Molecular

Charcoal & White Ink on handmade paper.
50cm x 80cm

An Oyster shell, facing inwards. Showing its pearlescent, smooth surface, with gentle shifts in light and shape. There is contrast in the composition, where the outer edge of the shell is visible and you glimpse the rough, jagged exterior texture.

I represented a lot more water droplets on this work than in previous shells I have completed. The softer, less detailed surface allowed for an over-saturation of water. The amount of water I feel has given this Artwork a real connection with the ocean.

This was an extremely challenging work, rendering almost 400 droplets in and around soft gradual tones, which shift subtly but are essential to the form.

Follow

Chris Summer is an Australian contemporary artist, creating Hyperrealistic art with passion & patience.

'My deep love for the process of making art allows me to feel connected to something greater than myself and to reflect that into the world.'

As a self-taught artist over a 12-year career, Chris has developed a distinct vision in his work, whether it's an acrylic painting or his unique combination of charcoal & white ink drawing. He has been a finalist in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize (South Australia), the Muswellbrook Art Prize (New South Wales), BBC Wildlife Artist Of The Year (UK) and Highly Commended in the Victor Harbor Art Show (South Australia).

Born in England in 1979, Chris spent his early years living internationally until his family resettled in London when he was a teenager. Chris loves to travel and at the age of 30 he traded Londons city-life, for the beaches of rural South Australia, where the lifestyle suits the time & focus he needs, to create works that take up to 200 hours.

Chris’ Hyperrealistic still-life art is inspired by nature, exploring fine detail and the sensitivity of light, within a balanced, contemporary composition. The passion given to this precise process results in artwork that is inspiring and emotive.

'I love Art that leaves something to the imagination, with gestural lines & palette knife strokes,
but for me, creating form and texture in that amount of detail is the only way to represent a subject in its true and honest form.
What could be more beautiful than that?'

Chris Summer crafts larger original still-life works on canvas that capture the essence of natural objects.
Additionally, he creates smaller originals in the captivating 'Liquid Carbon' series, exploring the graceful movement of smoke.
Complementing these, Chris offers two sets of Limited Edition Prints from his portfolio.
- The first is a Fine Art Reproduction, matching the dimensions of the original work and hand-signed by the artist.
- The second features an accessible range of A2 size prints.

Explore his full portfolio at chrissummer.com.au. or witness the creative process on Insta: chris_summer_art