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Working from a photograph
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Message
Posted
I know that some people think that we should not work from photographs, however for many reasons it’s not always possible to work outside or travel to areas to paint. The current pandemic is preventing a lot of us from going any further than the local shops. I do work from photos as a lot of the things I want to paint can no longer be seen, steam trains, ships etc. I use a photograph to stimulate my thought process and never copy them slavishly. I was talking to a neighbour who I have help to develop her painting skills and showed them a painting I am currently working on this led to me thinking of doing a WIP of how I used the photo and what the end painting locked like .
This photograph caught my eye due to the colours and the shape of the tree, I wanted to paint a spring morning catching the sun and mist. I don’t know who the photographer is as it’s from a free on line photo site. 
Posted
I do like the way this is progressing Paul - I look forward to seeing the finished work.
When it comes to my watercolours (village scenes etc) I usually use photographs. However once I've drawn out the scene on the watercolour paper I try to put the photo to one side and only use it for the odd reference. Also I use my own preferred pallete and not stick slavishly to the colours of realty - I'm more interested in achieving a work of art than a precise replication of the scene - a photo does that. The use of the photo serves to ensure that structures are correctly placed - trees, skies etc can interpreted as I wish but get a structure wrong and it's the first thing the client will see.
I much prefer to take the photos in the winter months on overcast days. This might sound a bit odd but there are a couple of reasons for this. In winter the trees are bare allowing me to see what's behind them - this means that when painting I'm not restricted by foliage and can leave it out or put it in as the composition dictates. Secondly by taking the photos on overcast days there are no strong shadows. This means that details in otherwise shaded areas are clearer to see - again I can include them or leave them out as I see fit. As for shadows I am free to put them in using imagination and at a strength which suits the composition best.
In summary, for me, the photo is only the starting point to get the basics of the scene down on paper; beyond this it is not there to influence the painting.
Edited
by Michael Edwards
Posted
Thank you all for you comments . I do like your thinking Michael ver much where I’m coming from.
I’m a few stages ahead of the photo that I’m posting now but thought I keep,the flow .
It seems to have developed a life of its own and has gone in directions I had not thought about originally.
It’s literally a developing in progress as we go along. I’ve included a shot from further back to give a view as if on a wall.
Posted
It when I reached this point that I sat back and thought that it could turn out with to much green. Now was the time use my imagination . There is always some pressure when doing a WIP that it doesn’t go the way people thought or expected.
What I want it to look like is that the viewer is standing in the shade looking out into the sunny misty field . I needed to reduce the light from the right side so I decided to add ab old field barn. I have posted the view as if you are looking over my shoulder .
Edited
by Paul (Dixie) Dean
Posted
When it came to the left hand side in suddenly though how similar it was to an entrance into the woodland where I volunteer.
The big difference was that instead of a hedge leading to the gate and field there is a wood bank, this drops down into a small copse behind the bank, as you approach the bank it slopes up and is as high as the average hedge. Most of the bank has now gone and you can see down into the woodlands. It’s quite shady and there are bluebells, among other old woodland plants.
I decided to paint my view of this using memory and imagination as I don’t have a photo. Decided to add some bluebells but I didn’t want the to bright and overpowering the scene . I also added a wire fence that no long stand there bit I though the effect would look ok. So here we are almost done .Edited
by Paul (Dixie) Dean
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