Hyperrealism is a genre of visual art, particularly painting and sculpture. The artists who work in this style put a significant emphasis on precision, accuracy, and meticulous attention to detail. In this post, I will give tips of achieving a hyper realistic painting.

Hyper realism was first developed when artists discovered the renaissance. This was one of many famous attempts to create paintings that looked like real life.

It strives to create highly detailed and lifelike representations of subjects. In hyperrealism, the goal is to depict objects, scenes, or people in such a way that they appear almost indistinguishable from high-resolution photographs.

For example, artists like Gottfried Helnwein have achieved this severely difficult hyper realistic painting. Others include Chuck Close (who is perhaps one of the most famous), Audrey Flack, Robert Bechtle, and Richard Estes.

Important foundational aspects (of painting) you need to know for realistic painting

  1. Color Theory: This is perhaps the most important. Just because a color is actually from a blue for example does not mean it actually is in the picture/on canvas. It all depends on the other colors it’s next to, the way the light is touching, the surrounding ambience, etc.
  2. Observation Skills: Sharpen your ability to observe and analyze subjects closely. Study the interplay of light and shadow, colors, textures, and fine details. Pay attention to how objects appear in different lighting conditions and angles.
  3. Drawing Skills: Strong drawing skills are fundamental to realistic paintings. Practice sketching from life, using reference photos, and focusing on proportion, perspective, and accurate representation of forms.
  4. Anatomy and Proportions: If you’re painting people or animals, understanding anatomy and proportions is essential. Study the underlying skeletal and muscular structures to accurately depict bodies and faces.
  5. Value Studies: Grasp the concept of value (lightness and darkness) and its role in creating form and depth. Practice creating monochromatic value studies to understand how light interacts with different surfaces.
  6. Edges and Transitions: Understand how to create both soft and hard edges in your paintings. These variations contribute to the realism by simulating the way light interacts with surfaces.
  7. Perspective: Study linear perspective (one-point, two-point, and three-point) to accurately depict spatial relationships between objects and create a sense of depth.
  8. Reference Usage: Learn how to effectively use reference photos or real-life objects. Understand the importance of interpreting references rather than copying them verbatim.

Tips to Improve Your Hyper Realism

Study the photo or reference

If you are able, take a photo or save an image of what you are trying to paint. Then, circle any points on the image that you want to highlight the detail of that one might not see upon first glance. Every step of the process, refer back to the image for at least ten minutes to see what else you might have missed before.

For me, when I am looking at something too long my eyes adjust and I am immune to new details. Stepping away from the image can really help you to come back with a fresh pair of eyes on what needs to have more dimension or detail added to it.

Use multiple blending techniques

When you are painting, make sure that you don’t use just one blending style. This will keep your painting from looking three dimensional. If you use harsh lines, soft lines, and completely blurred lines, it will mimic the variation there is in real life.

Break up the painting steps

I recommend starting the process by really mapping out the exact proportions of your subject before getting out the paintbrush. Get a pencil and draw out your design completely, with as much detail as needed for you to feel secure in the dimensions and shapes.

In order to focus solely on hue saturation during your final painting process, start by underpainting. For realism, I reccomend analyzing the composition and seeing what the undertones resemble. Then, you can choose what color you will use for the underpainting. For example, a blue undertone would be best with a cool base, such as imprimatura (which is any desired color) or grisaille (black and white which is cooler).

Then, after establishing your underpainting with all of your proportions and values, you can focus on the situation of the painting. You can do this by adding thin layers of glaze, and create more and more finite detail as you go.

Use a color swatching tool to make sure your paint colors are correct

Something that has benefitted my painting process greatly is using a swatching tool. What this means, is on a device (like your phone) you are using the swatch toggle next to the color selection. Then, hover over the color you are trying to mimic from a photo, and scribble a swatch of it on the side of the picture. Then, you will know the exact shade you need to mix!

I do this on my iPad with procreate by importing my image there. However, if you dont have an art device, you can use something as simple as instagram on your story! Upload your pic there and begin swatching. Heres an example of what my swatches look like:

Hyper realistic painting; how to swatch colors for paintings with your phone with instagram

Perfect your brushwork

  1. Use Soft Brushes: Choose soft brushes with fine bristles for blending. Natural hair brushes or synthetic brushes designed for blending work well.
  2. Wet-on-Wet Technique: Apply wet paint onto an area that is already wet. This allows the colors to naturally merge and blend together on the canvas.
  3. Layering Thin Glazes: Apply thin, transparent glazes of color on top of each other. This gradual layering creates subtle shifts in color and value, achieving smooth transitions.
  4. Dry Brush Technique: Use a dry brush with minimal paint to gently blend adjacent colors. This technique works well for creating rougher textures while maintaining some color separation.

What makes a painting hyper realistic?

Hyperrealistic paintings stand out distinctly due to their extraordinary level of detail. It captures intricate textures, reflections, and minutiae with a precision that rivals photography.

Unlike other paintings, hyperrealism focuses on achieving a photorealistic quality. This leads viewers to question whether they are looking at a painting or a photograph. This genre’s emphasis on impeccable accuracy in color, form, and lighting sets it apart. It evokes a sense of awe as viewers are drawn into a world that appears almost tangibly real.