Minimal realism by Charley Harper

I haven’t been familiar with Charley Harper (1922-2007) until now, but I dig the early Alien Workshop graphics by Don Pendleton and both have quite a lot in common.

In a style he called ‘minimal realism’, Charley Harper captured the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. When asked to describe his unique visual style, Charley responded:

“When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don’t see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting; in a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe.” (via Wikipedia)

Convince yourself of Harper’s sharp eye in this shop. Also check out his followers like Eleanor Grosch and her pushmepullyou design studio.