3 Strategies that Produce Good Reference Pictures for Painting - Painting & Drawing Tips

Spring Weather is Here!!! 

While it's here today anyway.  Hopefully it is here to stay.  

This is the time when you grab your camera and start taking pictures for new works.  Everyone has a camera now, thanks to Apple.  And of course those cameras are clicking steadily.  

Closed for the Season - Watercolour, 16 x 20 Matted $550

But are you getting good reference pictures that you can work with?  

As a Wildlife artist I am constantly looking for wildlife and settings that would make for a nice place to put my wildlife.  Why am I looking for settings you ask.  Well, I find birds and animals don't always pick the best spot to be photographed.  A bird perched on a wire is not as interesting as one on a branch in the forest.  But its the birds on the wire that sit the longest for those good shots!!

Needless to say, I have tons of Reference Pictures. But when I go to paint with them, I realize many are useless.  Here are some of things I found very helpful when taking my shots.  

3 Strategies That Produce Good Reference Pictures

1.  Good lighting: Take reference pictures on a sunny day to get great shadows to work with.  Sure you can see all the details in a picture on a gray day but when you paint it, it will be flat.  Those shadows bring things to life.  

Two Seagulls: one with shadow patterns one without.  

Here you can see two Seagulls. (I have reduced them to grayscales for better evaluation)   The one on the left is clear, every detail can be seen.  It has been shot in low light conditions, probably a gray sky.  The seagull on the right has sunlight and shadows. Not all details are clear, some are buried in the shadows.  But which seagull catches your eye.  The shadow and light on the face of the seagull on the right has a strong contrast that grabs and holds your attention.  That's what you need if you want a bit drama in your work.  

2.  Stay away from the noon day sun.  Early morning and early evening gives lovely cast shadows that add interest and unity to your work 

Bright sunlight directly on the subject really washes it out.  

The bright sun washes out the colour as well as many of the shadows that add depth to your subject.  

Ducks in the evening Sunlight

Notice how the ducks have interesting shadows and lights that catch your attention.  And the late afternoon/evening light although bright is not so harsh as to wash out their colour.  

Tulip in the early morning light

This single tulip has soft interesting shadows that makes interesting eye candy for the eye.  

3.  Take lots: Zoom in and out and with the same light direction.  This can be a real game changer for you.  Often you see a great subject and snap a few pictures.  But the problem starts when you go to paint it.  

Some of the Reference Pictures needed for the painting. 

I was well underway with my painting, Closed for the Season.   I had a good little picture of a birdhouse and Towhee but then I stalled.  I realized my snow on the branches was not working and the branches weren't really right either.  Fortunately it was snowy here at the time (we actually don't get much snow and it usually melts so fast you can't find any on the branches)  I went for a walk and really looked at snow on branches and the kind of branches and underbrush I needed for my background.  And of course took more pictures. You can see the finished picture at the top with the changes I made.   

So take pictures of not only the subject but zoom out a bit and include the surroundings.  Try and keep the angle of light the same.  The vegetation and bits of things in the area may be just what you need to finish off your background or foreground. 

Have fun with your Photos, your work will definitely reflect this extra knowledge of the surroundings. 

Awesome Opportunity - 2 Artist Retreats in the Shuswap

June 23-26 or September 15-18, 2023

Join me for 4 DAYS of Outdoor Sketching, nature walks, deck and beach time, creative conversations, gourmet meals and simply relaxing 

Your Hosts, Joanne Denis and Myself
Cost: $450 single room or $300 shared room
Art instruction, transportation (from Lower Mainland), meals and lodging included (Bring your own art supplies.  

Space is limited to 8-10 attendees, Register Early 

  Contact Wendy for More info

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

The Trouble with Photo References - Painting and Drawing Tips

It was one of our West Coast Snow Days.  
2 - 3 inches of snow on the ground, cloudy sky and rain ready to fall to wipe out the snow.

SHORT-EARED OWL: ON THE PROWL - Nearly ready for my Up Coming Show on March 6-8 

I was out in the park with my grand-kids.  I snapped a few pictures.  They were Awesome.  (Well, they are my grand-kids).  But really they were good.  The lighting was just right.  No shadows, great colour, wonderful clarity. The portraits I took were soooo cute.  I was thrilled. 

But they were No good for drawing or painting . . . .

Why not??      No Shadows. . . .

Take a look at these shots of a young barred owl.  My grandson found him on the trail and took me out to see him.  It was really neat to see this young owl just sitting on the branch watching people go by on the trail.  I took a few shots of him.  

Young Barred Owl on the trail - Photo

Yes, got a clear image.  Yes, got lots of details on his feather patterns.  You can even see his claws peeking out from his feathers.  But there are no shadows.  Nothing to give drama to the painting. The painting would be a good rendering of the owl.  But nothing to really grab the eye and command its attention.

Take another look at my Short Eared Owl: On the Prowl at the top of my page. Even though he is not finished -  Notice how the shadows on his face command your attention.  The darks in his feather pattern move your eye down his body but the darks in his face keep you going back to it. This adds a little tension to the picture.  Creates a sense of movement. That strong contrast of dark and light on his face commands your eye's attention.  These things all add that extra piece of drama. 

Maybe you wont want that drama in the drawing of my grandson.  He is very cute and could probably hold your attention on his own but for other things you might want more. 

