Speed Painting Photorealism... Again.

[@Hamster7678]

Okay I'm calling witchcraft. (seriously though you are amazing which demon did you sell your soul to?)

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

4.) I have a daughter with autism... Because of that, we know (and have become friends with) MANY people with autistic children. But there is one family that I find most amazing-- both of their autistic daughters taught themselves how to read. I'll never forget standing next to this little 3 year old girl as she pulled a video cassette off of a shelf that she had never seen before and read it out loud to herself... Mind you-- no one had ever attempted to teach this to this child at that age.

[@Slinky511nx7]

Holy shit

[@lmNotReal]

You are by far the best digital painter i have ever seen, i watched a bunch of your other videos as well, and you keep getting more and more incredible with time, absolutely amazing, cheesy as it sounds, you just inspired me to get back into drawing, so thank you and don't stop drawing/speed painting

[@TheOptimus17Prime]

its the lighting in the painting that gives a feeling of realism, like a camera flash right in front of the person, really well done in this painting

[@freakboy8888]

Best photoshop painting i've seen. Absolutely mind blowing. Your attention to detail is absolutely unbelievable.

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

On the contrary... The ability to do this kind of work opens many doors in the commercial art field- especially in today's tough economic climate. Whether it's realism in digital matte painting, or hyper realistic 3D modeling, the ability to achieve realism is a very strong asset in one's commercial portfolio now more than ever... It has done wonders for me. Anytime you are able to strengthen your skills to a point of being able to provide for you and your family, it is never a waste of time.

[@JosephMelia]

Absolutely excellent,I cannot understand the other commenters lack of respect for such finely wrought work.I'm envious of your talent. It's virtually a photograph.

[@DudeItsMeLuiza]

its so realistic people won't even give it a second glance unless they were told it's a painting, absolutely beautiful!

[@NoodleFlame]

People clearly don't understand or appreciate what you are doing. It's amazing watching the layers build, you are clearly very talented.

[@Coldwind4]

This should have millions of views, amazing. I'm ESPECIALLY impressed with the hair...so realistic I had to watch a second time to make SURE it was a drawing. Just...wow.

[@DrummerElliott]

I would NEVER be able to tell that this was a hand drawn image. It's insane! I wish I could do this. It's pure magic. You're amazing

[@hazard4]

There's always negative pricks out there who want to try and take something away from someone else! In your case trying to say that because you work in a digital format that it's somehow not legitimate art?? Mate, ur work is INCREDIBLE! Digital or not, this is serious skill, requiring much of the same physical movements to create the piece as traditional methods. I'm sure your talents extend far beyond the computer!

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

Hi. Thanks for your comments and kind words. One thing I would have you consider however, is that the 3.5 hours it takes me to do this is not me rushing or hurrying in anyway. It is literally how long it takes me to get the painting done. It is exactly the perfect pace and time needed for me to reflect my perception of realism, depth, and human likeness. I enjoy a certain momentum when painting realism. It is my attempt to reflect the ultimate universal art- God's creation itself. ;-)

[@johnfrian]

Omg.... drawing something like that, and making it look THAT realistic is just beyond any kind of skill I would have thought was possible to aquire....!! I envy people with this skill, and hope you do well in the future. Use this skill to the fullest of its advantage!!

[@Raiown]

Wow, the detail is fantastic! I don't usually appreciate "paintings" done on the computer but this is breath-taking.

[@Clymaxx]

Three hours on your level translates to like a year on my level. I hope one day I can muster this kind of experience and practice to what you have brought down to a science. I don't believe photorealism is my niche, but your fantasy work is also incredible and inspirational to say the least. What I wouldn't give right now to have the knowledge that you have in all those small details that I just witnessed. But I'm sure it's just as rewarding to work hard at it to get to this point.

[@xXBethanyFryeXx]

Wait a minute, they may not need a bunch of creativity, but just think how much skill you'd have to have to do this, this is a true piece of art, not like those splatting paint on stuff artists today...

[@matt1523]

thats one of the more amazing things i have ever seen!!!! if i just saw that finished there is no way i would believe it was artwork, looks like a photo for sure

[@marchofsaints]

I read your description. The part where you explain yourself as to why you do photorealism doesn't need to be there. If people are asking "why?" then they wouldn't get the answer. You do make a great point though. It's like a musician practicing a song off an album just to keep himself shap. Great job man. You are an outstanding artist. Oh, the woman is very beautiful too. ;)

[@MrYinYar]

im new to digital art and it took me around 3 hours to create a caricature of myself and it took you 3 hours and 30 mins to do this? holy shit. you just earned my like+ sub.

