Choosing a Photograph & Avoiding the Pitfalls....

Snow Patterns  9x12"
Oil on Linen
Available   $725

Selecting a photograph as a reference tool for a painting can make or break a painting. Consider these ideas –

•   Look for what excites you - but do not choose a photograph without using your artistic experience.

•   There should be a foreground, middle ground and a background.

•   What is your CONCEPT? MOOD?

•   Look for large value SHAPES that can be easily constructed into a simple statement.

But you must know that photographs will LIE!

•  The darks will be darker.

•  The lights will be washed out to white.

•  The scale or proportions will be distorted.

•  Color will not be natural.

•  Nature will repeat shapes and create lines that lead you out of the painting.

•  Photos lack the human poetic story telling aspect.

Hints to Keep in Mind -

•   Remember the goal is DO NOT COPY the scene.

•   Create a strong DESIGN.

•   Squint and compare everything, but don’t rely on the photograph and use your memory and be creative.

•   Eliminate detail!

•   Link shapes together to create a musical flow – interesting patterns of dark and light.

•   Loose edges by bringing values close together to combine smaller shapes into larger shapes.

•   Push values lighter or darker to strengthen your design.

•   Use the process of ELIMINATION – when in doubt, leave it out.

The “Creative” Process

•   Create designed shapes using a pictorial language to substitute the objects in landscapes. Bushes, trees, mountains, etc. will be represented into new shapes that easily identify the real objects but their lines will be melodic and graceful as well as their shapes being interesting.

•   Experienced artists are not concerned about making things look real, but are more interested in making things look beautiful.

•   Think in the abstract. An abstract shape will not be equal to another shape in any way. Your shapes should have melodic lines, make this a priority!

•   Group the details together and round them up in mass value plans.

•  If a scene is particularly complex, don’t even begin until you have a plan about how to simplify.

•  Squint and Simplify – and Compare Everything!

•  Values are relative, use them to create contrast.

•  Choose what will be the star player – make everything else subordinate no matter how compelling it is.