If you've played Minecraft on the Switch or another platform, you're probably more than familiar with the paintings in the game by now. As part of the 15th anniversary celebrations as well as the recent 'Tricky Trials' update, Mojang added 20 new paintings to the game.
Five of these were done by Mojang's in-house artist Sarah Boeving, and 15 were created by Kristoffer Zetterstrand - the artist who did most of the game's original paintings. Yes, the developer actually called on the original artist to help craft these new paintings, and you can see the whole process of a Minecraft painting in the video above. Here's some added insight from Zetterstrand:
“One thing I’ve heard from fans is that the paintings, in their weirdness, hint at something mysterious – a bigger world, something beyond,” says Kristoffer Zetterstrand, painter extraordinaire. “It’s quite interesting, because a basic idea in games is that you don’t want to break the immersion. Curiously, [the paintings] don’t seem to do that, at least not in a negative way. I think that’s a testament to the creative possibilities and atmosphere in Minecraft as a game. It’s all about imagining, so paintings that leave a lot to the imagination seem to fit right in.”
You can read more about Zetterstrand and his Minecraft paintings on the official game website. These new paintings bring the total number of paintings in Minecraft up to 46. If you haven't played the June 'Tricky Trials' update yet, it includes a new structure filled with traps, tricks, and treasures which you can play through solo or cooperatively. It's also got two new mobs, a new weapon, new blocks, and much more.
What do you think of Minecraft's paintings? Any favourites? Let us know in the comments.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 20
Meh
@Yoshi3 Really? I find it interesting.
Man, people actually draw these things. I thought that it was pixel art.
@PersianZSR whats the difference from any other pixel art? Just because its in Minecraft? … woopeedoo
That is extremely lame. They look terrible. I've never understood the appeal of this.
@PersianZSR I think it's because it's not artistic and it's just copying what you see. It's like paint by numbers which is not artistic or original.
Even as someone who has barely played Minecraft (did watch others playing it a little more though), pretty cool to know how this works and nice that they brought back the original painter to add most of the new paintings!
I do not get the Minecraft hate. This game is special. It is creative and wonderfully relaxing.
Is it the graphics? Graphics are a low priority for true gamers.
I would be more interested if this wasn’t advertised with the game’s anniversary.
Bring back the original Switch version or actually make the Super Duper 4K graphic mod; supporting us for 15 years? Thanks for the money - here’s some pixel art!
@Yoshi3 Well speaking as a person who does pixel art, It is not just because it is minecraft.
@MrCookieCrisps Uh... It isn't pixel art bro.
@Zuljaras tbf the graphics argument depends a lot on the game as to whether or not they are truly relevant. They can certainly go a long way to fulfilling the artistic vision or adding atmosphere and gravitas. But I think for Minecraft they are not so important really.
I don’t personally enjoy the game, and the added bad graphics on top don’t help endear me to it, I find it very frustrating and not fun at all. But it doesn’t deserve any hate I do agree it is a special game, it’s just not for me.
I think it's a generation thing.
Kids today have no idea what art is, aside from AI generated art.
For us older folks who appreciate art, it's amazing that a person made all this themself and not some soulless bot.
@SurprisedRobinChu Lol. I totally agree with you.
I was impressed when people were able to make fully working calculators and thus working computers in the world of minecraft just using the games items etc. I think people have even made games within there too. This is meh.
@SurprisedRobinChu There are plenty of Gen Z artists out there, and the majority of them do not like AI generated art as a replacement or alternative for human artists.
Unless you're talking about Gen Alpha, then I can neither confirm nor deny that claim.
Me personally, I see anything and everything as art, from paintings of fish to music about fish, to even video games featuring fish, and this process of real paintings being converted into Minecraft is really cool and interesting to someone like me, especially from someone who loves seeing the creation of stuff, as I'm interested in making my very own pieces of media and art.
I'm not a huge Minecraft fan, but I seriously appreciate the fan base and the people who put their hearts, souls, and Microsoft money into this fun silly game.
@PersianZSR It IS turned into pixel art by putting it through the Minecraft engine. I understand you like this stuff, but moderating this post, challenging people, isn’t it, bro.
@Zuljaras I think it's just a case of it's talked about so much, if you're not into it, you get tired of hearing about it. I feel the same way about SSB. I think it's merely OK but after several years of hype, and articles every time Sakurai releases a screen shot... Well, I guess I feel the same way as the Minecraft haters.
@Zuljaras I'll be honest I didn't know if it was an actual game or what the point/endgame would be. People build stuff but that is all I know about it, besides watching a few people play for a bit it looked like something I wouldn't like at all. It could be relaxing to build stuff in it I guess and somehow there are zombies at night.
Reminds me of a less structured Animal Crossing, this genre isn't for me at all. I am also not bothered if other people like it and it makes all the monies, why people get hurt if something they don't like succeeds is beyond me.
@MrCookieCrisps I am not moderating it. I just reply to comments when they mention me.
@Zuljaras Given it's the best selling game of all time, they are obviously just a loud and whiny minority. In reality, Minecraft is an amazing game that caters to almost any type of gamer.
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