Yes, you’re evil if you paint/draw from a photo that your client provided you of their beloved someone who has passed. To not be evil, you must ask them where that person’s tombstone is and paint that from life. And if you want to be even more virtuous, you must dig up their graves and paint the inside of the coffin - FROM LIFE!! (or death, in this case) Oh damn, it’s not from life. The artist never wins… 😔
My advice, use the advice that you want to use and try to completely block out any thoughts that get in the way of you making art. I went to art school and unfortunately ended up with way too many opinions from other people bouncing around in my head that simply ended up getting in my way. I wanted to do things a certain and would feel like I was not painting the way of the "real artist". Now that I'm older, I realize that any thoughts that might prevent me from picking up that brush is unworthy of occupying space in my head. I like to carefully plan out my paintings. I had a decades long career in 3D animation, so I use my 3D software to help plan out my paintings. I use after effects and photoshop to build a prototype image and use a printed version as reference. That's how I like to work. I also really like Waddell's lectures and methods. I've been making art for over 50 years and every day I want to learn something new and improve my technique.
First: excellent video as always, yours is some of the best oil painting/art content on the internet! The focal lengths that mirror the human eye are 35mm on a crop frame camera and 50mm on a full-frame camera, you can also mostly eliminate bokeh by shooting with as small of an aperture as possible to give you a deep depth of field. I paint pretty much exclusively from photographs for a couple reasons: first, I've got ADHD and there is no way that I can focus on painting when all I can think about is how uncomfortable it is to sit or lay in one attitude for an extended period of time. One thing that photography gives you that you just cannot get in real life: capturing organic, candid, beautiful moments that only exist for the barest fractions of a second, you get to capture those like lightning in a jar. The models can't usually consciously make those "micro-expressions" much less hold those lovely glimmers for any meaningful length of time (they are literally only there for like 1/160th of a second). Another reason, is I like to "layer" art: I enjoy the photography as a whole separate aspect of the piece. So I design and make any practical makeup effects, do the lighting design, etc., and have the shoot. So the reference photos themselves end up as art that I could exhibit (some photos I keep as photos and exhibit at galleries as their own thing) but it instead becomes part of the piece and for me makes the process that much more meaningful. Also, I'm particular about using the right model for the piece, and the good ones do not have nearly enough availability for me to paint from, as I keep weird hours and am an abysmally slow painter. lol
Thank you for the suggestions on how an artist can get better results from photos, when we have to work from them. Having children`s photos that have long since grown up, or photos of those folks who have passed on, you give great resourceful ways to compensate for the limitations photos impose.
Personally, I've encountered many artists with a strongly negative opinion about working from photographs... none of whom I was in the least envious of their finished product. My own approach is to take literally HUNDREDS of photos of a subject, including numerous close-ups. I often ask them to hold tge general pose, while then animating their face in various ways, opening their eyes wide, looking slightly to the left, right, up, and down, etc. I then study the fuck out of all those images until I really have a feeling for the 3 dimensional reality of their physical form. But that's all technical. Ultimately it ALL about the feeling
"If anyone tries to talk you out of making artwork...F--k 'em!" 👏👏👏 People who gate-keep painting and tell you that you're doing art 'wrong' drive me absolutely up the wall.
Artist should be able to use everything avaliable to them including technology. UNLESS those artists opposed to working from photographs are grinding stones for paint, grinding seeds for oil,they should reconsider and examine their own use of modern products that make their life easier.
I pegged you as a Jim Carrey fan ever since I found out about your channel and I couldn’t put my finger on it why that was (minus a similar speech pattern and expressiveness) but I felt kind of silly thinking it, this is from someone who went as the cable guy to a school party and proceeded to annoy the hell out of everyone too (including my parents because, one tv in the house had to endure his entire catalogue plenty of time over, and now I’m cackling in delight for being RIGHT! I feel so smug. Great videos btw, I’m finally learning how to oil paint and your videos help a lot with that.
As you said, there are reasons but mostly gatekeeping I don't like who trace, that's another problem, but using photos... cmn we also had covid, we don't always have also the right place to work on it and I personally HATE to use a model because I feel obligated to do stuffs fast and I feel bad for having a person to stay still for hours, I'm too empathetic and feel them suffer... Degas used MOSTLY photographs. It's something really stubborn and unrealistic to thinking you can't do art from photos.
Great topic and discussion. I am a non-professional painter and still get questions/comments about whether it's from photo or from life. I want to but have been too polite not to ask people why they care if they can't even tell the difference (answer: sometimes). Probing further, people just think from life is "better" (a gentler version of "photo is evil") but they know nothing about the art-making process or color theory or art history or photography. No one yet has asked me whether I use a synthetic filbert or a flat bristle or whether I use real alizarin. For the most part, I think most are pawns in propagating a certain myth created by those who really believe it or are motivated to do so.
@@Cortesevasive Never read anything more stupid than your comment. Among the greatest artists who have made the history of art and who are exhibited in all the most important museums all over the world, many of them work exclusively on photography or almost exclusively in it and many of these artists use pictures that aren't even taken by themselves but they use references from newspapers, other photographers, movies fragments etc. Among some of these artists that come to mind there are Marlene Dumas, Luc Tuymans, Francis Bacon, Gerard Richter... just to mention the first ones that come to my mind because the list would be endless if I had to mention all of them
I see no issue with either. But I would think certain scenarios would be hard to capture live simply due to time constraints. Capturing a landscape at a specific time of day, where lighting conditions and weather could change rapidly. Or simply the practicality of getting something like wildlife to sit still long enough. Then there’s fantasy subjects. You’re not going to get a dragon to sit still, but you can gather enough reference material to ground your painting in life and still execute the fantastical. Seems like a silly controversy.
