LOL!! As a life-long photographer who has only recently tried his hand at watercolor painting, I think I understand your perspective. Who wants to work off of someone else's artistic vision? Unless, that photographer is you... This is where the synergistic magic happens. I have nearly 100K of digital images that I've taken over many years and there are many of these that I would love to paint. I think if you do you own photography - heck, you don't need a $10K rig to capture images worth painting: a decent cell phone camera is more than sufficient - if the photos are of your creation, these can be an excellent place to look for creative ideas. I'm not bustin' on plein air painting, but don't discount capturing your own images that you can later take to the easel! Appreciate all of your tutorials and ideas! Cheers, J
I have started something on the last 5 minutes of my lunch hour. Fire up the google machine and draw a sketch of the first picture in the feed. Set the alarm for 5 minutes and GO! It has helped me to actually draw something, no matter how bad....... and relax for that 5 minutes. Thanks for the awesome content!
👋😃 I have improved my sketching from life after drawing with photo references. I needed permission to practice from photos - even if I was drawing from my own photographs. I’ve finally decided that my art is 99% for ME. I no longer care who says I’m cheating. I don’t create art for them anyway. The pet portraits I do from photos of friends’ pets are always received with incredible enthusiasm - even though they’re not photo-realistic. Why? Because they are ART. Getting older has also allowed me to loosen up my self-imposed rules. After all…the clock is ticking for us all. Keep up the great encouraging messages. ! 🩷
I enjoy taking photos on my phone for my own reference if I am intrigued about a composition, a shape or a building. Thanks for the refrence to the Met, I didn't know that. Great tip 5:02 !
Normally, I will take a picture of what I am about to sketch/paint before sitting down to put pencil to paper. I do this in an attempt to preserve shadows, colors, and anything in the background that may move on while I sketch. I will also do this if Mother Nature is on the way to send me packing. I can always finish my work at the house or hotel should it become necessary. When Mother Nature keeps me homebound for several days I have found I can put together a mosaic of pictures I have taken in order to produce my own work/interpretation of what I saw earlier, even when earlier means an hour or two ago or weeks ago. Using photographs can be a very useful tool in my plein air art kit.
I like using photos because I feel I'm better at spotting a composition that I like than coming up with it myself. I also like to draw portraits and so I'd usually be working on a picture of someone I will never get the chance to meet in real life.
My daughter did some modeling and she did the most RIDICULOUS stock photos lol! I learned how to draw completely from photos. Until I started learning from you I had really never tried drawing something in front of me, how crazy is that??
I have drawn from photos in daily drawing exercises. But I usually take the photos. And I have no depth of field. I see in 2D. So drawing from photographs never really bothers me. But I have noticed people drawing portraits of people in photos and it is so odd/remarkable how you can tell the drawing is made from a photograph. It would be interesting if you shot an episode exploring drawing the same person from a photograph compared to a live session and seeing the results. Thank you for making these videos and keep up the good work!
(If you are aiming for realism) The more chances you get to draw from life, the better your work will be. Photo's are fine sometimes but it's never the same and your time drawing from life will help improve your work when using photos due to the fact you can imagine the 3D space more that getting used to just working on 2D shapes with photos all the time. I place references in this order of value: 1 - Work from life 2 - Work from photos you took 3 - Work from others photos Some of the old literature also says it's better when planning a large piece, to draw from life (tonal study) then paint from life (colour study) then begin the final without any references if possible. The idea is you would be so familiar with the subject via the studies, you would not need the studies because it's more about you internalising the shapes, tones, colours etc... then working from your mind.
Hi Danny! I just found you, and clearly I am late to the game… but at least I have lots of good videos to binge. 😊 I am curious about you and what your story is. Do you have a video somewhere where you talk about your journey as an artist. I know you mentioned working in advertising, but I’d love to learn more about you and how you came to sharing your art and knowledge on UA-cam. Apologies if this is an annoying question you get a lot. I’ll keep searching your library of videos.
I have a video called how a Sketchbook changed my life. That’ll probably fill you in on some of my autobiographical details but I allude to them in various videos. Have fun looking around.
