Beautiful imaginary portraits by Travis Louie

03.17.10

Charlotte of the Woods

The Ghost of Laura from the Reeds

Sarah and Emmett

The Strangler

These are paintings, though they may look like hyperrealistic, gorgeously detailed drawings. Travis Louie makes imaginary formal vintage portraits of odd and surreal beings, monsters, and demure ladies from the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Duality/morphing is a dominant theme; many of his creatures are ungodly hybrids with human, animal, and monster parts or features. They are quirky rather than menacing. Their deformity is more humorous than grotesque. But the pieces that I like best are just depictions of women with a surreal atmosphere and a haunting, deep beauty, such as the above.

See more of his work here.

Tags: sepia, surreal, travis louie, victorian, vintage

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