After selling my drawings for so many years, there’s one style that’s guaranteed to make people stop and look, and that’s hyperrealism.
Believe me, super realistic drawings win hands down.
Why? Because the public are in awe that another human being is able to draw (or paint) in such photographic detail. It’s like magic, they can’t imagine how it’s possible.
Kids especially are mesmerized.
I didn’t always draw this way, and that was never my end-goal, things simply evolved that way.
In this post I will share some of my hyper realistic drawings and give you some insights and background information to go with them.
Enjoy.
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‘Monster Croc’ A Hyper-Realistic Pencil Drawing
I sold my drawings as art prints from a market stall. This one made people stop and as any trader will tell you, getting people to just look at your stuff is the hardest part of all. A trader must have browsers to attract buyers.
This is how it worked. I had a reference photo I took on safari in Uganda. It wasn’t a prize-winner but I could see something worth drawing.
This was a risk on my part as very few people request pictures of crocodiles and I knew it would take a long time to draw.
The only way to grab attention was to go all-in on detail.
Now my ‘hook’ was to draw in front of the public. They could stand behind me and watch. I’m so slow it’s like watching paint dry but It also gave me the chance to engage, and that’s the point.
I used it as a prop, and as the drawing slowly progressed, I got more and more attention. In fact so much so that I feared the drop in sales when it was finished. I dragged it out for weeks.
That time came and I had to decide if it was worth printing or not. I didn’t think it would sell very well, and that kind of came true, but it still made me money.
I hung the print up on my display with a sign saying “Look Closely This is Not a Photo”. It did the trick and that’s all that mattered.
‘A Happy Face’ A Super Realistic Drawing of Dolphin
I hear the same thing said all the time ‘You must have the patience of a Saint’. I’m not sure about that, the key is to break tasks up into small segments. If you rush things, they screw up.
I draw little and often. I’ll draw for 20 mins or half an hour and step back. As I work in public, I break away often and that also divides my time. I like short bursts and then stop for a break. It’s more productive than toiling for hours non-stop.
Plus, I can walk away from my drawing and come back to where I left off. I haven’t got to worry about paint drying or forgetting my color mixes. Nothing changes. I pick up my pencil and carry on.
I use gride lines to map the main image outline and draw each box, starting with the focal point, usually the eyes. I will often do that part at home, so I can have something on paper when I start drawing in front of people.
Once the eyes are good, I expand, box by box. It doesn’t take long to see real progress.
‘Looking Good’ A Hyperrealistic Drawing of a Giant Tortoise
Admitted, it’s not cuddly. This is another showpiece, not a viral bestseller, but hey-ho it served it’s purpose in the same way my croc drawing did.
I can’t be commercial all the time. This was a giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands, and it was a memory of my trip as much as a challenge to draw.
The composition is quite good even if I say so myself. It was tricky finding an angle that looked interesting. Giant tortoises are not photogenic, believe me this is a pretty one.
I used all the same tricks i used with the previous drawings. I cropped my reference photo, enlarged a photocopy to the size I wanted to draw it. Gridded the copy and drew an accurate grid on cartridge paper. Then I drew the image one square at a time.
If you are an aspiring artist or a commercial artist, you will make better sales if your draw or paint sea turtles.
If you want to know what pencil I use you can find out here
‘Bottle Fed’ A Realistic Pencil Drawing of a Baby Elephant
I did everything right, so what went wrong? It’s the right subject – a cute baby elephant, it’s feeding on a bottle, it’s hyper realistic, I knew it’s name ‘Napasha’, I saw it in real life and used my own reference photo. I was convinced it was a winner.
Okay, maybe I’m being over-dramatic. It sold quite well but not as well as I hoped. Why?
Many people found it too sad.
That threw me when I presented this print to the public. I only saw the positive side of rescuing a baby elephant and hand-rearing it for release one day.
Many people had the reverse emotion when they realized it must be an orphan from a poached elephant.
It’s amazing what you learn when trying to sell to the public. If you are down-beat in any way, even if it’s subtle and nuanced, it backfires.
‘Heat and Dust’ The Detailed Pencil Drawing of a White Rhino
I wasn’t sure if I should include this one. The rhino is hyperrealistic but maybe the trees are not; or am I being picky?
This is definitely one of the few drawings that I’m pleased with. I’m my own worst critic, a common trait amongst artists.
Everything popped into place. Despite my tight realistic style, there is movement and atmosphere. That not easy to achieve when you are drawing everything with a 0.3mm dia’ pencil lead.
I’m pleased with the composition and happy how I resisted drawing too much background. The dappled shadows are convincing and the dust being kicked up is just enough to tell you the rhino is rising up.
Again I drew this the same way but there was more prep involved this time. The original photo was reversed. It didn’t look right so I flipped the image over.
The background was a game reserve but you could see a fence in the photo so I left that out. I simplified the trees to contrast with the rhino.
Sometimes it’s what you leave out, rather than what you include, that makes the picture interesting.
The Art of Hyperrealism: Final Thoughts
I’m not arguing for against hyperrrealism in this post. I have covered that elsewhere, but I can do this artform and it has been useful for marketing
If I’m honest, I get more praise than sales so I’m not suggesting that super detailed artwork is the key to success – it’s not.
For me, it’s proof of what I am capable of doing, it’s demonstrates a certain craft that people admire and that leads to sales as a consequence. My best sellers are all realistic for sure, but not hyper realistic like these.
If you found this inspiring why not check out some of my other posts. If you are an admirer there are plenty of drawings to look at, and if you are an artist I can help you draw, and sell your art.
This is my Guide to Selling Your Art from a Market Stall
These are worth reading too:
- Tracing Art – Is It Good or Bad? When Is Tracing Cheating and Is It Ever OK?
- How to Find Your Drawing Style: 8 Ways to Develop Your Skills
- Is Hyperrealism Art or a Skill: What’s The Point?
- How to Know When Your Drawing is Finished: Don’t Ruin it!
- Can You Draw With Mechanical Pencils? Yes, and Here’s How
- Best Mechanical Drawing Pencils For Artists
- How to Draw Realistically: 11 Expert Tips For Top Results
- How to Draw a Realistic Giraffe: Step by Step and Get Great Results
- Can You Copy Art and Make a Painting of a Painting?
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Hi, I’m Kevin Hayler
I’ve been selling my wildlife art and traveling the world for over 20 years, and if that sounds too good to be true, I’ve done it all without social media, art school, or galleries!
I can show you how to do it. You’ll find a wealth of info on my site, about selling art, drawing tips, lifestyle, reviews, travel, my portfolio, and more. Enjoy