These Artworks Will Scare The Hell Out Of You When You Observe And Look Closely At Them

Look closely and you'll get an unsettling feeling.

May

• Published in Weird
• October 27, 2021

Do you have magnifying glasses? Then it's time to grab them and observe the scary and unsettling paintings that we are about to share with you today.

Jeff Lee Johnson is the artist behind the paintings we've compiled. He grew up in a book-filled home in rural Minnesota.

He read the works of Isaac Asimov, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Arthur C. Clark, Robert Heinlein, and Kenneth Robeson. His mom loved to draw and paint.

And so, Johnson always had infinite supplies of tools and materials. His mom would instruct him with patience so that he could illustrate his imagination.

Nowadays, Johnson spends his time on personal projects that he had always wanted to pursue and his job as an art director at Fantasy Flight Games.

Whenever there's an opportunity, he would paint scary images. View his illustration, and you'll see the intricate details that the artist applies.

Although you might have unsettling feelings, you can't just turn your eye away from the painting. There's so much to discover if you observe carefully.

Johnson shares his works on his website. The themes of his art concentrate on sci-fi, fantasy, and horror.

For now, we are looking at his scary paintings. The seemingly normal work turns creepy when you observe closely.

Blue Plate Special

It looks like a normal artwork of a diner. But look closely.

Is that kid getting dragged by her mom, or?

What's that underneath the table?

That doesn't look delicious.

Under the Boardwalk

Johnson's inspiration comes from the interests that his mother shared. He had free access to his mom's library of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi books.

That's a baby?

Why are they letting him drown?

What's that grabbing her?

The Grand International Hotel

When he was young, he spent most of his days reading those books and watching old films. He looks at the different roles of the character to gain empathy and understanding about various personalities in different situations.

What's an octopus doing there?

That's not your room, though.

Creepy, just creepy.

Rue The Day

He can quickly switch the theme of his works from one genre to another. According to the artist, it allows him to maintain fresh eyes through the entire painting process.

Lot's of scary things going on here.

There's just so much happening. Can you spot each one of them?

How many arms does this guy have?

What's going on with Eiffel Tower?

It Ends With A Whisper

Judith

Beautiful outside. Cruel inside.

No Room In Hell

Jeff Lee Johnson

He is the artist behind these interesting yet unsettling creations. The paintings were born out of Johnson's love for two things: H.P. Lovecraft and travel.

Johnson hopes that when people look at his artwork, it would train them to become more observant.

There are layers of meaning and context all around us wherever we go, much of it hidden to a casual glance, and the story is much richer if sometimes more frightening if we take the time and effort to look a little deeper.

According to the artist, there are indeed people who are terrified upon seeing his work. But a lot of them are enjoying what they're seeing.

May