At first glance these celebrity portraits appear to have been created from aerial photographs of dozens of people. But a closer examination of this series, by Atlanta-based artist Craig Alan, reveals that the tiny figures were actually painted into place. Alan has created paintings of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elvis Presley, as well as the Statue of Liberty, with his realist technique.
The artist says he first came up with the idea after after taking photos of the street from an apartment. I was in Orange Beach, Alabama at my mother’s condo watching people on the beach from the balcony. I started photographing them from the 6th story balcony and began to notice a pattern through the camera. In one shot, the group of people appeared to have formed an eye on the screen, this started my creative wheels turning.
Combining technical skill, creativity and wit, Craig portrays iconic faces, buildings and abstracts through dozens, sometimes hundreds of intricately painted, exquisite figures. Each distinctive piece is created in black and white with a touch of red on some of the more glamorous faces. In their own way, they reflect his highly recognizable take on life, where it is the small details that work together to create the big picture.
Craig carefully plans and creates each tiny figure, all which have their own identity and personality which he has thought through to the finest details. In some of his extremely rare originals, he even goes as far as detailing each item of clothing on the individuals. His cast of characters include family members, friends and models, giving his work a uniquely personal touch. Each piece contains a range of 400 to 1,800 people in it depending on the type of work it is, and he spends anywhere from 50 to 150 working hours on one painting. His painstaking efforts are well-rewarded though – a single piece from the ‘Populous’ series can sell for up to $50,000.
