# Highly Expressive Portraits These Illustrations by Artist Michael Shapcott Come to Life By Zoe Badley | Published 2010-08-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-shapcott References: [vectroave](http://vectroave.com/2010/07/art-by-michael-shapcott/#more-20395) & [michael-shapcott](http://michael-shapcott.com/) People often believe that eyes are a gateway to a person’s soul, and these illustrations by artist Michael Shapcott is a prime example of the power of expression. Even though the paintings aren’t realistic, the emotion that is handcrafted into each subject really brings each image alive. The [different colors and tones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) are what really sets the series apart. Instead of creating simple [portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portraitia), Michael Shapcott has created people and stories. Be sure to check out the gallery for more illustrations. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 96% | Activity: 94% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Hyperrealistic Art:** Opportunity for artists to push the boundaries of realism by infusing emotions and expressions into their artworks. - **Emotional Connection:** Increasing focus on creating artworks that evoke strong emotions and establish a deep connection with the audience. - **Experimental Techniques:** Exploring innovative methods and approaches to capture and convey emotions through art forms. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art and Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for artists to redefine traditional portraiture by incorporating heightened emotions and storytelling elements. - **Entertainment and Media:** Opportunity to incorporate highly expressive artworks into various forms of media, such as films, animations, and video games, to enhance narrative impact and audience engagement. - **Mental Health and Therapy:** Exploring the healing potential of highly expressive artworks in therapy sessions to facilitate emotional expression and self-reflection. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stunning Origami Portraits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/origami-portaits.md) - [Stylized Portrait Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/face-to-all.md) - [Striking Urban Wildlife Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clare-allin.md) - [Vibrantly Colorful Dynamic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kayla-rumpp.md) - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md) - [Whimsical Spirit Art Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anima.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Human Duality-Themed Abstract Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passive-aggression.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md)