I'm late to your page but I actually love the smooth tones and color shading you have. I'd like to know you pallette to get the tones you have and how you mix them. I would be considered an amateur under you but would love to know what colors you used for this particular pic thanks
This very much depends on why you paint. If you intend to be a professional artist then maybe what you say is valid. However, I'm a hobbyist and paint for my own pleasure. I do whatever it takes to get what inspires me onto a canvas or paper. I paint mainly landscapes, birds and flowers. I paint from photos and shock horror, if it's a complicated composition involving buildings and/or people, I trace the main outlines to help with proportion. Sometimes I use photos, sometimes I paint what is in my head. Good luck trying to get a bird to pose for hours so you can paint it from real life! How I get my ideas and references on to my canvas is no one's business but my own, as long as I am not breaching anyone's copyright. If someone particularly wants one of my paintings, they are welcome to them, but don't criticize my painting methodology. My painting is my leisure, it's what I do to relax, and I refuse to impose any rules on my work, because that just creates stress and this is supposed to be for my own pleasure. Anyone needing to watch YT videos on painting is by definition also an amateur, and I suspect they do the same as me. They just don't want to admit to it.
Tip: exchange reg paper towels for the blue shop towels :) They're much less linty and far more absorbent. They do a great job soaking up oil from your bush instead of having to use a the whole towel to smear off the paint. They're a little more pricey but I get a bunch of uses out of them and the low-lint situation means I can use them to wipe off a section of my painting without leaving lint.
I agree! Can't beat it I've tried another brand, that Don a pretty good job as well. But it had such a strong unpleasant snail that I can't bear to use them the blue shop towel it's great.
Another advantage of working from photos, videos or 3D models is the possibility of painting much more dynamic poses in action, mid-jump, mid-argument, figures dynamically interacting with each other. Another disadvantage is that especially if you didn’t take the photo yourself, you don’t know what kind of face filters, color correction, skin smoothing, etc. was applied, most of which make planes look much flatter than they are in real life.
Hey, Scott, I've been following you for years and even bought your very first (I think) workshop. It was a painting with an anchor? And...a piece of white fur maybe? I don't recall the whole thing but it's been a hot minute. Early to mid 2000's. Anyway, I thought I'd mention that I use Scott Shop Towels, the soft blue ones, and they don't seem to be linty. You can pick them up at any hardware or auto parts store or even Walmart.
It's such a toughie. I've worked from both and yes from life is a connection that can't be explained. Go out and see the scotch mist on the ground then take a photo... I don't know what gets lost but it does. Scotch mist, it disappears in minutes so without a photo...? Loved your comments..you're hilarious!!
many of the greatest artists who have ever existed work or worked exclusively or almost exclusively on photography, including many of them using photographs from newspapers or taken by other people not even by themselves. Among the many, the first that come to mind are Gerhard Richter, Marlene Dumas, Francis Bacon, Luc Tuymans and then there are many many others that I won't bother to list right now because the list will be endless
Ha ha, "corrupt your soul" love it, Love your video's.Cannot see that working from life will turn out to be a better painting than one from a photo, all depends on how good a painter one is, to me is just a form of art snobbery.
As with all your videos, this was extremely insightful! One thing not mentioned though, and that is for someone like me with an odd learning disability where the more anxious I feel the less information sticks. I’d love to be able to work from the live model, and I have tried- usually with understanding friends, but the feeling of “I need to get this quickly “ kicks in and believe it or not, the info is lost in a split second.
Awesome video! As far as the argument goes, no one tells someone that they're not allowed to paint because they have money, but saying that you can only paint from live is telling someone that they can't paint because they don't have money. A total asshole move.
I enjoy watching your videos. May I ask you to enable automatic subtitles in your channel? It will be a little easier for me to understand your speech. Thanks again for your great work!!!❤
I think Eakins denied using photos and after his death a stack were discovered that line up closely with at least some of his pictures. If you look at a photo as just a type of drawing you may find it easier to use references and make good pictures.
I watched a juried art competition years ago. Jacob Collins was a a selector along with Antonio Lopez Garcia, Odd Nerdrum and Gottfried Helenwein. Collins was clearly upset with a photo based painting being considered as a finalist. He and Helenwein went around and around, Nerdrum and Garcia also tried to walk Jacob back. He was clearly troubled, even upset.
Hi Scott! Would you mind doing a video on preparing your panels/canvas? Not sure if you just go head onto your linen panels without prep or you still do some preparation work.
That reminds me I need to get new glasses. Because I realize that if I was to work from life now, I would have trouble seeing the "high resolution" from the distance, because my glasses are so old and worn. I need a bright high saturated screen in front of me showing me the reference photo.
We need to consider that the great master from the past largely used camera obscura to trace the drawing from models, etc..., in fact using camera obscura or trace a drawing from a photo is the same process. But I believe it is important to create our suitable photos where we decide the lighting, the scenario, the angle, etc... we need photos and there is no way we can escape on that. But the real school it is to copy from life, however if we only base on photos, we risk to become flat. I think we need to understand also that when we take a photo with our camera, it is not a human view, it is a reproduction of the reality that went trough the view of a lens, etc... that's why the lenses can produce our sense of aestheticism.
