Joe “The Artist” Paints & Sketches

Photographs and Painters.

Many painters use photographs for inspiration.  However, relying on ONLY one photograph for a particular scene, severely limits your creative spirit.  Wildlife painters in particular must rely on photos, as the animal population must keep on the move to stay alive.  In creating a scene for one’s painting, sometimes it’s necessary to do what Julie Chapman explains in her article in Artist’s Magazine.[1]  Julie wanted to show several things in her painting: a protective wild stallion of his mare, a lack of interest on the mare’s part, and a good view of the surrounding landscape. In this regard she took three photos from which she was able to generate what she had seen in her mind.  The three photos are shown below, as is the final painting. 

In addition to the use of the photos, it is best to also make thumbnail sketches of what’s in your mind at the time of the photo shoot.  This allows you to keep the impressions of the scene which may not occur to you later in your studio.  Again, photos are a reference, and not the end result.

Fig. 1-3 - Photos Taken by Julie Chapman

Fig. 4 - Final Result - Julie Chapman