Taking just three materials and combining them to create a work of art is the height of minimalism and simplicity. Creating a work of art that gives a sense of photorealism while at the same time being quite impressionistic is a feat in and of itself, and when combined with the restrictions of the medium, is nothing short of a masterpiece. After all, how many artists do you know who could create stunning portraits using nothing more than a panel of painted wood, some galvanized nails, and a single, unbroken sewing thread? That's exactly what Kumi Yamashita has done. Her collection, titled Constellation, consists of portraits that rival painted works (or even photographs with some interesting filters applied). It's inspiring to think about what other simple, every-day materials could be used to create works of art. Here are three portraits from the collection...

Mana

Mana, 40cm x 30cm x 3cm

Cy

Cy, 46cm x 36cm x 2cm

Erik

Erik, 46cm x 36cm x 3cm

The artist

Kumi Yamashita was born in Japan and lives and works in New York City. She has won numerous awards, has been part of Artist in Residence programs in Maine, Japan, New Mexico, and elsewhere, and has had solo shows in the US, Singapore, Japan, as well as group shows around the world. Her other collections include pieces made from a variety of materials, including a collection of silhouettes made from shadows, appropriately titled Light & Shadow. What kinds of materials would you like to experiment with to make art? Have you seen other interesting examples of art made from common materials? Let us know in the comments!