If I want to paint a manatee or an eagle, it's impossible to do this with any accuracy without a reference photo. Watercolor painting does not mean you paint underwater, and I do not have eagle eyes to capture details when the rare eagle soars over my house quickly at a high altitude. How could I accomplish this without "cheating"?
Dear Danny, learing to draw better, for me i'am drawing for about 4 months now, is that drawing with your book everyday matters or learning from sketchschool account even better???? i like drawing but i'am missing skills like perspectif en dimenssions...hopefully you have time to anwser me.....greetings George
With all the online resources, I don’t have to choose from a limited range of photos to paint from reference. I think this cancels out your first concern about limited angles, composition, etc. I can find exactly (or very very nearly) what I’m looking for with a little search engine competency and patience. Or I combine references.
People should just stop giving themselves these mental constructs 😂 Just draw what you want to draw and keep a note who to give credit if you'd ever share it or don't publish if you are prohibited from publishing it. Even if it is copying, you don't need to make it your own thing! All life revolves around the fact we learn from copying each other! Get over it! 😅
Take your own pictures and make them artistic through the lens and then draw or paint them .. that’s not cheating .. ps from picture to art manipulate to your desire
LOL!! As a life-long photographer who has only recently tried his hand at watercolor painting, I think I understand your perspective. Who wants to work off of someone else's artistic vision? Unless, that photographer is you... This is where the synergistic magic happens.
I have nearly 100K of digital images that I've taken over many years and there are many of these that I would love to paint. I think if you do you own photography - heck, you don't need a $10K rig to capture images worth painting: a decent cell phone camera is more than sufficient - if the photos are of your creation, these can be an excellent place to look for creative ideas.
I'm not bustin' on plein air painting, but don't discount capturing your own images that you can later take to the easel!
Appreciate all of your tutorials and ideas!
Cheers,
J
Great advice!
This is great advice - thank you! (I have hundreds of photos that I've taken, and you've given me another way to get them off the hard drive 🙂)
I have started something on the last 5 minutes of my lunch hour. Fire up the google machine and draw a sketch of the first picture in the feed. Set the alarm for 5 minutes and GO! It has helped me to actually draw something, no matter how bad....... and relax for that 5 minutes. Thanks for the awesome content!
👋😃 I have improved my sketching from life after drawing with photo references. I needed permission to practice from photos - even if I was drawing from my own photographs. I’ve finally decided that my art is 99% for ME. I no longer care who says I’m cheating. I don’t create art for them anyway. The pet portraits I do from photos of friends’ pets are always received with incredible enthusiasm - even though they’re not photo-realistic. Why? Because they are ART. Getting older has also allowed me to loosen up my self-imposed rules. After all…the clock is ticking for us all. Keep up the great encouraging messages. ! 🩷
Love the "99% for ME" attitude!
Love this!
I agree with you ❤. We put so many rules on ourselves that it’s almost paralyzing.
I enjoy taking photos on my phone for my own reference if I am intrigued about a composition, a shape or a building. Thanks for the refrence to the Met, I didn't know that. Great tip 5:02 !
Normally, I will take a picture of what I am about to sketch/paint before sitting down to put pencil to paper. I do this in an attempt to preserve shadows, colors, and anything in the background that may move on while I sketch. I will also do this if Mother Nature is on the way to send me packing. I can always finish my work at the house or hotel should it become necessary. When Mother Nature keeps me homebound for several days I have found I can put together a mosaic of pictures I have taken in order to produce my own work/interpretation of what I saw earlier, even when earlier means an hour or two ago or weeks ago. Using photographs can be a very useful tool in my plein air art kit.
I do this too. And my family isn't too patient to wait while I paint so I hallways have to finish later from photos
I like using photos because I feel I'm better at spotting a composition that I like than coming up with it myself. I also like to draw portraits and so I'd usually be working on a picture of someone I will never get the chance to meet in real life.
Thanks for sharing!
I can't draw living things very well. Starting with photos is a big help for me. You can copy if you want, but I agree it's a good reference.
