Working With Reference Photos For The Practicing Artist
I am a full-time artist that works predominately in acrylic or pastel, most often painting wildlife or western themes. As such, I don’t often paint on location outdoors, as my landscape artist friends do, because me subjects – the moose, black bear, or bird of the day just don’t seem to want to hold that pose for me! Therefore, I prefer to make use of LOTS of reference photos of my chosen subjects, as well as the settings that I will eventually place them in in my paintings.
Now you might think that it is necessary to go out there and get just the right shot of just the right “critter” in just the perfect setting, with just the right lighting . . . and so on. But, of course, that just isn’t going to happen. It isn’t likely to happen even if you DO have the patience of Job and all of the time in the world to sit and watch and wait. A better choice is to become adept at being able to combine multiple photographs into that one painting that you are longing to paint.
With a little practice you can become skillful when looking over your collection of photos, so that you can identify those with similar backgrounds, directional light, seasons (much more obvious, of course!), etc. Of course you must be conscientious and careful to place animals, for example, in their correct environments, and make sure that all shadows are cast in the same direction, but once you start thinking about this type of thing the challenge of combining multiple photos can be quite rewarding and will definitely expand your painting horizons!
How to Paint a Sunset in Oils Step by Step
About Gina
Gina De Gorna comes from a family of Artists and Craftsmen. She has lived and studied extensively Fine Art both in Europe and in the US. In 2002 Gina found paradise and eventually moved to Hawaii Big Island.
Gina De Gorna received her first Art award at the age of ten and later on she has been a teacher for 11 years.
Having painted and studied for more than 25 years, Gina De Gorna finished more than 500 Art pieces. She continuously does research, reads and writes about art, tutors, experiments with color, art techniques, styles and painting subjects. In the USA Gina De Gorna launched her career as a full-time artist and as such she can offer originals of oil and acrylic paintings and variety of limited edition Giclee reproductions, cards and prints.
Gina’s fine art works and portraits have been shown in Art Galleries both in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Canada, and the USA. Her work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including cartoons, illustrations, portraits , landscape and seascape images, together with paintings of animals, birds, sunsets, and flowers. Her paintings are recognized for their realistic and expressional values. They are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which the artist is seeking to portray personal or visionary interpretations of the world.
Random Ideas Need Apply – Inspiration For the Artist
Some of my best ideas as an artist have come from out of the blue; from the oddest directions and when I have least expected them. They might have come to me in the form of a dream – during the night when I have actually dreamt the painting in its entirety – or during a short little daydream during a quick mid-day break. The point is, you just never know where your next painting idea may come from.
Watching the people around you as you go about your daily routine can certainly inspire the figurative artist to go above and beyond to create anything but a “routine” painting. If you think you have to go to a studio or artists’ group where they have hired a professional model to become motivated toward an interesting figure drawing or portrait, you are wrong. Just check out all of the interesting people you encounter every day! By carrying a small sketchbook with you, you just might capture the seed for your next great masterpiece in the form of a small gesture drawing. You don’t necessarily need to plot and plan out the composition for that painting if you have a collection of sketches in your book to use as the spark for inspiration.
As an artist you need to always have an open mind receptive to that new idea. Sometimes a stimulant to create a stunning work can be something as simple as viewing a stand of aspen trees (ones you have possible passed a hundred times before) with brilliant autumn light shifting through the leaves. If you aren’t receptive to the thought of a possible painting, or aren’t looking to see the beauty of the moment, you are missing the opportunity of the idea being handed to you “on a silver platter.” These seeds present themselves to you daily and you don’t even have to struggle to come up with a great painting idea.
How to Paint a Tree with Watercolour
About Christine Kane
Christine Kane is a pastel and watercolor artist who is inspired by the Midwest landscape and it’s seasons. To find new ideas for her paintings, she hikes in the forest preserves during all seasons.
Christine began drawing at an early age. She focused her education on art and has a degree in Graphic Design. She is continuing her studies and is currently pursuing a degree in Natural Resources.
Translating weather is also evident in her work. “Weather makes a landscape painting come to life. How I love to show leaves blowing in the Autumn time, snow falling in winter, or a beautiful thunderstorm approaching in my summer paintings.”
Christine finds God’s handwork in all aspects of nature and tries to translate her awe and reverence in her artwork. Never disappointed, she relies on His creation for inspiration.
Step by Step Landscape Painting Lesson
About Christopher Vasil
I’m a Delaware based impressionist working in acrylics. I try to make paintings that look precise and at the same time spontaneous. My work has been described as having a “…powerful, primitive, brushstroke laid down in a way that brings gentleness…work [that] can appear powerful and yet gentle at the same time. It is both exciting and relaxing.” Lately I’m experimenting more with concept art, combining representation with abstraction as a means to explore ideas about form and dimension.
Christopher’s Website: www.christophervasil.com
How to Make Oil Paints Dry Faster
Oil paint is a slow drying medium. It behaves differently than other mediums like water based mediums for instance, as it dries by oxidation and not by evaporation. This slow drying process can be good or problematic, depending on the situation. If you are a patient artist that works at a slow pace and enoys the flexibility of being able to re work a painting, fix mistakes, etc, then the slow drying properties of oil paint are perfect for you. Sometimes however, especialy when working in multiple layers, the slow drying properties of oil paint can be a real nuisance.
