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photos to painting
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Message
Posted
I quite often work from photos. Though never directly (tried this and my art was flat).
My general process is to see in nature that which inspires me. Sometimes ill do a little sketch. Then ill snap away for reference.
I generally get a sketch down on my canvas from memory, then ill turn to the photos for specific details. Then before its too late ill hide the photos away and finish with what i can see in my mind.
I would love to hear about your process and see some examples.
Alicia
Posted
Your method makes your painting your own, rather than a straight copy.
I mostly prefer to work from imagination...OK for cartoons and caricature, but sometimes when I attempt a more realistic subject I use some photo reference. I'm dabbling with gouache at the moment...something I wish I'd done earlier. Here's a sketch I've done that's slightly more realistic. I found the photo online and thought it an interesting face. I used it for this gouache sketch. An exact copy/likeness was the last thing I wanted, I merely intended to use some of the information on his face rather than make it up. I've changed the pose, and lighting. In fact they don't look much alike, but while painting I did refer to the photo.
Posted
At times, I imagine we all work from photos - or perhaps more accurately, from bits of photos, combined with bits of memory. Because it's difficult to get out and about for the time being (I do hope not forever....) I've used a friend's photo of an area I know well, but used it just for placement purposes; I've made a drawing from the photo, then painted the basics straight onto a board, from that drawing - so it's changed twice from the photo, basically, and then I put both away and concentrate on the painting.
I might have a sneaky look at one or the other just before calling it finished, to ensure I've not left something out that would be better in, but that'd be it.
Important for me: don't use a photo if you don't know the area; preferably, work from your own photo - though that won't always be possible; in which case knowing the area is even more important.
Posted
Photos can be useful as a reference point, and no more! I prefer not to paint places that I’ve not visited, although I have done on occasion.
My preference is to work from my own plein air sketches, with perhaps the occasional glance at a photograph, that’s if I took one at the time, which I don’t always do.
I’ve just recently finished a painting of Lichfield Cathedral using a small plein air oil sketch to work from.
I’ve no photograph to work to and it’s not accurate by a long way, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’ve hopefully captured something of the ambience of the scene, or character of this historic building - that’s what I consider more important than an accurate architectural representation.
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
I do work from reference photos a lot , as most of my paintings , sketches etc are of vintage vehicles, trains and ships.
They are also useful for getting the background right for the era, when doing dock lands etc. I always add something or leave something out of the photos that I use and never try to copy the colours, if it from a colour photo. I have before now used photos of an area I know and combined several to get the look I want. I don’t think that any of my painting look a great deal like any photos I’ve used but have a similar appearance if that makes sense. It would be nice to be able to go back and get some photos with a modern camera.
Posted
Thank you for all the replies.
Photos can be a great reference but can also be so disappointing. The times ive taken a photo when a sketch pad is not to hand, only to get home and see a 2d flat image and wonder what on earth I saw.
I love detail, particularly derelict buildings, wrecks, Abbeys etc. I take days over a painting so photos can be very useful.
I love to paint outdoors, i love fresh air, i love being in the thick of it and emersing myself in thr atmophere. Unfortunately i never finish anything, my painting takes on a totally different style, it looks rushed and often disappointing. Sketching however, that works for me, especially if in have water colour pencils to hand.
So.many methods for getting from A to B, enjoy the process.
Alicia
Posted
Thank you for all the replies.
Photos can be a great reference but can also be so disappointing. The times ive taken a photo when a sketch pad is not to hand, only to get home and see a 2d flat image and wonder what on earth I saw.
I love detail, particularly derelict buildings, wrecks, Abbeys etc. I take days over a painting so photos can be very useful.
I love to paint outdoors, i love fresh air, i love being in the thick of it and emersing myself in thr atmophere. Unfortunately i never finish anything, my painting takes on a totally different style, it looks rushed and often disappointing. Sketching however, that works for me, especially if in have water colour pencils to hand.
So.many methods for getting from A to B, enjoy the process.
Alicia
Posted
Your method makes your painting your own, rather than a straight copy. I mostly prefer to work from imagination...OK for cartoons and caricature, but sometimes when I attempt a more realistic subject I use some photo reference. I'm dabbling with gouache at the moment...something I wish I'd done earlier. Here's a sketch I've done that's slightly more realistic. I found the photo online and thought it an interesting face. I used it for this gouache sketch. An exact copy/likeness was the last thing I wanted, I merely intended to use some of the information on his face rather than make it up. I've changed the pose, and lighting. In fact they don't look much alike, but while painting I did refer to the photo.Wow, you use photos very well, this is clearly not a copy. Your skill and imagination are very apparent. thank you for sharing. Alicia
