Scale and proportion tells us whether what we are looking at is normal or un- natural. The world that we know and recognize has familiar objects that are viewed in normal perspective and relative sizes. If these relationships are changed our sense of reality changes and becomes distorted and strange.

Fantasy begins when things that appear are not from the familiar every day world. Something appears different in form, size,
or context. Surreal or fantasy art often will use un natural size and proportion to produce creative effects.

Great artists develope the ability to suggest forms in there work. Detail is eliminated and the work has the effect of being done with less effort. Although the work has a shorthand or simplified approach the effect of realism is still possible. Rembrandt's mature work is an example of abbreviation and suggestion as compared to his earlier work. James Whistler is a great example of suggestions as well as the the 19th Century the French artist Edouard Manet who began to abbreviate images in this way being more interested in the effect of realism than in a carefully described realism.

Highly detailed drawing and painting is the result of the "descriptive" approach to representing forms. There are some artists who are famous for drawing and painting in a highly detailed manner, in many cases the result is a kind of "fool the eye" (trompe L'oeil) super realism.
The American artist William Harnett is a good example of amazing clarity and detail. High realism has been achieved by many other artists including the Dutch and Flemish masters of the 17th century such as Jan Vermeer.