Most of the screenshots I capture while gaming are hardly worth printing. Usually, they are just map locations or scenery from places I promise myself I will revisit but never actually do. Occasionally, I’ll snap a photo of a pretty landscape or a cute creature—like the recent shrimp from RuneScape: Dragonwilds—just to break up the monotony.
However, I never truly considered in-game captures to be aesthetically pleasing until I discovered the oil paintings created by ArtbyEri. This artist has a remarkable talent for bringing digital snapshots to life, turning static images into something far more impressive than a simple file on a hard drive.
Transforming FPS Action into Fine Art
A large portion of the work produced by ArtbyEri focuses on first-person shooters, which is a brilliantly unexpected choice for the medium. By taking screenshots from titles like Valorant and Call of Duty, the artist introduces a much brighter color palette. These pieces often feature "girlypop" additions, such as:
- Intricate weapon charms
- Customized decals
- Subtle sprinkles of glitter
If you prefer a more grounded aesthetic, there are also authentic recreations available. ArtbyEri has recreated iconic environments from Halo 3 and Halo Reach using their standard, original color schemes without any extra flourishes.
Cozy Landscapes and Character Portraits
The talent for these oil paintings created by ArtbyEri extends far beyond the battlefield. The artist also ventures into much softer, more tranquil gaming worlds. You can find beautifully rendered scenes from Hello Kitty Island Adventure, such as the interior of the cafe after baking a strawberry shortcake, or peaceful characters nestled among the blossom trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
A Relatable Masterpiece: "Just 5 More Minutes"
My personal favorite piece is an oil painting based on The Sims 4, titled "Just 5 more minutes." While I am not certain if this was directly sourced from a screenshot or if the artist took some creative liberties, it depicts a Sim hunched over a keyboard playing Minecraft. It is a scene I relate to far too closely.
The painting is wonderfully subtle; the only real giveaway that it belongs to the Sims universe is the yellow Plumbob hovering above, suggesting the character's needs are not being met. The level of detail makes it incredibly immersive, featuring a messy desk, a Hatsune Miku drawing, and a small Rilakkuma plushie tucked away.
Watching the process behind these oil paintings created by ArtbyEri via TikTok is equally addictive. Seeing how raw colors on a palette transform into finished, lifelike scenes is never disappointing. Perhaps I was too quick to judge my own screenshots—maybe all they needed was an artist's perspective and a few adorable weapon decals.
