Although Pokémon cards are little pieces of art in their own right—in some cases literally worth more than $180,000Opens in a new tab—they’re still manufactured and machine printed. But some artists out there take the mass-produced cards and turn them into one-off works. Like Florida-based artist SumiPaints, who transforms everything from Jigglypuff to Gengar cards into little, masterful portraits.
@sumipaintsOpens in a new tabthis took so long, i tried haha 🙂 i’ll put this card and the other two most recent ones on my etsy tomorrow !!♬ Lake Verity Theme Remix – EmsonOpens in a new tab
SumiPaints, a.k.a. Summer, has transformed numerous Pokémon cards into hand-painted portraits, dazzling people with her skills like Bruxish with its gaze. On TiktokOpens in a new tab, for example, Sumi has amassed more than 85,000 followers. And the artist earns millions of views on her videos, which give just a glimpse of how she paints.
The video above is one of SumiPaints’ most popular, and shows how she teleported a Stage-1 Ivysaur into an autumn pumpkin fieldOpens in a new tab with paint. The video immediately below shows Sumi taking a Squirtle and giving it a new life dancing in a river.
@sumipaintsOpens in a new tab“ruining” pokemon cards until im famous part IDK ##pokemonOpens in a new tab ##artOpens in a new tab ##pokemoncardOpens in a new tab ##fypOpens in a new tab ##xyzcbaOpens in a new tab ##paintingOpens in a new tab ##buthaveyouseenOpens in a new tab ##workroutineOpens in a new tab ##xyzbcaOpens in a new tab♬ original sound – JustinOpens in a new tab
SumiPaints also has an Etsy storeOpens in a new tab where she sells the Pokémon portrait cards, but, unfortunately, they’re currently sold out. People in the past, however, have purchased some real beauties from Sumi; including a joyous Eevee, a magical Clefairy, and an Espeon that’s majestic AF.
@sumipaintsOpens in a new tabi’m just going to leave this here as if i didn’t dissapear for months ?✨ hi!♬ season 2 episode 3 by glass animals – audioz !Opens in a new tab
For anyone who’s now desperate to catch more Pokémon art, there is, of course, a ton out there. Other artists aside from Sumi also paint Pokémon card portraits, and do an equally amazing job. (These ones from back in 2017Opens in a new tab are especially wild.) There are also people who love to make Pokémon skateboardsOpens in a new tab and Pokémon jewelryOpens in a new tab. Although we have yet to see any kind of unofficial Pokémon piece go for anywhere near what the rarest cards costOpens in a new tab.
SumiPaints
Featured Image: SumiPaintsOpens in a new tab
