Take a look at this Triumph, a really close look. A gorgeous bit of restoration work, to be sure, but there’s something more you might be missing. It’s not a photo of a Triumph or even a closeup photo of a model, and before all of you computer graphics guys jump in to tell me it’s a rendering from some 3D software, let me stop you, because it’s not that either. This is a painting, a hyper-realistic oil painting from an artist by the name of Pedro Campos.
Hyper realism seems to get mixed reactions from artists, they always want to talk about the feeling and emotion conveyed by their work and I suppose there’s something to be said for that, but I look at this sort of work and the first thing I see is the extraordinary skill involved. It reminds me of those news stories you occasionally see about some fellow working in a back room somewhere turning out perfect $100 dollar bills by hand.
From a young age, Campos worked in a variety of creative settings, decorating nightclubs and restaurants, and also working for ad agencies as an illustrator. He also studied art restoration in Madrid, working on furnishings, paintings and sculpture. It wasn’t until age 30 that he finally took up oil painting and began to forge his career as a fine artist.
When I ran across the article about Campos’ work, there were quite a few paintings of all sorts of things and thankfully, in with everything else was this Triumph. It works a lot better on The Kneeslider than a jar filled with jelly beans, but you should see that, too, along with all of the rest of his paintings.
Make sure you click through the links to see his other work. Truly amazing.
Link: Pedro Campos via Huffington Post via The Blaze
Martin Walker says
That is amazing, what skill. It’s hard to appreciate how difficult it must be to achieve that level of perfection!!!
GuitarSlinger says
Love or hate the style ( hyper realism ) paintings like this take an extraordinary level of craft , skill and ability to create .
Hooligan says
“Hyper realism” goes back a long way.
Caravaggio’s paintings are now really accurate historical maps to be referred to.
I love the precise picture of the nature of these paintings But I also love the way we can bring in interpretations, to add our own view of life. Amazed as I am by the technique of Realism. I have a interest in the meaning. I also like a smidgen of the artist’s vision and how they see it.
nitrometalpolishing says
the lord have mercy! Its that good its hurting me head thinking how much skill , talent, practise and lots of other clever words that takes to do this art. And art indeed it is !!
todd says
It’s interesting how it’s more of a kind of art that celebrates the artist and not the subject matter.
I’m a little disappointed he did not paint his own reflection in the chrome or in the reflections on the jelly bean jars.
-todd
Fretka says
Needs some gas stains from the tickler and oil seeps!
No, truly a labor of love.
Eric Cherry says
I often don’t have much difficulty finding examples of how I’m an inferior human being. Here’s one of those times. Utterly amazing.
Cameron says
I thought I had it pegged as a really good model. The big Philips head on the ends of the girder forks looked like screws and the side covers looked plastic. Never did it occur to me that it was a painting. Wow. The coke cans on the web site are amazing. No way to tell on an iPhone screen. Thanks for the well rounded social exposure Paul.
Gary Volkmann says
Most people don’t know it but all of the big signs on the freeways with pictures were photo realistic pictorials don in oil either in the studio or on location. That includes all of the stars on the Vegas boards, The Marlboro boards, and political stuff. A portrait 14 feet tall was an 8 hour job, start to finish. The apprenticeship was 4 years long working under journeymen, most of whom disliked being referred to as artists since the term was very broad and had no qualifications. I you wanted to be an artist, you were one. I worked that trade for 31 years. anyhow, nice work.
steve says
I like the front fork design, telescoping faux girder upside down. Very nice.
steve says
Oops that was supposed to go in the Merkel post.
B50 Jim says
Photorealism requires hours of painstaking precision and is one of the more under-appreciated art forms.The photorealists take realism one step further in execution; a “pure” realistic painting will appear flat and lifeless. A photorealistic artist adds just the right amount of reflection and highlights to make the painting come alive. The eye sees it as more “real” than a photograph. Great skill is needed, yet photorealism often is dismissed as mere illustration. Ironically, a photograph of a photorealistic painting appears more real than when it is viewed. Good work!