Photorealism - what's your opinion?

Michele Rushworth · 11-05-2005, 06:36 PM

Well put!

Heidi Maiers · 11-05-2005, 08:13 PM

Good (and interesting) commentaries from you all. I came across this site and had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the technological aspects of how on earth they are able to do that is incredible. On the other hand, the work itself as a

Molly Sherrick Phifer · 11-06-2005, 06:59 PM

One of the things that is not so obvious about this fellow's work is that much (if not most) of his photorealistic art is not only not done with photo references, but can't be done with photo references. He does quite a lot of high tech artwork for the military and if you look at some of that work, you'll see that he hasn't copied any pictures. That's where photorealism becomes an art. When it is used not to copy a photo, but to produce a photo "quality" image that could not (or at least not easily) be taken with a camera.
For an example, take a look at this one: Timing is Everything

Having said all that, I'm not a huge fan of PR style, but this guy is really amazing. Great thread!

Allan Rahbek · 11-06-2005, 07:24 PM

Molly,
This "Timing is everything" is a combination of two photos.
The scout scene is taken with the sun coming in from the right as you see on the trees and Donald Duck

Claudemir Bonfim · 11-07-2005, 06:43 AM

Well, I like that the same way I like a good photo, but I'd not pay for that any more than I would for a common photograph from the Mall.

Janel Maples · 11-07-2005, 11:33 PM

I just browsed over these comments and had to add a bit of information that I thought some of you may find interesting. I know Dru. I spent a week painting next to him at Marvin Mattelson's 2004 North Carolina portrait workshop. No photos, just a live model in front of him and his portrait was amazing. And what was worse than painting next to him? Was the fact that it was his first attempt at an oil portrait. NO FAIR.

Wonderful person, amazing artist. Amazing!!

Steven Sweeney · 11-08-2005, 12:07 PM

Yes, it wouldn't be hard to believe that someone with the technical skill exhibited throughout his website could rather easily translate it to other procedures, including life work -- which in fact probably seemed almost "too easy" to him. I had people like that around me at Daniel Greene's workshop, and it gave me pause to wonder if a brush handle could really be used as a weapon. (I was very insecure at the time.)

As a certified (nearly institutionalized and left for broke) aircraft aficionado and fanatic, full-size and models, I'd like to buy about half the works he has on that site.

Have to admit, though, that the hyper-detail in the airbrushed portraits still feels a little cool and clinical to me. I like to see bristles in play. This isn't peculiar to this artist, nor intended to be at all dismissive of him. Some traditional painters who take their work to the very highest levels of finish also have this effect on me, more and more.

Is anyone aware of a web page where we might see some of his life work?