Photograph or Painting? See If You Can Tell the Difference in These 11 Hyperrealistic Works of Art
- Posted on July 4, 2012 at 1:40pm by
Liz Klimas
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Pedro Campos is well-known in the world of photorealistic paintings. Many who have written on his work claim that they have to look twice to confirm his paintings aren’t photographs. But even after a second look, it’s still difficult to tell the difference.
Can you tell these are just oil on canvas?
Campos’ most recent exhibition at the Plus One Gallery’s “Hyperrealism Now“ in London ”tends to elicit double takes,” as the gallery puts it. The Plus One Gallery represents Campos, among other artists.
John Seed, an art and art history professor, wrote on Campos for the Huffington Post a few years ago explaining that it wasn’t until the painter was in his 30s — he’s now in his mid-40s — that he began oil paintings. Before then, he had been an artwork restorer, worked as an illustrator for ad companies, and more:
“I think the influence of restoration in developing my own way of painting has been important,” says Campos. “The restoration of lost areas in antique paintings forces you to seek excatitude in color: any personal intervention should go unnoticed.“ Restoration also taught Campos to strive for an ”overall reality” and to subdue his brushwork.
Check out more of Campos’ work here.
(H/T: So Bad So Good)
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freeme
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:00pmBeautiful. However the subjects are boring. Would many people really want pictures of Coke cans on their walls?
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:40amTry a web search for Canadian Eric de Garafe’s Acrylics. I ran across some of them recently posted on either UK times or Daily Mail’s web site. You literally can‘t tell the difference between them and photo’s. His “Strawberries on Foil” will blow your mind, and make you desire to plop them in your mouth!
Report Post »cristo52
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:32pmLiz, let’s hope those writers you speak of have not actually written “on his work,” but written of Mr. Campos’ work. Also, a painting is not a photograph. While some paintings do look as detailed as photographs – as with Mr. Campos – many folks like their paintings to actually look like paintings. Mr. Van Gogh did a pretty good job with a number of subjects, including sunflower and olive trees. None look like photographs, but are prized the world over.
Report Post »sdarbro
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:50amAgreed. So somebody can paint a subject that looks identical to a photograph? I can create that same image with my iPhone. Big deal. The difference is that Campos takes longer, is more difficult, and still ends up with an identical outcome as I would have with the iPhone. Maybe he should add some ‘art’ to his photorealism?!?
Report Post »65Plus
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:20pmStill can’t do anything with Pelosi.
Report Post »MichiganPatriot
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:42pmThe thing that amazes me more than anything is the that each person on earth has a different ability, some are very similar each has his or her own special touch. This artist is simply amazing.
Report Post »savant
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:40amAfter you learn how to do this type of art it will take anywhere from 20 – 70 hrs to complete. They use illustration board instead of canvas and to get the reflections they use eraser and scratching techniques. I do it using an airbrush and the reason i do it, is because i can.
Report Post »ninja97
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:28amI don’t care what anybody says. Those are ALL photographs. I will eventually be proven correct.
Report Post »dutchmantoo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:59amI believe this is superb craftsmanship. But if he really believes that “any personal intervention should go unnoticed” then I’d have to give it low marks on the “art” end of the spectrum…and I believe Piccaso, Van Gogh and others who placed high marks on emotional connectivity would agree.
Report Post »scotte5620
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:59amEmotional connectivity??? Isn’t that just a sales pitch to add value to “art” produced by artists with minimal talent?
Report Post »GENE BLISTER
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:50am“Ceci n’est pas une pipe” -Rene Magritte
Report Post »Manaconda
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:20amSo whats the point? If you cant tell the difference why not just take a photo and be done with it?
Report Post »contkmi
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:45amUm, because it’s art. Life isn’t all politics. I’m dumbfounded by the talent and vision this kind of stuff takes. I know I can’t do it and the stuff is pleasing to look at.
I suggest you slow down and smell the roses.
Report Post »cliffchism
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:56amWhen the EMP pulse comes and takes out all the phones and cameras, it will be comforting to know that this guy can still accomplish the same thing, using primitive technology….lol
actually, I think this guy has more talent under his belt, than many of the people trying to convince us that their works are somehow art.
Report Post »auntmoxie.com
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:26amIs it just me or does #12 feature Glenn Beck looking at a horse?
Report Post »FedUpWithLibs
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:24amDid he paint that one too and if he did why??
Report Post »mikelabass
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:32amThey did say in the title of the article, ‘11 Hyperrealistic Works of Art’.
Report Post »Kelso
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:57amI thought the same…that is Beck, recent, because of those new glasses he’s been sporting the last couple weeks.
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:39amYour’re right. lol
:)
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:13amThat’s nothin. Wait till you see my photographs that look like paintings.
Then you’ll be amazed.
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:38amNEWS FLASH:
The Obamanator‘s administration has released Millhouse’s birth certificate!!!!!
Oh, sorry, it’s a hyperrealistic copy.
Report Post »nolies74621
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:53amI will say I am not convinced but heck I don’t know diddly about art. If they are paintings how the heck did he get the clear plastic bags and jars to reflect light and look like they were real? Amazing
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:09amYes, amazing is right although I can‘t say as I’d like to have one of these paintings hanging in my home. I’d prefer a real bowl of fruit on my kitchen table.
Report Post »RestoreCapitalism
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:01pmThose weren’t actually paintings, they were digital images of paintings reproduced on our computer screens, so there! Seriously though, that’s pretty amazing stuff.
It must be a very finely woven canvas too, since you can’t even see any canvas texture. He must spend an awful lot of time to get that kind of detail.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:36pmI was going to say the same thing in different words. All the pictures we see are not better than the pixels on our computers. If I had the painting and real things side by side that would be different. As it is, they are all just representations.
Report Post »GENE BLISTER
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:55am“Ceci n’est pas une pipe” –Rene Magritte
Report Post »catholicextremist
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:01pmI defer to feet experts (Rex Ryan!) but the ankles on the feet on the beach look fake, but other than that, amazing.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:46pm…
Report Post »Very talented, but seems a little obsessed with plastic bags and food.
Meyvn
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:41pmYes. I couldn’t help but notice the obsession with plastic.
Report Post »mkarsc
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:32pmIf you view/click on “captions” you will see that all but number 12 are oil on canvas.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:45pmIf he had wrapped up the people and the horse with plastic in #12; I’d say they were all paintings.
Report Post »potica69
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:45pmWhy would someone take the pains to paint a picture that looks like a photo?
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:24pmWhen you know the reason why, the how becomes clearer…………………..
Report Post »Aceofshades
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:21pm#12 is the only photograph, Unless he has painted it in a week, and its not on his site yet.
Report Post »Lotus503
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:57pmWho would wanna paint Glenn looking at a horse? Is that the same horse that was on his show?
Report Post »Aceofshades
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:10amIf I remember correctly the horse that was on the show this last time (week ago) was black, so no, that isn’t the horse on the show I was thinking of. But there have been other horses
Report Post »sunshineSue
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:30pmnumbers 4,5,8,9,12, are oil.
Report Post »Gorp
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:15pmAnd the rest are anti-freeze and brake fluid. LOL
Report Post »Advena
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:59pmWhat do you mean by “just oil on canvas”. That sounds like the writer thinks oil on canvas is inferior. These pictures are amazing.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:08pmWow, this guy is really good.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:05pmPretty amazing. I wish I could be that talented.
Report Post »brickmoon
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:01pmUnless he whipped up the one depicting Glenn with the horse in the studio in the past week, I’d bet that #12 is a photograph. ;)
Report Post »GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:59pmLol…you think?
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