For Best Results

Many famous and successful artists rely on photographs for their paintings. Some take the picture keeping in mind that they are composing as they are shooting the photo.The photo then needs very little alteration before being transferred to the canvas. Many wildlife artists, Banovich, Seerey-Lester and Brenders rely on good quality references to be able to depict animals in a realistic manner. A safari without a camera? Never! Professional portrait artists also take photos as well as sketches.


How to take a great photo:

1. Common direction for light source.Place a mark or toothpick on your camera to see where the shadow fall from the light source. You can mix and match many photos to easily compose a painting as long as the light comes from the same direction. If the light direction is different in every photo,there is alot of guess work and fudging to do and that takes more time than necessary.



2. Have a strong pattern of light and dark. This adds drama to your composition. The strong patterns are usually in mid morning or late afternoon.



3. Take multi shots. Try a panoramic view. I like to take a photo in front of the subject and behind the subject. Many times these photos have nice details to add, and they are in the same light, under the same conditions so it is easy to incorporate them.



4. No flash! Use a flash only to clarify information in shadows. natural light is best. It shows off the colors more clearly.

Remember, with digital cameras there is no wasted shots. The hardest part is deleting those images that really aren't suitable.....be ruthless! There are a thousand more paintings just outside your back door.....

Photo Tips for Artists

Painting from life is a wonderful experience, but not always a convenient one. The colors of fall are waiting to be captured!
Artist need to know how to take GREAT reference photos!
Why Use Photos?
1. An in focus, sharp photo is a great reminder of the scene/experience that you wanted to paint. When you are in the studio, a photo can take you back so you can re-experience the moment.
2. Artists can take more time and examine the value patterns ( the lights and darks) and the correct shapes of the subject.
3. They are a reminder of the color patterns and tones in the subject.
4. People and animals run away and fruit tends to spoil!

Disadvantages of a photograph!
1.Highlights tend to be colorless. Make mental notes of the highlight colors or the lightest two values.
2. Shadow areas are shown as black or dark blobs with no value change and little information. Again, focus on the shadow areas to be able to portray what is in them.
3. Distortion of lines. Watch out for horse legs, buildings or anything with long relatively straight lines. Because a camera has a curved lens, the long horizontal lines tend to curve. They are easily straightened out if you are aware of them. Take a photo with a telephoto lens- less distortion.
4.Color may change with printing. The truest colors are from slides which are now hard to find. Try your computer monitor. I know of artists who use the computer screen photo as a reference and have it beside them when they paint.


Take photos with different atmospheric conditions-misty, cloudy, raining, snowing, hailing. The story for your painting is tied into the weather...it is an important part of your composition and concept.

Take digital shots with the idea that you can enhance the light or density of your shot if there is not enough information. Get familiar with photoshop or other more user friendly software.

Ever notice that the photo looks better on the computer screen that on a print? To help capture that look away from the laptop, place a clip on a metal student desk lamp and view you photo with the light coming from behind. Inexpensive light tables are also available at art supply or craft stores. The Cheapest One is an old picture frame with only the glass firmly attached to the inside. Place the frame on your knee and have a bright light on the floor shine through the glass and your picture on it. Cost-one garage sale frame, glass and cheap lamp.