Hyperrealistic fantasy by Spanish artist Arantzazu Martinez
Fantasy paintings always awaken the imagination and make us dream. The effect is greatly enhanced if they are painted by a hyperrealist artist and have almost photographic precision. This approach is typical of the Spanish artist Arantzazu Martinez, whose fantasy, multiplied by talent, makes us believe in the incredible. (Caution! Nude).
Arantzazu Martinez was born and raised in Vitoria, Spain. She received her classical art education at the University of Fine Arts of the Basque Country, graduating in 2000.
In search of herself as an artist, Martinez moved to the world capital of contemporary art, New York City. There she continued her studies and in 2002 received a diploma from the New York Academy of Fine Arts.
But the artist didn’t stop there. She met Jacob Collins, the founder of such renowned projects as Water Street Atelier, Hudson River Fellowship, and The Grand Central Academy. Martinez studied with the master of classical painting from 2002 to 2005.
Despite the fact that Arantzazu Martinez studied classical painting of the 18th and 19th centuries, she is more drawn to hyperrealism. Her best works belong to this genre. The paintings of the Spaniard are known and loved all over the world, so she is often invited to various events.
In 2009, Martinez took part in the Star Wars Visions festival, and in 2012 she brought her best works to Russia for the Image of Russia project. The artist's fantasy-themed canvases are very popular with private collectors. Therefore, it is not easy to see the Spaniard's works in a museum. The largest publicly accessible exhibition of Martinez's paintings is located at the European Museum of Contemporary Art (MEAM) in Barcelona, Spain.
Finnish artist Ielis Kuttanen also paints pictures of heroes, demons and mythical creatures, preferring to draw inspiration from Scandinavian mythology.