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Bucolic Landscape Paintings Look So Lifelike That You’ll Think They Are Photos

By Margherita Cole on July 3, 2020

Many artists find inspiration in the nature that surrounds them, but few are able to depict it with mindboggling realism like artist Michael James Smith. His immaculate oil paintings depict a variety of bucolic landscapes as vividly as photographs. From white sandy beaches to snow-capped mountains to serene crystal lakes, each place has incredible attention to detail; it's only after seeing Smith's hand in the pictures that you realize they are paintings.

Smith comes from a “family of artists” and began painting professionally at the age of 18. His passion for the natural environment inspired him to pursue landscape painting and to continue to take special care in rendering every place as he sees it. Nature is the sole subject, as none of Smith's paintings include any human figures. Instead, his pictures seem to capture the serenity of land that is untouched by people. Each one is imbued with a sense of calm and peace.

To create his photorealistic pieces, Smith utilizes a variety of brushes to place and blend layers of color as well as to refine it into precise details. Timelapse videos of his process show how he transforms patches of oil paint into sun-dappled trees, feathery clouds, and rolling green meadows. The artist also shares the ins and outs of his masterful technique in step by step video tutorials via his YouTube channel.

Scroll down to see the artist's amazing work. You can visit Smith's website to purchase original paintings and prints and follow him on Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with his latest creations.