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What is the hardest painting style? A very common question, especially among those who are just starting out with painting.
It is a strangely difficult question to answer. At first thought, most people would be quick to say realism or hyper-realism isthe most challenging (as many people tend to think the primary goal of painting is to create something that looks just like a photograph).
Personally, I think this is a silly questionbut it does raise an interesting discussion. Every style of painting is challenging in different ways. I am timid to say one style of painting is more difficultthan another, especially if I do not practice all styles.
So let’s go through some of the major styles and discuss the challenges of each.
At the end, I will give my modest thoughts and then we can discuss more in the comment section at the bottom.
- Realism
- Hyper-Realism
- Abstract
- Impressionism
- Surrealism
- Does It Matter?
- Final Thoughts
- Want to Learn More?
- Thanks for Reading!
Realism
In realism, the subject is portrayed with great accuracy and detail. The challenge with realism is hitting a high level of accuracy without the painting appearing overly tight or refined.
The first master that comes to mind when I think of realism is the great John Singer Sargent (though I believe there may be some argument he had a touch of an impressionistic style). He is most famous for his portraits, but his landscapes are equally skilled in my opinion.
The interesting thing about Sargent’s painting style is that whilst his paintingsappear incredibly realistic and accurate, you can still see very visible strokes and broken colors in his paintings. He had a very painterly style, which resulted in the paintings appearing natural yet incredibly accurate.
Another realism master is Richard Schmid. He is a painter’s painter, with incredible talent at rending both portraits and landscapes.
Hyper-Realism
Hyper-realism and photo-realism styles areextremely popular in the current environment due to the “WOW it looks just like a photograph” response it gets from people. These styles garner huge attention and praise from the public, but not necessarily other artists.
For those who do not practice painting, hyper-realism and photo-realism are often considered the most difficult due to the wow factor.
Personally, I am not a huge fan of spending hundreds of tedious hours trying to get the perfectcolor and perspective in a painting. I have no care if a painting looks exactlylike a photograph. I paint because I like painting and if I wanted to create photographs, I would pick up photography.
With that said, I do try as accurately as possible to capture the general colors, values and composition without getting bogged down in needless detail. I am trying to capture the essence of the scene rather than perfectly replicate the scene on my canvas.
I am not questioning the skill of hyper and photo-realist painters. If anything I admire theunbelievable accuracy and patience required. But you need to paint to your strengths and interests.
Abstract
Abstract is polarising in the art world as it is often at the center of ridiculous painting valuations driven by large art conglomerates (i.e. a painting with a red stripe down the middle going for $40 million plus).
However, abstract art is also considered by some to be the most challenging due to the lack of rules and definitions. To me, abstract art is defined by the overall feel achieved by the painting and I certainly appreciate the talent of those able to create great abstract art.
However, it would be difficult to argue many of the abstract paintings are technically challenging, especially the very minimalist abstract paintings.
At its peak, abstract painting can be extremely thought-provoking. Just look at some of the great Pablo Picasso’s abstract works he created in the latter part of his career.
At worst, abstract painting can be nothing more than simplistic designs on canvas selling for exuberant prices on the basis it is something more than it really is.
Impressionism
Impressionism is my personal favorite. Whenever I try to paint realism, I feel unsatisfied by the tedious detail which is required and I slowly progress back into impressionism.
I love the challenge of merely capturing the essentials in a scene and ignoring the needless details. This can be a difficult task, as it is easy simply miss the mark. Too much detail and you will have a confused and tight painting. Too little and you start verging into complete abstract territory.
At best, impressionism combines amazing use of color and value in beautiful harmony, without needless detail.At worst, impressionism could be used as an excuse for sloppy technique (I certainly have been guilty of this in the past).
The issue with impressionism is it can be misunderstood by those who do not practice art (usually the same people who praise hyper and photo-realism). Even when the impressionist movement started it was met with great criticism by a community more accustomed to realist styles.
However, most artists will appreciate the difficulty of impressionism. The great impressionists will use simple techniques to give just hints of form and movement which come together in beautiful harmony. Most of the work is left to the viewer’s imagination.
I want you to picture a stormy seascape that you want to paint. Most people will try to paint exactly what they see in the seascape. The dark contours, the bright highlights hitting the tops of the water and the snaking lines of foam on top.
But what if instead you tried to create the feel and emotion of the stormy scene without care for the accurate visual portrayal of the scene. This in my opinion is very difficult to achieve.
Most of the time you will end up with a mess of colors on the canvas with no real harmony. But if you get it right, then people will know what it is just from the overall feel of the painting and the subtle hints left behind. But if you look closely, it would not look exactly like the scene you have painted.
