22 Mind-Boggling 3D Illusions Drawn By Master Artist Stefan Pabst (New Pics)

Bored Panda reached out to Stefan, who shared when he realized he wanted to focus on 3D art.

“That was actually a spontaneous moment that turned out to be a real turning point for me. I had spent years painting traditional oil portraits from photos—something I truly love and still do. But over time, I had become so technically perfect at it that I stopped making mistakes. And strangely enough, that was a problem. I felt creatively under-challenged. I was searching for something new, something that would push me again. I didn’t want to do what other artists were already doing—I was looking for something truly original.”

“I remember it clearly: I was painting a portrait, and I reached out to grab a glass of water from the table. In that exact moment, it hit me like lightning—I wanted to paint the glass in 3D. I sat down, took a sheet of paper and a pencil, and started sketching. It was surprisingly complicated to make the object look three-dimensional. You have to stretch and distort it in a very specific way so that the illusion works from the right angle.  

When I viewed the finished drawing through my camera from the right perspective, I was blown away. It looked so real. I filmed it, uploaded it to YouTube, and within a month it had over a million views. People from around the world were fascinated. Comments poured in. Suddenly, I had a global audience, press inquiries, and even TV interviews—from Germany, Japan, everywhere. That moment sparked something big. What started as an experiment became a whole new artistic path for me. Since then, 3D art has become an essential part of my creative journey.”

We also asked Stefan to share his favorite material to use for his illusions.

“Most of my 3D illusions are done with oil paints, but I also use pencils—like in the case of the water glass or the descending ladder. The material isn’t what matters most. What truly matters is perspective and precision. The goal is to make the object look so realistic that your brain believes it’s real. That only works if you pay close attention to lighting and shadows—how they fall in nature and how they would behave on a flat surface. Without that, the image falls apart. The magic lies in the realism, not the medium.”

As for the illustrations that hold special meaning for the artist, Stefan commented: “I have several—but one that stands out is the 3D snake. That piece took me several days to complete because of the fine detail involved. I painted every tiny scale, and the shape had to be just right to give the impression that the snake is crawling out of the paper toward the viewer. People react very strongly to it—it’s almost like a primal fear response. The illusion is so vivid that some even instinctively pull their hand back. That emotional reaction is exactly what makes 3D art so fascinating. It’s not just visual; it feels real.  

I also have a soft spot for paintings of animals, like the puppy that looks like it’s sitting right on the paper, looking at you. After that one went viral, many people started ordering custom 3D portraits of their pets, especially beloved animals that had passed away. Those commissions are especially meaningful to me.”

If you’ve never dabbled in drawing, you might have no idea how long it takes for an artist to complete a 3D drawing. Stefan wrote from a professional’s point of view.

“It really depends on the complexity. Some smaller pieces can take as little as 30 minutes to two hours. But more detailed works—like the snake or the tarantula—can take several days. The more detail involved, the more time I invest to get everything just right. With the snake, for example, I had to carefully plan the entire composition to make sure the illusion worked from the right angle. It’s not just about painting; it’s about constructing an experience for the viewer.”

Lastly, Stefan gave advice to someone who wants to start drawing in 3D.

“Don’t be afraid to try something new! If I had told myself, ‘This isn’t real art’ or ‘Nobody does this,’ I would’ve never started. Forget the mental blocks. Just try it. Even the craziest ideas can turn into something amazing. Start with the tools you’re already comfortable with—whether that’s pencils, watercolors, or markers. The technique of 3D is all about perspective, shading, and light—not the material.  

If you want the illusion to be convincing, study the real object. Place it next to you while you draw and carefully observe how the light hits it, where the shadows fall, and how it interacts with its environment. Your goal is to recreate that interaction on paper. That’s what makes the drawing leap off the page.  

I also go into detail about this in my book The Art of 3D Drawing. After my videos went viral, a U.S. publisher reached out and asked me to create a step-by-step guide so that anyone could learn how to draw in 3D. It took me nine months to write, and I included everything—from the first sketch to the final brushstroke.  

In the future, I’d love to combine my portrait skills with 3D techniques and create a hyper-realistic face that seems to emerge from the paper. I think that would open a whole new chapter in portrait painting. Imagine a face that looks so real, so alive, it feels like it’s right there with you.”