Vibrant Paintings of Minimalist Scenes

Inspired by the light and colors of Los Angeles, artist Bradley Hankey used a combination of influences from photography and painting to develop these minimalist scenes. To produce each unique painting, a collection entitled #instalite #losangeles, Hankey first photographed around L.A. and then used digital filters to alter the light and to generate a vintage feel. The final, digitally manipulated image was then the foundation for his large, oil on wood panel paintings.

Hankey says, "I find this process rewarding—transforming a snapshot, something that took seconds to record and post online, into a painting, an older and more traditional medium that is much more involved."

In his work, the artist captured striking contrasts between telephone poles, palm trees, and buildings silhouetted against vibrantly colored skies. Rich gradients are complimented by the dark geometric shapes and textures of the individual objects. The broad blocks of color and forms are filled with a mysterious loneliness that generates lingering memories of people and events that once existed in the now isolated locations.