Hyperrealistic Hand Paintings are So Supple They Look Like Photos

Given their complex anatomy, hands are often considered one of the most difficult subjects to draw. Artist Javier Arizabalo Garcia, however, manages to capture the expressive language of hands in his hyperrealistic paintings. On each canvas, he renders a posed hand so supple that you’d think it was a photograph.

Based in Spain, Garcia received formal fine art training in his Basque hometown of Irun and at the University of Bilbao. After careers in both graphic design and photography, the artist decided to pursue painting full-time in 2006. His successful creative practice focuses on traditional figurative subjects such as people and still lives and emphasizes strong realism techniques. Thanks to a keen understanding of light and shadow, Garcia renders three-dimensional models using only oil pigment. But you might not realize this fact; his brushstrokes are so fine and precise they appear invisible to the eye.

In his depictions of isolated hands, Garcia recalls classical figurative painting. Each work is set against a plain atmospheric background, typically black or gray, wherein the only focus is the gesture of the hand. While in some pieces the light source is unknown, in others there is a staged candle that illuminates the fingers and palm.

Scroll down to see more incredible paintings by Garcia, and follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with the artist’s latest creations.

Artist Javier Arizabalo Garcia creates hyperrealistic paintings of hands.

He masterfully renders the suppleness of skin in oil paint.

Some pieces are staged with a candle to illuminate the palm.

Get a peek into Garcia’s meticulous painting process below:

Javier Arizabalo Garcia:  Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Javier Arizabalo Garcia.

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