Everyone knows iconic art pieces like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa or Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night. Just by reading the titles, you can probably picture them pretty well in your mind.
They've been reproduced countless times; from museum visitors making a quick sketch in their notebooks, to careful studies made by artists learning to develop their skills, and even in photos using accessories and a few cute kids, like one clever mom did.
In fact, many students, like the ones you'll see below, copy a famous painting as part of their art education.
Copying the works of old masters has actually been a well-known tradition among artists for centuries. The idea is that by recreating the work of an established painter, artists get a better sense of how the original was created and learn various painting techniques. They also get a chance to sharpen their own art skills.
That's what the students at a school in Russia did for an art show. Ranging in age from eight to 15, students tried their hands at recreating famous paintings from all different places and time periods.
Check out the paintings below next to the originals and see how they did!
[H/T: Bright Side]
Alex, aged 8, went classic with a rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
He gave her a little bit of an update with some bright red lipstick and what appears to be a headband.
Daisy, 12, made a bold choice of capturing water and vivid colors with her version of Ivan Aivazovsky's The Ninth Wave.
Unlike the original, hers is more impressionistic, but still captures the churning ocean.
14-year-old Gregory did a great job with the bold colors and swirling lines of Edvard Munch's The Scream.
He even managed to capture the sharp perspective of the bridge on which the screaming figure is standing.
There are a lot of details in Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, but that didn't scare off 11-year-old Elbie, who created this pastel version of the famous image.
Elbie recreated everything from the patterns on the fabric to the swirling waves.
This thoughtful cherub (which are technically called putti) is actually just a part of the larger Sistine Madonna by Raphael, but it was what Kaisi, 15, decided to focus on.
Kaisi put a lot of attention into creating the cherub's soft red hair and plump face, and managed to capture that lost-in-thought look.
Vincent van Gogh's Still Life With Sunflowers is a sunny burst of yellows. 14-year-old Valerie warmed it up further by adding in more oranges.
Valerie also mimicked van Gogh's thick, rough brushstrokes that give his paintings their energetic feeling.
12-year-old Katya took on Valentin Serov's Girl With Peaches and gave it a soft, pastel makeover.
She added a minty green to the background, which stands out nicely against the pink blouse.
Van Gogh is a popular choice, probably because there's a nice sense of freedom in applying all those colors.
Polly, 12, captured the swirling clouds and glittering sky of The Starry Night with considerable skill.
Faye, 11, put a bit of her own spin on Amedeo Modigliani's Portrait of Hébuterne, lightening the colors and adding a splash of maroon to the backdrop.
But she also captured the artist's signature crisp lines and elongated figures.
Another Daisy, 13, captured the mysterious gaze of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring.
She even gave the famous girl some eyebrows, which was nice of her.
Finally, 8-year-old Angelina recreated Claude Monet's Yellow Irises, with a lot of rhythmic, repeated green lines and splashes of yellow.
She managed to capture the vibrancy of Monet's painting and added in her own personal flair with some peeks of warm orange.
If you've ever recreated a famous painting, let us know in the comments — or better yet, show us!
And be sure to SHARE the works of these young artists with the creative people in your life!
