Realism: a valid form of art?

[byroncallas]

Wonderful discussion Albert, so many wonderful and thoughtful exchanges. I'm sorry I'm so late to it. I hope I can get back and contribute, but for now thank everyone for contributing to a lively read.

[screenpainter]

I am glad you enjoyed the thread Byron. I thought it was an enjoyable read as well.

[D Akey]

Yeah, this was a good one to save from oblivion. Well done Screenpainter.

[screenpainter]

alas, I wish I could paint like some of these. got to have inspiration though, so yes, I wanted to keep the discussion going and add to it if I find more samples for sure. you mean to imply that you think I purposefully resurrected this thread to save it.

[gb_whisper]

I don't think Realism is a problem but Superrealism is just not my thing. Paintings done by many artists, such as The Glassgow Boys, are of Realism, although are sometimes called Post-Impressionism or whatever. They are at least not abstract.

One thing I like about artwork is its hand-rendered quality, its difference with our reality. It's like how Sci-Fi or roman fictions are always somehow exaggerated, otherwise they would be plain newspaper news. In other words, art is art because people manipulated it. Photography is like the same. I don't think my facebook profile picture is art, but clearly there are photos with the 'art' quality.

Now if a Superrealistic painting took 2 years to finish, some guy might see it an artistic photo took in only 2 seconds. You explain it to him that it's actually a painting! But does the viewer really care about all the efforts behind? Like you were actually commissioned by a celebrity to paint his/her neighbour? And you had an affair with that celebrity which caused your divorce? Without your wife you could finally concentrate on painting details?...

Well I am just joking. But the idea is, most of the viewers would judge an artwork based on its look.

[Shibui]

I want to read this thread, added to reading list. I hate that some may be gone soon,especially from the original artrage users, that offer so much encouragement, constructive critiques and wonderful art.

[Sweedie]

What is art? Nobody can answer that. Art is not yet defined. Everybody talks about it as being a fixed concept. It is not.

I like to talk about "photo", "painting", "sculpture", "drawing" ... without using the word "art".

[screenpainter]

good point Sweedie.

I love the textures in this portrait by Tun Ping Wang.