This amazing picture series displays the remarkable skills of artist, who are engaged into Photorealism. With the help of shadows, light effects, extreme details, symmetrical, but also flowing shapes, these artists are able to reproduce reality on canvas.
One must admit, when looking at the paintings below that there is a lot of talent involved. Especially, since all of the paintings can be perceived as real-life photographs. If you would not know, would you have thought that someone actually drew these pictures? Rafael Bujnowski even managed to draw a picture so realistic, it was accepted by a governmental institution as a passport photo (see passport).
Unexpectedly, Photorealism has evolved from Pop Art in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States. It was a reactionary movement, which sought to counter the increase of photographic media in that time. Consequently, Photorealist artists aimed to re-establish the value of imagery in art, which started with the technological progress in photography during the mid 20th century. Contrary to Pop Art, Photorealism tried to capture and to display the nature of reality, in order to regain the pretension of art. [1]
Omar Ortiz – Using Oil on Linen
Image Credits: Omar Ortiz
Paul Cadden – Pencil and Paper
Image Credits: Paul Cadden
Kamalky Laureano – Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Image Credits: Kamalky Laureano
Gregory Thielker – Oil on Canvas
Image Credits: Gregory Thielker
Lee Price – Oil on Linen
Image Credits: Lee Price
Ben Weiner – Paintings of Paint
Image Credits: Ben Weiner
Ron Mueck – Hyper Realistic Human Sculptures
Image Credits: Ron Mueck
Kim Ji-hoon – Pencil
Image Credits: Kim Ji-hoon
Ray Hare – Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Image Credits: Ray Hare
Pedro Campos – Oil on Canvas
Image Credits: Pedro Campos
Dirk Dzimirsky – Pencil on Paper
Image Credits: Dirk Dzimirsky
Thomas Arvid – Giclée on Canvas
Image Credits: Thomas Arvid
Samuel Silva – Ballpoint Pen
Image Credits: Samuel Silva
Gottfried Helnwein – Oil and Acrylic on Canvas
Image Credits: Gottfried Helnwein
Mike Bayne – Oil on Wood Panel
Image Credits: Mike Bayne
Robert Longo – Charcoal on Mounted Paper
Image Credits: Robert Longo
Diego Fazio – Charcoal Pencil
Image Credits: Diego Fazio
Bryan Drury – Oil on Wood
Image Credits: Bryan Drury
Rafal Bujnowski – Black and White Photo-realistic Portrait
(so realistic that a picture of it was accepted for his passport) Image Credits: Rafal Bujnowski
Robin Eley – Oil on Belgian Linen
Image Credits: Robin Eley
Kevin Okafor – Graphite Pencils on Paper
Image Credits: Kevin Okafor