Sometimes people ask me what the point of photorealistic art is–where is the reward in recreating something that already exists? Wouldn’t it be much faster and easier to snap a photo? Maybe, but fast and easy isn’t really the point. Even photographers will tell you that capturing a meaningful image is much more than just clicking a button–the time and care that goes into choosing a subject, adjusting the camera settings, waiting for the light to be perfect, and then editing the images is a labor of love. So it is with trying to reproduce an image on paper. But when something is important to you, it doesn’t matter if it’s hard or time-consuming–you do it because it matters.
Spending the time I do on each subject communicates that this was important enough to dedicate a chunk of my life to. And when someone asks me to do a custom piece for them like a portrait, they are revealing what really matters to them. That’s one of the things that makes this kind of art so meaningful–it’s a reflection of the values, priorities, and passions of not just myself but of the people I do work for. Even though I may never meet them in person, I get to be a part of their life in a unique way when I draw something for them.
For example, I was contacted recently on Etsy by a woman who wanted a portrait done for a friend who was getting married. The friend had recently lost her mother, and she wanted to have a portrait of the two of them together to be displayed at the wedding to remind her friend that her mom was there with her in spirit. Even though she could have just displayed a photograph, she said that having it hand drawn made it extra personal, and I was so touched to have a part in honoring this beautiful woman’s memory for this special day.
It guess it really comes down to showing appreciation for the incredible world we live in. When I’m working on a subject I’m brought face to face with the complexity that makes up a living thing, and become intimately acquainted with the details that make them unique–details that can get overlooked when life is moving too fast to stop and take notice. It’s humbling, and it never fails to teach me something about my perception of the world. Recreating something line by line forces me to slow down and really take it in, and each time I’m left with a deeper appreciation for this amazing world we live in.