We put a lot of pressure on artists (on ourselves) to be original. We think we should be able to turn that blank canvas into something no one has seen before, something totally authentic, illuminating and wondrous. Truth is, people aren’t very good at being original. Inventing totally new things from scratch is nearly impossible for us. What we’re really good at is taking something and altering it slightly. Copying is one step, altering slightly is the next.
Use photos as a jumping off point. The painting must be allowed to be it’s own image, not confined to match the photo. If you find yourself saying “I copied the photograph perfectly, so my painting must be good,” check yourself.
Below is a blog post illustrating how some impressionist paintings were born from photographs. Photography was new then, and likely very exciting. It caused painters to question what the point of painting was, if an image could be captured in a click. It also allowed painters to play with a new tool, which ended up changing how they recorded moments, movement, and how they established compositions. For example, Degas’ hazy figures, some cut off at the edge of the frame, to my knowledge did not occur until photography hacked them off with the shutter click.
You can see how the painters used the photographs as inspiration, collaged them, altered them, and the painting was made “original” from that process.
Wherever you are in this process, enjoy it.
[image_with_animation image_url=”1185″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In
FAMOUS IMPRESSIONISTS COPIED PHOTOGRAPHS
Source: http://www.fogonazos.es/2006/11/famous-painters-copied-photopraphs_06.html
No invention of the Industrial Revolution influenced Impressionism more than the camera. Most of the Impressionists had cameras and experimented with their new images. Photography inspired impressionists to capture the moment, but did you know that some of the most famous paintings of Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec or Paul Gauguin were inspired on an original photograph? Here you have some interesting examples:
Today’s SEQUENCE challenge: Create an instructional that no one will ever need. #howtodoeverything Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #howtodoeverything so we can find your post. To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post: #30sal #howtodoeverything #mansplain …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9160″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Siobhán Wilder, Indian Alley, oil on panel, 10×8″ League painter Siobhán Wilder was chosen for an online critique through Clara Lieu’s Art Prof site, which now offers critiques for artists. Clara Lieu is an adjunct professor at RISD and the critique was given by Lieu’s associate Lauryn Welch, painter and performance …
Every January, the League sponsors a 30 day creative challenge open to all of you everywhere, working in any media. January 1-30 we’ll post a daily creative challenge to V. Notes on our website. V. Notes subscribers will receive this post in their inbox every day at 7am PST. To receive these challenges in your …
Impressionists and Photography
PAINTING FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
We put a lot of pressure on artists (on ourselves) to be original. We think we should be able to turn that blank canvas into something no one has seen before, something totally authentic, illuminating and wondrous. Truth is, people aren’t very good at being original. Inventing totally new things from scratch is nearly impossible for us. What we’re really good at is taking something and altering it slightly. Copying is one step, altering slightly is the next.
Use photos as a jumping off point. The painting must be allowed to be it’s own image, not confined to match the photo. If you find yourself saying “I copied the photograph perfectly, so my painting must be good,” check yourself.
Below is a blog post illustrating how some impressionist paintings were born from photographs. Photography was new then, and likely very exciting. It caused painters to question what the point of painting was, if an image could be captured in a click. It also allowed painters to play with a new tool, which ended up changing how they recorded moments, movement, and how they established compositions. For example, Degas’ hazy figures, some cut off at the edge of the frame, to my knowledge did not occur until photography hacked them off with the shutter click.
You can see how the painters used the photographs as inspiration, collaged them, altered them, and the painting was made “original” from that process.
Wherever you are in this process, enjoy it.
[image_with_animation image_url=”1185″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In
FAMOUS IMPRESSIONISTS COPIED PHOTOGRAPHS
Source: http://www.fogonazos.es/2006/11/famous-painters-copied-photopraphs_06.html
No invention of the Industrial Revolution influenced Impressionism more than the camera. Most of the Impressionists had cameras and experimented with their new images. Photography inspired impressionists to capture the moment, but did you know that some of the most famous paintings of Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec or Paul Gauguin were inspired on an original photograph? Here you have some interesting examples:
[nectar_image_comparison image_url=”1190″ image_2_url=”1191[nectar_image_comparison image_url=”1192″ image_2_url=”1193[nectar_image_comparison image_url=”1194″ image_2_url=”1195[nectar_image_comparison image_url=”1197″ image_2_url=”1196 Paul Cezanne [nectar_image_comparison image_url=”1198″ image_2_url=”1199
Paul Gauguin
2. Paul Cezanne
3. Toulouse Lautrec
4. Vincent Van Gogh
5. Edgar Degas
Coming soon: More examples from Toulouse Lautrec, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and more!
Original post: http://www.aloj.us.es/galba/MONOGRAFICOS/LOFOTOGRAFICO/POSTIMPRESIONISTAS
Related Posts
Day 25: How to do Everything #30SAL
Today’s SEQUENCE challenge: Create an instructional that no one will ever need. #howtodoeverything Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #howtodoeverything so we can find your post. To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post: #30sal #howtodoeverything #mansplain …
Siobhán Wilder’s Critique
[image_with_animation image_url=”9160″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Siobhán Wilder, Indian Alley, oil on panel, 10×8″ League painter Siobhán Wilder was chosen for an online critique through Clara Lieu’s Art Prof site, which now offers critiques for artists. Clara Lieu is an adjunct professor at RISD and the critique was given by Lieu’s associate Lauryn Welch, painter and performance …
Nikki Barber: Rocks, Trees, and Places I’ve seen
Opening reception: Saturday March 9th 6-9pm Show runs: March 9th-31st Editions Studios 6520 5th Avenue South #114, Seattle https://www.editions.studio/thestudio Find Nikki Barber: Facebook Instagram Website League Classes & Workshops
30SAL Challenge 2022
Every January, the League sponsors a 30 day creative challenge open to all of you everywhere, working in any media. January 1-30 we’ll post a daily creative challenge to V. Notes on our website. V. Notes subscribers will receive this post in their inbox every day at 7am PST. To receive these challenges in your …