Two Artists for Tuesday

In this digital world where we are satisfied with the almost real – discovering art that does not have code as a part of its medium is hard to find. While I love digital art, computerized animation and photoshop in all of their glory, there is something pure about an artist with just a paintbrush or a pencil that infuses a piece with a soul and story that a photo, screen or meme could never capture.

Photorealism began in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Today its spawn is Hyperrealism which surfaced in the early 2000s. Wiki talks about the progression of the movement this way.

The evolution of technology has brought forth photorealistic paintings that exceed what was thought possible with paintings; these newer paintings by the photorealist are sometimes referred to as “Hyperrealism.”[7] With new technology in cameras and digital equipment, artists are able to be far more precision-oriented.

This is the stuff that makes you go HUH? It is a painting, a drawing or a sketch so precise, detailed and life-like that it is hard to believe it is not.

Today we share two hyperrealistic artists whose work we found mind-blowing. The first was discovered by SJG’s Maria De La Paz, (a very gifted artist in her own right). 

Maria says the hope of an artist is to influence, bond and be remembered by his audience. Jeremy Geddes nailed all of the above for her. “His background as an artist and creative director makes him even more interesting to follow. who is this artist capable to not only portrait such unusual matter but whom had the ability to portrait with such a level of realism and meaning,” said Maria. She went to visit his exhibit Exhale in New York.  We are trying to get her to share an insider’s perspective of the show for a future post.

Check out Jeremy Geddes’s work here.

The other artist is Paul Cadden, whose work is done typically with just a pencil.  Cadden attempts to “intensify the normal.” “Although the drawings and paintings I make are based upon photographs, videos stills, etc., the idea is to go beyond the photograph,” said Cadden. You can imagine the story behind each of his subjects. The three to six week process it takes to bring the photos to “life” seems to infuse the images with even more emotion, humanity, beauty, fragility and sadness (at times).

I understand art is a matter of taste and is highly subjective, but if what Maria said is true – that an artist’s goal is to influence, bond and be remembered through their work – these guys have accomplished those goals.

Absolutely unforgettable!

Cover Photo Source: Raja Singh via Flickr

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://testspace.thesanjosegroup.com//wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Photo-on-12-14-12-at-2.39-PM-2.jpg[/author_image] [author_info] Jennifer is Director of Content & Ideation at SJG.  I am convinced that every human being is innately creative – Picasso said the key is to remain childlike within the body of a responsible adult, or something along those lines. As the oldest member of this opinionated clan, I feel responsible to share a different perspective. Engage me – I love a good debate! [/author_info] [/author]