Personal Connections Part 2...Using the Camera...
The sketch, on it’s way to a finished painting.
Personal Connections Part 2...Using the Camera... belongs to the following groups:
AW Welcome Center, Canadiana - (limit 2/day), Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors, Decorative and Traditional Art, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream, Mature Woman, Safe Haven and The PatchworkVery few artists have the time or opportunity to paint plein air full time...at some point, we are all faced with the necessity to paint from a photograph. If used properly the photgraph can be a huge help to artists....see below my reference photograph, taken on a summer’s afternoon….
The camera has been used by many famous artists – Delacroix, Courbet, Degas, Cezanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Corot, Utrillo, Picasso. Note “used” not “copied”. A photo is source material to be sifted, arranged, and modified. It can even take the place of the study and sometimes the sketch. The key to creative painting from photographs is a responsiveness to the visual world and at least a nodding acquaintance with the craft of painting.
It’s only a matter of selecting the elements from one, or combining two or more photos to make a vigorous visual statement. It also entails the arrangement, the deletion, or addition of subject matter to heighten a concept and to reinforce a composition.
Through the proper use of photographs it is possible to produce a work that you can feel proud to have finished.
The public who gaze upon your work aren’t interested it how it was done, but care enormously what it has to say, and this depends on you...Janis..with quotes from Art School on Line…
Karin Taylor
it’s a beautiful sketch Janis, looks like the finished product to me!
Janis Zroback replied
I guess it is finished, but I have a habit of changing my mind at the last minute, so to me it’s still a sketch at this point….thanks so much Karin…I’m pleased you like it.
izzybeth
Janis, this is very nice indeed. First, I like the way you have mirrored the image to make it an artist’s own. I also love the way you have taken the time to inspire fellow artists by sharing your thoughts. And last, I do enjoy the signature of the painting: its says, I am a work of art created by the lovely Janis Zroback.”
cheers
Janis Zroback replied
What a lovely thing to say Izzybeth!...thank you so much…I’m really pleased you like both the article and the paintings…
kjgordon
not sure if I like your descriptions better….................. or your art…............
Oh who am I fooling…......I enjoy both….........
Janis Zroback replied
Then I’m glad…glad to give you so much enjoyment…lets hope I can stick around for a while…
Alison Pearce
I love reading about and seeing your creative processes Janis!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Alison…I enjoy sharing them…
Joanne Bradley
Although you have taken some great shots of apples in the fall, I must say that in this case I love your painting more than your shot of the fall! :-) But it is so interesting to see how you take it from one medium as a guide to another that is your creative output! My husband just passed and he was blown away by the light on your falls…
Janis Zroback replied
Oh Joanne, that photo is really old, and was taken with one of those little cameras that used to cost about 20.00, just to keep a record of the scene and not for anything else…the painting was done and I intended to make a much bigger one, but I never did…glad you like it though…
TomBaumker
Great work ! One of your BEST. You should be proud Hugs Tom
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Tom…glad you like it.