Taking and using reference photos

I know, I know, we must only paint from life!  But, if you've been painting very long at all, you know there are times when that is just not possible.  When it's necessary to use reference photos, the best option is to take those photos yourself and know how to use the camera to get the best quality result.  As an artist, you know what kind of lighting you want and the best angle and so on.  In my years of learning with Timothy Tyler, we only painted from life and I came to never trust a reference photo.  I knew that what you saw in a photograph was different from life in several ways but I wasn't knowlegeable enough on the subject to trust it.  The good news is, after all that painting from life, I came to know immediately what was incorrect in a reference photo.  After painting lovely shadows from life, I knew that those dark, black shadows in the photos were not really that dark and black because camera's "clump" shadows into one value.  There's also color in those shadows!  Similarly, the lights in a photo tend to be blown out and overly bright. I also became aware of camera distortion and know how to compensate for that.  Have you ever seen a portrait of someone where the hand is unusually large?  That is a sure sign that the artist painted from a photograph and painted exactly what he or she saw whether it was believable or not. If you learn to use your DSLR camera and all of it's options in manual mode, you can reduce these problems and get a better reference photo.  Less problems to resolve.  You don't need a really expensive camera to get great results.   If you are interested in learning how to use your camera, I recommend that you take a beginner class on photography.  That should be all you need to help you feel comfortable with your camera.  After all, we are painters, not photographers.  We just need quality reference photos.  I have added a button here on my blog that will take you to a great online source for beginners to learn how to use their DSLR camera and how to take better photos.  It's affordable and can be done at your own pace from the privacy of your own home. 

Remember, paint from life every day or whenever possible.  If you have to use a photo as reference, always keep in mind what's true and what's not. 

"Hydrangeas"

Good Morning!  I wanted to share my latest painting "Hydrangeas" 16"x20"x2" oil on canvas.  Here in Fayetteville AR in May and June, hydrangeas are everywhere and they are beautiful!  I've wanted to paint them for a few years now but, I have to admit, I was a little intimidated by the complexity of them.  I mean, there are so many petals!  My fear was that I would overwork them and lose the softness and painterly look I'm working so hard to develop.  I'm so glad I did it now.  I'm finally figuring out that the best way to take on a big or difficult project is to JUST DO IT!  In my case, just getting paint on the canvas and getting rid of all that glaring white helps me get going.  As for all those petals, I think I was able to keep it loose while still making it clear that these are hydrangeas.  This painting is available from my website at this link.