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom and encouragement😊
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
It's a skill like any other. It's fun. It's not the only thing I would do, or the main thing.
Thanks
Thank YOU!
Tnanks Danny! Helpful and useful as always and ever!
My daughter did some modeling and she did the most RIDICULOUS stock photos lol! I learned how to draw completely from photos. Until I started learning from you I had really never tried drawing something in front of me, how crazy is that??
I have drawn from photos in daily drawing exercises. But I usually take the photos. And I have no depth of field. I see in 2D. So drawing from photographs never really bothers me. But I have noticed people drawing portraits of people in photos and it is so odd/remarkable how you can tell the drawing is made from a photograph. It would be interesting if you shot an episode exploring drawing the same person from a photograph compared to a live session and seeing the results. Thank you for making these videos and keep up the good work!
Your videos really helped their great thank you
I’m so glad you found them helpful!
Earthworld is a great place for images as well.
My tip is to do whatever you want to do and to skip the "This is better than that" attitude. Be nice to yourself - and each other.
Thank you ❤ EXACTLY!
Thank you
I was waiting for this video! My God, hi
Glad you found it!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
(If you are aiming for realism) The more chances you get to draw from life, the better your work will be. Photo's are fine sometimes but it's never the same and your time drawing from life will help improve your work when using photos due to the fact you can imagine the 3D space more that getting used to just working on 2D shapes with photos all the time. I place references in this order of value:
1 - Work from life
2 - Work from photos you took
3 - Work from others photos
Some of the old literature also says it's better when planning a large piece, to draw from life (tonal study) then paint from life (colour study) then begin the final without any references if possible. The idea is you would be so familiar with the subject via the studies, you would not need the studies because it's more about you internalising the shapes, tones, colours etc... then working from your mind.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and approach!
Velázquez used a camera obscura to paint Las Meninas... ;)
Hi Danny! I just found you, and clearly I am late to the game… but at least I have lots of good videos to binge. 😊 I am curious about you and what your story is. Do you have a video somewhere where you talk about your journey as an artist. I know you mentioned working in advertising, but I’d love to learn more about you and how you came to sharing your art and knowledge on UA-cam. Apologies if this is an annoying question you get a lot. I’ll keep searching your library of videos.
I have a video called how a Sketchbook changed my life. That’ll probably fill you in on some of my autobiographical details but I allude to them in various videos. Have fun looking around.
@ awesome! Thanks for the reply. Sketchbooking changed my life too. ✏️ Excited to hear your story.
Well, you are good at this art of drawing but for people who are less gifted an image, a photo can be a start point 😊
Yeah, everyone ca use whatever they are comfortable with
That's true!
If I want to paint a manatee or an eagle, it's impossible to do this with any accuracy without a reference photo. Watercolor painting does not mean you paint underwater, and I do not have eagle eyes to capture details when the rare eagle soars over my house quickly at a high altitude. How could I accomplish this without "cheating"?
R Crumb drew from photos... commercial illustrators used photos...
It's all about what works for you.
Dear Danny, learing to draw better, for me i'am drawing for about 4 months now, is that drawing with your book everyday matters or learning from sketchschool account even better???? i like drawing but i'am missing skills like perspectif en dimenssions...hopefully you have time to anwser me.....greetings George
With all the online resources, I don’t have to choose from a limited range of photos to paint from reference. I think this cancels out your first concern about limited angles, composition, etc. I can find exactly (or very very nearly) what I’m looking for with a little search engine competency and patience. Or I combine references.
great sharing 👍💥🌟💯 photos💡🪐🌌🌠
I only sketch from photos I took , except portraits .
People should just stop giving themselves these mental constructs 😂 Just draw what you want to draw and keep a note who to give credit if you'd ever share it or don't publish if you are prohibited from publishing it. Even if it is copying, you don't need to make it your own thing! All life revolves around the fact we learn from copying each other! Get over it! 😅
Take your own pictures and make them artistic through the lens and then draw or paint them .. that’s not cheating .. ps from picture to art manipulate to your desire
I got all my references from A.I 😊