[@prakashkalel123]

Unbelievabale..You are are a gifted one ! I have never seen such a perfection....too good !!

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

Thanks! I've always said that it would take an enormous amount of skill to fake this. Probably as much skill as it takes to just paint the darn thing. As you pointed out, there are very visible brush strokes layering up to completion before the viewers' eyes. In addition to skill, it would take major patience to fake it.

[@pangmanification]

I read your explanation on why you do it, and I couldn't agree more, about the practice, and comparison to a musician playing someone else song. I refuse to trace, or digitally enhance a photo in place of art, unless specifically stated to the viewer, to me that is cheating, and fraudulent. thanks for sharing, watching your speed paintings are totally helping my technique in layering. keep up the good work man, it's great stuff!

[@justtypegladson]

I was drinking orange juice from a container while watching this & didn't realize that the lid was on... omg this speed-paint is hyper-real, took me smwhr else... n only love put into it (your artwork) can bring forth such a beauty! Rock on! \m/

[@pathologicaldoubt]

that's nuts. great job. I love how you incorporated the faint blemishes and impurities in the skin, adds to the realism. btw those lips are AMAZING :D

[@nineninety2002]

Again... your skills are like nothing I've seen and I work in design... my hat goes off to you... so damn amazing!!

[@KieSeyHow]

The less someone knows, the more they believe they know. True knowledge comes with humility. You, have a lot of learn.

[@MademoisellePrym]

wow. i admire you! i keep asking myself how long one has to practice to paint as good as you without being a real genius. really, i'm impressed.

[@PlatonicPurplePanda]

It's like I can reach into the screen and grab strands of her hair to play with. MY GOSH, this is beautiful.

[@mai567]

i've just watched you do it, and i still can't believe it!! amaaaazing!!!

[@palmspringsartist]

To hate on this is flat out ridiculous... This is unbelievable skill Chris! Flat out people who hate on ur work are jealous!!!! PERIOD!!!!

[@EosChill]

Now that's photorealism! I truly admire you :) Keep up the great work no matter what.

[@kevinlozada5514]

omg that is so real it's scary. you have some serious attention to detail...like the hair...like freakin everything.

[@SullyOrchestration]

NO OTHER PAINTING CAN BE MORE REALISTIC THAN THIS Awesome work!

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

That is to say, perfection in photo-realism. That's what makes it such a great exercise. I think our minds our programmed to think of a certain type of perfection in facial features on the human face. "Magazine cover" perfection. And so when I paint average pics of normal people that I know, it immediately gets compared to the usual "perfect model people" that commercial art usually has. Hence the "flaws" that people tend to think they see.

[@JonBlizzle2]

holy.... are you kidding me?!!! Wow this looks just like a photograph! Amazing stuff man, these vids are inspiriation

[@bastange6718]

Couldn't agree more, I know nothing of art yet even I can see this take a level of skill and precision that I would never hope to match. Not to speak of sight. I have seen a street artist make jawdropping music on a copper bowl. The instrument really doesn't matter at all. Great is still great art, whatever you do and whatever you make it with.

[@KryticalError]

you're welcome. thanks for such a quick reply. i have also always started with rendering the eye - not to your level of skill, of course. but the more i read and study people preach not to do so - i guess you're my proof that you have to do what works for you. and for the record, even with a ref, that's no less amazing.

[@gustavo69er]

that is just incredible. there is no way you can create something like that traditionally with paints and a canvas that looks as much like a photo as that did but you can on photoshop because traditionally you will always make mistakes that are difficult or that u cant correct but photoshop lets u correct those mistakes with ease its just a great product. i still prefer traditional though its just my preference. and great job by the way it was just amazing it blew me away.

[@MotionMenace2]

Iv never seen anything look so real man ! thats just amazing, im not an art person just found your video randomly. But man thats amazing really

[@JoyMacias]

Great explanation to those who think that photo realism is useless against a camera. Great work!!!

[@kevinsano]

This level of detail... it doesn't compute. My poor art-illiterate mind completely collapses by this sheer... monstrous show of skill.

[@mathafix59]

Très bien. J'aime vraiment l'attention portée sur les détails, notamment le soin apporté aux cheveux.

[@idontski]

i just watched this on your site... unbelievable. i love your work and watching your process, great stuff man! thanks for sharing!

