Over the years we’ve featured some impressive hyper-realistic art on Oddity Central, but when it comes to animal portraiture, I’m pretty sure Canadian artist Nick Sider takes the cake.

Nick Sider knew he wanted to be an artist since he was just 5-years-old, but it took him another 20 years to build up the courage to dedicate his life to painting. At the age of 25, he quit his job and started teaching himself how to paint with acrylic paints. Looking at his works, you would think Nick has decades of experience behind him, but he’s actually only 31-years-old, so to say that he made up for lost time in just six years would be a serious understatement.

Photo: NickSider.com

Growing up, Nick Sider was obsessed with tigers, so it comes as no surprise that some of his most impressive works depict the majestic feline. In fact, his entire portfolio of wildlife portraits is nothing short of awe-inspiring both in detail and sheer realism. From the reflections in the animals’ eyes, to the perfectly arranged fur strands, his works look more like high-resolution photos than hand-painted artworks.

“Most of my art background is self-taught. As a kid I taught myself how to draw and then as an adult, I taught myself how to paint. I don’t have any formal art education beyond high school,” Nick said in an interview with Art Zealous.

In 2016, two years after moving to New York City, Sider had his first solo show, and he hasn’t looked back since. Thanks in no small part to a clever use of social media, the young hyper-realistic painter has become a sensation all around the world, with his portraits often going viral on Facebook and Twitter.

Nick Sider says that his main goal is to use detail and color to create the illusion of life spawning from the canvas, adding that his favorite moment while painting is “when a subject on my canvas begins to come alive”.

You can see more of Nick Sider’s amazing artworks on Instagram, but while you’re here, check out the hyper-realistic masterpieces of Alena Litvin and Kohei Ohmori as well. They’re worth your time, I promise!