I won the local regional art prize purely because the judge said he hated paintings from photographs. I really did not know people painted from photographs. I get ideas from different artists and then compose from my imagination. Im really envious of you guys who have such technical skill. Do we paint to please ourselves ? Or do we please our audience?? Im a weird Francis Bacon type. Self taught but im told I have the gift. You are amazing so much so you disturb me. As all I can do is what I do. As I simply paint in a hectic state.
Yes you are so right as the judge who chose my painting and said he hated paintings from photographs. I looked at his work and it is hyper real and looks like it's from a photograph.
In my opinion painting from photos, is good, if i have a landscape, i know what colors I`m gonna use. I store in my PC dozens of them, for my next projects. See in the screen of my PC the subject that I´m to paint, Plein air painting, is hard for me. In pace on my studio, I`ve all the time to think and prepare. It all depends from our plans, in what we paint.
Great video! In fact I think I will watch this several times and write down the conceptual differences between painting from life and painting from photo so that I always have them handy so I can check my work. I really want some of those concepts on paper like DaVinci would have done.
Go and see the Art of Guillermo Lorca Garcia (in my opinion one of the best contemporary painters) he work from photographs actually he make the composition first on photoshop and then he paints everything
It's not just being able to pay for live models but it's also access to them when I feel like painting. I have a very different schedule where I can be up all night the model would have to live with me so I could paint when I want to paint. It does get difficult when I don't have the chance to take the photo. It sucks when my customer provides what they want painted and the lighting is terrible and there really isn't good shadowing on the face, some having the lighting removing a lot of the details...
It's funny you should bring up this point, because this just happened to me. Previously, I was doing some really good work, that I was proud of, but this with this particular photo, suddenly, I lost any talent that I had ever had. I see now that the quality of the photo just wasn't very good, and the highlights bled over into the lights. I had no idea that painting from a photo was sacreligeous. But when you've attending art schools in Italy like you have, maybe it seems that way.
I mainly paint wildlife and landscapes and not a fan of plein air. If I attempted portriats I couldn't afford a model and if I had to rely on my imagination or memory to paint in detail and realism I would be doomed.
Draw and paint from life if you can by attending workshops. They are not super expensive, but even those add up. The rest of the time it is fine to draw from photos. Honestly, just carrying a sketchbook and drawing people around you in public goes a long way to improve observational skills. Improving observational skills and anatomy helps drawing from photos: you use photos as reference armed with knowledge rather than simply copying mindelessly from a printout.
If you want to paint from a photograph, then do so. the hell with everybody else. Paint with your heart paint what you want and do the very best that you can with whatever subject matter you use.
I think it would be more evil to place rules on an artist and potentially hold them back than to be an artist that chooses to create from a source that they wish to.
Could John Singer Sargent make it today painting today’s hyper-busy clients from life? Could he find people willing to actually sit for a portrait? I think they might think of a way to “get it done--quicker & less convenient.” Consequently, probably talk themselves into having a pro portrait photog do it.
Money is such a consideration. I can't even afford to photograph what I want to paint. I want a live horse with dramatic studio lighting dripping in diamonds and fresh flowers. I want to paint exotic birds crowed together in a still life with cut crystal perfume bottles. I want to paint beautiful women standing on ornate staircases with crowns made of crystal and holding jeweled swords. So yeah, been waiting for AI photos to stop messing up hands and faces. Soon, my painting dreams will be reality :)
It sounds like you have some interesting ideas and a unique style. If I may give unsolicited advice, why don’t you have AI create the general scene you want, as a reference, and then use free photo references of hands and faces? That would get your work out into the world
Please enable the subtitles for Spanish because I miss a lot of the things you say and I would like to understand them more thoroughly. My English is quite basic. Thank you. 😅
The energy of a photograph is the same energy/vibration as the person, and this includes their name. And this is how energy clearings are possible through visualization. A thought is an energy. The body gives power to energy through the mind and creativity. And a portrait is the combined energy of a person and the artist.
It kills me make sure page from the beginning to the end with the brush. See myself you dirty your paint by dipping to the original job before mixing, please help us to understand. Thank you
Beware of what you purchase from Scott, few weeks ago I purchase a few painting courses, however one of the links Scott sent me to download the video, was defective and I couldn't download the full course, I've been requesting new links, but due to the only way how I can communicate with Scott is through email or his website, and I haven't received nothing back from Scott honestly I'm very disappointed with his customer service, if Scott can't send me the link, I would like my money back.
