Hyperrealism: paintings indistinguishable from reality

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Surely everyone at least once met pictures in their news feed that are very similar to photographs. At first glance, it is quite difficult to understand whether such work was done with the help of modern digital technology or created with a brush and paints. As a rule, these are drawings by artists who have chosen the style of hyperrealism for themselves. Paintings look very similar to photographs, but they often carry something more.

What is hyperrealism

This style appeared relatively recently and has already won a lot of fans and faced the hatred of those who do not understand the meaning of copying reality. Few artistic styles in painting are as controversial as hyperrealism has been.

The world saw the first such works in the 70s of the XX century. Surprisingly accurate copying of reality amazed the minds so much that the style quickly became very popular. Currently, even more attention is drawn to him by endless disputes between fans and opponents of unusual paintings.

Clashopinions, as a rule, becomes one question about why draw what can be photographed. The essence of hyperrealism is that it draws the viewer's close attention to the most ordinary things. This happens due to the multiple zooming in, the rejection of a complex background and the amazing clarity of the image. An artist who has chosen the style of hyperrealism for himself does not impose his opinion on the viewer - all his works are simple and surprisingly realistic.

What do hyperrealists draw?

The object of the artist's work, working in the style of hyperrealism, can be almost any object that caught his eye. Fruit, plastic bags, glass, metal, water - anything can be embodied in the next picture. As a rule, hyperrealists show the viewer the chosen object as if under a microscope, increasing its size several times and allowing a person to plunge into a completely different world.

Often the artist tries to draw the viewer's attention to a certain detail, making it more contrasting and smoothly dissolving everything else. At first glance, one may not even understand that attention is riveted to this particular part of the picture only because the artist wanted it that way. This is the subtle psychology of hyperrealists, which allows you to manipulate emotions. But not all artists use this technique - some prefer to create works that completely copy reality.

Hyper realistic portraits

But among many works, style fans pay special attention to portraits. Draw a lemonwhich falls into a glass of water is difficult, but it is even more difficult to convey the emotions, mood and character of a person. Many modern artists complicate their work by pouring paint, water or oil on the model to make the painting more original.

But in general, hyperrealists do not limit themselves in choosing a topic for drawing. Like many other artistic styles in painting, this type of art can present almost anything to the viewer.

What draws

The materials that hyperrealists work with can be completely different. Works made in oils or acrylics are very popular. The richness of colors allows the artist to create contrasting, bright and really attractive paintings.

But there are other materials that real talents use to create works in the style of hyperrealism. With a pencil, for example, portraits are most often performed. It allows you to clearly draw wrinkles on the face, the smallest elements of the iris, hair, and so on. Using colored pencils, hyperrealist artists create incredibly sunny and vibrant portraits.

Watercolor is more suitable for painting landscapes in the style of hyperrealism. The paintings are light and airy - translucent paint allows you to better convey the space. Despite the fact that artists often paint cityscapes, forests, lakes and turbulent rivers, they rarely go out of their homes to create. Almost all paintings are copied by hyperrealists from photographs, which they themselves often take.

Famous artists

Many have seen the paintings of artists who paint in this style, but few have heard their names. One of the most famous hyperrealists is Will Cotton. His "sweet" paintings cannot but attract attention. As a rule, they depict girls on clouds resembling cotton candy, or various desserts - cakes, cookies, gingerbread houses, etc.

It is impossible not to note the landscapes of Raffaella Spence, made in the style of hyperrealism. The paintings of this artist are striking in their liveliness, which makes them almost indistinguishable from photographs.

Gerhard Richter, who created many works in the style of abstractionism, is one of the most famous hyperrealists. The people and objects in his paintings look a bit washed out, as if the light is passing right through them. Thanks to this unusual effect, Richter's paintings are easily recognizable among many others.

It is worth paying tribute to the artists who paint in the style of hyperrealism. The paintings they create are examples of the highest craftsmanship.