Challenge for November: Hyper-realistic Painting

 The goal of the Pieces of 8 challenge for November is to paint something hyper-realistic. And oh, there are so many definitions of what that could mean! Is it something that looks totally real, like you could pick it up off the paper? Or something that looks real but has an added dimension? As the term has many definitions, it's up to each artist to determine what "hyper-realistic" means to them and paint accordingly. 

Carmen Beecher's Challenge Entry

Glass and it's shadows and reflections are always a challenge!

Kathy Garvey's Challenge Entry

I totally love, follow and admire the works of great hyper-realistic artists like Marcello Barenghi. Accomplishing that level of realism eludes me. But, I'm practicing for this challenge. Here's my progress so far...

First attempt: I tried to recreate my eraser in my sketchbook
(before I realized I had zero interest in hand drawing text).

Second attempt: That's a real Oak leaf on right top. A real pond snail shell is on the left bottom.
My attempts at realism are opposite each. 

The results here make me realize I stop myself before going dark enough. Since this is watercolor, I need to be patient and add another 10 or so layers of color to match reality.  Patience is not a virtue of mine, but maybe, I'll keep at it for this challenge. If I improve, I'll post it below.

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"ELIZABETH'S KITCHEN"

by Denette Schweikert

I painted this picture from a photograph I took while staying with my son and family in Atlanta.  Since I paint hyper-realistically anyway, this is my hyper-realistic painting. 

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Donna Vines

Rocky

Realism is so not my thing but I do have one painting that fits the category.  My brother-in-law has always had cats and when I was visiting once I took some photos of the majestic "Rocky".  I decided that I would surprise him with a portrait for his birthday.  He really treasured this painting not because I painted it but because he really loved Rocky.

Rocky 

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Herb Series I

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to try watercolor again and especially with a collaged background. I used a special water paper ground to prepare the paper on which I had already collaged artificially aged pages from a book about the use of herbs in the Middle Ages. Quite an enlightening book. Now all I had to do was make some art, in this case, Basil.

Herb Series I by Fay Picardi

Well, this is it: the most realistic you are going to get from me. Not Surrealistic, hyper-realistic or even Photo-realistic, but lots of fun. I will be redoing this painting because the background is too light and the movement of the watercolor is not to my liking. 

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My Fall Inspiration

My Fall Inspiration

Here are some beautiful fall leaves that I picked up around the cabin in Tennessee. These were a gift from Mother Nature! It was a real treat to see the leaves, especially since we have been so restricted in most of our travels. This is my realistic painting in Watercolor.  Jean Thomas

Something Fishy This Way Comes

by Kathy Garvey

I have been busy working on projects unrelated to art and in wanting to get back to it, explored my old online portfolios. I was surprised how many fish there were. I haven't done a fish in ages. Here are a few, all from 2010. 

I just noticed that they are all facing right! I also noticed they are all done in Photoshop and Illustrator which I have been trying to wean myself off of because of the monthly cost. But, these make me remember how much fun I have with them.

I hear Procreate is a much more affordable creative tool and it works on an Ipad. I've downloaded it and just need to learn it. And when I do, I could maybe point one to the left and see what happens! Perhaps there are more fish in my future.