You only need to look at Scott Fraser’s contemporary still life paintings to know he is a master of realism. I have always been a fan of still lifes and am still drawn to creating intimate studies of objects and the way they relate to each other. It is a genre that lends itself to a narrative, and Scott’s works speak to that. As someone who tends to go on long walks with their eyes down, looking for objects that might peek my interest or spark a story, I value the space a still life creates.
Hyperrealism is probably the wrong word to describe Fraser’s contemporary still life paintings. Hyperrealism is a subgenre of realism that draws for the photographic image as source material. Still lifes can certainly draw from photographs but aren’t about the nature of the photographic image and illusionistic representation. His surfaces certainly do exemplify realism. The viewers behavior reflects this dedication to detail. The paintings capture your attention, drawing you in closer, to examine furthers the objects of his and our fascination.