Students were introduced to the style Photo Realism (also known as New Realism, Superrealism and Hyperrealism). We began by discussing the name and what we could predict about the focus of the style. Students were shown a range of artworks by the Photo Realists: Malcolm Morley, Richard Estes, Audrey Flack, Chuck Close and Duane Hanson. The features of Photo-Realism were discussed:

• Owed a debt to Pop Art in the images used.
• Large canvases used to confront the viewer.
• Saw artists copying the qualities of the photograph:  depth of field etc.
• Stressed the careful disguising of brushwork.
• Moved away from abstraction and returned to the figure in art
• Artists focused on their technical skills: technique reigned over subject

From An Introduction to Western Art from Caves to Canvas by Donald Williams and Barbara Vance Wilson McGraw Hill.

Following the above, the practical tasks were introduced. Students were required to:

• Choose a colour photographic image to reproduce under the influence of Photo-Realism. The image was to be approximately A4 in size.
• Black and white photocopy taken of the image
• Tracing paper placed over the photocopy and students required to trace the image using various grades of lead pencil. (A short class recapping tonal working with lead pencils was given).
• Tracing paper placed over the colour image and students required to trace the image using colour pencil. (A short class recapping colour pencil techniques was given).
• Both pieces window mounted
• Self evaluation undertaken

Janine Doyle

Copyright 2007 Zart Art & Zart Education Service