Milan-based Italian illustrator and graphic designer Marcello Barenghi creates hyperrealistic drawings of ordinary objects that boggle the mind. It's hard to believe that the artist uses a standard set of art supplies to reproduce the likeness of everyday items, including anything from a bag of chips or bottle of whiskey to a crumpled up banknote.
Each mixed media illustration in the artist's growing collection of works goes beyond just seeming realistic. They give the illusion of three-dimensionality, leaving one to question what they're actually looking at. Every wrinkle and glossy reflection is illusively reproduced, taking approximately 4 to 6 hours to complete. Barenghi also records his meticulous process, compressing the hours of work into 3-4 minute videos.
Check out a time lapse view of the artist drawing a disheveled stack of playing cards, below.
Marcello Barenghi website
Marcello Barenghi on deviantART
via [2headedsnake]