We always try our best to challenge your artistic abilities and produce some interesting, beautiful and creative artwork. And as designers we usually turn to different sources of inspiration. As a matter of fact, we’ve discovered the best one — desktop wallpapers that are a little more distinctive than the usual crowd. This creativity mission has been going on for almost two years now, and we are very thankful to all designers who have contributed and are still diligently contributing each month.

We continue to nourish you with a monthly spoon of inspiration. This post features 25 free desktop wallpapers created by artists across the globe for August 2011. Both versions with a calendar and without a calendar can be downloaded for free. It’s time to freshen up your wallpaper!

Please note that:

• All images can be clicked on and lead to the preview of the wallpaper,
• You can feature your work in our magazine by taking part in our Desktop Wallpaper Calendar series. We are regularly looking for creative designers and artists to be featured on Smashing Magazine. Are you one of them?

Lion

Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Russia.

• preview
• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

64th Independance Day

"On the ocassion of the 64th Independace Day, I hereby salute all the martyrs and freedom fightersand dedicate this design to their sacrifice. Jai Hind!!!" Designed by Chandrakant Bagade from Bangalore, India.

• preview
• with calendar: 320×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1200

Before The Fall

"August stands just right before the Fall." Designed by Eject-studio from Russia.

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• with calendar: 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Moths In The Night

"Moths fly in the dark nights towards the light. They are like thoughts that search for light to shine in the minds of the people." Designed by Olivia Osik from Estonia.

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• with calendar: 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

Circus

"In Soviet Russia, Circus Watches You." Designed by Cheloveche.ru from Russia.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Greeny Droplets

"The rain makes all things beautifull,The grass and flowers too,If rain make all things beautiful,why doesn’t it rain on you?Enjoy This Rainy Season." Designed by Shravan Mishra from India.

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• with calendar: 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280×800, 1280×960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Underwater Swimming

"Black boy enjoys underwater swimming with fish. They make bubbles that form caption of the month." Designed by Tina Kraљovec from Slovenia.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

August Lemonade

"August is here! and the hot weather too, what about drinking some fresh cold lemonade? it’s gr8!." Designed by Almog Shemesh from Israel.

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• with calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080
• without calendar: 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080

Flutist

"Flutist - a strange occurence in the forest:)." Designed by Nina Magradze from Russia.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1900×1080, 1900×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1900×1080, 1900×1200

Sights Of Summer

"The sight of vibrant flowers during a summer stroll through the park. Photographed and designed by Michelle Bodamer." Designed by Michelle Bodamer from USA.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

Another Hot August

"From Spain, another hot august enjoying the beach." Designed by Celsiuspictor from Spain.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

Summer Rain

Designed by Marcin Kopczynski from Poland.

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• with calendar: 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

Hotcat

"Cat sets his tail on fire by accident." Designed by Pedro Rolo from Portugal.

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• with calendar: 640×480, 800×600, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1680×1050, 1920×1080

Photographic

"Beautiful pink flowers reach up to the sky on a bright summer day." Designed by Kate Hunsinger from USA.

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• with calendar: 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 2560×1440

Look To The Sky

"As much as it what fills the night sky perplexes me, it seems to make perfect sense at the same time. By day it is Las Vegas wedding photography, by night I tilt my head and lens skyward and look to the sky above the desert." Designed by Las Vegas Photographer from USA.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Retro Rabbit

Designed by Verda Design from Canada.

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• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Orchid Flower

Designed by Beata Kurek from Poland.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050

Summer Hunting

"Summer, watch it!" Designed by Anna Pochodaj from Poland.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

With Love To Mom

"Very excited to make my first wallpaper and submitting to smashing magazine. I would like to dedicate this wallpaper to my mom on her birthday this month." Designed by Neena P.s. from Spain.

• preview
• with calendar: 800×600, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 800×600, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Hang 10

Designed by Corporate 3 Design from USA.

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• with calendar: 480×360, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 480×360, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Dried Roses

"I deliberately put some bunch of roses at backyard of my house for a period of month. Then took some photographs and rendered in Photoshop." Designed by Saqib Akhtar Ghauri from Kuwait.

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• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

Hidden Details

"Everywhere in your environment you can find something. And everywhere youfind some details which are so beautiful, but never really recognized by most of the peoplepassing by. So here is a detail from a hidden monument in a german garden. I thought that would beperfect for the calendar in august, the last totally warm month before autumn arrives andsummer 2011 will be a detailed memory in everyone’s head. Hidden for the most. But for those who takethe time to have a careful look, maybe shown in a little smile. :)." Designed by Dana Gerigk from Germany.

• preview
• with calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Create

"A grungy, parchment looking background with a hand-drawingof a tree that I didn’t finish in order to let the viewer fill it in with their imagination." Designed by Koepke Graphics from USA.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Cows Of August

"The cows of August look a little bit different. Really fun to make, I hope you like it!" Designed by Design 311 from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280×960, 1366×768, 1600×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280×960, 1366×768, 1600×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

Yes I’m Emperor

Designed by Marcela Pe–a Rojas / Isonauta from Chile.

• preview
• with calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

The Growth Of Molo

"You can feed MOLO by taking photos and amaze how he grows up!" Designed by Molome from USA.

• preview
• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

Wake Up! It’s August!

"Big thanks to Andrew aka JiBZz for some 3d modeling." Designed by Anatoly Moskaltsov from Russia.

• preview
• with calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

Join In Next Month!

Please note that we respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience throughout their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us, but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.

A big thank you to all designers for their participation. Join in next month!

What’s Your Favourite?

What’s your favorite theme or wallpaper for this month? Please let us know in the comment section below!

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