Source Photographs for Painting

Several years ago painting using photographs as source material was frowned upon. These days probably most artists use some photographic reference material but quite often once back in the studio this material falls short of the requirement in a number of ways.

One particular failing is that the coverage of a standard camera lens is insufficient for the requirements of a painter. This failing can be easily overcome once it is recognised. Here is a single photograph taken using a camera fitted with a standard lens -

The picture is fine so far as it goes but it would be nice to know what lies to the left and right of this scene.

One possible way out would be to use a wide angle lens. This would certainly improve the coverage but it would introduce distortion which unless compensated for would make a finished painting appear a little odd. It would be difficult to define the oddity but it would be there and detract from the finished painting.

A better way is to take several overlapping pictures and then fit them together to make a composite whole. This can be done by making a number of prints and cutting them to fit together and then pasting the sections onto a single support.

The method I use is to ‘stitch’ the different photographs together using computer software. This also allows some experimentation with contrast and colour.

Here is the above example extended in this way –

you can see how much better this version is.

Next week I will continue with some pointers on sketching prior to starting a painting.

Until then, take care.

Tony