Introduction

John Pugh’s new murals 3D murals painted on the sides of buildings by Trompe L’oeil (trick-of-the-eye) artist John Pugh.  According to John on his website (http://artofjohnpugh.com/pubimg.asp):

I am a trompe l’oeil artist focusing primarily on mural painting. I have found that the “language” of life-size illusions allow me to communicate with a very large audience. It seems almost universal that people take delight in being visually tricked. Once captivated by the illusion, the viewer is lured to cross an artistic threshold and thus seduced into exploring the concept of the piece.

Examples of John’s Work

Main Street, Los Gatos , California. The woman peering into the ruin is not real, she is part of the mural.

Taylor Hall, California State University , Chico , California . The Doric-style columns are actually nothing but paint.

Honolulu, Hawaii. This mural took two months of studio work to plan and another six months to execute with the help of 11 other artists. Featured are Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands , and Duke Kahanamoku, the ultimate father of surfing. Even the stairs and the children are part of the mural. After its completion, a group of firefighters spotted the children at the top of the steps and pulled over to offer assistance.

and here’s the wall before:

This mural at the Cafe Trompe L’oeil, San Jose , California , is entitled “Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life. “This customer doesn’t leave at closing time. And, there is no doorway or stairs to go through or climb… and the statue never needs dusting.”

Twenty-nine Palms, California . Valentine the bull and a patient buzzard are waiting for the artist to awake. This is all painting. Check along the base of the wall and you can see the seam between the vertical wall and the paved parking lot.

On a sidewalk in front of the Sarasota County Health Center, Florida.

Bay in a Bottle, Santa Cruz , California . The passerby is part of the mural.

“Slowin’ Down to Take a Look” in Winslow , Arizona.  References to the song include “a girl, my lord, in a flat bed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.”  Note the bird on the window sill and the lovers in the 2nd story window.

Bishop Mural Society, Bishop, California.

Valley of the Heart’s Delight in San Jose, California.

Hayward, California.

Cross Roads, Palm Desert, California.  Yes, the lady in the picture is not real.

Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, California.  The woman and the child are part of the painting.

About John Pugh

He works on a large scale in public and residential areas and his paintings can be seen all over the world from New Zealand to Hawaii – with many telling a story of the area where they are positioned.  Pugh is used to people’s amazed reactions when they pass his murals.  He said: ‘They say “wow did you see that. I thought that was real.” ‘Public art can link people together and stimulate a sense of pride within the community.  ‘These life-size illusions allow me to communicate with a very large audience.

See more of John’s amazing art at http://artofjohnpugh.com/pubimg.asp.