Using Photographs in Art
Someone said to me about this painting, “it looks like a photograph” and I responded, “oh, no it’s an oil painting.” At the time I thought she meant it looked like a collage or something, but later I realized she was perhaps questioning whether I had done it from a photograph.
There have a number of discussions on various blogs and art sites discussing the use of photographs by painters lately. I know there are purists and elitists out there that will dismiss an artist or their work if they think you use a photograph.
Yes, I did it, eek!! I used a photograph, I sometimes do. It depends on the effect and statement I am trying to make with a particular piece of work. For this painting I set the scene up and asked my daughter to pose with a specific image in mind.
For me photographs are just one more tool in my arsenal/repertoire of tools for me to use. Just for the record it isn’t because I can’t draw. As you can see from this study
of a plaster cast used in a classical drawing class I took with Karen Warshal at Ann Arundel Community College I can draw quite well I believe.
I just discovered this blog in which the author talks about famous artists who used photographs and thought it would be interesting to share.
Comments
it is possible to have your deepest part of your heart be touched by art. this has done it for me. thank you.
more on the vicky gig, which was so much fun, but oh am I tired. Waving constantly and giving audience to the populace is really quite exhausting ;)
I dismiss art elitists, who attempt to belittle another artist to raise their own standing.
I'm actually reading a "how to sketch" book. I know seems silly, I know how to sketch. But, the author sets up exercises where in you sketch from the TV screen. Start playing your VCR/DVD player and then hit pause, sketch quickly, move on in order to capture gestures and movement. I think I might give it a try.
I think that your last comment about playing with the idea is great! I'll be interested to see where you go with it.
And no this is not me being "Work from life, blah blah blah" I agree - whatever gets the job done, and gets the message across. It just has always surprised me sometimes just what some people will do to help an artist out XD
Glad you popped in to say hi. hope all is well at your end.
Perhaps I will own one of your works someday...I hope so.
Have a great week...
Fondest regards,
Sue
However..
Bread is always better made from scratch and green beans are always better out of the garden. I do have my purist tendencies. It just isn't art related.
This is an awesome painting. Photo or no photo. Its nice to see you "Do what you want"
Even freshly baked bread and fresh green beans can be ruined by a bad cook, and bought bread and frozen beans made into masterpieces by a good cook.
;)
If it's a good painting, and well executed then really what difference does it make. That is the point of my post. Where I see the problem is that some people do it because they can't draw and it shows in the painting. But then I have seen people who could draw and their paintings still sucked. sheesh! ya just can't win LOL!
What matters is the finished art and this is a great piece!
Great painting by the way.
I've rowed against the "purist" flow in everything I've ever done (education, music, writing, art), and wouldn't have it any other way.
The world's a big, complex place just teeming with possibilities. I use whatever appeals to me or discard at will.
My will.
Keep up the good work, JB! The world does not need another sheep!
me thinks with an attitude like that you ARE a jafa :)
I think it is obvious when someone like yourself can do both - work from life, and from a photograph - because you take what you know about 3 dimensional form into the recreation experience of working from a photo. I guess it's been said that those that work only from photos tend to have a flat, 2D look to their work. In my opinion, that can be a really cool effect, depending on how it's used, so I'm no "purist" when it comes to that. I am a fan of art that speaks to me, and I'm not so picky about how an artist gets there. I like that there seems to be a large collection of other contemporary artists out there that seem to feel the same way.
Again, I love this work of art. THAT is what is really most important.