Hyperrealism Artist
Hyperrealism is a classification of sculptures and paintings that mirror a high-resolution photograph. Hyperrealism takes photorealism a step further by using creative methods.
Kate Haanraadts is a hyper-realistic fine artist and designer. Her hyperrealistic drawings are done in colored pencil, graphite, watercolor, and oil paint. Her current favorite is colored pencil, because it allows for more control and greater detail than other mediums.
I am fascinated by her hyperrealism art and ask her a few questions about it.
Kate, a pleasure to have a hyper-realistic drawing artist. Tell my audience a little about you.
I am an artist living in NY with my family. I graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in communication design. I have worked in live television as a broadcast designer (essentially a graphic designer for TV) since 2003 (with a 9-year hiatus after having kids). I have been back for several years and it’s a great “day job” that allows me to work remotely. I am also an award-winning fine artist specializing in hyperrealistic colored pencil drawings and oil paintings. And lastly, I teach realism to kids and adults in my home. Many of my students are winning awards for their artwork as well, which gives me a sense of great joy and pride.
Talk to me a little bit about your hyperrealism art and what is so unique about it.
With regard to fine art – after I graduated from college I stopped creating my own artwork for a long time to focus on my career. I was much less driven than I am today. After seeing some amazing colored pencil artwork on social media, I was inspired to try this medium for myself. Up until this point, I actually had no idea that this level of detail could be achieved with colored pencils. So I made the decision to do this. I started out with dog portraits for my friends and then began taking commissions. My goals have evolved now and I would like to get gallery representation and build a brand for myself. I am no longer doing pet commissions and I am focusing on subjects that inspire me personally. Nostalgia plays a big role in the subjects I choose – reminders of another time or place and bring you back to days gone by, evoking buried emotions. The connection between the viewer and the artwork is everything.
Are you working on any painting right now? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Currently, I am working on a drawing of a horse from a photo I took at a horse show years ago. I think horses are the most beautiful animals – their structure and gestures can be so animated and dramatic that I view them as living sculptures. For this reason, I will likely be doing more horse-themed art going forward. I am also working on an oil painting of my own dog from a photo that I really love. I have a laundry list of subjects I want to paint and draw and choosing the next project is always the hardest part for me.
What does women’s empowerment mean to you?
With regard to women’s empowerment, I am a bit of a free thinker on this. I am grateful for all of the privileges women have attained over the decades – however, I am also careful to avoid a sense of entitlement. I view the individual as the smallest minority of all, and I appreciate the contributions that all people make, regardless of immutable characteristics. Never would I want to feel I was given preferential treatment because I am a woman – I would consider that to be a form of degradation and humiliation. I much prefer that my abilities and actions are recognized without regard for my gender and I view my failures as an opportunity to improve, not as a personal affront.
Tell me about the city you live in and the food scene.
I live in Garden City, NY which is a suburb of NYC. It’s a 45 min train ride to midtown Manhattan, so very convenient for commuters. There are quite a few nice local bars/restaurants, close proximity to Roosevelt Field Mall and Nassau Coliseum. We are approximately 20 min from Jones Beach. The schools are good and there are lots of community events, so it’s a great place to raise a family.
