You may also see photorealism referred to as hyperrealism or super-realism. It is important, however, to make the distinction between realism and photorealism – the former concerns itself with a realistic scene but does not aim to be a true depiction. Many of the most famous paintings are painted in this style and for many, paintings made in this style are what they will think of when they think of ‘art’. Realism is a painting art style that aims to give the viewer a reflection of the real world. These are some of the most popular types of painting art styles you’ll see in the modern day. There is a huge range of different styles that are incorporated into art, with some having subtle differences between them to bold, striking changes that are easy to spot.

If you’re setting foot in the art world for the first time or are planning on picking up a paintbrush yourself, we present our guide to the most popular and common types of painting art styles, mediums and subjects. Today, painting is as highly regarded as ever, with many different schools and techniques producing art in wildly differing ways. With time has come a slew of different styles, mediums, and subjects that have seen the art of painting diversify and evolve. The modern day is no different, painting is at the very core of how humans express their hopes, dreams, fears, and emotions. Since humanity’s first steps on this planet we have painted, ancient cave paintings show our desire to express ourselves even in our earliest days. Painting is one of the most venerated forms of art, and one of the oldest.

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