Redmer Hoekstra is an artist who is famous with his composite illustrations that merge animals and everyday objects. Netherlands-based artist finds his inspiration riding the train or on the road, where his mind can float through the landscape. Results are amazingly realistic and beautiful. It takes 32 to 40 hours average to finish these bizarre and detailed drawings.
“I’ve always loved alienation and fantasizing, daydreaming. As a child I had all kinds of theories about how the world worked. At the Academy I was able to rediscover this and process this in to my work. How things work is a fascination of mine and in many drawings you can find this. I open up appliances and objects and freely change what is inside . Often a subject gets a completely different feeling or meaning.” – via: redmerhoekstra.nl
Hoekstra’s distinct art style marries realism with the absurd, offering a gallery of everyday objects and animals transformed into intricate labyrinthine creatures. A book that morphs into a cityscape, a turtle carrying an island on its back – his subjects are mind-bending and introspective, pushing the boundaries of imagination and logic. Diving into the folds of his detailed drawings, we begin to see the world with a fresh perspective, finding beauty and meaning in the most unexpected combinations.
His artworks are not just bizarre illustrations; they are narratives, each telling its unique tale of amalgamation, transformation, and exploration. They playfully blur the line between real and unreal, beckoning us to explore our understanding of the world around us, challenging our preconceived notions, and daring us to dream beyond the mundane.
Check out 10 Most Bizarre Illustrations by Redmer Hoekstra.
10 – Whale by Redmer Hoekstra ©
09 – Moth by Redmer Hoekstra ©
08 – Owl by Redmer Hoekstra ©
07 – Paard by Redmer Hoekstra ©
06 – Dove by Redmer Hoekstra ©
05 – Rhinotrain by Redmer Hoekstra ©
04 – Rhinoship by Redmer Hoekstra ©
03 – Tegelpadden by Redmer Hoekstra ©
02 – Gilamonster by Redmer Hoekstra ©
01 – Beeatrix by Redmer Hoekstra ©
How to find out your art style?
In the world of art, finding one’s unique style can feel as elusive as catching a soap bubble. It’s a process of exploration, refinement, and, most importantly, introspection. So, how to find out your art style? Begin by drawing inspiration from everything around you – yes, everything. Take Hoekstra, for example. His works showcase a perfect fusion of his love for detail, fantasy, and reality, creating a signature style that’s recognizably his.
Allow yourself the freedom to experiment, break the rules, and make mistakes. Art, after all, is as much about the journey as the outcome. The key is to keep creating, exploring different mediums, subjects, and styles until you stumble upon something that feels inherently you. Remember, your style is an extension of your voice, your unique perspective on the world.
Learning from artists like Redmer Hoekstra, we see that art style is not about adhering to norms, but about embracing our individuality. His bizarre illustrations are a testament to the beauty that lies in uniqueness and the power of art to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. In the end, finding your art style is about discovering the artist within, waiting to paint the world in its unique colors.