Congratulations to Gaurav Ghimire, whose hyperrealist art has been recognized in the monthly PleinAir Salon. Here, he tells us about his winning work, “I Wonder.”
The artwork “I Wonder” is a charcoal hyperrealism portrait and an important piece in my Putali ra Parijat (Butterfly and Night-flowering Jasmine) series, which is a tribute to my grandmother and older generations, celebrating the wisdom, memories, and quiet elegance that time bestows upon us.
About “I Wonder”
“I Wonder” is a charcoal hyperrealism portrait that reflects on aging, perception, and self-awareness. In the piece, a hand covers one of my eyes, symbolizing the words, experiences, and fears about aging that are often passed down through generations. These voices—though wise—can sometimes blind us from seeing the beauty of life as it unfolds. I placed the hand there to question myself: Will I allow these inherited perspectives to blind me from truly experiencing the grace of growing older?
The face is my own, but I drew it aged—imagining how I might appear many years from now. Each wrinkle symbolizes memory and strength, turning aging into a reflection of resilience rather than deterioration. The butterfly resting on the hand represents transformation and unseen beauty. Just as a butterfly cannot see its own wings, I wonder if we, too, fail to recognize the quiet beauty that accompanies aging.
Recently, I completed the Manaslu Circuit Trek, which has become a new source of inspiration for expanding the Putali ra Parijat series. The journey through the remote villages, high mountain passes, and diverse cultures of Nepal allowed me to witness the quiet resilience and beauty in the people and the land. These encounters deepened my understanding of transformation—much like the butterfly’s life cycle—and reminded me that growth and wisdom often emerge through endurance. I plan to reflect these experiences in upcoming artworks within the series.
Process of Creating Hyperrealism Art
The process for “I Wonder” began with visualizing the concept in my mind and sketching a rough outline. I built the artwork in gradual layers, starting with outline before adding finer details. Using charcoal and blending tools, I created depth, contrast, and texture to enhance the realism.
One technique I found particularly effective was carefully layering highlights and shadows to make elements like the eyes and textures more lifelike and expressive. It was a meticulous and patient process, but seeing the vision come to life on paper was incredibly rewarding.
The main challenge was translating the vision in my mind onto paper, but through careful attention to detail, I was able to create a piece that ultimately exceeded what I had imagined.
On a personal note, I believe we should always keep appreciating the things around us, even when they may seem small. We never regret appreciation—it only adds meaning to our lives. Above all, we should never stop exploring our horizons or doing what we truly love, because that’s where life and art truly meet. Life is too short; make every day count. I would also advise other artists to take bold steps and challenge themselves beyond what they think is possible. Stay true to your own style, trust your abilities, and focus on the process.
About the PleinAir® Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual online competition, with 12 monthly cycles, leading to the Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition. The competition rewards artists with $50,000 in all cash prizes each year, and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir magazine. 
Winners in each monthly competition receive cash prizes, recognition and exposure through PleinAir magazine’s print magazine, e-newsletters, websites, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition. The 15th Annual Awards will be presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, where the winner will be presented with a $15,000 check!
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. Enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
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