studio Ghibli released the movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, the story of a young orphan boy and a farm girl who embark on a journey to explore the mystical floating city of Laputa.

“Laputa: Castle in the Sky,” 1986

Unlike other animation studios at the time, Studio Ghibli didn’t care for initial international commercial success. The makers purely wanted to use their art to explore the depths of the human experience and tell heartfelt, poetic stories. Void of traditional villains, even the Ghibli “baddies” are somewhat likable, each with their own backstory to explain their behavior.

“Spirited Away,” 2001

Why is it Called Studio Ghibli?

The name “Ghibli” refers to the Italian word for the “Hot Sahara Wind.” The name is fitting because the studio wanted to “blow new wind through the anime industry.” The name also refers to Miyazaki’s love for Italy and planes. He was inspired by the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli, a surveillance aircraft designed in Italy during the Second World War.

“Spirited Away,” 2001

Studio Ghibli's Films

Studio Ghibli produced 15 of the highest-grossing anime films in Japan. Although My Neighbor Totoro is arguably Ghibli’s most widely recognized film (even its logo features the lovable Totoro character), the studio’s first real success was Kiki's Delivery Service. First screened in 1989, the magical coming-of-age story was a number-one hit in Japanese theaters that year. Three years later in 1992, Porco Rosso topped Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Japanese box office. Then in 2003, Ghibli’s iconic Spirited Away became the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. The first film to gross $200,000,000 before opening in the U.S., Spirited Away became the highest-grossing film ever released in Japan.

“Kiki's Delivery Service,” 1989

In 1988, Ghibli released Grave of the Fireflies. One of the studio’s most profoundly beautiful works, it was based on Akiyuki Nosaka's heartbreaking semi-autobiographical short story of two children struggling to survive during WWII. Surprisingly, the film was only moderately successful at the Japanese box office as it was deemed too jarring for young audiences. However, Grave of the Fireflies later received universal critical acclaim, and it even scores 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (an American review-aggregation website for film and television).

“My Neighbor Totoro,” 1988

What’s Next for Studio Ghibli?

Although Miyazaki announced his retirement in 2013, he shows no signs of quitting just yet. He came out of retirement in 2017 to work on an adaptation of the novel Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones. Additionally, the legendary animator is also working on a new project based on the novel by Japanese writer Genzaburō Yoshin, titled How Do You Live? Set to be released in 2023, it tells the story of a young boy dealing with poverty. In May 2020, Suzuki (who is now the chief producer of Studio Ghibli) announced that 60 animators are currently working on the film. He said, “We are still hand-drawing everything, but it takes us more time to complete a film because we're drawing more frames.” Suzuki also revealed that he had to accept a deal with Netflix in order to finance the project.

“Howl's Moving Castle,” 2004

If you want to know more about the history of Studio Ghibli, you can visit the Ghibli Museum, located in Mitaka, Tokyo. And if you’re feeling inspired to watch one of the studio’s classics, you can now stream Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and many more Ghibli films on Max.

“My Neighbor Totoro,” 1988

Studio Ghibli: Website | Twitter

All images via Studio Ghibli.

This article has been edited and updated.

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© 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY

Post World War I, the “Roaring Twenties” was a time of exciting social and political change in the U.S. and in Europe. Along with high economic growth and the burgeoning consumer culture, many women experienced liberation. They could at last vote, and many entered the workforce and became more financially independent. This new-found freedom also crossed over into how they dressed and behaved.

A symbol of the era that many people today may recognize is the “flapper”—a woman who wore loose clothing, had short, bobbed hair, and embraced a hedonistic lifestyle. These are the women who inspired the work of Polish artist Tamara de Lempicka. Nicknamed “The Baroness with a Brush,” she became known for her self-portraits and paintings of women rendered in her chic, Art Deco style. Her stylish artwork oozes feminine power and sensuality, and celebrates the independence and liberation of 1920s women. Lempicka once said, “I live life in the margins of society, and the rules of normal society don't apply to those who live on the fringe.”

© 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY

Who was Tamara de Lempicka?

