Summary
Beastie Boys Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels captures the raw charisma of three hip hop legends through fast brushwork and bold color.
Title: ‘Three MCs and No DJ’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020
Process
This Beastie Boys speed painting pays tribute to Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock — an explosive trio that helped define the sound and attitude of hip hop in the ’80s and ’90s. The portrait was created using a limited color palette: Magenta, Primary Yellow, Cyan, Titanium White, and Oxide Black. This deliberate constraint brought out the contrasts and textures that make the piece so punchy.
The background began with a bold magenta base, setting a vivid tone right from the start. I ditched the original reference background and focused solely on the three MCs to emphasize their presence. The outlines were drawn freehand using a multiliner, then layered with confident brushstrokes — jackets, shadows, facial highlights — all captured in quick, energetic moves to reflect the group’s own rhythm and spontaneity.
Want to see how it all came together? Watch the full progress video of this Beastie Boys portrait above.
This work is part of a larger series of hip hop portraits. I often experiment with minimal palettes and expressive lines to distill the essence of a subject. If you enjoyed this, check out my speed painting of The Weeknd.
Availability
If you’re interested in collecting this piece or exploring related work, see what’s available below:
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Art Supplies I Recommend
These are materials I either use in the studio or genuinely recommend. They hold up well with acrylics and get the job done without drama.
Acrylic Paint
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