[@geekdiggy]

man the thing i love about youtube is people like you will take something that matters to nobody and make such a big deal about it. i also get the feeling you're going to continue with this until you're satisfied that you've come out on top. so go ahead and take the win on this one, i hope it makes you feel good about yourself for fucks sake.

[@SirFancyBacon]

Wow... Just amazing, words fail me at a time like this. Simply a shocking job.

[@gzus4eva]

WOW!! This was incredible!!!! It looks like a photo............... I can't believe it's not, even tho I just saw you draw it!

[@pullhoodie]

the why for me is simple...because when people get a portrait of themself done, they don't necessarily need it to be changed or stylized for them to be filled with wonder at it. I know when I was a kid, a guy at the library did a portrait of me free and it was photorealistic. It was so thrilling to see someone create my face

[@abbielayla]

this is just...way too good...you are one gifted man, man! AMAZING

[@BekaTheAnimeFan14]

This is an amazing picture! It looks so real. You are actually incredible...

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

Thanks for the kind words. I know you meant well, but you wanna be careful in a critique of a portrait of someone you have not seen in real life. To call something a "flaw" when you haven't seen the reference photo risks saying that person being painted has flawed characteristics in her face if the detail happens to be exactly how she looks in the ref photo- Which happens to be the case here. Trust me when I say this is verbatim. She has a unique face, and I think she is very beautiful.

[@OM3N1R]

This makes me feel guilty for buying an intuous and not being able to use it correctly. You sir are a man among men.

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

I have always started with one eye-- sort of sets a middle point for me to map everything else around it. And the tight detailing is because the eyes capture the person the most. Therefore, I can "see" the rest of the detail coming together a lot faster in whether or not it truly looks like the individual. I never took and classes or art school, so this is my own technique from being self-taught. As the description states, there IS a ref off to the side.

[@bobojoe5999]

Only 3 1/2 hours? In 3 1/2 hours I can barely even draw a manga girl! And in that much time you can draw a person so well that I can barely believe it's a drawing. That is just the most remarkable thing I've ever seen, and if anyone says you aren't talented then they just don't understand what real art is.

[@zeroswings2]

the only way you can tell... and I mean ONLY way is the completely visable eye looks but a tiny smidge 'off'', and the background... but it's so perfect until I thought it was real at first.... it is truly amazing!!

[@eashue]

Wow You're really good, and I'm a bit inspired! I just got a corel painter and a bamboo touch pad on my birthday. I just want to use mine now, but i'm not really used to that much media. I don't know where to start, and i don't know where to end. I usually just draw on paper with a pencil.

[@DECODEDVFX]

@GanonIV No other tablets have pressure controls too. Every tablet I have owned has had it.

[@digitalbeat666]

I agree it´s very much harder with pens and paper. You cannot compare directly because digital is too much different with digital brushes and tablet. I think you have got too many thumbs down because there´s many fans of digital art / artist viewing this. However you have a good point.

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

3.) Yet, I would never want someone to feel they could never try just because they didn't have the same experience as me. I agree with you 100% when you said you "don't see it as a handicap where "It's impossible for you to get as good as me since I was BORN with this gift".

[@KissKickKillMe]

That's just so beautiful! It looks like a photo!!!

[@parasol222]

wow man so that was speed painting? so i can't imagine how looks "slow painting" awesome job... i'm impressed...

[@airbutz]

very very scary !!! incredible what talented people can do with bits and bytes. soon we do not need models any more.. smile.. bravooooooooo!!!!!!

[@florethebrave]

awesome ! the day that I could paint like that.... it's just , you are talented !

[@OneOfTheFire]

im not usually into photo realsim but its cool seeing how its all done and im learn a bit on how to use different brushes in photoshop

[@kismyash123]

looks so real, if i didn't know that it was created from scratch, i would have believed that it was a real photograph

[@sebas329]

Holy cow dude that's just amazing!, it looks real for sure, i've seen al your drawings, your truly the best i've seen so far =), well i can only say: Keep up the good work :D!

[@Luke-M]

Well done, I'll be showing this to my class to inspire them. I am teaching Photoshop at the moment. Great work

[@astronome92]

Je suis franchement surpris des commentaires négatifs et inutiles de certains !! Man, This IS AWESOME ! Salvador Dali was a joke (sorry jadedmisanthropy). Anyway, Chris, I've been on your website, and truly respect your art, CHAPEAU !

