What does "semi-realism" even mean? :/

[Self Epidemic]

I would say semi realism is just realism with an unrealistic flare, i would say my stuff is semi realistic because i still lack the ability to call it realistic :p but thats because my art sucks.

[NigerFagot696969]

I've always believed that realism is getting an image to be completely perfect to how we would perceive it and believe it to be 'real'.

Semi-realism would be getting the image completely real with subtle abstract changes to an image to throw it off balance.

In my opinion anyway.

[Dandelion prince]

for me its just an excuse if the person doesnt really wanna focus on realism

i call it bullcrap

[chortlexu]

OK I'm just going to generalize my response rather than quote all of you.

Semi-realism is realism with a fantastical or unrealistic undertones or subjects shaded realistic.

Isn't that just fantasy art? Or I guess magic realism. If its a realistically painted dragon why not just call it fantasy?

I'd be more willing to accept that semi realism is a more realistic depiction of a human figure, but still stylized. But still putting the word "semi" in front of it seems kinda silly to me. Personally I just call my work digital paintings and be done with it. To me calling it semi-realism feels like I'm trying to validate it by saying its a particular style.

But really like others have said it just seems to be a point in a amateur artist's life where they more away from anime and start focusing on more realist depictions of forms. Since I mostly agree with this I going to say semi-realism is really more of a stage in an artist learning process then an actual style or terminology. People seem to think that being able to realistically depict your subject matter is what makes you a master artist. And don't get me wrong it takes a lot of skill to do and I understand the importance of it, but people mostly seem to use the term semi-realism as a gauge of skill level based on how close they are to realism then an actual style or movement. I'm sure there are artist out there who can do realist works but choose to do other wise, but for the most part it seems to me that the term is just something people use to refer to their skill as an artist and not their choice of subject matter or the style it's depicted in.

[Once we were T]

It's definitely a gaia thing. I'm sure it's found elsewhere in the sort of amateur art world (using the term amateur only to differentiate from the gallery academic/fine artists, etc).

I've always seen the term "semi-realistic" applied to stylized art that is realistically shaded rather than simply colored. This artist pair exemplifies this style because of the beautiful lighting scheme on top of a stylized anatomy.

Realism in the academic setting is not like those portraits you see of Jack Sparrow, which are heavily influenced by or that reference photography. Classical Realism is about skill and craftsmanship, light, value, anatomy in the classical/Old Master tradition. Realism is a modern movement that puts the ordinary person up on the pedestal, so to speak, and has strong socialist undertones.

I would differentiate "semi-realism" at least in the sense it is used on Gaia, from fantasy art, because most fantasy (Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta, Michael Whelan, etc..) tend to be more starkly realistic (anatomically, etc), where semi-realism tends to have stylized proportions but beautiful light and value.

Not to say that they aren't all equally incredible. :3 Anyway, that's my perspective.

[Cyanide River]

Self Epidemic

I would say semi realism is just realism with an unrealistic flare, i would say my stuff is semi realistic because i still lack the ability to call it realistic :p but thats because my art sucks.

Your art most certainly does not suck. gonk

[panopales]

Dandelion prince

for me its just an excuse if the person doesnt really wanna focus on realism

i call it bullcrap

Why would anyone make excuses? They don't need to focus on realism.

[Dandelion prince]

panopales

Dandelion prince

for me its just an excuse if the person doesnt really wanna focus on realism

i call it bullcrap

Why would anyone make excuses? They don't need to focus on realism.

actually you need to over come anatomy issues

[panopales]

Dandelion prince

panopales

Dandelion prince

for me its just an excuse if the person doesnt really wanna focus on realism

i call it bullcrap

Why would anyone make excuses? They don't need to focus on realism.

actually you need to over come anatomy issues

That can be accomplished with drawing from life, and that isn't the same as realism.

[Dandelion prince]

panopales

Dandelion prince

panopales

Dandelion prince

for me its just an excuse if the person doesnt really wanna focus on realism

i call it bullcrap

Why would anyone make excuses? They don't need to focus on realism.

actually you need to over come anatomy issues

That can be accomplished with drawing from life, and that isn't the same as realism.

you mean still-life art?

[Nathaniel Mea]

To be honest, I call my art semi-realistic since that is what it is. I have studied art for many years and I have still chosen a style that is reminiscent of anime and suchlike.

Thing is that I understand my anatomy and all those other things.

I dunno, I think it is another word for a style actually. You are drawn to realism but still skippes the line of stylized work.

So it is basically another word for stylized that sounds fancier and are easier to refer to, because a lot of people know what you mean then.

Just like saying "I draw manga" to mean you draw comics inspired by the Japanese story-telling and panelling system. Or "I draw anime" to mean you draw in a style inspired by a generic Japanese style.

It might not be correct, but it is far easier then going "I have a style inspired by Japanese cartoons and comics mixed with a healthy dose of European and American comic-styles, dabbed with a bit of art nouveau and 15th and 16th century European woodprints"... so I simply say "I draw in a semi-realistic style".

[Self Epidemic]

Cyanide River

Self Epidemic

I would say semi realism is just realism with an unrealistic flare, i would say my stuff is semi realistic because i still lack the ability to call it realistic :p but thats because my art sucks.

Your art most certainly does not suck. gonk

Perhaps to you, but a trained realistic artist would think it sucks :3

[x_Silver_Starlight_x]

Nathaniel Mea

I like this one. Definitely going with this one.

[nightshade259]

Nathaniel Mea

To be honest, I call my art semi-realistic since that is what it is. I have studied art for many years and I have still chosen a style that is reminiscent of anime and suchlike.

Thing is that I understand my anatomy and all those other things.

I dunno, I think it is another word for a style actually. You are drawn to realism but still skippes the line of stylized work.

So it is basically another word for stylized that sounds fancier and are easier to refer to, because a lot of people know what you mean then.

Just like saying "I draw manga" to mean you draw comics inspired by the Japanese story-telling and panelling system. Or "I draw anime" to mean you draw in a style inspired by a generic Japanese style.

It might not be correct, but it is far easier then going "I have a style inspired by Japanese cartoons and comics mixed with a healthy dose of European and American comic-styles, dabbed with a bit of art nouveau and 15th and 16th century European woodprints"... so I simply say "I draw in a semi-realistic style".

I agree. I think it is a style that is somewhere in between comics and the "standard" realism. Trying to explain to people exactly where your art stands is far too difficult in some cases.

[Cyanide River]

Self Epidemic

Cyanide River

Self Epidemic

I would say semi realism is just realism with an unrealistic flare, i would say my stuff is semi realistic because i still lack the ability to call it realistic :p but thats because my art sucks.

Your art most certainly does not suck. gonk

Perhaps to you, but a trained realistic artist would think it sucks :3

If your art sucks, then I'm screwed. gonk crying