Hyperrealism is an art movement which requires the same level of technical ability as photorealistic illustration. To get an idea what is actually meant by that, you can take a look at some excellent examples in the post The World's Most Photorealistic Vector Art. While Hyperrealism brings a similar level of skill to images, this style allows the artist to creatively interpret an image. In Hyperrealism artists utilize ethereal lighting effects, depth of field techniques, and camera style perspective to depict the images. They create images that are imaginatively realistic.
Often artists that work in Hyperrealism have other interests as well. These vary by subject matter and style. Some of the artists listed below are interested in Vexel styles, Digitalization, Classic Airbrush Painting, and have been influenced by a myriad of other styles. We've included work that ranges from strong Hyperrealism to work that is more a stylization of reality.
This kind of artwork is often created using Illustrator's Gradient Mesh Tool, though not always. You'll see that some of the artists create artwork with a fantastic level of detail, using many flat shapes. Illustrator is the most popular program for creating Hyperreal Vector art. Artists also use Flash and other vector programs as well.
Hyperreal Vector Artists
<p><a href="http://www.crisvector.com/">Cristiano Siqueira</a><br />Chistiano is an accomplished illustrator from Brazil. He has multiple vector stylistic influences. He has some works in vexel styles, cartoon styles, realistic styles, hyperrealistic styles, and various mixtures of these. The work depicted below has a great deal of realism, but also brings in a feeling of fantasy. Here is a link to an <a href="http://www.illustrophile.com/?page_id=115">Interview with Cristiano Siqueira</a>, in case you want to learn more about the artist.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.crisvector.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/_chris_vector.jpg" alt="Chris Vector" width="450" height="422" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.juniatwork.com/">Giulia Balladore</a><br />This illustrator is from Italy. Here is a link to an <a href="http://www.creativebehavior.com/index.php?PID=132">Interview with Giulia Balladore</a>, in case you want to learn more about the artist. In this interview the artist's style is described, "my work has a huge hyper-realistic and fashion influence; chiefly I like to focus the human nature in each of my illustrations."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.juniatwork.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/giulia_balladore.jpg" alt="Giulia Balladore" width="450" height="462" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://alegas1360.illustratorworld.com/">Oleg Rogoznev</a><br />This is a Russian artist with a really impressive craft when it comes to design of realistic vector images. His work takes on hyperreal qualities by focusing on extreme detail (see "The Flower" below, at the left hand side). In the "Still life" (below right) he uses subjective lighting. In the "Large eye" he captures realistic detail, while allowing some of hair and skin elements to show through as simplified vectors. You can visit <a href="http://www.artlib.ru/index.php?id=11&fp=2&uid=2194">his portfolio</a> for further works.</p>
<p><a href="http://alegas1360.illustratorworld.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/oleg.jpg" alt="Oleg" width="450" height="647" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://nuria.deviantart.com">Nuria Herrero</a><br />This artist currently resides in Spain. She has a portfolio filled mostly with cartoon style realism. Though she also works in Hyperreal style on occasion, as can be seen from the selection of her work below.</p>
<p><a href="http://nuria.deviantart.com"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/nuria.jpg" alt="image" width="450" height="633" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/designgeek/">Catherine Preston</a><br />This artist is from the United Kingdom. She has a small selection of high quality vector portraiture. The top illustration is exemplary for her work. In the bottom illustration notice the choice of details in the image. Leaving out some of the texture in the iris of the eye gives a little bit of flatness to such a realistic image. Apparently, such kinds of artistic choices lead to stylistic effects.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/designgeek/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/catherine_preston.jpg" alt="Catherine Preston" width="450" height="675" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.pentoolart.com">Chris Nielsen</a><br />Chris is an illustrator from California, USA. He doesn't use the Gradient Mesh tool. He prefers to create all that exquisite detail with a multitude of flat abstract vector shapes. He defines his style as "Stylized Realism." In the motorcycle portraits below, he allows some unfilled vector lines to show through the design. They coexist with the shiny chrome details.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pentoolart.com"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/nielson.jpg" alt="Nielsen" width="450" height="633" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://JosephRyan.illustratorworld.com/">Joseph Ryan Nasipak</a><br />Joseph is from Ohio, USA. He has used the Gradient Mesh Tool in some illustrations, but also uses blurs to good effect. The artist has the following to say about the top image, "This image was done with solid color fills, gradient fills, gausian blurs and opacity tints. No mesh." </p>
<p><a href="http://JosephRyan.illustratorworld.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/joseph_ryan.jpg" alt="image" width="450" height="520" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.gushee.com/">Eric Gushee</a><br />Gushee is from West Virginia, USA. Most of his vector work is done in a flat shape gradient style. The pieces below show that he also works in a Hyperreal style. The top image and the image at the bottom left look as if they were made with gradient meshes. The image at the bottom right is more in line with his flatter style. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.gushee.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/gushee.jpg" alt="Gushee" width="450" height="859" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbydesign/sets/72057594062072055/">Patrick Kerby</a><br />This artist is from Ontario, Canada. He has a large photography collection. Vector illustration is more of a hobby for him. He recreated Spiderman from a poster in the large image below using Gradient Meshes in Illustrator.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerbydesign/sets/72057594062072055/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/patrickk_erby.jpg" alt="PatrickKErby" width="449" height="707" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://eagle1.illustratorworld.com/">Mark Westberg</a><br />This artist is from Minnesota, USA. He has an interest in motorcycles, airplanes, and nudes. They are all created in vector, but have an airbrushed painted quality applied to them. Especially the airplane images below. They have a hyperreal detail, while using depth of field, and blur techniques to simulate motion. Look at the blur on the propeller at the bottom right. The artist also creates atmospheric lighting with the sunset backgrounds. The motorcycle is made from flat shapes. If you look at the left rim you can see where some noticeable shapes were left.</p>
<p><a href="http://eagle1.illustratorworld.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/mark_westberg.jpg" alt="Westberg" width="450" height="531" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://jussta.deviantart.com/gallery/">Jussta</a><br />This artist is from Poland. Her portfolio displays a range of work including Vexel stylization, Vector Cartoon, and Hyperreal. She mixes these styles in her work. Each image has areas of different stylization. In the large image, you can see how the flat vector jacket contrasts the realism of the woman depicted in the image.</p>
<p><a href="http://jussta.deviantart.com/gallery/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/jussta.jpg" alt="image" width="450" height="654" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://adriantodd.deviantart.com/">Todd Mac</a><br />This artist resides in Norway. He has a mixed style, which combines realism and flat vector graphics. The top image is titled <strong>Copertone Girl</strong>. The lighting and detail in this image have Hyperreal qualities. The face in the image is done with the Gradient Mesh Tool in Illustrator. Of course, the artist also mixes some flat vector graphics as well, like in the strands of hair and background.</p>
<p><a href="http://adriantodd.deviantart.com/"><img src="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/hyper-real-vector/adrian_todd.jpg" alt="image" width="450" height="555" /></a></p>