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God is in the details, they say, and they’re not wrong. If you take a closer look, you may find something very surprising… for example, that you are quite an artist.

Today, we take a look at what happens when thanks to pure coincidence, some luck, and a little je ne sais quoi (“I don’t know what” in French), people come up with impressive pieces of unintentional art, from a paint stain that looks like a magic forest which would leave Rembrandt in awe to an accidental drop of paint that probably turned out better than an actual painting ever would.

So below we wrapped up some of the most interesting unintentional “art masterpieces” that are neither quite art nor quite a masterpiece, yet still very impressive. Upvote your favorites as you scroll!

Psst! Don't forget to check out our previous feature with more accidental art.

#1

The Wear And Scuff Marks On This Boat Look Like An Island In The Sea

The Wear And Scuff Marks On This Boat Look Like An Island In The Sea

supremo92 Report

#2

My Windshield Looked Like A Watercolour

My Windshield Looked Like A Watercolour

Rain_in_Arcadia Report

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DustTea
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything rain touches is art (Edit: that wasn’t meant to be so poetic but thanks lol)

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Interestingly, accidental art is not a new concept born on online forums and cultivated by various subreddits. The idea that art can stem from something completely unintentional can be traced back to Leonardo Da Vinci, who, scientists claim, gave some interesting advice to an artist struggling from creative block.

Christopher Turner, a British writer and art historian, quotes Da Vinci in an essay published on Tate: “If you look upon an old wall covered with dirt, or the odd appearance of some streaked stones, you may discover several things like landscapes, battles, clouds, uncommon attitudes, humorous faces, draperies, etc. Out of this confused mass of objects, the mind will be furnished with an abundance of designs and subjects perfectly new.”

#4

Broken Plate

Broken Plate

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Lorraine
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a woman and I not only understand, I share the excitement.

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#5

Rust Formed On This Old Spool Of Wire In One Of The Coolest Ways I've Ever Seen

Rust Formed On This Old Spool Of Wire In One Of The Coolest Ways I've Ever Seen

ggpurplecobras Report

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This fresh idea proposed by Da Vinci, Turner argues, encouraged the viewer to search for hidden meaning in chaos. “It referred back to myths about the origin of art in accidental shapes. In De Statua, Leon Battista Alberti supposed that artistic imitation emerged when our ancestors came across a gnarled tree trunk or a piece of clay, whose contours ‘needed only a slight change’ to look strikingly like something else.”

#7

I Took A Picture Of This Strange Lighting Under A Bridge At The San Antonio River Walk

I Took A Picture Of This Strange Lighting Under A Bridge At The San Antonio River Walk

Photoproguy Report

#8

The Way This Car Froze

The Way This Car Froze

LAINKORNE Report

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Cindy Cole
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When this happened on our windows my grandmother would say, "Jack Frost has been here!"

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#9

Pigeon Poops Portrait Of Itself On A Leaf

Pigeon Poops Portrait Of Itself On A Leaf

Koda_Has_A_Top_Hat Report

The artists were mesmerized by the idea that natural artifacts and nature as a whole can be full of artistic readymades, “if only you are patient enough to look for them."

Throughout the years, for artists and historians alike, accidental artistic gestures like stains or blots offered a new mode of interpretation. “The meaningless stain, which invites the universal urge to project meaning, is the humble stage on which all arguments about art are rehearsed,” Turner concludes.

#10

I Snapped A Photo Of My Dog Through A Window Screen That Looks Like An Old Painting

I Snapped A Photo Of My Dog Through A Window Screen That Looks Like An Old Painting

PhatWalda Report

#11

Old One From When I Worked At Lowe’s

Old One From When I Worked At Lowe’s

Wikeni Report

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#13

Picture Of My Cat Through A Screen Door Makes It Look Like He's Painted On Canvas

Picture Of My Cat Through A Screen Door Makes It Look Like He's Painted On Canvas

-SkeptiCat Report

#14

These Clouds Look Like A Child’s Drawing Of Waves

These Clouds Look Like A Child’s Drawing Of Waves

SpencerLass Report

#15

I Took A Picture Of Sidewalk Chalk On A Tire

I Took A Picture Of Sidewalk Chalk On A Tire

whatup-my-glip-glops Report

#16

The Way The Oil And Rain Created This Electric Masterpiece

The Way The Oil And Rain Created This Electric Masterpiece

LadyKingsella Report

#17

The Reflection Of These Sticks Makes Interesting Shapes

The Reflection Of These Sticks Makes Interesting Shapes

leohpeoh Report

#18

At First, I Thought This Was Mosaic Tile Until I Got Closer And Found It Has Been In The Sun Too Long