Wow. Where do I begin? I almost blew by this video thinking why bother? I have enough controversy in my life, I do not need more. Politics, Religion, Sports- certain topics are not worth opening their Pandora's boxes. I am glad I did not dismiss this video and I am glad I listened to your advise to wade through until the end. Just as with tough meat some things are better cooked slow and low- much like your reflections on the subject. To carry the metaphor further, that tough meat rendered soft and palatable in the end will yield far more flavor just as your digestion of this complex issue does in the end. I think there is more to be learned. After all, we are simply con artists. We want to sell an illusion of reality. Some would say capture reality but in the end we are trying to fool the viewer that they are seeing a three dimensional object on a two dimensional plane using various pigments and materials to do so. There is more science and more psychology (some would use the word art) to be discussed. The science is easier for me to hit on first. The lens focal legnth that more closely mimics the human eye is 55mm (image sensor size will vary this). The best f stop is probably 5.5, again depending on distance and lighting but you want a certain amount of blur or out of focus (bokeh) to happen across the face- the near eye should be a slight bit sharper- it helps sell the form. Everything tack sharp is hard on the brain- we do not know what we are to pay attention to. As part of our illusion, we need to sell our message of the painting. Make it easy for the viewer to walk their eye through the painting bringing it back to and all elements supporting the focal point of the painting. Here in lies the floor where color theory and composition all dance. I better stop because this is a deep debate Dude. I am just a neophyte to all this and am fascinated by the science behind it. In my life, I hope to be able to do both-paint from life and photographs both will be tools on my palette. I would have liked to have learned more specifics about the limitations/advantages so as to not try to drive a nail with a screw driver. So much to learn. I am sure there are many Mozarts and composing at age 5 and turning out master works by high school that just intuitively can do this very complex art form without over thinking as I do. I am jealous but I am also grateful for the challenges art provides- it has made me more observant and appreciative, anchoring me in the here and now. One more thing, in case there is anyone that has gotten this far- you tip toed over the emotional attatchment that happens with a live-breathing person before you. I am glad I apparently am not alone. That deserves discussion. How to compartmentalize your feelings yet also get your feelings in your paints and on the canvas without tearing out your heart and possesing your mind. It ain't easy. Thank you
Scott…so much chatter….second time requesting: I’d like to hear you talk about your strategy for value and temperature as you paint a portrait. Do you find any consistencies! For starters a go-to process: Do you follow the portrait, a planes of the face or just wing it? You seem to start with the eye? I’m guessing you mix the flesh tones on the fly. Did you use-ta-have more organization? I guess I’d like to hear you verbalize your thought process of painting decisions rather than hearing about your life experiences. I like your painting skills, but RESECTFULLY I’d like to see and hear more quality teaching. Thanks, Grandma Mary!
While the rest of the 'ART world' is making videos about competing with 'AI', I now watch videos about photography and painting. I think that the influence of photography on painting should not be underestimated, with the rise of photography you see a clear shift in art, they got a big competitor, especially for portrait. As a result, they just started painting 'differently'. And those who chose if they wanted a portrait for a photo, did not lose sleep over the differences that exist that you all mention. For me the end result is the most important, probably also for the buyer. The last argument about painting from photo or 3D is, in my opinion, a completely wrong view. What do you see, that is light reflection on your retina, is your retina 3D, no, and if I am correctly informed it is still reversed, your brain turns it around, where is this 3D now? It all happens in your brain, your brain recognizes it as a photograph, just as your brain sees it is a life size photograph (or painting) of a real person. Many thanks for your videos about your wonderful work.
I have saved a lot of time and money by working from photographs, and I now save even more money using AI-generated imagery as some of my reference images. It's a great time to be a photorealist artist! That said, I totally agree with you about the magic of working from life in comparison with using photos (except for those commissions of diseased relatives and pets - yeurgh!!) I say use both, and whenever you can, choose from life if it suits you.
as an artist you should be able to use whatever tool, source, camera, lens, camera obscurer, view, projector or what ever to make art. AI is creating new source material for artists...so who cares...it is the final work that matters....that is why artists from renaissance kept their techniques and methods a closely guarded secret...and people died who attempted to disclose...it all is a means to the ends.
Oh yeah, in artscamworldwide, you Casey a lot of things, you Casey artist dont going to their workshops and not making refounds, artists that get paid but never deliver the paints/illustrations or prints, etc. There's a lot you Casey, people getting rich at scam costs, if you know what i mean 😆
Yes, you’re evil if you paint/draw from a photo that your client provided you of their beloved someone who has passed. To not be evil, you must ask them where that person’s tombstone is and paint that from life. And if you want to be even more virtuous, you must dig up their graves and paint the inside of the coffin - FROM LIFE!! (or death, in this case) Oh damn, it’s not from life. The artist never wins… 😔
😂😂😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I love this one Scott! Especially the 'if anyone tries to stop you from making art ......them!
My advice, use the advice that you want to use and try to completely block out any thoughts that get in the way of you making art. I went to art school and unfortunately ended up with way too many opinions from other people bouncing around in my head that simply ended up getting in my way. I wanted to do things a certain and would feel like I was not painting the way of the "real artist". Now that I'm older, I realize that any thoughts that might prevent me from picking up that brush is unworthy of occupying space in my head.
I like to carefully plan out my paintings. I had a decades long career in 3D animation, so I use my 3D software to help plan out my paintings. I use after effects and photoshop to build a prototype image and use a printed version as reference. That's how I like to work. I also really like Waddell's lectures and methods. I've been making art for over 50 years and every day I want to learn something new and improve my technique.
First: excellent video as always, yours is some of the best oil painting/art content on the internet! The focal lengths that mirror the human eye are 35mm on a crop frame camera and 50mm on a full-frame camera, you can also mostly eliminate bokeh by shooting with as small of an aperture as possible to give you a deep depth of field. I paint pretty much exclusively from photographs for a couple reasons: first, I've got ADHD and there is no way that I can focus on painting when all I can think about is how uncomfortable it is to sit or lay in one attitude for an extended period of time. One thing that photography gives you that you just cannot get in real life: capturing organic, candid, beautiful moments that only exist for the barest fractions of a second, you get to capture those like lightning in a jar. The models can't usually consciously make those "micro-expressions" much less hold those lovely glimmers for any meaningful length of time (they are literally only there for like 1/160th of a second). Another reason, is I like to "layer" art: I enjoy the photography as a whole separate aspect of the piece. So I design and make any practical makeup effects, do the lighting design, etc., and have the shoot. So the reference photos themselves end up as art that I could exhibit (some photos I keep as photos and exhibit at galleries as their own thing) but it instead becomes part of the piece and for me makes the process that much more meaningful. Also, I'm particular about using the right model for the piece, and the good ones do not have nearly enough availability for me to paint from, as I keep weird hours and am an abysmally slow painter. lol
Beautiful comment 😁
nice
💯 yes yes yes
Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for the suggestions on how an artist can get better results from photos, when we have to work from them. Having children`s photos that have long since grown up, or photos of those folks who have passed on, you give great resourceful ways to compensate for the limitations photos impose.
