Today, I’m thrilled to bring to you the stunning, partially-obscured portraits by Oregon-based artist, Mike Creighton. According to the bio on his website, he uses a variety of media including oil, gouache, graphite, charcoal, digital applications, “and code.” That’s intriguing.

He calls this series “Facing Obstructions,” and they all measure an impressive 20″ x 20″. Creighton has been focusing more on drawings of late, but I’m really taken with these paintings.

You can follow the amazing Mike Creighton on his website and on Instagram and Deviant Art.

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This one was so scary and outside of my comfort zone. I should be hanging the new series today at @aaltolounge, ready for your HH perusal. I'll post more photos / vids on location. . #art #portrait #portraiture #distressed #contemporaryart #modernart #painting #oil #oilpainting #texture

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Dec 7, 2016 at 9:18am PST

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Just varnished this lady in anticipation of her new owner. But that's good news for you! I was able to take some much higher res photos 📸, so now bigger and better prints of this piece are available on Society6 (link in my bio). You can also buy from INPRNT (link on my website); max size there is 12"x12". Thanks for all your support! . #art #painting #portrait #portraiture #oilpainting #oil #varnish #print #closeup #detail #society6 #society6art #inprnt

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Mar 14, 2017 at 7:56pm PDT

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Things got a little fantastical in my frame for Love is Love. I just let the reference image and supplied color palette take me wherever for a few hours. At one point, things got straight up demonic, so I toned it back. . I also have another version that uses a color palette I find more satisfying…and makes the general mood a bit more sinister. If anyone wants to see it, let me know. . #loveisloveanimation #collaboration #animation #art #illustration #valentines #ValentinesDay2017 #loveislove #loveHeckler #spreadthelove #digital #paintstormstudio #painting #digitalpainting

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Feb 14, 2017 at 6:25pm PST

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Studying… . #art #oil #oilpainting #painting #sketch #portrait #portraiture #gross

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on May 17, 2017 at 11:44pm PDT

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A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Jan 24, 2017 at 6:19pm PST

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Detail from one of my new pieces. Still waiting for these to dry in a few spots. Hopefully they'll be ready by tomorrow for varnish and a photo shoot. Crossing fingers 😶 . #art #painting #portrait #portraiture #detail #oil #oilpainting

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Jul 2, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

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I'm so swamped right now with work that I haven't had the time to make anything new. But I sold a piece recently, and I was documenting it tonight with a new camera. After seeing the quality, I had to pull out some older work and take photos. Here's something from a couple years ago. . Also, shout outs to all the new followers from the last couple days. 🙌 Welcome! . 🌕 . #art #painting #portrait #oil #oilpainting #portraiture #realism #contemporaryart #contemporaryrealism

A post shared by Mike Creighton (@mikecreighton) on Mar 12, 2017 at 11:10pm PDT