[@Shaymus22]

I watched you create this image and I still can't quite believe that you didn't fake this. Well done.

[@queenpink12345]

dude that actually looks like a photo...wow...that is awesome...i wish i could do that...ur vids are awesome...

[@88Grimmjow]

this guy is the best at what he does.. and what he does is very nice!

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

@digitised I've heard that perspective before as well. However, my point was simply that no matter what belief, or how much "evidence", it is all completely faith based. All sides. No one has an absolute answer. But no matter how you look at it, there is are elements of the "infinite" involved, and that concept alone is mind boggling for the finite mind. Thanks for the input! ;-)

[@valiantstallion]

omfg this is the best one ive seen so far,amazing.

[@SweetHoneyCookie]

You're truly amazing and so talanted. I love your drawings

[@khatack]

This is just amazing. She's much more lively than the guy you painted.

[@kiyokoha]

looks just like a photo!! she's so pretty!! nice work!! ^^

[@SullyOrchestration]

If I were to choose somone to be written down in History, you willl be one of the top 10

[@invisibleradish]

Incredible! :O You did a very good job with the tones & gloss in the hair. I need to learn to do hair, because after I'm done with the face I dread drawing what looks like lumps of gross hair hanging off the head. I am horrible at it :P

[@joselord]

unbelievable, you are amazing. I would kill for having half of your skills. congratulations!

[@smartnessness123]

holy shit it looks so real when i first looked at it i thought it was an actual person!!! really nice job!!!!!

[@Mbkelite]

This makes me wana try drawing...But then a make a stick figure with uneven legs...and realize how difficult this is =P INCREDIBLE Skill.

[@Flamingemblem356]

If i didnt know better i would have said that was real photo 0.0 I love your videos man

[@rodrigomartinezmx]

I saw your Dragon painting and I said: WAAAAW!!....and now I see This realistic painting and I have no words, Big Talent, if you can do this, you can do everything, I´m sure. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WORK =)

[@sweFisch]

unbeliveble:P Relly amazing what you done ;) love the hair:) picture is just amazing relly good job... (still shaking my head in disbelve tho I saw you draw it)

[@nikyo1]

sos un loco. como haces para dibujar tan bien! increible el realismo, los pelos, la boca. increible. la verdad te felicito. todo con una intuos3? muy bueno. incredible man! you´re the best

[@HighHash]

OMFG! It looks like a real photo, u r now officialy my god!

[@kristofanetta]

OK. Your hands take better pictures than Canon EOS 1Ds MkIII. I see. You have the ability to overcome the agelong problem of artistic photography - the limitations of the real. In case you had enough inspiration and of course enough things to say to the world, this unique fusion could chronicle in the annals of fine art. I think that photo realism is definitely the way. I´d like to see some still lives of yours.

[@TheMegadong]

Absolutely stunning skills. Especially how to make hair to look so living. Only brightests spots on the face tells it's digital painting because they are too bright imo.

[@Kingaby]

@YaYaBisMe The efficient way to do this is to create a new layer above the grey tones and set the blending mode to "color".then you can just slap on the colours you need. dont think thats whats happening here though. hope this helps!

[@blissfulbarbie]

i don't have words for this...just amazing!

[@SantyComics]

your talent is just mindblowing and ispiring. thank you

[@rosenthalstudios]

jeez.... kudos to your insane understanding of that program....

[@DragOzze]

are you kidding me ? You are brilliant, I am astound by how you made her hair

[@sumi990]

Beautiful work.! The hair and the eyes are magnificent!!

[@minilabyrinth]

did you ever consider doing a photorealistic picture of a person from your imagination? with absolutely no references..it would be like looking at a photo of a person that doesn't exist...creepy but awesome!

[@ArtandAnimationofChrisScalf]

For this reason, I have been thinking about including the reference photo in future pics when I do these photo real exercises. This was one of the reasons I posted the photo next to the painting of my wife on my other channel... People were saying the nose was a mistake, along with other things. People mean well, but work like this invites scrutiny to a level that I think people try to hard to find flaw in. Not saying I'm perfect, but photo-realism is an attempt at a state perfection.

[@StrawberryLegacy]

simply amazing how you did the hair ..really nice .

[@PeaceLoveRockabilly]

How did you do this?!?! It looks JUST like a photo! I am actually like, in shock...I would seriously think that was a photo no matter how much somebody convinced me! Jeez, man, you're talented. Words can't even describe!

[@xfrenno2]

It looks so real. Perfect video. You're an artist.