Personally, I've encountered many artists with a strongly negative opinion about working from photographs... none of whom I was in the least envious of their finished product.
My own approach is to take literally HUNDREDS of photos of a subject, including numerous close-ups. I often ask them to hold tge general pose, while then animating their face in various ways, opening their eyes wide, looking slightly to the left, right, up, and down, etc.
I then study the fuck out of all those images until I really have a feeling for the 3 dimensional reality of their physical form.
But that's all technical.
Ultimately it ALL about the feeling
"If anyone tries to talk you out of making artwork...F--k 'em!" 👏👏👏 People who gate-keep painting and tell you that you're doing art 'wrong' drive me absolutely up the wall.
Artist should be able to use everything avaliable to them including technology. UNLESS those artists opposed to working from photographs are grinding stones for paint, grinding seeds for oil,they should reconsider and examine their own use of modern products that make their life easier.
You got that right. There should be no rules. Artist paint from their heart and their soul screw the rules.
Love your paintings and totally agree about painting from photographs.
💯 this!!!
“In CASEY you wanna BAUGH one of those workshops…” 😂
Insert: I understood that reference meme. 😉
Me too! hahahah lol, i was painting and just needed to rewind and watch his face while saying it! haha! what a funny dude!
Lol! I came to the comments to see if anyone else got it
I pegged you as a Jim Carrey fan ever since I found out about your channel and I couldn’t put my finger on it why that was (minus a similar speech pattern and expressiveness) but I felt kind of silly thinking it, this is from someone who went as the cable guy to a school party and proceeded to annoy the hell out of everyone too (including my parents because, one tv in the house had to endure his entire catalogue plenty of time over, and now I’m cackling in delight for being RIGHT! I feel so smug. Great videos btw, I’m finally learning how to oil paint and your videos help a lot with that.
I like the paint and shop talk sessions. It’s like sitting and painting with a friend…
I agree with you. Working from life is wonderful! Any idea that is and should be the only way is absolutely ridiculous.
As you said, there are reasons but mostly gatekeeping
I don't like who trace, that's another problem, but using photos... cmn we also had covid, we don't always have also the right place to work on it and I personally HATE to use a model because I feel obligated to do stuffs fast and I feel bad for having a person to stay still for hours, I'm too empathetic and feel them suffer...
Degas used MOSTLY photographs. It's something really stubborn and unrealistic to thinking you can't do art from photos.
my nightmare would be drawing from a live model. I would feel so rushed.
You are very funny. I hope the majority recognizes and appreciates it.
Great topic and discussion. I am a non-professional painter and still get questions/comments about whether it's from photo or from life. I want to but have been too polite not to ask people why they care if they can't even tell the difference (answer: sometimes). Probing further, people just think from life is "better" (a gentler version of "photo is evil") but they know nothing about the art-making process or color theory or art history or photography. No one yet has asked me whether I use a synthetic filbert or a flat bristle or whether I use real alizarin. For the most part, I think most are pawns in propagating a certain myth created by those who really believe it or are motivated to do so.
if its based on photo it means its not original. Photorealistic art isnt really an art, we will be able to program robots to use brush and thats it.
Please look up the great Chuck Close.
@@Cortesevasive Never read anything more stupid than your comment.
Among the greatest artists who have made the history of art and who are exhibited in all the most important museums all over the world, many of them work exclusively on photography or almost exclusively in it and many of these artists use pictures that aren't even taken by themselves but they use references from newspapers, other photographers, movies fragments etc. Among some of these artists that come to mind there are Marlene Dumas, Luc Tuymans, Francis Bacon, Gerard Richter... just to mention the first ones that come to my mind because the list would be endless if I had to mention all of them
@@liv0003 dude just flip the burgers and shut up
@@Cortesevasive I bet you've never opened an art book or even entered a museum in your entire life. So pathetic
I see no issue with either. But I would think certain scenarios would be hard to capture live simply due to time constraints. Capturing a landscape at a specific time of day, where lighting conditions and weather could change rapidly. Or simply the practicality of getting something like wildlife to sit still long enough. Then there’s fantasy subjects. You’re not going to get a dragon to sit still, but you can gather enough reference material to ground your painting in life and still execute the fantastical. Seems like a silly controversy.
Rockwell did it, along with most of the great mid-century illustrators like Elvgren, McGinnis, Fuchs, etc
I'm late to your page but I actually love the smooth tones and color shading you have. I'd like to know you pallette to get the tones you have and how you mix them. I would be considered an amateur under you but would love to know what colors you used for this particular pic thanks
This very much depends on why you paint. If you intend to be a professional artist then maybe what you say is valid. However, I'm a hobbyist and paint for my own pleasure. I do whatever it takes to get what inspires me onto a canvas or paper. I paint mainly landscapes, birds and flowers. I paint from photos and shock horror, if it's a complicated composition involving buildings and/or people, I trace the main outlines to help with proportion. Sometimes I use photos, sometimes I paint what is in my head. Good luck trying to get a bird to pose for hours so you can paint it from real life!
