"Beyond the Lens: Why Photorealism is Holding the Art Back"

Embrace the Power of Expression and Break Free from the Constraints of Perfect Replication

I’ve been thinking about something lately, and I wanted to share it with you. You know how there are so many different types of art, right? Whether it's watercolor, pen and ink sketches, pastels, acrylics, oils, or even mixed media, I really believe that art should always have that artistic, painterly style. You know, the kind of art that feels like the artist poured a little bit of their soul into it.

But here’s the thing that kind of puzzles me: Some artists work so hard to create these perfect replicas of photographs, putting in all the tiny details until it looks exactly like the picture they’re copying. They spend so much time on it, using every bit of their skill, and I get it—people really admire that kind of work. It takes a ton of effort, but I can’t help but think, why?

Why Photorealism Doesn’t Make Sense to Me

We live in a time where technology is incredible. I mean, we’ve got cameras with insane quality, some with hundreds of megapixels that can capture every tiny detail in crystal-clear resolution. You can print these photos in huge sizes, even murals if you wanted, and it’s going to look perfect.

So, why would someone spend days, weeks, or even months trying to recreate that same photo by hand? To me, it just feels like a waste of time. Don’t get me wrong—there’s no denying the skill it takes to do that. But when we’ve got cameras that can capture every little detail with such accuracy, why are we still trying to outdo them with a paintbrush?

Art is About More Than Replicating Reality

I guess what I’m saying is, art should be more than just copying a photo. Art, in my opinion, should reflect the artist’s feelings, their vision, and the way they see the world. I’ve always felt that a painting should show something more than what a camera can already capture perfectly. It’s about interpretation, not just replication.

Think about it—some of the most famous art movements, like Impressionism or Expressionism, weren’t about painting things exactly how they looked in real life. They were about capturing a feeling, a moment, or an atmosphere. They focused on the mood and emotions behind the scene, not just the surface-level details.

Let’s Leave the Details to the Cameras

I think artists today could really embrace that idea more. We’ve got all this amazing technology that can handle the technical side of things—why not leave the photo-realistic details to the cameras? Instead, let’s focus on what we, as artists, can do that a camera can’t: showing the world through our own unique lens, using the strokes, colors, and textures that a painterly style allows. That’s where the magic of art lies.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s something admirable about the dedication it takes to create photorealism, but at the end of the day, I feel like art should go beyond what a machine can do. It should tell a story, express an emotion, or show a part of the artist’s mind that only they can bring to life.

Final Thoughts

So yeah, when I see artists spending all their time trying to replicate a photo down to the smallest detail, I just think it’s a bit of a missed opportunity. We’ve got cameras for that! Let’s use art to express something deeper, something that can’t be captured with pixels.

Art isn’t about perfection—it’s about perspective. And that’s something a camera will never have.

What do you think?