A Contemporary Artist's Mastery - Old School Style

[whippersnapper]

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-- Be amazed by the high magic of grand artistry...His tools - a small box of colored chalks. His medium - flat city sidewalk pavements. Here are the first three samples of his stunning pieces I'll post over the next week. Though I work with the latest art proggies, I'm very much old school at heart and this mans art inspires as much as the great acknowledged masters throughout history..... plus it's enchanting with its exuberant sense of fun and the comic...

- Enjoy, whipper

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[fisk0]

ah, yes. of course, these things only look right from the correct angle and if you're looking with only one eye or through a camera, but still, it's very fascinating how you could use perspectives on flat pavements and such to create such illusions. And there are wonderful details in those images as well.
As you may know, some churches uses the same effect in their ceiling paintings, to create the illusion of having cathedral style arcs and stuff, when it's only a flat roof, and it's just as fascinating there.

If I remember correctly, we had some street paintings like that here in my home city of Stockholm, Sweden, several years ago, sadly they are no longer around to my knowledge.

[whippersnapper]

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As you may know, some churches uses the same effect in their ceiling paintings, to create the illusion of having cathedral style arcs and stuff, when it's only a flat roof, and it's just as fascinating there.

- I would like to visit those churches. Michelangelo faced a different set of challenges when he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling but what a sight to behold in person...unforgettable.

- More...

[whippersnapper]

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- Hmmm...

[whippersnapper]

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- Ok... I should reign-in my posting for a few days after this set.... but I likely won't. I'll confess it's real simple - just looking at this work sparks
pleasure, even a sense of optimism and audacity in my own work...
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[whippersnapper]

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- With wit and humor....

[fisk0]

.- I would like to visit those churches. Michelangelo faced a different set of challenges when he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling but what a sight to behold in person...unforgettable.

I can't remember the names of the churches I've seen with such paintings, but I don't think they are too uncommon.
I remember seeing it in a couple of smaller churches on my visit to Rome in 2005, and also at least 1 church here in Stockholm has such paintings as well.
My original post was poorly worded though, they are not totally flat ceilings, they are valve (I hope that's the word in english, kind of dome like or something) shapes, but they use paintings painted in the perspective of the viewer from the ground to create the illusions of the ceiling being higher, and that there are details creating shadows and light sources (sometimes even painted bright windows, whose 'light' shines upon other painted details). It's hard to describe in my limited english, but very beautiful to see, and very convincing until you move into a position which most people wouldn't be in while watching the roof, where you could see that it's all a painting.

[whippersnapper]

I can't remember the names of the churches I've seen with such paintings, but I don't think they are too uncommon.
I remember seeing it in a couple of smaller churches on my visit to Rome in 2005, and also at least 1 church here in Stockholm has such paintings as well.
My original post was poorly worded though, they are not totally flat ceilings, they are valve (I hope that's the word in english, kind of dome like or something) shapes, but they use paintings painted in the perspective of the viewer from the ground to create the illusions of the ceiling being higher, and that there are details creating shadows and light sources (sometimes even painted bright windows, whose 'light' shines upon other painted details). It's hard to describe in my limited english, but very beautiful to see, and very convincing until you move into a position which most people wouldn't be in while watching the roof, where you could see that it's all a painting.

- You describe it well fisk0. Wish I could spend a few months in Europe just looking at art and natural landscapes ....and sampling the local food, wine and beer. That would be something of a dream come true.

- All the pics I've posted so far are by the artist Julian Beever.

- There are 2 more artist working this magic in world class fashion: Edgar Mueller and Kurt Wenner. I'll post a sample of each after this post.

- I'll do some research on churches in Rome see if I can come across some pics. Thanks again for sharing your experience & knowledge, fisk0.

- Regards, whipper

[whippersnapper]

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- A sample of Edgar Mueller's work:... epic in scope..

[whippersnapper]

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- A sample of Kurt Wenner's work which has the distinct flavor of High Renaissance artists like Leonardo and
Michelangelo

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[whippersnapper]

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- A final set of Julian Beever's work...
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- BTW: This technique is known as "anamorphic perspective" and it's been around for over 500 years. What is new
with the 3 artists in this thread is the scale of the public works and the material used. How it can relate to the GFX of a game
is that typically the emphasis is on pushing polygons and not enough on the more difficult artistry involved in making textures.
This can especially come to the fore when you can make 2D GFX engage as 2.5D...

[Zi-Chan]

Woah, it just looks so realistic. I'm pretty sure i would be scared to fall down to those blue Pipes when i would see that. xD
It is very easy to confuse our Brains or to exploit the Indolence of our Eyes. It shows us our Non-Perfection.. and i like that.
Very beautiful done. Awesome Techniques.

[whippersnapper]

Woah, it just looks so realistic. I'm pretty sure i would be scared to fall down to those blue Pipes when i would see that. xD
It is very easy to confuse our Brains or to exploit the Indolence of our Eyes. It shows us our Non-Perfection.. and i like that.
Very beautiful done. Awesome Techniques.

-- Well said.

-- Here are links to the 3 artists prolific work:

- 1.) Julian Beever:

http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

- 2.) Edgar Mueller:

http://www.metanamorph.com/displayimage ... lling.html

- 3.) Kurt Wenner:

http://www.kurtwenner.com/gallery/Stree ... /index.htm

- Also.... an interesting site that covers alternative and public art globally that you may enjoy exploring:

http://weburbanist.com/galleries/

- And a new book (2007 so you can get at your local library) that beautifully explains just how our brains are commonly fooled everyday:

- "Making Up the Mind: How the Brain Creates Our Mental World" by Chris Frith

http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/Frith/Book ... ation.html A short presentation of the work at this link.

-- Enjoy, whipper

[whippersnapper]

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- How about some stunning architectural illusions done as murals on the sides of buildings and elevated roadway
on ramps...
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[Kamaze]

Are we allowed to host all these images?