Damian Loeb's hyperrealist canvasses bear more resemblance to photographs than to conventional paintings
Looking at one of Damian Loeb’s hyperrealist canvasses, it is easy to forget that you are standing before an oil painting rather than a photograph.
The richly painted artworks heavily inspired by cinematography and imagery exhibit remarkable attention to detail, with little to no evidence of brushstrokes.
The artist, however, pointed out that up close, it is evident that the works are indeed paintings.
'Ironically, my paintings don't photograph well,' he joked.
Branching out: Loeb is a self-taught painter living in New York City who has recently mastered the art of photography
Flawless: The artworks inspired by cinematography show remarkable attention to detail, with little evidence of brushstrokes
Vibrant colors: Mr Loeb's palette is remarkably rich, with hues that jump off the canvass and dazzle the viewer
Seedy side: Besides seductive nudes, the artist's recent collection features urban landscapes revealing the city's unsavory side
Loeb, a self-taught painter living in New York City, has recently mastered the art of photography, which has allowed him to take the hyperrealist genre to new heights.
Many of his works feature the female nude form, but he also has been painting sweeping vistas, urban landscapes and even space.
According to his artist statement, Mr Loeb's latest collection of works has been influenced in part by the noir genre of 1960s French cinema populated by femme fatales, fallen women in black stockings and high heels and seedy motels.
‘The advent of the digital age and the immediacy and convenience of digital video and photography allows people to become an integral part of the feedback loop which actively shapes the content we are fed,’ he wrote.
Painstaking process: Loeb constantly shoots photos, sifts through them and then carfully edits them before turning them into oil paintings
First steps: Before turning to hyperrealism, Loeb created collages made up of found photographs, and then painted his interpretation of these combinations
Look into the future: Loeb's next show will feature landscapes, including images of moon, sun and stars
‘The images for the new show are a reflection of an idealized world filtered through the demands of eyes expecting momentous personal experiences to be composed like a Hollywood blockbuster.’
Loeb indicated in his statement that his goal as a hyperrealist artist is to open a new chapter in a conversation between the viewer and the artist by creating what he calls ‘personal film stills.’
Loeb's next show will feature landscapes. It is set to take place in March 2014 at Acquavella Galleries in New York City.
In an email to MailOnline Wednesday night, Mr Loeb explained that he has always been fascinated with photography and cinematography - and the perceived ‘truth’ that those art forms bring forth.
Parataxic distortion, the title of this cityscape, is a term indicating the inclination to skew perceptions of others based on fantasy
Loeb's articulately painted works show almost no sign of brushstrokes
Before turning to hyperrealism, Loeb created collages made up of found photographs, and then painted his interpretation of these combinations.
As part of his work process, the artist takes pictures with his camera, painstakingly sorts and edits them, and then retouches those images that may eventually turn into oil paintings.
‘Learning, or making up, the different photographic techniques is half the fun,’ he explained. ‘The series I am working on now has meant that, amongst other skills, i have had to learn astrophotography, historic landscape composition, and how to shoot into the sun.’
Artistic output: Once Loeb lays down the groundwork by sorting through his photographs and retouching them, he completes about 10-12 canvasses a year
Untainted: Loeb explained that he never gives instructions or manually lights any of the subjects that he photographs
Duality: Loeb's view on the advancement of editing programs like Photoshop is that they can either create magic, or spin a web of lies
Starry night: This work is titled Vega after the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere
Loeb’s artwork abounds with naked or scantily clad women, but in his email, the artist explained that his wife, Zoya, is the sole figure in all his nudes.
Unlike many artists, Mr Loeb explained that he never gives instructions or manually lights any of the subjects that he photographs, fearing that the process of setting up the mise-en-scene would spoil his eye.
‘I would rather impose my views afterward in the creation of the paintings,’ he wrote.
For Loeb, the process of shooting, tweaking and categorizing the photographs before turning them into paintings takes years, and he manages to complete only about 10-12 canvasses annually.
While Loeb has never received any kind of professional training, the artist explained that his desire to ‘get it right’ has been pushing him forward and providing a constant source of motivation.
Motivated: The artist has received no professional training, but his desire to ‘get it right’ has been pushing him forward
Complex: The name of this painting is Tachypsychia, which refers to a neurological condition that alters the perception of time, making events appear to slow down, or contract, with objects appearing as moving in a blur
One idea that has captured Loeb's imagination is that the constant presence of visual imagery in people's lives has turned their dreams from black and white to color
As an artist working in the ‘hyperrealism’ or ‘photorealism’ genre, Loeb said that his intent is to address and comment on the omnipresent nature of photography and other visual arts, such as films.
‘I read that prior to the advent of color TV most people dreamed in black and white,’ he wrote. ‘If our consumed media has so much influence that it dictates the framework of our dreams then it was definitely a ripe topic for creative discussion.'
Mind tricks: Loeb named this work 'Pareidola,' which is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random sound or image being perceived as significant, such as seeing images of animals or faces in clouds
For his new show, the self-taught artist had to learn astrophotography, historic landscape composition, and how to shoot into the sun
Cinematic: This work, titled 'Straw Dogs' in homage to the classic 1971 thriller by Sam Peckinpah set in the English countryside, is based on photos shot in Richmond Park outside London
Culled from DAILY MAIL
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