Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Are "celebrity" portraits from photos valid?

David Dowbyhuz · 11-15-2001, 10:38 AM

Without allowing myself to be drawn into the hopeless morass of life-painting versus photos, let me make some observations.

I suspect a large number of us trying to break-through struggle with devoting time to their art. The constraints of family, modern life & earning a living often leave very little "personal time". (There are few pursuits more self-absorbing than painting.) If I can find 5 hours a week (yes FIVE), I'm doing really good. Purists may deride, and suggest I give it up until I'm able to "be serious", but I hope most of you are more sympathetic.

So, I AM left with "giving it up", or using photos. All painters develop a keener eye than non-painters. (You know, there are only TWO type of people, don't you? Those who paint, and those who don't.) Then, where's the crime in using your god-given, painterly honed, skills of observation to interpret and paint MORE than the eye can see?

By necessity I am (until retirement) bound to my camera and other 2D sources!

11-15-2001, 10:38 AM	#7
David Dowbyhuz Associate Member Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 123	Without allowing myself to be drawn into the hopeless morass of life-painting versus photos, let me make some observations. I suspect a large number of us trying to break-through struggle with devoting time to their art. The constraints of family, modern life & earning a living often leave very little "personal time". (There are few pursuits more self-absorbing than painting.) If I can find 5 hours a week (yes FIVE), I'm doing really good. Purists may deride, and suggest I give it up until I'm able to "be serious", but I hope most of you are more sympathetic. So, I AM left with "giving it up", or using photos. All painters develop a keener eye than non-painters. (You know, there are only TWO type of people, don't you? Those who paint, and those who don't.) Then, where's the crime in using your god-given, painterly honed, skills of observation to interpret and paint MORE than the eye can see? By necessity I am (until retirement) bound to my camera and other 2D sources!