Artist John Pugh specializes in ‘trompe l’oeil’, which means ‘trick of the eye’ art. John however, adds another dimension to his work… a third dimension . Internationally-known, Pugh’s work can be seen from New Zealand to Hawaii. This California-based artist is so popular simply because his work will take your breath away, it is so unbelievably real.
John Pugh uses his skills to create huge 3D scenes works of art, painted on the side of perfectly intact buildings. Some of them look like as if some kind of natural disaster has shaken away the walls of these buildings, just to reveal architecture hidden away for thousands of years. He says of his art.
““It seems almost universal that people take delight in being visually tickled. Once captivated by the illusion, the viewer is lured to cross an artistic threshold and thus seduced into exploring the concept of the piece. I have also found that by creating architectural illusion that integrates with the existing environment both optically and aesthetically, the art transcends the “separateness” that public art sometimes produces.”
John Pugh’s art studio is nestled in the upper peaks of the Santa Cruz mountains just south of San Francisco and west of San Jose, in California, USA. Here, amidst sheep and llama pastures, meadows and stands of redwoods, aspen and laurel, the pastoral paintings of Franz Marc or the music of Claude Debussy might easily be invoked.
His immense mural in Honolulu features Queen Lili’uokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands, with Duke Kahanamoku – the ultimate father of surfing. A colossal wave appears to crash right onto the pavement. It took two months of studio work to plan and a further six months to execute with the help of 11 other artists. The scene is so realistic that just as it was near completion, said John, it attracted the attention of the fire brigade which stopped its truck in the middle of traffic. “They jumped out to rescue the children in the mural,” he said.
Wildflowers are in bloom almost all year round and banana slugs dot the landscape. The studio itself has become a haven for apprentices and master painters alike. Pot lucks and informal roundtable discussions have helped create an important center for artists. Continuing to talk about his art Pugh commented that.
“It is important for me, as an artist, to interact with the community, formulating concepts based upon a multitude of viewpoints. Artists must be continually aware that their work can serve as a bridge between diverse cultural backgrounds. Public art is a very powerful form of communication. It can link people together, stimulate a sense of pride within the community, and introduce the viewer to new ideas and perspectives. When developing a mural, I also respond to aspects of the location such as its architectural style or the natural surroundings”.
To see these awesome murals in the flesh is to feel the goose-bumps along your spine, because those are the emotions that these powerful images can evoke. This incredible artist has so much work on display around the world that choosing the supposed ‘best ‘ for using in this story was all but impossible. This wondrous art will be around for many years to come, but the possibility of seeing more in future years is tantalizing, to say the least.
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