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Remember the joy of getting a fresh new pack of colored pencils when you were a kid? The artistic possibilities! You were going to make masterpieces with those things, weren’t you? Unfortunately, colored pencils are kind of a difficult tool to wield. For one thing, they’re hard to erase, meaning that whatever mistakes you make wind up lasting forever.
But this Japanese artist can make serious magic with nothing but paper and those same humble art supplies. In fact, his artwork depicting Tokyo street scenes looks so photo-realistic, we were almost fooled at first.
Ryota Hayashi graduated from Waseda University’s school of art and has gone on to carve out a career for himself with his colored pencil drawings, which he began making in 2009. Since then, he has been featured in many exhibitions and teaches art classes at various culture centers, where he passes on his techniques to eager learners.
Below are some of his creations.
Many more pictures of Hayashi’s artwork can be viewed on his official website, and, if you’re a fan of his work, feel free to drop him a message since he regularly responds to fans on his Facebook page.
Source: Iroiro.jp
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Tokyo artist creates photo-realistic drawings with colored pencils -- 17-year-old aspiring artist creates amazing Disney and Marvel fan art with colored pencils -- Ultra-Realistic Drawings Look So Uncannily Lifelike They Jump off the Page
© Japan Today
22 Comments
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danalawton1@yahoo.com
Well... a quick look and, yes, the appear real but upon closer inspection you'd have to know they were drawn. This guy is good too and he uses standard ball point pens. https://erdilielsfavourites.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/samuel-silva-76.jpg.
Tamarama
They remind me in style and content of Shin Hanga by guys like Kawase Hasui, Yoshida and others.
The absence of the human figure makes them a touch unsettling.
Maria
They are lovely, and they are interesting in that they could be titled "Anywhere, Japan".
NathalieB
One super talented guy. I wish I could do anything even close to this.
Serrano
I guess I'll have to open a Facebook account so I can tell Hayashi san how great his drawings are!
ebisen
Well, I agree that it takes great skills, but becoming a human printer completely cancels artistry and creativity...
Yumster100
Wow...just wow!!!
lucabrasi
It's interesting how we say that they look like "actual photos", when in fact they look like "actual reality".
gokai_wo_maneku
This will never replace a digital camera.
smithinjapan
I've always loved sketching with pens, although I have to admit I don't use pencil crayons much. These pics are pretty good and yes, on quick glance, do look like photos (not when enlarged or when taking a closer look, of course, but still). Good on this man.
Thunderbird2
They have a lovely depth of colour and have enough detail to keep you looking into them. They are probably copied from photos, but so what... the skill and talent it takes to render these in pencil is incredible.
Naysayers are either jealous artists whose work has never received the plaudits they'd like... or just like poo-pooing the work of others out of sheer nastiness. XD
keika1628
I could see the gas meter reading on one of his pieces , I then started to look for insects .... still looking
nath
His best image in the series above I think is the self portrait holding the pencils. Looks really life like.
lucabrasi
@JapanGal
Ha! Beat me to it....
kchoze
@Maria Indeed, such beauty can be found all over Japan. You'd try doing something like that back in Canada and you'd just get ugly wide streets and cracked sidewalks filling up 50% of the painting every single time. Japanese cities are so awesome.
Thunderbird2
There are people in this one Tamarama
http://ryota-hayashi.com/?p=842
Kurobune
Hayashi-san is blessed with an amazing talent ! I have trouble drawing a straight line !
sensei258
Awesome! Very talented. Several of my JHS students are good at drawing anime characters, and I always encourage them when I see them doing it. I hope they go on to make a career of drawing too.
ebisen
If you don't agree with me, please point out the creative side of this activity. Because I can't find any. I didn't say I don't like the drawings.
Tamarama
Thunderbird2
Thanks for the link. I don't think the lack of people is a bad thing - we know it's Tokyo, one of the most crowded metropolis' in the world, so the absence of people is a little curious. I think it adds something to the work.
I'll have a go. I'm not sure if it's his intention but his work is almost a form of Hyperrealism - an intentional interpretation of everyday scenes presented in a fashion that is almost more real than real. It begs the question: What is real? What is reality?
But, there is a style to his work evident here - they are clearly not photographs. His technique and interpretation of colour and value means that they are clearly drawings, and he has adapted these to provide new representations of the everyday in Tokyo.
Is it profound work? No. Is it creative? Yes.
ArtistAtLarge
Excellent work.
Ah_so
The irony is that I am looking at a digital photograph of a drawing of reality.