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...or is it just "painted off"?
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Message
Posted
Recently I was asked whether I paint my pictures myself, from my head, or whether I just "paint off"?
Did you draw this from your head, or is it just "painted off"? In German, the word "abgemalt" has a negative connotation, meaning that you have not created something yourself but merely copied it. But the word makes me a little angry, because isn't it the case that we copy everything somewhere in some way - and then artistically realise it ourselves according to our personal imagination? As soon as I have a template (picture, photo, nature, city scene, everything is a template) I am a copier? I think it's important to differentiate between copying 1:1, or taking a template and then implementing it artistically, isn't it? So when I am asked about my pictures: did you "copy"? What or how should I answer? Yes, I let myself be inspired - and painted it myself? or: Yes, I only copied the outlines - and created everything else myself? Or is it not necessary to talk about copying if you only get inspiration? Every tree, every flower is then a "copy" of nature, isn't it?
I personally find it devaluing to be asked like that, and it takes the joy out of it, quite honestly. What do you think about it? Are there any guidelines at all as to when one can speak of intellectual property in the artistic sense, apart from the legal guidelines?
I am aware that the question was not asked with malicious intent, in today's digital age one must truly ask oneself what is original and what is copy....I am very curious about your views, and hope the topic does not bore you too much:)
Posted
Yikes! Although you say the comment is not meant with malicious intent I am not so sure. It sounds awfully like a put down to me no matter how nicely it was dressed up.
Yes there are serious legal implications in using someone else's intellectual property. You should not be copying photographs or artwork that you do not have permission to copy. If you are then please stop, use copyright free photographs from the like of pixabay or better still take your own or paint from life.
I sometimes paint from imagination. I sometimes paint from a still life, sometimes from a photo, sometimes a combination. I like to paint figures and often use a photo because I live in a rural area, miles away from life classes and if I asked someone to pose naked for me people would think me very odd, so I pay for the photos, that way I know I am okay to use them but if I decide to paint onions or something similar I stick them in a box and paint what I see. If I was in the income bracket of hiring models I would. I was very interested in painting from imagination at one time but to do that successfully you have to first observe the real world very well indeed. I remember buying James Gurneys book Imaginative Realism and realising that he was creatively manipulating real life. You need real resources and observations no matter what you are painting.
There are people who will pull you down, try not to let them. Be absolutely honest about what you do. Credit anyone, photographer or artist who has influenced you. I always say what I've done and the materials I have used. I think honesty is the key. Other than that enjoy your art and tell your enquirer to do one!
Posted
Thank you for your good comment. I agree with you on all points.
It's less about what I publish and which sources are license free or not, that's another big topic. Sorry if I didn't express myself very clearly. I have this specific question:
For example, if you paint a rose and you have a photo of it in front of you, and you paint for weeks to get 100% exactly what you see in the photo. You're finally done, the rose is painted, woo-hoo. Is that now considered quite dry and sober, "just painted off; and copied"? or is it a really great piece of art that you have created? Now someone comes and asks you: did you draw the rose from your head or just copy it? What do you feel, the picture as your own creation or as a copy of the photo? Of course we are honest and say: we painted the rose from a photo. But my question is still: is it your own art - or just copied? (Excuse my language, unfortunately I can only express myself as precisely as the translator allows, the subtleties of the language are unfortunately eliminated:-(
Posted
I don't think it's possible to paint without putting something of ourselves into the picture, whether we intend to or not. I quite often copy an impressionist picture I like because I enjoy it and I think it makes me a better artist but the finished picture doesn't look like a Renoir or Monet, it looks like I've painted it. I agree with Colette, always be open about what you are doing but in the end it will always be your work and you should be proud of it. I'm like Tanja, I have no access to life models etc. so photographs are essential and I don't feel any shame or embarrassment about that. We work with what we have available. With my limited skills I couldn't copy a photo exactly even if I wanted to so it's not an issue!
I find that people who criticise generally couldn't do such work themselves. Other artists are supportive and encouraging and they are the ones whose opinions I value.
Don't get discouraged Tanja, enjoy your painting.
Posted
I don't think the query "Did you copy it " by non artists is meant with any slur, usually it's out of curiosity. A bit like the " "just like a photograph" comment .
Personally I use my own material ,sketch the world around me , use my own photographs or if I do use someone else's work I ask permission and credit them. For reference I will look to find ,eg. what colour is an Orang Utans bum....But never will I copy another's work. I can't see the point ,it's someone else's creation, not mine.
Collette your comments re life drawing groups...I live in a similar situation to you,. I had lived in HK and enjoyed a group there, so I ,with a friend , started our own group.
Asked around for interest made some small posters and handed them out to arty people, . We started ,in a spare room of the local Rugby club...yes we got funny comments. We progressed to a great back room in the library..
. Looked for , advertised for, nagged people, friends and family they didn't have to take their kit off .
But it worked ,we never had a tutor .it thrived and thirty years later it is still going strong...it's under new management and a bigger venue. I did still go until recently and still consider it my group...
So you can do it, anywhere.
.
Edited
by Sylvia Evans
Posted
Thank you all for your very good views and opinions. This helps me a lot at the moment!
Maybe we need to change the negative touch about the word "just painted off"? After all, if an artist takes such pains to paint a rose so accurately, or an animal, then that's an enormous achievement, and not just a "well-made copy of a photo", is it? I asked the person in which situation he means "paint off", because you always have a template, be it in the head, on 2D or 3D or sitting/standing in nature. She told me: painting in the nature is not copy, but from a picture already ! So thank U Carol, Peter and Silvia and Collette, you really help me with your comments here!
Edited
by Tanja Gerster
Posted
Just had a thought re Life drawing. There are on line sites with models posed and moving. One I used frequently but cannot remember the name...sorry, Alan B will remember.
But if you are stuck in deep dark nowhere, it's pretty good, some are free some you pay a small amount . Worth a look.
Thank you Peter for your vivid description of an Orang Utans bum....I am full of joy.
