Jack Ede’s drawing of Louis Tomlinson. Photo: Jack Ede, via Instagram.

Have you ever looked at a piece of artwork and wondered, “Is that a painting or a photograph?” If so, you were probably looking at a painting or drawing belonging to the genre of realism. In the arts, Realism is the attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, implausible, exotic and supernatural elements.

According to ArtnetNews, portrait artist Jack Ede, an 18-year-old from the UK whose hyperrealist portrait drawings have found a devoted fan base on Instagram, has decided to quit school and “take my future into my own hands,” as he told the BBC. Ede now has more than 31,000 followers on Instagram and has been offered £400 ($675) for his portrait of boy band One Direction’s member Harry Styles.

Jack Ede’s portrait of One Direction member Harry Styles. Photo: Via Jack Ede/Instagram.

“My aim is for people to not know whether they are looking at a photo or a painting,” Ede told the Mirror. This style of artwork not only works well for Ede’s popular portraits, but it’s well suited to all types of subject matter including landscapes and still lives. Below are some examples of Realism created by artists here on Zatista.

1958 Buick Roadmaster by June Johnson on Zatista.com

Quiet Evening, Cundys Harbor by John Bowdren on Zatista.com

The Standoff by Christina Ramos on Zatista.com

Grouse Feathers II drawing by Kathleen Ney on Zatista.com

460701 Konnie Kim_Pepper Grinder by Konnie Kim on Zatista.com

If you’re a fan of Realism, check out our offerings on Zatista. It’s easy, just browse by style – click ‘Browse Art’ then under ‘Style’, select ‘Realism’ from the pull down menu.