At First, I Thought This Was Mosaic Tile Until I Got Closer And Found It Has Been In The Sun Too Long

TidalPod Report

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Ronstantin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a piece of the famous Chinese artist "Sun Too Long" (I'll see myself out …}

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#19

This Rusty Lock Gate Looks Like A Painting

This Rusty Lock Gate Looks Like A Painting

rOlFmaIeR Report

#21

Accidentally Created A Porcupine By Pouring Instant Coffee Over An Americano

Accidentally Created A Porcupine By Pouring Instant Coffee Over An Americano

fishdust Report

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#23

The Window Of This House I Rented Looks Like A Painting

The Window Of This House I Rented Looks Like A Painting

_newphonewhodis Report

#24

I Found A Cat On My Paint Palette

I Found A Cat On My Paint Palette

moth333 Report

#25

A Clock In A Server Room Where I Work Is Accidental Modern Art

A Clock In A Server Room Where I Work Is Accidental Modern Art

liamski1902 Report

#26

The Way The Soap Bubbles Look Floating Over A Wire Basket

The Way The Soap Bubbles Look Floating Over A Wire Basket

diarmada Report

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AutumnSong2009
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s like those science videos that show you your cells but they’re disco balls

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#28

The Way The Mud Froze On My Truck Looks Like A Painting Of The Forest

The Way The Mud Froze On My Truck Looks Like A Painting Of The Forest

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Bec
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first, I thought I was supposed to be seeing something in the circle 😂

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#29

Work Of Art Created By A Small Overnight Leak Of Insulating Foam

Work Of Art Created By A Small Overnight Leak Of Insulating Foam

War_gasmic Report

#30

Almost Art

Almost Art

MaGuishi Report

#31

Countless Hours Of Wind Moved The Chains To Get This Piece Of Art

Countless Hours Of Wind Moved The Chains To Get This Piece Of Art

Richicash Report

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#33

I Dropped Some Coffee And It Looks Like A Bird

I Dropped Some Coffee And It Looks Like A Bird

gbaraldi Report

#34

My Dirty Coffee Cup Looks Like A Pine Forest

My Dirty Coffee Cup Looks Like A Pine Forest

Knugles Report

#36

How The Sunlight Reflects Off The Wall From The Vase

How The Sunlight Reflects Off The Wall From The Vase

supertrooper74 Report

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Sawdust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a map of an old European city. Maybe there's a spot to mark a hidden treasure. :-)

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#37

Natural Shell That Looks Like Someone Sketched A Mountain Range On It

Natural Shell That Looks Like Someone Sketched A Mountain Range On It

Pointman2 Report

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Sarinz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a conus. Please be aware that it's highly venomous (if it's alive, of course).

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#40

Pattern On This Tree Stump Looks Kinda Like The "Starry Night" Painting

Pattern On This Tree Stump Looks Kinda Like The "Starry Night" Painting

grumpytogepi Report

#41

This Smudge On My Glasses Looks Like A Mountain

This Smudge On My Glasses Looks Like A Mountain

BringDat_Camelbak Report

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#42

The Way The Paint Dried In This Old Bottle Looks Like A Tidal Wave

The Way The Paint Dried In This Old Bottle Looks Like A Tidal Wave

Epotheros Report

#43

The Way This Glass Shattered

The Way This Glass Shattered

cubventure Report

#44

Fireworks Reflection Off My Car

Fireworks Reflection Off My Car

peterpeterny Report

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A_Cat_To_The_Past
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought a bird got explosive diarrhea for a second and I was like you have lot of cleaning to do...

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#45

This Happened When I Went To Spread Margarine On My Toast

This Happened When I Went To Spread Margarine On My Toast

miirder Report

#46

I Accidentally Left A Bowl Of Beet Juice On The Counter And The Top Layer Rippled

I Accidentally Left A Bowl Of Beet Juice On The Counter And The Top Layer Rippled

ThePhantomDullbooth Report

#48

Our Paint Can Broke Last Night And Dried In A Really Fun Way

Our Paint Can Broke Last Night And Dried In A Really Fun Way

Mizayo Report

#49

My Suction-Packed Embroidery Thread Looks Like A Modern Art Piece

My Suction-Packed Embroidery Thread Looks Like A Modern Art Piece

a-manda_hugandkiss Report

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KLo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see a boy sitting, an old lady wearing an apron, a brown dog looking at the boy, a goose, standing tall and beautiful multicolor flowers

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#50

I Inadvertently Made A Duck While Tinting Paint At Work

I Inadvertently Made A Duck While Tinting Paint At Work

Comfortable_Style739 Report

Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.