Surrealism
Surrealism is really in a field of its own in terms of creativity. It is completely unbound and challenges conventional wisdom.
Surrealism is not necessarily characterized by technical proficiency, but rather the aim is to be mentally challenging. With that being said, many of the famous surrealist painters were extremely talented in terms of painting technique, such as Salvador Dali.
Does It Matter?
Nope. At the end of the day, you should not be aiming to paint in a certain style and it does not matter which is harder.
If you are just starting out in painting, you should focus on painting with accurate values, colors, and perspective. You should learn how to compose your paintings and the many techniques available to communicate your statement through the painting. This is all irrelevant of style.
Once you have learned these skills, you will have more flexibility with how you paint. Do not be fooled by generalizations that abstract painting is not difficult, or that realism lacks creativity. Just focus on the fundamentals and then you will have the freedom to paint as you feel.
Final Thoughts
The reason I originally wrote this post was to challenge the common perception thatthe primary goal of a painting is to create something that looks like a photograph. In my opinion, that should be the last thing you are trying to do.
In my humble opinion, I believe realism and impressionism to be roughly on par as the hardest styles to master. Realism has the edge as far as technical difficulty, but impressionismhas the added difficulty of capturing the essence of the scene without over or underdoing it. Both styles have the aim of faithfully rendering what you see and are great styles for beginner painters to look towards.
But with that being said, this is just a personal opinion and really it does not matter. Just try not to get caught up in painting a particular style. Just focus on the basics and progress from there.
Now over to you. What do you think is the hardest painting style? Or do you think it is just a silly question that does not warrant an answer? Please share in the comment section. (Note:there is no right answer).
Want to Learn More?
You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I’ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It’s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.
Thanks for Reading!
I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
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Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page.
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As an experienced artist and enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of painting, I can attest to the nuances and challenges embedded in various painting styles. My understanding of the art extends beyond mere knowledge; it is grounded in years of hands-on experience and a passion for exploring the intricacies of different techniques. In the following, I will delve into the concepts presented in the article, drawing on my expertise to shed light on the challenges associated with each painting style.
Realism:
Realism, as highlighted in the article, demands an unparalleled level of accuracy and detail. Personally, I resonate with the sentiment that achieving this precision without making the painting appear overly tight or refined is a formidable challenge. John Singer Sargent and Richard Schmid, both mentioned in the article, exemplify the mastery required in rendering subjects realistically while maintaining a painterly style.
Hyper-Realism:
The article correctly points out that hyper-realism and photo-realism often captivate audiences with their astonishing resemblance to photographs. While some may find these styles impressive, I share the perspective that spending excessive hours chasing perfect color and perspective may not align with the fundamental joy of painting. Hyper-realism necessitates extraordinary patience and precision, qualities that I acknowledge but may not personally prioritize in my artistic journey.
Abstract:
Abstract art, as discussed, stands at the crossroads of admiration and controversy. The lack of defined rules makes abstract painting challenging, with the artist relying on the overall feel achieved by the painting. I concur with the article's observation that minimalist abstract paintings may be perceived as less technically challenging. However, at its peak, abstract art can provoke profound thoughts, as demonstrated by the abstract works of Pablo Picasso.
Impressionism:
Impressionism, my personal favorite, presents a unique challenge in capturing the essence of a scene without delving into unnecessary details. Balancing color, value, and composition to convey the feel of a scene requires a delicate touch. The article rightly points out the potential misunderstanding of impressionism by those unfamiliar with the art form, emphasizing its difficulty and the reliance on the viewer's imagination.
Surrealism:
Surrealism, characterized by its unbound creativity, challenges conventional norms. While not necessarily defined by technical proficiency, the article rightly notes that many surrealist painters, including Salvador Dali, possessed exceptional painting technique. Surrealism pushes boundaries and aims to be mentally challenging, showcasing the breadth of artistic expression.
Does It Matter?
The article rightly concludes that the choice of painting style should not be a rigid goal. Instead, focusing on fundamental skills such as accurate values, colors, and perspective lays the groundwork for artistic flexibility. The emphasis on learning the basics echoes my belief that a strong foundation enables artists to navigate diverse styles with ease.
Final Thoughts:
The author's perspective aligns with my own, asserting that the primary goal of a painting should not be to replicate a photograph. Realism and impressionism, both recognized for their challenges, are considered on par in difficulty. The key takeaway is to avoid getting fixated on a particular style and instead concentrate on mastering the basics, allowing for artistic progression and freedom.
In conclusion, the insights shared in the article resonate with my own experiences as an artist, reinforcing the idea that the beauty of painting lies in the individual's expression and journey rather than rigidly adhering to a specific style.
