Artist Shows How People With Bad Eyesight See The World Without Glasses In 12 Oil Paintings (New Pics)
Myopia, a vision problem that makes distant objects appear blurred, was the inspiration of South African Philip Barlow for a series of pictures. The artist paints daily scenes with oil paint, those we encounter in our everyday lives, to convert them into new landscapes enveloped in singular beauty. We have previously shown his work here.
The smoothness of the lines, which is nothing more than a blur similar to that seen by defective eyes, offers a vaguely shaped world filled with anonymous people. It is, therefore, a reality that offers more possibilities for the viewer’s imagination.
“These are not really a specific project as such but part of the continuation of mine into the exploration of color, light, and form. Some of the pieces are part of exhibitions I have had or paintings from trips I have taken,” the artist explained to Bored Panda when asked how this project came about.
Philip explores the subject of the city and beach wearing two caps. The first as a street/beach photographer seeking to capture that sublime moment. The second as a colorist, transforming these images with oil paint onto canvas or linen. For Philip, light itself is a wonder where design and mystery dwell and glory can be seen.
We believe no myopic will be surprised by the paintings presented here, but we would still love to hear what you think in the comments.
More info: Instagram | philipbarlow.com
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
Image credits: Philip Barlow
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Share on FacebookThey're lovely paintings, but they don't represent what I see with my appalling eyesight. Just take a camera and adjust the focus until everything is very blurry - as in faces at the other side of the room are just flesh coloured blobs. No pretty circles, just blur. :-)
I was wondering what was up with the circles/bubbles. I don't see those things when I'm not wearing my glasses. I'm short-sighted, so everything beyond a certain distance just goes out of focus. Basically, I can see a car about to hit me, but I can't read the license plate until it's too late.
Load More Replies...I always tell the people, the way I see is almost similar to opening your eyes while swimming under water.
But can we just talk about these as art and not exact interpretation of impaired sight? So happy to see something original and not Disney/Marvel remakes posted on this site. From the artist: "These are not really a specific project as such but part of the continuation of mine into the exploration of color, light, and form." Yes! The "circles and bubbles" that people seem to take issue with in the comments are well applied visual texture on compositions that conservatively respect the rule of thirds will still pulling the viewer to pause and consider the subject through simplified form. Any thoughts on color? Theory? Dear artist, well done and thank you for the opportunity for critique and discussion.
Not wearing glasses is a lot blurrier (not the pretty circles) but just because it's blurry DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T SEE HOW MANY FINGERS YOU'RE HOLDING UP.
I can’t without my glasses, my vision IS that bad, but it’s better than nothing.
Load More Replies...As a peron who used to have -6,5 to -7 dioptres (hooray for laser eye surgery \o/), this is NOTHING like it. These paintings are like the Van Gogh version of what you see. As RaroaRaroa said, just take a camera and unfocus it, then you'll get a basic image (pun intended) of what it's like.
I love how these capture how the light looks without glasses on (-9 here with astigmatism and a weak eye as well). The way that it makes the lights look is really the only redeeming feature - a world without tree leaves, faces and stars is very sad indeed (that was my world until the age of 7).
If possible my eye sight is worse than what is depicted in the paintings.
Basically, these are just reproductions of out-of-focus photographs. The circles are produced by the multiple glass lenses inside the camera lens when the lens is thrown out of focus.
Showing this to all those that ask all the time: "hoow many fingers am I holding up???!" Two, Susan, f**king twoo
I wish I saw that beautiful bokeh when I look at the world without glasses, but it's all just fuzziness and confusion.
Is it weird that the pictures seemed blurrier than they already were when I took off my glasses?
I took off my glasses to look at this, and almost didn't notice that the last picture wasn't one of the paintings!
My eyesight is getting worse. So for most projects I have a certain font and size (Quicksand, size 10) that I can see depending on how far away from the computer. But like 2 weeks ago, I had to move the computer closer, and make the font a size bigger.
I don't see circles, unless its really dark and the lights are tiny in the distance.
All ya'll seeing circles/halos might want to get checked for cataracts.
All Ya'll seeing the circles might need to be checked for cataracts.
This exactly was it looks like for me with my severe short sightedness. in fact, I kept squinting trying to get them into focus :-D
While these are very accurate as for the lights, the people and other items do not appear as dots or dot smears. They are basically just blurry. The picture of the beach has this problem. I don't think the light from the water would actually appear as dots. It never did for me. The only time it's useful to be myopic is when looking at colored lights on a Christmas tree.
