#LightDay2026 calls attention to the role light plays not just in scientific discovery and innovation. It includes art and culture. In #OPG_Optica research, a team blurred the lines between science and art by showing how a laser can be used to create artistic masterpieces in a way that mirrors classical paintings and brushes. In their research, they investigated the interaction between focused laser irradiation and metallic surfaces for three main artistic operations: color making, multiple color changes and erasing by a nanosecond laser. For the technique, the researchers heat the metal to a point where it starts to evaporate. When it cools, an extremely thin film of metal oxide forms. Light reflected from the metallic surface and the top of the oxide film interferes in a way that produces different colors depending on the film's thickness. They demonstrated the new laser paintbrush by using it to create a 3X2-inch version of "Starry Night." They also made original artwork to dem...