There are lots of ways to fake three dimensions with two
dimensional images: some crazy stuff is possible if you know
what you're doing. But, this isn't real 3D. The only way to get
real 3D out of a 2D medium like paint is to gradually build up a
sculpture out of hundreds of layers, which is where these
incredibly lifelike goldfish come from. To make these sculptures
(or whatever you're supposed to call a 3D painted picture),
Japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori combines meticulously detailed
artistry with buckets of clear plastic resin. Each fish is
constructed from the bottom up in slices, and as each slice is
completed, it's covered with clear plastic resin. The slices
slowly build up into a completely three dimensional fish encased
in resin that looks like water. Essentially, this is a form of
analog 3D printing, and the advantage is that you end up with an
object that is truly three dimensional and can be viewed from
any angle. Here's a picture of a half-completed fish to give you
a better sense of what's go