Recent MICA graduate Brooks Kossover has found success by painting oil portraits of popular musicians, a rich tradition in post-sixties American painting.  We enjoyed taking a look at these and thought about a few we’d like to commission – doesn’t Kanye West seem perfect for a large oil portrait above the mantle?

If you want fun paintings of your favorite musicians but don’t want to spend the money on an original work – the innovative company Pixelist lets people submit Instagram photos which it then turns into oil paintings.

All photographs are courtesy of Tedd Henn.

Brooks Kossover – Oil Paints in the studio

Brooks is originally from North Carolina.  He shares a studio at the noted Copycat Warehouse with some aspiring musicians.

Portrait of Dan Deacon, Brooks Kossover and Mabel the dog

Brooks Kossover shows friends a still life by his grandfather

Brooks Kossover – Detail of Dan Deacon Portrait.  Is that a bed or a table on the left?

Brooks Kossover – Collection of oil paints

Brooks Kossover – Portrait of popular 80s revivalist Pictureplane. Is anyone at Pitchfork reading this?

Brooks Kossover explains his technique to writer Ezra Lefko

Brooks Kossover demonstrates mixing his own oils.

Again, demonstrating oil paint mixing technique. This will be a great way to save money!