We know what you’re thinking, but no, these are not photographs. Toronto-based artist Carly Waito paints insanely perfect renderings of semi-precious gems and crystals in oils, first photographing them and then recreating the photographic images in meticulous detail. Waito’s work is more than flat representation, however. The juxtaposition of her careful treatments of light and color over the hard geometry and structural imperfections of the gems evokes a magical, almost fantastical quality, reaching past the mundanity of a true photographic representation. Click through to check out our gallery of some of her most recent work, and then head over to her website to see even more.
Smoky Quartz
Amethyst
Bornite-coated Chalcocite
Vesuvianite
Smoky Quartz
Dioptase
Amethyst
Smoky Quartz
Smoky Quartz
Pyrite
Fluorite