Gone are the days of 2D art because 3D art is the latest trend in art right now. South African artist Iantha Naicker takes 3D art to the next level with her series of 3D hand paintings. By using her own left hand as her canvas, she paints realistic drawings that mostly depict animals and sparkling gems. Her amazing 3D hand paintings look so realistic that she seems to hold the subject right on her palm.
As a deaf artist, Naicker sees things in a different perspective as she gets inspiration from the beauty of nature. She first made waves when she drew cute animals on papers that seem to leap off the page. Despite gaining recognition for her realistic drawings, she continues to improve her art by taking a step outside her comfort zone.
“I love experimenting with media, technique and content and continue to push the boundaries of what art means to me.”
That’s when she started using her own hand as an alternative to paper or canvas. Compared to paper, the palm has a soft surface which makes it harder to sketch the subject on. It goes without saying that drawing onto the palm requires a lot of patience. Of course, it also entails artistic creativity and incredible attention to detail to create impressive 3D hand paintings. Furthermore, she cleverly employs the use of perspective and shadows to achieve a more realistic effect. In order to avoid skin irritation, she uses a mixture of water-based paint and watercolor pencils that are easily washable.
A masterpiece portrayed on the palm of her hand, Naicker indeed found an unusual medium to showcase her raw talent. Since she never stops searching for a new medium for her artworks, we’ll just have to wait and see what she’ll come up next. But as for now, let her collection of realistic 3D hand paintings captivate your eyes and perception. Check out the list below to see some of her most stunning art illusions.
