Almost everyone who used a computer in the 1990s has used MS Paint, the drawing software bundled with Windows 95. But there’s a good chance your works of art never looked like Hal Lasko’s.
Lasko, at nearly 98 years old, has painted dozens of works of art with Paint. Gizmodo reports that Lasko has severely impaired vision, but using the zoom features on his computer allows him to continue creating artwork.
In the bio on Lasko’s website, it explains that the Ohio artist started a career as a graphic designer before moving on to drafting maps for bombing raids during World War II. Following the war, Lasko returned to graphic design and worked for a range of companies including General Tire, Goodyear and American Greetings. Throughout his career, Lasko continued to work on his personal paintings late at night, when he had the time. After his retirement, he dedicated more of his time to art, eventually being shown Microsoft Paint by his family.
There’s a certain appeal to Lasko’s work which really speaks to those of us who fell in love with video games of a certain generation. Some of Lasko’s forest scenes are so reminiscent of Chrono Trigger, it’s hard to believe he hasn’t seen the art in the game for himself.
Unlike Tatsuo Horiuchi, a 73-year-old artist who uses AutoShapes Excel to create beautiful Japanese-style art, Lasko creates his works of art the same way he always did: by using the tools available on his palette.
The Right Click
