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 over five years now, and we are very thankful to all the designers who have contributed and are still diligently contributing each month. This post features free desktop wallpapers created by artists across the globe for May 2013. 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?
• You can also download the wallpapers for Windows 7/8.

The Green Bear

Designed by Pedro Rolo from Portugal.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 2560×1440

<h3 id="power-05-2013">Power</h3>

Designed by Elise Vanoorbeek from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="quote-of-the-day-05-2013">Quote Of The Day</h3>

Designed by Eloise Ha from Malaysia.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="winter-is-over-05-2013">Winter Is Over</h3>

Designed by Uxue Goikoetxea from Spain.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="vlad-studio-05-2013">Raring Ringtail</h3>

Designed by Vlad Studio from Russia.

• preview
• with calendar: 800x600, 1024×768, 1152x864, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

<h3 id="get-caught-reading-month-05-2013">Get Caught Reading Month</h3>

Designed by Jill Hamilton from Canada.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

<h3 id="full-of-spirit-05-2013">Full Of Spirit</h3>

Designed by Ushuk Maria from USA.

• preview
• with calendar: 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900,
  1600×1200 (currently missing),
  1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="world_s-labor-day-05-2013">World's Labor Day</h3>

Designed by debobrata debnath from India.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×1024, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×1024, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="april-showers-bring-may-flowers-05-2013">April Showers Bring May Flowers</h3>

Designed by Morgan Newnham from USA.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480 (currently missing),
  1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="octopus_-the-master-of-disguise-05-2013">Octopus: The Master Of Disguise</h3>

Designed by Sasha Endoh from Canada.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1152x864, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1152x864, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

The Arabian Stud

Designed by Atelier Pall from Romania.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1920x1080, 2560x1440
• without calendar: 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1920x1080, 2560x1440

<h3 id="a-better-summer-05-2013">A Better Summer</h3>

Designed by Joeri Claes from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

<h3 id="may-i-love-you-05-2013">May I Love You</h3>

Designed by Julien Savoldi from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="game-boy-05-2013">Game Boy</h3>

Designed by Sander Geenen from Belgium.

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

<h3 id="mental-health-awareness-day-illustration-05-2013">Mental Health Awareness Day</h3>

Designed by Kay Karremans from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="old-vs_-new-05-2013">Old vs. New</h3>

Designed by Wannes De ROy from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="museum-day-05-2013">Museum Day</h3>

Designed by cheloveche.ru from Russia.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200

<h3 id="blooming-05-2013">Blooming</h3>

Designed by Alexandru Nastase from Romania.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

<h3 id="ethnic-snake-05-2013">Ethnic Snake</h3>

Designed by Katerina Bobkova from Ukraine.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080

<h3 id="maypole-animals-05-2013">Maypole Animals</h3>

Designed by Charlotte Blatchford from UK.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="illustration-05-2013">May Fiesta</h3>

Designed by Pat Buenaobra from Philippines.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="_he-who-sings____-05-2013">"He Who Sings..."</h3>

Designed by Yiannis Kranidiotis from Greece.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

<h3 id="awaiting-rebirth-05-2013">Awaiting Rebirth</h3>

Designed by Kristof Van Espen from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1920×1080, 2560×1440

<h3 id="splash!-05-2013">Splash!</h3>

Designed by Ajan Navaratnasingam from London, UK.

• preview
• with calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 2560×1440

<h3 id="mondriaan-05-2013">Mondriaan</h3>

Designed by Siemon Donvil from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 1024×768, 1280x800, 1920×1080, 2560×1440

<h3 id="praise-the-workers-on-labor-day-05-2013">Praise The Workers On Labor Day</h3>

Designed by N. Baeten from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200

<h3 id="daydream-05-2013">Daydream</h3>

Designed by Maarten Wydooghe from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1280x800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="may-around-the-world-05-2013">May Around the World</h3>

Designed by dangerbrain from USA.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

<h3 id="mothers-day-05-2013">Mothers Day</h3>

Designed by Kim Janssens from Belgium.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1366×768, 1024×1024, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440

<h3 id="savanna-may-05-2013">Savanna May</h3>

Designed by Brian Jonah Obara from Kenya.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480 (currently missing), 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
• without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152x864, 1280×720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440

<h3 id="puppet-show-05-2013">Puppet Show</h3>

Designed by Pietje Precies from The Netherlands.

• preview
• with calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
• without calendar: 320x480, 1024×768, 1280x800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 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 the designers for their participation. Join in next month!

What’s Your Favorite?

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