Artist Embroiders Portraits and Each Strand of Thread Looks Like a Brushstroke of Paint

Embroidery Renaissance Paintings by Maria Vasilyeva

Inspired by the works of the old masters, Russia-based artist Maria Vasilyeva creates accessories and panels that evoke the style and fine workmanship of the Renaissance. Vasilyeva’s purses, pendants, and brooches feature embroidered portraits, with each stitch appearing to resemble a paint stroke, emulating the technique of classical oil paintings.

Vasilyeva uses a selection of elegant fabrics—including plush Italian velvet—and embellishes her works with beading and tassels to achieve a sense of luxury associated with the fine art that inspires them. The perfect proportions and period-specific colors imbue her creations with a sense of antiquity.

Some pieces, set against a light background, show the subjects’ delicate features in subtle shades of ivory white, blue-grey, and nut browns. Whereas in others, like one of most recent pieces—a pendant featuring Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer—display much richer colors. The dark charcoal-black background, alongside the burnt umber of the clothes contrast with the ultramarine blue and lemon yellow of her headscarf, while a touch of vermillion red in her lips pops against subtle, peachy skin tones.

You can follow Vasilyeva on Instagram where she posts works-in-progress and detail-shots of her creations. You can also purchase Vasilyeva’s embroidery painting products via her online shop.