A pack of wild ponies swims across a stream. A tiny boat navigates to give viewers a closer look at Niagara Falls. A pair of shark fins slice through the water. A firework explodes in a pitch black sky. These graphite on paper drawings by Los Angeles-based artist (and former Shepard Fairey employee) Marissa Textor made us do a double-take. It’s not just her dramatic subject matter that we find interesting — it’s the fact that her work is photorealistic without feeling gimmicky. “When I’m deciding what to draw for the larger pieces it is usually based on a current fascination that I’ve spent a lot of time researching,” she explained to Fecal Face last year. “I pull a lot of photos and create folders for each subject and then it becomes a matter of piecing different elements together to create the image.” Click through for a slide show of some of our favorite pieces.
Marissa Textor, Pony Swim [Spotted via iGNANT]
Marissa Textor, Niagara Falls
Marissa Textor, Bent Over Backwards
Marissa Textor, Alone Out Here
Marissa Textor, Palm Tree Blues
Marissa Textor, Clear Skies
Marissa Textor, An Outlet For Pent Up Forces
Marissa Textor, Mountain to Sea
Marissa Textor, Fireworks
Marissa Textor, Steady Undermining