Hyper Realistic Pencil Art by Franco Clun

Some images seem so perfect it’s hard to believe they aren’t photographs. That’s the magic of hyper realistic pencil art, a field where artists create drawings with a stunning level of detail. While we’ve featured the incredible work of artists like Diego Fazio before, another master of the craft is the Italian artist Franco Clun.

What makes Clun’s story so remarkable is that he is entirely self-taught. He never had any formal art training, instead honing his incredible talent by reading drawing manuals and through dedicated practice. Though he drew throughout his life, he began to focus seriously on graphite in 2010, proving that passion and dedication can lead to mastery at any age.

The Tools and Techniques Behind the Magic

Creating hyper-realistic art requires more than just a standard number two pencil. Artists like Clun rely on a specialized toolkit to build layers, control texture, and manipulate light and shadow. While Clun himself is private about his specific tools, the techniques are shared among masters of the genre.

• Graphite & Charcoal Pencils: A wide range of pencils is essential. Artists often use high-quality brands like Staedtler Mars Lumograph. Harder ‘H’ pencils create light initial sketches, while softer ‘B’ pencils, sometimes going up to 14B, are used for deep, rich blacks that won’t reflect light like standard graphite.
• Blending Tools: Achieving smooth, skin-like textures is impossible without blending. Professionals use everything from blending stumps and tortillons to cotton swabs and makeup brushes to smudge the graphite seamlessly.
• Precision Erasers: In hyperrealism, erasing isn’t just for mistakes. A kneaded eraser can be molded to lift graphite and create soft highlights. For sharp details, like a glint in an eye or a single strand of hair, many artists depend on the Tombow Mono Zero Eraser, a pen-style eraser with a tiny tip.
• High-Quality Paper: The paper’s surface, or “tooth,” is critical. Many artists favor smooth, heavy paper like Bristol Board or hot-pressed watercolor paper, such as Arches, which can handle many layers of graphite without breaking down.

An interesting tip from many professional artists is to place a sheet of tracing paper under your hand as you draw. This simple trick prevents the oils from your skin from smudging the graphite, which is a common mistake for beginners.

A Closer Look at Clun’s Iconic Portraits

Clun’s portfolio is filled with stunning portraits of celebrities and characters, each one a masterclass in detail and texture. His work often takes upwards of 50 hours to complete for a single piece. Here are a few standout examples.

Self-Portrait

In what is perhaps his most personal work, Clun’s self-portrait is a testament to his skill. Captured when he turned 50, the drawing showcases his ability to render the complex textures of skin and hair with lifelike precision. Every wrinkle and subtle shadow contributes to a piece that feels more alive than a simple drawing.

Ariana Grande

This portrait of Ariana Grande is a perfect example of Clun’s attention to detail. The individual strands of hair, the soft texture of her skin, and the realistic moisture on her lips and teeth are rendered flawlessly. The subtle dimple adds another layer of realism, making the portrait incredibly lifelike.

X-Men Characters

For fans of the X-Men, these next two pieces are a treat. The drawing of Patrick Stewart as Professor X captures the incredible detail in his facial wrinkles and the subtle shine on his head. The portrait of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is equally impressive, with a rugged texture that brings the character to life.

Gregory House (Hugh Laurie)

This drawing of Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House is almost unsettling in its realism. The detail in the facial hair is particularly stunning, and it’s a great example of how time-consuming this art form can be. A single hyper-realistic portrait can take anywhere from 30 to over 100 hours to complete, depending on its size and complexity.

Clun’s Place Among the Masters of Hyperrealism

Franco Clun is part of an elite group of artists who push the boundaries of what’s possible with a pencil. His work shares the stage with other contemporary masters, each with their own unique style.

• Paul Cadden (Scotland): Born in 1964, Cadden is known for his incredibly detailed drawings of people and street scenes. He focuses on “intensifying the normal,” finding profound beauty in everyday moments.
• Kelvin Okafor (UK): A British artist born in 1985, Okafor’s work is often described as “emotional realism.” He goes beyond technical perfection to capture the character and essence of his subjects, which have included celebrities like John Lennon and Prince. His drawings can take hundreds of hours to complete.
• Diego Fazio (Italy): Also known as DiegoKoi, Fazio is a self-taught Italian artist born in 1989. He is famous for his mastery of rendering water and reflections, creating a sharp, almost liquid quality in his work.

Each of these artists, including Franco Clun, demonstrates that with immense patience and skill, the humble pencil can create art that rivals the detail of a high-resolution photograph.

Below are a few more examples of Franco Clun’s hyper realistic pencil art. To see more of his work, you can visit his classic DeviantArt page, though many artists are more active on platforms like Instagram today.