Tamara de Lempicka (whose birth name is Maria Gorska) was born on May 16, 1898 in Warsaw, Poland to a Russian Jewish lawyer, Boris Gurwik-Gorski, and a Polish socialite, Malvina Decler. She was exposed to the arts early on and began painting when she was 10, at which point she created a portrait of her younger sister. After a brief time in boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland, the young artist went to live with her grandmother in Italy, where she discovered the work of Italian Renaissance painters.

Photo of Tamara de Lempicka next to her painting (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

At age 16, she fell in love and married a Polish lawyer named Tadeusz de Lempicka. Shortly after their lavish wedding in St Petersburg, he was arrested by officials from the new Bolshevik government, but was freed after Lempicka convinced his captors to release him. The young couple then fled the Russian Revolution and relocated to Paris, where she studied art under Maurice Denis and André Lhote. Here, Lempicka quickly became part of the Parisian avant-garde scene alongside Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, and André Gide. She rejected the Impressionist painters of the time who she thought painted with “dirty” colors. In contrast, she decided her own style would be vivid, clean, and elegant. She once said, “My goal is never to copy, but to create a new style, clear luminous colors and feel the elegance of the models.”

© 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY

Rise to Fame

In preparation for her first major exhibition in Milan in 1925, Lempicka hurriedly created 28 paintings over the course of 6 months. Her hard work paid off, and she soon started showing her work in some of the most exclusive galleries in Europe. Her first real brush with fame occurred after she exhibited at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, where fashion journalists from Harper’s Bazaar spotted her work. Around the same time she was commissioned by German fashion magazine, Die Dame, for whom she painted her iconic self-portrait, Tamara in a Green Bugatti (1929).

As one of the best-known examples of Art Deco portrait painting, Lempicka depicted herself at the wheel of a green Bugatti racing car, wearing a leather helmet, long white gloves, and wrapped in a silk scarf. In reality, the artist didn’t own a Bugatti—rather a small yellow Renault—but nonetheless, the painting captures her beauty, fierce independence, and wealth as a female artist in the early 1900s.

© 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY

Personal Scandals

During her time in 1920s Paris, Lempicka became notorious for her wild parties and her insatiable sexual appetite for both men and women. When she worked, she painted portraits of the rich and famous, including Queen Elizabeth of Greece, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and Italian poet Gabriele d’Annunzio.

Due to her “scandalous” lifestyle, her husband divorced her in 1928. Lempicka rarely saw her only child, Kizette who was left in the care of her grandmother. Despite this, Lempicka's daughter was an inspiration for her art and became immortalized in many of her mother’s paintings, including Kizette in Pink, 1926; Kizette Sleeping, 1934; and Baroness Kizette, 1954.

© 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY

Lempicka's Decline Amid Abstract Expressionism

Lempicka married her second husband, Baron Kuffner, in 1933. In 1939, just before World War II, the couple settled permanently in the United States, first in Los Angeles, then in Beverly Hills. Lempicka continued down the path of success and earned her way by painting the portraits of many of Hollywood's stars. However, after the War, society's taste began to change, and demand for Lempicka's Art Deco portraits began to decline in favor of Abstract Expressionism.

At a loss, Lempicka dabbled in abstract work and developed a new style using a palette knife. However, her new work wasn’t received well and she stopped exhibiting in public in 1962. She lived out her life in Houston with her daughter, and later spent her last years in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Resurgence and Legacy

Interest in Lempicka’s artwork began to revive in the 1970s after the 1972 retrospective exhibition, Tamara de Lempicka from 1925-1935, at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris. Now, almost 40 years after her death in 1980, her work has become extremely sought after—especially among celebrities. Jack Nicholson, Barbara Streisand, and Madonna are some of Lempicka’s most avid collectors. Her distinctive art is even featured in Madonna’s music videos for Vogue, Open Your Heart, and Express Yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Tamara de Lempicka?

Tamara de Lempicka was a Polish Art Deco painter best known for her self-portraits and paintings of glamorous women.

Who was Tamara de Lempicka inspired by?

Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka was inspired by Renaissance artists, Cubism, as well as Mannerism.

All images © 2019 Tamara Art Heritage / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, NY and used with permission.

This artist has been edited and updated.

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READ: The Rollercoaster Life of an Iconic Art Deco Painter Known as “The Baroness with a Brush”