The good news is that oil paint, being the wonderful versatile medium that it is, can be modified to either dry faster, or dry even slower.
In this particular post, we will be talking about the various methods and products that speed up the drying time of oil paints. Below are a number of helpful resources including videos, articles, forum discussions and product links on this particular topic. It is important to note that when we are talking about drying time here, we are referring to when the oil paint becomes “touch dry”. Oil paint takes months to fully dry. This is especially important if you plan on varnishing your paintings as you must wait for your painting to dry completely.
Three ‘Secret’ Ways to Gain Creative Freedom by Setting Yourself Limits
The first and most important focus was on the subject matter of my paintings. People were clearly my main interest – they figured in a majority of sketches and watercolours made in childhood right through to the oil paintings of my first gallery shows. People, their behaviour, their emotions, their stories. My subject matter was now set but it was still too random, too vast a field to give my work coherence. What I needed was a linking narrative
It had to be something of such passionate interest to me that I would stick with it for a considerable time. It also had to be something onto which I could apply my own interpretations, add variations out of my own perspective, not simply provide a painted description of the writer’s words. You will no doubt share that impulse – to speak with your own ‘voice’ as an artist.
History shows that the Masters of painting did just this. They drew inspiration from a Book, an epic collection of human stories. My own choice was closer in both time and place. I chose the stories of Australia’s pioneers as told by Andrew Barton Paterson in poems and tales that have become part of our national sense of identity. The ‘Banjo’ inspiration kept me fuelled with material for three major series of paintings. Published in three hardcover books, they accompanied my compilation of A.B.Paterson poems.
Step by Step Watercolour Painting Demonstration
About John Fisher
I was born and educated in England, graduating from the Luton School of Arts (now Barnfield College) in 1945. It was my hope to become a graphic artist, but at the end of the Second World War returning service men and women had first crack at the few jobs available, and rightly so. I took a number of jobs while I tried to break into my chosen field, and ended up being a reluctant carpenter. Many years passed and I emigrated to Canada in 1952, married a Canadian woman, started a family, and in 1955 finally started on a career which took in graphic arts, owner of my own graphics arts company, art director at an advertising agency, and careers in marketing, advertising and public relations.
I wish I could claim that my passion for art burned brightly throughout those years, but alas, the need to make a living took prominence. As with many people, I always promised myself that when I retired I would get back to painting again. That time came in 1989, when my wife and I were living the winter months in our condo in Destin, Florida. Robert Long, a talented watercolour artist, was offering private lessons from his nearby condo. He was my mentor, and made my retirement years infinitely richer.
In those days Robert taught only technique, and there were rarely more than four to six of us in those early classes. From Robert I regained my interest in photography as an adjunct to painting, and as the cliche goes – I never looked back. I have had many paintings accepted and hung in exhibitions in Florida and Ontario, where I now live. I’ve won some prizes, come first in some exhibitions, and occasionally won the Citizens’ Choice awards. But I mainly paint for fun – hence the choice of name for this site.
Karrie on Canvas: Acrylic Painting Demo – “Have Fun with Cats!”
Below is another full episode of the show “Karrie on Canvas” starring artist Karrie Evenson. I am a big fan of this show. I love Karries carefree and colorful approach to painting. Sometimes it is nice to just let go and paint something without much thought or careful planning, especially after a hard day. It is extremely relaxing and therapeutic.
In this episode, Karrie will demonstrate how she paints one of her abstract paintings, specifically of a cat.
Here is what you will need to complete your painting:
- Medium Size Canvas
- Medium to Large Paint Brushes
- Assorted Acrylic Paint
- Paper Towels or Rags
- Water for Cleaning Brushes
Landscape Oil Painting Demonstration by Kenn Backhaus
About Kenn Backhaus
Kenn was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and spent much of his childhood on the family farm near Burnett, Wisconsin. His fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art. Kenn’s parents encouraged his artistic education and following High School, he attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. After graduation from Layton in 1973, he embarked on his professional career in Design and Illustration. As a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting.
With developing interest in the historic Plein Air style of painting, Kenn decided in 1984, to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors. He found that capturing true color, value and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation. His passion for painting has broadened his subject matter to include not only landscape, but also figurative, portrait, still life and wildlife.
Kenn’s works have been juried into many shows across the country, including the Oil Painters of America National Shows. His works have received many awards including the Collector’s Choice Award at the Seventh Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational 2005, Artist’s Choice Award at the First Annual Telluride Plein Air Exhibit and Sale, 2004, Fredix Artist Canvas Best Landscape award at the 2004 Oil Painters of America National Show, Kirkland, Washington, Tara Best Landscape award at the 2003 Oil Painters of America National Show, Taos, New Mexico, Second Place Award in the Crystal Cove Invitational Exhibition 2003, 1999 Finalist winner The Artist Magazine, a Best of Show in the 1999 Invitational American Plains Artist Show, Midland, Texas, Award of Excellence in the 1998 Regional Oil Painters of America Show, Arlington Heights, IL.
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