patrick kramer paintings

Painter Patrick Kramer Scraps Masterpieces

In his series of oil paintings, artist Patrick Kramer explores the universal feeling of self-doubt, wherein he copies Masterpieces from art history only to damage them by “scraping away” parts of his painting. He has already destroyed some of his own creations and imagined what would have happened if famous painters had done the same thing with their iconic paintings.

The Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring Girl, The Kiss of Klimt… Imagining so many perfectionist painters, Patrick Kramer begins his process with several reference photographs of scraped paint, then, he takes his ideas to Photoshop to create rough compositions. Once satisfied, he returns to the canvas and carefully recreates each masterpiece stroke by stroke until it is seemingly identical to the original. Their only tell is the hyperrealistic “scrapes” that disturb their perfection—sometimes in clever, unexpected ways. (watch his process at the end of the article)

patrick kramer paintings

patrick kramer paintings

“The idea for the series started out last year for a group show with the idea of ‘perfectionism,’” the artist explains. “I thought it would be interesting to create an illusionistic piece of a destroyed painting, scraped away by its unsatisfied creator. I could relate to this, as I have destroyed my own share of paintings.” And he began with van Gogh’s The Starry Night and, pleased with the final result, expanded the initial concept into an impressive series.

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer paintings

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

“I think I’m drawn somewhat to the tragic, as the loss of an iconic piece of art history hits you in the gut,”

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

patrick kramer scraps masterpieces serie

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