How I get my ideas and references on to my canvas is no one's business but my own, as long as I am not breaching anyone's copyright. If someone particularly wants one of my paintings, they are welcome to them, but don't criticize my painting methodology. My painting is my leisure, it's what I do to relax, and I refuse to impose any rules on my work, because that just creates stress and this is supposed to be for my own pleasure.
Anyone needing to watch YT videos on painting is by definition also an amateur, and I suspect they do the same as me. They just don't want to admit to it.
Tip: exchange reg paper towels for the blue shop towels :) They're much less linty and far more absorbent. They do a great job soaking up oil from your bush instead of having to use a the whole towel to smear off the paint. They're a little more pricey but I get a bunch of uses out of them and the low-lint situation means I can use them to wipe off a section of my painting without leaving lint.
I agree! Can't beat it I've tried another brand, that Don a pretty good job as well. But it had such a strong unpleasant snail that I can't bear to use them the blue shop towel it's great.
@@fayee8986what is blue shop towels? Where can i find it?
@@Mistiquexany auto parts store (Advance, O’Reillys, etc)
Another advantage of working from photos, videos or 3D models is the possibility of painting much more dynamic poses in action, mid-jump, mid-argument, figures dynamically interacting with each other.
Another disadvantage is that especially if you didn’t take the photo yourself, you don’t know what kind of face filters, color correction, skin smoothing, etc. was applied, most of which make planes look much flatter than they are in real life.
I think Leonardo da Vinci would use photographs as reference.
100%
I don’t use paper towels I think better to use rags old cotton sheets cut up into small ish size could be beneficial 5:59
Hey, Scott, I've been following you for years and even bought your very first (I think) workshop. It was a painting with an anchor? And...a piece of white fur maybe? I don't recall the whole thing but it's been a hot minute. Early to mid 2000's. Anyway, I thought I'd mention that I use Scott Shop Towels, the soft blue ones, and they don't seem to be linty. You can pick them up at any hardware or auto parts store or even Walmart.
It's such a toughie. I've worked from both and yes from life is a connection that can't be explained. Go out and see the scotch mist on the ground then take a photo... I don't know what gets lost but it does. Scotch mist, it disappears in minutes so without a photo...?
Loved your comments..you're hilarious!!
most of the great painters take pictures outside and then on the studio they use it as references.
many of the greatest artists who have ever existed work or worked exclusively or almost exclusively on photography, including many of them using photographs from newspapers or taken by other people not even by themselves. Among the many, the first that come to mind are Gerhard Richter, Marlene Dumas, Francis Bacon, Luc Tuymans and then there are many many others that I won't bother to list right now because the list will be endless
Ha ha, "corrupt your soul" love it, Love your video's.Cannot see that working from life will turn out to be a better painting than one from a photo, all depends on how good a painter one is, to me is just a form of art snobbery.
As with all your videos, this was extremely insightful! One thing not mentioned though, and that is for someone like me with an odd learning disability where the more anxious I feel the less information sticks. I’d love to be able to work from the live model, and I have tried- usually with understanding friends, but the feeling of “I need to get this quickly “ kicks in and believe it or not, the info is lost in a split second.
Awesome video! As far as the argument goes, no one tells someone that they're not allowed to paint because they have money, but saying that you can only paint from live is telling someone that they can't paint because they don't have money. A total asshole move.
I enjoy watching your videos. May I ask you to enable automatic subtitles in your channel? It will be a little easier for me to understand your speech. Thanks again for your great work!!!❤
I think Eakins denied using photos and after his death a stack were discovered that line up closely with at least some of his pictures. If you look at a photo as just a type of drawing you may find it easier to use references and make good pictures.
I watched a juried art competition years ago. Jacob Collins was a a selector along with Antonio Lopez Garcia, Odd Nerdrum and Gottfried Helenwein. Collins was clearly upset with a photo based painting being considered as a finalist. He and Helenwein went around and around, Nerdrum and Garcia also tried to walk Jacob back. He was clearly troubled, even upset.
“Don’t scroll ahead so I can make all that ad revenue” 😂
Hi Scott! Would you mind doing a video on preparing your panels/canvas? Not sure if you just go head onto your linen panels without prep or you still do some preparation work.
That reminds me I need to get new glasses. Because I realize that if I was to work from life now, I would have trouble seeing the "high resolution" from the distance, because my glasses are so old and worn. I need a bright high saturated screen in front of me showing me the reference photo.
We need to consider that the great master from the past largely used camera obscura to trace the drawing from models, etc..., in fact using camera obscura or trace a drawing from a photo is the same process.
But I believe it is important to create our suitable photos where we decide the lighting, the scenario, the angle, etc... we need photos and there is no way we can escape on that.
But the real school it is to copy from life, however if we only base on photos, we risk to become flat.
I think we need to understand also that when we take a photo with our camera, it is not a human view, it is a reproduction of the reality that went trough the view of a lens, etc... that's why the lenses can produce our sense of aestheticism.
Excellent play on words!
I have a suggestion, as a new wanna be painter can you make videos explaining what to use to start?if canvas or panels or wood or cheap canvas etc?
