The digital age has transformed our understanding of art and the people who create it. Thanks to programs like Photoshop, an artist doesn’t necessarily need a pencil or a brush to create stunning works of art. The computer and its apps and programs are tools used by artists to express themselves. However, Tatsuo Horiuchi might fall into a category of his own. He uses Microsoft Excel as a medium to make art that’s more lovely than you might expect. As you can see in the video below, Horiuchi is very talented; he found a way to make a simple spreadsheet program into his artistic tool of choice.
Horiuchi was profiled by the YouTube channel, Great Big Story, and they show off a few of his creations in the video. According to Horiuchi, the origin of his artistic endeavors is that he wanted to take up painting after he retired, but he was far too cheap to buy art supplies or even a specialized program for artwork. He turned to Excel because it was already installed on his computer, which meant that it was free.
Horiuchi taught himself how to work within its limitations while making digital paintings of Japanese landscapes. There’s a simple quality to his creations, and yet there is undeniable beauty as well. If you want to add his art to your home, Horiuchi sells his digital paintings as limited edition prints; you can see and purchase those prints here.
What do you think about this video? Leave comment for us below. Bonus points if you manage to do it with Excel!
Image: Great Big Story
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