Photorealism
Imagine yourself standing in an art gallery, you pass by a window and see what seems to be a busy street downtown. You wonder why the imagine is not moving, then realizing that the window is in fact one of the paintings hung inside this gallery, you become amazed. This style of painting is known as Photorealism. Photorealism is a style of painting which became popularized in the 1970s. These paintings generally depicted common scenes and/or ordinary people, with a closely detailed realism, flat images, and barely noticeable brushwork that suggests the painting is a photo. Photorealism prominently took off in the United States. The first generation of Photorealist artists included Audrey Flack, Chuck Close, Richard Estes, and Tom Blackwell.
Evolved from pop art, Photorealism was the art movement established to counter abstract expressionism. Photorealism, also known as hyper-realism, super-realism, new realism, or sharp focus realism, is created when an artist takes a photo and/or person and recreates it in another media. The most common media is paint. A photorealistic painting must have a photo reference otherwise it is not considered to be photorealistic. A five point list was developed to illustrate exactly who a photorealist is. The list goes as follows:
1. The Photo-Realist uses the camera and photograph to gather information.
2. The Photo-Realist uses a mechanical or semimechanical means to transfer the information to the canvas.
3. The Photo-Realist must have the technical ability to make the finished work appear photographic.
4. The artist must have exhibited work as a Photo-Realist by 1972 to be considered one of the central Photo-Realists.
5. The artist must have devoted at least five years to the development and exhibition of Photo-Realist work.
If one meets the previous requirements they may be considered a photorealist. Audrey Flack met the requirements and was in fact the only major early female Photorealist. Being among the first generation of Photorealists, Flack’s educational accomplishments proved she could hold her own. “After graduating college at the top of her class at The Cooper Union, she proceeded to study art in the fine arts program at Yale. It was from Yale that she received her B.F.A. in 1952. She also acquired an Honorary Doctorate from The Cooper Union in 1977. After Yale, Flack decided to move back to New York and study anatomy at the Art Students League.” (richeast.org) Flack is not only a painter she is also a photographer and sculptor. The site Richeast.org quotes Flack saying, "I always wanted to draw realistically. For me art is a continuous discovery into reality, an exploration of visual data which has been going on for centuries, each artist contributing to the next generation's advancement. I wanted to go a step further and extend the boundaries. I also believe people have a deep need to understand their world and that art clarifies reality for them." This quote really spoke to me. I feel the same way with my painting, I have always wanted to paint realistically and at some point in my life I would like to be as spot on with photorealism as possible.
Chuck Close is another popular photorealist. “Close developed a system whereby he would reduce the photograph of his sitter to a grid of shapes and colors and copy it accurately in paint. Some images are very large and the effect is very different when seen from a distance or up close.” (Bailey) Close has become so well known for his unique photorealistic portraits that anyone who would create a portrait would be considered “close-like,” much like Roy Lichtenstein, a popular Pop artist. Like Flack, he also attended Yale’s school for art and architecture.
At this time in my life, I am far off from perfecting my skill as a photorealist. I am still very unsure of my future and what I want to do with it, but I do know I will be an artist. I would like to think that one day I would be compared to the likes of Audrey Flack or Chuck Close. It is a long shot, but to be in the same league as these legends would be one of the most amazing things I could possibly achieve in my lifetime.
Howie, You now have your work cut-out for you. Pushing your realist skills – and a good choice of endeavor as you finish NCC.
ReplyDeletePhotorealism, as you noted, involves the use of the camera/photo for source information as opposed to "working from life".
Have you worked with griding off a photo and meticulously translating the information to canvas? It's a bit tedious, but the results is highly effective.
Ever try airbrush? One way to avoid strokes and layer soft color in sensuous ways. Works well with acrylics and allows for high control of the "focus" of an image. The equipment is a bit expensive, but a worthwhile investment in the long run. A standard tool with the first-generation Photorealists.
You need:
1. Compressor w/ air hose and power source
2. Airbrush (Badger brand good, value priced, Pashe brand generally considered top of the line.)
3. Acrylics, fluid consistency (Golden makes it just right, Liquitex can be thinned to work, avoid student grades)
4. Frisket film to use for stencils (a transparent mylar that's sticky on one side to block out over-spray, can be cut to shape w/ x-acto)
5. Mask (cheap disposable OK, charcoal filtered reusable type best, but uncomfortable. Acrylics considered non-toxic, but without mask, fine mist spray produces tiny particles that find their way into recesses in lungs - NOT good!)
6.Airbrush Medium to mix with paint for right flow and non-clogging of airways in brush.
7. Compressor makes noise, so sound baffling box that also allows for ventilation rec.)