So good
Great video Scott. It is a difficult one
Hahahaja I love the “EVIL” in the thumbnail
I won the local regional art prize purely because the judge said he hated paintings from photographs. I really did not know people painted from photographs. I get ideas from different artists and then compose from my imagination. Im really envious of you guys who have such technical skill. Do we paint to please ourselves ? Or do we please our audience?? Im a weird Francis Bacon type. Self taught but im told I have the gift. You are amazing so much so you disturb me. As all I can do is what I do. As I simply paint in a hectic state.
Yes you are so right as the judge who chose my painting and said he hated paintings from photographs. I looked at his work and it is hyper real and looks like it's from a photograph.
It is possible to do a Good painting from anything.
Thank you for such an interesting discussion
U r really great artist ❤
In my opinion painting from photos, is good, if i have a landscape, i know what colors I`m gonna use. I store in my PC dozens of them, for my next projects. See in the screen of my PC the subject that I´m to paint, Plein air painting, is hard for me. In pace on my studio, I`ve all the time to think and prepare. It all depends from our plans, in what we paint.
Great video! In fact I think I will watch this several times and write down the conceptual differences between painting from life and painting from photo so that I always have them handy so I can check my work. I really want some of those concepts on paper like DaVinci would have done.
Why don't you enable subtitles? His technique of work is inspiring. Thank you
First time watching your videos. Very interesting I find your portrait beautiful. AR portraits the only thing that you paint? He-ey
Mr. Waddell, what colors did you apply in this painting??
Go and see the Art of Guillermo Lorca Garcia (in my opinion one of the best contemporary painters) he work from photographs actually he make the composition first on photoshop and then he paints everything
Karya seni yang indah..
Smoga sukses selalu..
Salam persahabatan slalu..
Indonesia hadir menyimak sobatku
Sensei, good video. Oops, gotta run...homework to do.
It's not just being able to pay for live models but it's also access to them when I feel like painting. I have a very different schedule where I can be up all night the model would have to live with me so I could paint when I want to paint. It does get difficult when I don't have the chance to take the photo. It sucks when my customer provides what they want painted and the lighting is terrible and there really isn't good shadowing on the face, some having the lighting removing a lot of the details...
Well said 😊
I've wondered about it myself can the professionals tell whether or not you painted a portrait by photographs are a model?
It's funny you should bring up this point, because this just happened to me. Previously, I was doing some really good work, that I was proud of, but this with this particular photo, suddenly, I lost any talent that I had ever had. I see now that the quality of the photo just wasn't very good, and the highlights bled over into the lights. I had no idea that painting from a photo was sacreligeous. But when you've attending art schools in Italy like you have, maybe it seems that way.
I mainly paint wildlife and landscapes and not a fan of plein air. If I attempted portriats I couldn't afford a model and if I had to rely on my imagination or memory to paint in detail and realism I would be doomed.
Draw and paint from life if you can by attending workshops. They are not super expensive, but even those add up. The rest of the time it is fine to draw from photos. Honestly, just carrying a sketchbook and drawing people around you in public goes a long way to improve observational skills. Improving observational skills and anatomy helps drawing from photos: you use photos as reference armed with knowledge rather than simply copying mindelessly from a printout.
If you want to paint from a photograph, then do so. the hell with everybody else. Paint with your heart paint what you want and do the very best that you can with whatever subject matter you use.
I think it would be more evil to place rules on an artist and potentially hold them back than to be an artist that chooses to create from a source that they wish to.
Either way is fine. However you choose to do your Art, it's Art.
I'm so poor, even my models are low res. Also, if someone offers to buy my work, I automatically assume it's a scam. Take that, scammers!
Could John Singer Sargent make it today painting today’s hyper-busy clients from life? Could he find people willing to actually sit for a portrait? I think they might think of a way to “get it done--quicker & less convenient.” Consequently, probably talk themselves into having a pro portrait photog do it.
less inconvient
Thanks man
Money is such a consideration. I can't even afford to photograph what I want to paint.
I want a live horse with dramatic studio lighting dripping in diamonds and fresh flowers. I want to paint exotic birds crowed together in a still life with cut crystal perfume bottles. I want to paint beautiful women standing on ornate staircases with crowns made of crystal and holding jeweled swords. So yeah, been waiting for AI photos to stop messing up hands and faces. Soon, my painting dreams will be reality :)
It sounds like you have some interesting ideas and a unique style. If I may give unsolicited advice, why don’t you have AI create the general scene you want, as a reference, and then use free photo references of hands and faces? That would get your work out into the world
Please enable the subtitles for Spanish because I miss a lot of the things you say and I would like to understand them more thoroughly. My English is quite basic. Thank you. 😅
Ty
Van-GEL-is, yep! 😊
What if its your own photography? Like Natalia Fabia uses photographs that she takes
THIS IS WERE YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING
The energy of a photograph is the same energy/vibration as the person, and this includes their name. And this is how energy clearings are possible through visualization. A thought is an energy. The body gives power to energy through the mind and creativity. And a portrait is the combined energy of a person and the artist.
Best is from video😊 when the model is at her home probably affordable tho😂
It kills me make sure page from the beginning to the end with the brush. See myself you dirty your paint by dipping to the original job before mixing, please help us to understand. Thank you
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
❤
🌹🌹🌹🌹
Beware of what you purchase from Scott, few weeks ago I purchase a few painting courses, however one of the links Scott sent me to download the video, was defective and I couldn't download the full course, I've been requesting new links, but due to the only way how I can communicate with Scott is through email or his website, and I haven't received nothing back from Scott
honestly I'm very disappointed with his customer service, if Scott can't send me the link, I would like my money back.
