An artist from Russia creates hyper-realistic portraits around which controversy does not subside - is it talent or craft

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It is no secret that hyperrealism in the modern world of art is not particularly favored by either critics or advanced connoisseurs, who strive to attribute this style to an ordinary craft that is not interesting to anyone. Nevertheless, some artists believe that only relying on the realities of life, the technical achievements of the masters of the past, their own talent and their artistic worldview, can they create a real genuine painting that will remain for centuries.

To begin with, I would like to note that, by and large, hyperrealism is the lot of a few talented artists who masterfully master the painting technique, while possessing a pronounced creative individuality, which does not allow them to get lost among hundreds of colleagues in the creative workshop and find a way to the hearts of their fans.

In truth, the creative path chosen by a hyperrealist artist is often very difficult and thorny. These painters are constantly under heavy fire of criticism, and they "get", as they say, "from all sides." Some reproach the authors for the lack of originality of plots, "mechanicalness", for plagiarism, which turns their highly skilled work from high art into an ordinary craft. These statements constantly echo the discontent that sounds from another "camp" of critics: "too strong flirting with erotomania", as well as "mythological and fantasy allusions seen a hundred times by other authors."

To our deep regret, all this taken together simply devalues the painstaking work of the artist, turning him into a product of inferior quality, intended for amateurs from the world of connoisseurs of painting. That is why in our today's publication we will try to present hyperrealism in what is called the best light.

Hyperrealism embodied by the brush of Vyacheslav Groshev

Modern artist Vyacheslav Groshev (born 1974) is from Russia, but has been living in Canada for many years, where he has his own well-equipped studio. And the artist has no end to his clients. He paints portraits in the stunning technique of hyperrealism, writes a lot, successfully and very fruitfully. And although the artist claims that art is, first of all, very hard work (and this is indeed the absolute truth), the viewer does not leave the feeling that his work is unusually light and elegant. As if they were written in one breath, in one stroke of the brush. This applies to almost all of the author's paintings, be it children in the form of angels, portraits of adolescents, adults or images of beautiful women in the nude style …

The viewer is incredibly impressed by the master's magnificent painting technique, based on a painstaking and thorough study of the creative secrets of classical artists, as well as the talent of Groshev himself, which allows him to create real masterpieces in the genres of portrait and subject painting. William Bouguereau, Leon Basile Perrault, Frederick Morgan … Take a closer look at the works of these portrait painters - weren't they inspiring our contemporary Vyacheslav Groshev …

By the way, in spite of any criticism, today the hero of our article is favored in every possible way by experts and connoisseurs of painting living on the other side of the Atlantic. The popularity of his exhibitions is growing from year to year, but the master himself perceives this as a kind of moral "advance" and an incentive for further self-improvement. For him, painting is a work that is beloved and grateful, but stubborn and demanding complete dedication.

- says Slava Groshev himself about his hobby, which has become a profession.

The semantic content of each work of Groshev almost always gives food for thought - this is what distinguishes the artist's canvases very favorably. He achieves this effect by means of "mainstream" manipulations with the background, brushstroke technique, "transparent" symbolism and other techniques that attract the viewer's attention. The artist also "trusts" his characters, to tell us a real story about what the author himself wanted to tell his viewer. A fleeting gesture of confidence, a deep look, filled with either anxiety or joy, even a fold in clothes is ready to tell a lot and interesting things about the characters in the paintings.

The work of this artist can be compared to the manipulations of a real photojournalist who literally “catches” real life into the lens at the highest point of its emotional expression, as if “pulling” a deeply symbolic moment from the hands of Eternity and shares it with the viewer. However, a realist painter who wants to achieve the same effect has much more freedom of action than a camera worker. He creates his own reality by means of canvas and paints. However, whatever one may say, it is much more difficult for an artist to get the public to trust the authenticity of his "statement".

I would also like to note that in addition to amazing portraits, Vyacheslav Groshev also writes subject canvases on biblical themes. By the way, the artist's works made in the "nude" style are very original and erotic. (You can see them on other resources.)

I think a short selection of works by a hyperrealist made an indelible impression on many. And in the video below you can learn more about the painter's work and see the work done by Groshev in the "nude" style:

Returning to the classics worthy of emulation, I would like to invite the reader to get acquainted with the work of the incredibly gifted French portrait painter who worked in the 19th century. William Bouguereau is a brilliant artist who painted 800 paintings and was forgotten for a century.