People constantly take photographs of the world around them all day. Glancing at some of the work done by Alyssa Monks, one would assume that her work mainly involves taking pictures of drowning victims, but this misconception is very far from the truth.
The works created by Monks are not photographs at all they are painted pictures. Monks uses a genre of painting called hyperrealism. This type of painting looks very real, almost like a painting. In order to create these beautiful works of art, Monks uses oil paints and linen.
Monks paintings give an excellent portrayal of how we interact with water. Her paintings display people being submerged in water, taking a shower, or even just sitting in it.
Feelings of anxiety are sometimes triggered when people look at her work. This anxiety emerges because they are unsure if some of the people in the paintings are truly drowning. While some pictures create feelings of anxiety others are admired.
The techniques used by Monks, has allowed her to develop paintings that could spark anyone’s curiosity. Whether you are a fan or a newbie to her work, it is easy to get lost in her paintings and forget that they are not photographs.