Wow. Where do I begin? I almost blew by this video thinking why bother? I have enough controversy in my life, I do not need more. Politics, Religion, Sports- certain topics are not worth opening their Pandora's boxes. I am glad I did not dismiss this video and I am glad I listened to your advise to wade through until the end. Just as with tough meat some things are better cooked slow and low- much like your reflections on the subject. To carry the metaphor further, that tough meat rendered soft and palatable in the end will yield far more flavor just as your digestion of this complex issue does in the end. I think there is more to be learned. After all, we are simply con artists. We want to sell an illusion of reality. Some would say capture reality but in the end we are trying to fool the viewer that they are seeing a three dimensional object on a two dimensional plane using various pigments and materials to do so. There is more science and more psychology (some would use the word art) to be discussed. The science is easier for me to hit on first. The lens focal legnth that more closely mimics the human eye is 55mm (image sensor size will vary this). The best f stop is probably 5.5, again depending on distance and lighting but you want a certain amount of blur or out of focus (bokeh) to happen across the face- the near eye should be a slight bit sharper- it helps sell the form. Everything tack sharp is hard on the brain- we do not know what we are to pay attention to. As part of our illusion, we need to sell our message of the painting. Make it easy for the viewer to walk their eye through the painting bringing it back to and all elements supporting the focal point of the painting. Here in lies the floor where color theory and composition all dance. I better stop because this is a deep debate Dude. I am just a neophyte to all this and am fascinated by the science behind it. In my life, I hope to be able to do both-paint from life and photographs both will be tools on my palette. I would have liked to have learned more specifics about the limitations/advantages so as to not try to drive a nail with a screw driver. So much to learn. I am sure there are many Mozarts and composing at age 5 and turning out master works by high school that just intuitively can do this very complex art form without over thinking as I do. I am jealous but I am also grateful for the challenges art provides- it has made me more observant and appreciative, anchoring me in the here and now. One more thing, in case there is anyone that has gotten this far- you tip toed over the emotional attatchment that happens with a live-breathing person before you. I am glad I apparently am not alone. That deserves discussion. How to compartmentalize your feelings yet also get your feelings in your paints and on the canvas without tearing out your heart and possesing your mind. It ain't easy. Thank you
Scott…so much chatter….second time requesting: I’d like to hear you talk about your strategy for value and temperature as you paint a portrait. Do you find any consistencies! For starters a go-to process: Do you follow the portrait, a planes of the face or just wing it? You seem to start with the eye? I’m guessing you mix the flesh tones on the fly. Did you use-ta-have more organization? I guess I’d like to hear you verbalize your thought process of painting decisions rather than hearing about your life experiences. I like your painting skills, but RESECTFULLY I’d like to see and hear more quality teaching. Thanks, Grandma Mary!
While the rest of the 'ART world' is making videos about competing with 'AI', I now watch videos about photography and painting. I think that the influence of photography on painting should not be underestimated, with the rise of photography you see a clear shift in art, they got a big competitor, especially for portrait. As a result, they just started painting 'differently'. And those who chose if they wanted a portrait for a photo, did not lose sleep over the differences that exist that you all mention. For me the end result is the most important, probably also for the buyer. The last argument about painting from photo or 3D is, in my opinion, a completely wrong view. What do you see, that is light reflection on your retina, is your retina 3D, no, and if I am correctly informed it is still reversed, your brain turns it around, where is this 3D now? It all happens in your brain, your brain recognizes it as a photograph, just as your brain sees it is a life size photograph (or painting) of a real person. Many thanks for your videos about your wonderful work.
I have saved a lot of time and money by working from photographs, and I now save even more money using AI-generated imagery as some of my reference images. It's a great time to be a photorealist artist! That said, I totally agree with you about the magic of working from life in comparison with using photos (except for those commissions of diseased relatives and pets - yeurgh!!) I say use both, and whenever you can, choose from life if it suits you.
Is this style not hyperrealism?
"Saturday school"....as a punishment? lol, my school was 6 days a week. Saturday school was the norm.
as an artist you should be able to use whatever tool, source, camera, lens, camera obscurer, view, projector or what ever to make art. AI is creating new source material for artists...so who cares...it is the final work that matters....that is why artists from renaissance kept their techniques and methods a closely guarded secret...and people died who attempted to disclose...it all is a means to the ends.
POR FAVOR ACTIVA LOS SUBTITULOS
do whatever client want until they give you money
I solved this problem when i started to receive money for comissions ....
I unfortunately am embarrassed to have been scammed by the antagonist of bokeh.
it's ok i'm evil person...
Scott, why didn't you quit your crappy job and work as a model? one hour for one hour! Great video as always.
I will never understand this. Why would it matter what you’re looking at while painting? 🤷🏻♂️
Lol 😅
Oh yeah, in artscamworldwide, you Casey a lot of things, you Casey artist dont going to their workshops and not making refounds, artists that get paid but never deliver the paints/illustrations or prints, etc. There's a lot you Casey, people getting rich at scam costs, if you know what i mean 😆
i must say that you got me with this video, recommending that Instagram page was a noble labor. My best regards Waddel!
What kind of snobbish art group did you hang out in? Renaissance artists only worked from real life because they didn't have photography yet?? XD
velasquez used the photograph
is this gy crazy
I really wish there was more painting and less talking...