Summary
Minecrafthas released a new video sharing more about the process of creating the paintings available in the game. Though the function of paintings in the game is purely decorative, there is a great appreciation in theMinecraftcommunity for these items.
Paintings were first seen with the release of the “Minecraft Indev” update in February 2010. At the time,Minecraftadded 19 paintings of different sizes, with iconic illustrations such as “Skull and Roses,” “Bust,” and “The Void.” Years later, with the release of the Tricky Trials update, Mojang decided to celebrateMinecraft’s 15th anniversaryby adding 15 new paintings, increasing the list of available artworks to 46. To once again celebrate this item,Minecraftdropped a new video about its paintings.
Mojang reveals more about how its paintings are made in a new vídeo. The footage features an interview with Kristoffer Zetterstrand, the artist who created the paintings for theTricky Trials update, and others such as “Creebet” and “Fighters.” Zetterstrand talks about how he got in touchwith Minecraft, and the invitation to work with Mojang, and showcases his creative process to bring the paintings to life. Sarah Boeving, another artist responsible for paintings such as “Meditative,” “Baroque,” and the famous “Unpacked,” shares her vision and the references used in her works.
Paintings Are a Beloved Item of Minecraft Players
Minecraftdirector Jasper Boerstra comments in the video that, for him, the popularity of paintings comes from their significant abstraction. Boerstra explains that “different players see different things in the paintings,” which is reflected in “really interesting conversations.” As well as making very inventive use ofMinecraftpaintings in their builds, it’s not uncommon to see players going the other way andrecreatingMinecraftpaintings in real life.
While abstraction may be one reason for the paintings' popularity amongMinecraftplayers, it’s not the only one. They also hide interesting references, such as “Graham,” whose inspiration is the painting “Quince, Cabbage, Melon, and Cucumber” by the Spanish painter Juan Sánchez Cotán. A more recent example is “Humble,” aMinecraftpainting with a neat referenceto American Gothic by the American painter Grant Wood, a work of art widely parodied in pop culture. But there are references toMinecraft, such as the Creeper’s head in Creebet, the rose, one of the game’s old items, in “Meditative,” and “Wither,” the firstMinecraftpainting without a connection to real-life artwork. Overall, the video is an extremely interesting look at an iconic feature from a beloved game.
Minecraft
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
