Realist More Art
Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world.
Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history.
By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.
Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.
Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.
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An abandoned cottage with chipped stucco and worn paint reveals the passage of time. Despite the worn, weathered architecture, life persists as vibrant flowers ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
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A barn stands at the corner of a dirt road, capturing the quiet poetry of rural life. Reflected in the still water below, the structure’s weathered textures a...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
1970s Realist More Art
Ink, Color Pencil, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Pastel
2010s Realist More Art
Oil, Other Medium
Late 19th Century Realist More Art
Porcelain, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Once a vessel of journeys, now surrendered to the stillness of time. A faded blue car rests among tangled grasses, its open doors whispering of roads long forgo...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
Fading sunlight lingers across frosted fields and bare trees along a rural path at dusk. Tire tracks guide the eye toward the horizon, glowing with warm amber l...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
In April, before leaves form a green canopy over the forest floor, smaller redbuds bloom on the ground. These flowers create a pink haze in the distance. The sc...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Towering coconut palm trees stretch into a vibrant blue sky, their fronds swaying gently in the breeze. Expressive strokes and texture bring out the details o...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A tall, thin and elegant landscape of a serene coastal scene at dusk. The gradient sky dominates, transitioning from deep teal at the top to a warm, glowing gol...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
The painting features three roses in different stages of growth, from bud to full bloom. Their delicate colors and realistic detail capture their natural beau...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Golden and orange light cuts through dark clouds, capturing the fleeting brilliance of sunset. The contrast between the fiery horizon and the brooding sky evoke...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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A lone rowboat rests on a lake, securely tied to a post and anchored underwater. Ripples gently disturb the reflection of the vessel, adding movement to the sce...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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A brightly colored parrot perches on a snow-covered rock before a tranquil lake, with snowy mountains rising in the background. Tropical foliage frames the bird...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In a forest where muted light filters through the trees, two brightly colored birds perch on a mossy branch. One sits calmly facing forward, while the other lea...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Bare trees rise through autumn’s golden hush, their pale limbs etched against the sky. Shadows and vibrant light weave together, creating a soft and fleeting ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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Sweeping, layered clouds fill the sky, creating a dramatic contrast between light and shadow. Gentle waves with soft white foam at their crest roll towards the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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A tall, weathered tree stretches toward a colorful sky, its bare branches silhouetted against soft, dreamy hues. Dark green foliage below anchors the scene, whi...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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A bluebird rests on an elaborate balcony railing of a villa. Two white windows frame the little creature's tiny body, giving emphasis to its delicate form. Dirt...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Time stands still at a derelict farm nestled in a sweeping valley. A meandering stream adds movement and direction to the scene. Towering mountains rise in the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
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A rose blooms quietly, its petals glowing softly in the light. The branches in the distance stretch out, piercing the night sky like steel knives. Painted wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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Tangled brush in earthy tones borders a worn dirt road. A lone bare tree stands in the left foreground while a group of trees lines the distance. The overcast s...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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Artist Kent Sullivan captures the peaceful glow of early evening at a Colorado monument. Warm skies bathe the landscape in soft light, highlighting his admirati...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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Artist Andres Lopez captures a mesmerizing scene of glistening water with a vibrant orange reflection. The painting captures the play of light on the ocean's su...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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A leafless tree stands amid a serene country landscape. Dark branches stretch upward against an overcast sky, creating a striking silhouette. Beside it, a calm...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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A tall palm tree stands against an evening thunderhead, illuminated by the warm glow of the setting sun. Carefully blended colors capture the essence of the dra...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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Dark silhouettes of bare trees create a quiet, moody landscape at dusk in the countryside. The glowing sunset illuminates the horizon. Deep tones fill a marsh b...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
It's a peaceful morning, with the sun shining brightly and reflecting its warm light on the pebbles on the riverbed. The trees provide a comforting shade, cre...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A snow-covered mountain gleams as the sun hits its rocky form, offering a striking contrast to a shaded, deep forest at its base. The play of light and shadow...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Weathered brick facades in varying colors line the main street of historic Ripley, Ohio. The town played an important role in the history of the Underground Rai...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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An atmospheric seascape captures a dynamic sunset through vivid gradients of orange and yellow stretching across the sky while the ocean glows in deep red. Brig...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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Inspired by a twilight he witnessed, artist Jose Luis Bermudez captures the setting sun on a natural landscape. Bathed in su...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A close-up view of plump red apples, their shiny skins catching the sunlight. Bright green leaves extend from the branches, framing the fruit in a lively contra...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In this piece, artist Vic Roschkov captures a peaceful natural landscape. He highlights a river mouth and a winding stream that flows through open green marshla...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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A narrow, half-frozen stream winds through a snow-covered field, reflecting the soft light of a pale winter sky. Bare trees frame the scene and lead the gaze in...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
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A sunlit outdoor scene features a spread of fresh produce on a wooden table, accompanied by a folded cloth draped over a chair. Layered glazing techniques and d...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
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A river scene unfolds with quiet vitality, alive with hidden movement. Frogs, bugs, fish, and tadpoles hide above and below the water's surface. Reeds and water...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Evening shadows deepen around a quiet rural home. Surrounding trees and overgrown grass soften the stark outlines of the house. A single pale window holds the d...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A quiet expanse stretches beneath a pale sky, where the lake and horizon merge in muted, cool tones. This winter landscape speaks of stillness, endurance, and t...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
A pair of sandhill cranes stand on opposite sides, their intense eyes seemingly watching each other's backs. Their stoic stance accentuates as the pond they inhabit fades into the grayish rainy mist of California's Central Valley in early winter. Rendered with a loose, watercolor-like technique, the birds' portrayal carries an expressive touch.
About the Artist
Emil Morhardt is an acrylic painter from Santa Barbara, California who expresses his passion for birds through realistic acrylic paintings. He paints at home in a studio room that has large windows and a north-facing view of the mountains. He observes the animals from this window, watching roadrunners, foxes, bobcats, deer, and coyote run by. Surrounded by this wildlife, Emil paints bird portraits reminiscent of those by artist John James Audubon. He bases his paintings off hundreds of photographs he takes of birds in the wild and at wildlife recovery centers. Emil captures the freedom and inquisitiveness that birds display...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A gentle stream meanders through a valley, its calm water reflecting the sky and trees. The setting sun cast a soft glow in the distance, leaving the foreground...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
2010s Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A gently flowing river reflects the soft glow of a warm summer morning, creating a sense of calm and stillness. A towering tree casts deep shadows over the wa...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A railway stop stands beside the tracks, its weathered wood and faded paint showing years of wear. Bright autumn foliage surrounds it, contrasting with the mist...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A wintry country road stretches into the distance, evoking a sense of serenity and isolation. Bare trees and snow-covered fields frame the scene. Tire tracks ...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Watercolor
Artist Comments
The artwork captures the serenity of the ocean. Painted with oil paint and cold wax, the waves carry a slightly raised texture, adding to the realistic qualit...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist More Art
Canvas, Oil