I keep thinking that there is something in my eyes because it's so blurry, so I keep rubbing them. They hurt now
I am extremely myopic and that is not how things look, it's just unfocused and blurry, none of these little circles everywhere.
This to me is a more accurate example of my vision without contacts/glasses https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+bad+vision&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&prmd=isnv&sxsrf=ACYBGNQE7xHT25w4vsmeePaJMtuc-9KuZA:1569096960179&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2tLfX3eLkAhUBY6wKHdXBBdwQ_AUoAXoECA0QAQ&biw=360&bih=612&dpr=3#imgrc=PkKP2pWlWVx8YM&imgdii=Z1VuELVvIlGfeM
Very nice painting but unsure of the validity of what the poor eyesight might see.
They're lovely paintings, but they don't represent what I see with my appalling eyesight. Just take a camera and adjust the focus until everything is very blurry - as in faces at the other side of the room are just flesh coloured blobs. No pretty circles, just blur. :-)
I was wondering what was up with the circles/bubbles. I don't see those things when I'm not wearing my glasses. I'm short-sighted, so everything beyond a certain distance just goes out of focus. Basically, I can see a car about to hit me, but I can't read the license plate until it's too late.
Load More Replies...I always tell the people, the way I see is almost similar to opening your eyes while swimming under water.
But can we just talk about these as art and not exact interpretation of impaired sight? So happy to see something original and not Disney/Marvel remakes posted on this site. From the artist: "These are not really a specific project as such but part of the continuation of mine into the exploration of color, light, and form." Yes! The "circles and bubbles" that people seem to take issue with in the comments are well applied visual texture on compositions that conservatively respect the rule of thirds will still pulling the viewer to pause and consider the subject through simplified form. Any thoughts on color? Theory? Dear artist, well done and thank you for the opportunity for critique and discussion.
Not wearing glasses is a lot blurrier (not the pretty circles) but just because it's blurry DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T SEE HOW MANY FINGERS YOU'RE HOLDING UP.
I can’t without my glasses, my vision IS that bad, but it’s better than nothing.
Load More Replies...As a peron who used to have -6,5 to -7 dioptres (hooray for laser eye surgery \o/), this is NOTHING like it. These paintings are like the Van Gogh version of what you see. As RaroaRaroa said, just take a camera and unfocus it, then you'll get a basic image (pun intended) of what it's like.
I love how these capture how the light looks without glasses on (-9 here with astigmatism and a weak eye as well). The way that it makes the lights look is really the only redeeming feature - a world without tree leaves, faces and stars is very sad indeed (that was my world until the age of 7).
If possible my eye sight is worse than what is depicted in the paintings.
Basically, these are just reproductions of out-of-focus photographs. The circles are produced by the multiple glass lenses inside the camera lens when the lens is thrown out of focus.
Showing this to all those that ask all the time: "hoow many fingers am I holding up???!" Two, Susan, f**king twoo
I wish I saw that beautiful bokeh when I look at the world without glasses, but it's all just fuzziness and confusion.
Is it weird that the pictures seemed blurrier than they already were when I took off my glasses?
I took off my glasses to look at this, and almost didn't notice that the last picture wasn't one of the paintings!
My eyesight is getting worse. So for most projects I have a certain font and size (Quicksand, size 10) that I can see depending on how far away from the computer. But like 2 weeks ago, I had to move the computer closer, and make the font a size bigger.
I don't see circles, unless its really dark and the lights are tiny in the distance.
All ya'll seeing circles/halos might want to get checked for cataracts.
All Ya'll seeing the circles might need to be checked for cataracts.
This exactly was it looks like for me with my severe short sightedness. in fact, I kept squinting trying to get them into focus :-D
While these are very accurate as for the lights, the people and other items do not appear as dots or dot smears. They are basically just blurry. The picture of the beach has this problem. I don't think the light from the water would actually appear as dots. It never did for me. The only time it's useful to be myopic is when looking at colored lights on a Christmas tree.
I keep thinking that there is something in my eyes because it's so blurry, so I keep rubbing them. They hurt now
I am extremely myopic and that is not how things look, it's just unfocused and blurry, none of these little circles everywhere.
This to me is a more accurate example of my vision without contacts/glasses https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+bad+vision&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&prmd=isnv&sxsrf=ACYBGNQE7xHT25w4vsmeePaJMtuc-9KuZA:1569096960179&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2tLfX3eLkAhUBY6wKHdXBBdwQ_AUoAXoECA0QAQ&biw=360&bih=612&dpr=3#imgrc=PkKP2pWlWVx8YM&imgdii=Z1VuELVvIlGfeM
Very nice painting but unsure of the validity of what the poor eyesight might see.
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