Getting shots with that extra bit a drama does take time.  Early morning or late in the day are my favourite times.  The sun is at an angle and the shadow patterns tend to be more interesting.  I do a few test shots and check my angle.  Then I click away.  You never know when they will move.  I found if I wait and wait to click, it is usually too late.  Sure clicking end up with lots of shots but  . . . they are easy to delete. If I am lucky there will be 1 or 2 I can use.  

Once you have the shot, the story doesn't end there. There are other issues to deal with.   Often I take my bird or animal and put them into a new setting.  And as you suspect, integrating my subject into a new environment has its own problems. If this is part of your story too,  I suggest the following for further reading:

Integration Part 2: Art Tip - Multiple Reference Photos - putting your subject 'into' the environment
Getting the RIGHT Reference for you Wildlife Painting - things to think about when selecting a photo to work with

Time for a Photo Shoot - going on a Photo shoot

COMING UP FAST!!!!

March 6-8, 2020 - The West Fine Arts Show
In support of Langley School District Youth Homelessness Initiatives
Friday March 6, 7-9pm              Saturday March 7, 11-7pm              Sunday, March 8, 11-5pm

 Peter Ewart Middle School, 7755 202A St, Langley BC. 

 Yes, I have teamed up with this great show event: 22 Professional Artists, Awesome Art, a show you shouldn't miss.  Looking forward to seeing you there. 

Art by Wendy Studio/Gallery is always Open

Looking to move your Drawing Skills to the Next Level?

Book a 3 Pack of Private Lessons with Me - 3 Lessons 2.5 hr each $225

Drawing/Painting lessons in graphite, ink, watercolour, watercolour pencils or coloured pencils Or any combination of these.
Flexible Schedule, at my Studio/Gallery, N. Surrey. 

Gift Certificates Available 

My Etsy Store is always OPEN: Etsy - WendyMouldsArt

Originals, Prints, Commission Work and Instant Printable Cards for all Seasons available.

Be sure to like and share my posts to keep me coming into your box, 

You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

Make those Pictures Count – Painting & Drawing Tips

Are Your Painting Studios bursting at the seams with Reference Pictures?

Your Online Memory sagging with the numbers of Picture Files you have?

Mine are.  

Yet many of them are useless! 

My Petunias last summer looked like great companions for my Hummingbird Painting

As many of you know I spend a week with Robert Bateman and a group of wildlife artists, a year ago, discussing the ideas embedded in creating our art.  Those ideas have been percolating ever since. One of the big things I realized was I was collecting lots of pictures of birds and animals that I saw in my travels but not paying enough attention to what was in my reference pictures.  Getting information on their setting was a big area of weakness. This year I have been photographing settings for my wildlife as much as my wildlife itself. 

What does photographing the Setting Mean . . .

Sounds simple eh?  Not so I realized.  First, I really needed to look at the setting and determine who/what wildlife would be there.  That means more specifically ‘where’ would they be.  If it is a bird, where on the branch, stump, fence post, bucket would he sit.  Now if your bird/animal is obliging enough to sit or stand in a great spot, by all means shoot it.  But they just don’t seem to always do that for me.  I often end up with a great picture of my subject but not in a very interesting location. 

Adding another flower makes an interesting setting for my humming bird flying by

 Focus on who will be there . . .

In the old days I would just shoot pictures of the location but later find them lacking in information. By shooting shots with specifics in mind, I am finding my reference material is way more informative.  Note my shot of petunias in the garden.(see above)   I can picture the hummingbird coming up to the flowers from the right.  The angles are good for her to dart around and try each of the blooms if she likes.  The shadows and lines of the post and leaves provide lots of interest to frame the picture.

Taking a horizontal view, adding another bloom and now a good setting for a chickadee or crown sparrow

Don’t forget the size . . .

Animal lovers are just like sailors.  A sailor knows his boats and if you paint a picture that has the rigging wrong you are in big trouble.  Animal lovers are the same - that hummingbird must be in the right place and the right size.  That also means keeping in mind which plane in the picture your bird will be in.  The Front Petunia is obviously in the foreground.  My hummingbird is in the mid-ground so the size would be comparable to the back petunia. 

Of course petunias are a little more obliging then other flowers as they come in different sizes. This means that you have a little more leeway with your bird to flower ratio.  One thing Bateman did to check his size ratio was drop his camera case into the picture. Later he have an accurate sense of the size of things for placing his wildlife.  See my post "The Story of a Painting" for an example of how this can work. 

  Zooming in on the setting and really picking the spot where you animal/bird will be really helps in getting the size right.

Cropping my petunias gives me another way of integrating my Hummingbird into the Picture.  Here having the correct size becomes very important.

Watch your shadows . . .

Where is your light source?  Would your bird be in the shadows, sunlight, or mixed.  I often look for a mix setting for my birds. When I place my bird/animal in the setting I can have a piece of the shadow from a branch or leaf crossing over it. That bit of shadow on it makes it a little more interesting to look at and also integrates it better into the setting.  One of Bateman's favourite lighting for reference pictures is a back-light. If all the reference material has the same lighting it makes for a much easier integration of subject and setting.  

I have worked out my picture and started to paint.  Sorry, you will have to wait til next week to see which picture reference I used.  

Do you have special strategies for taking your reference shoots?  I would love to hear you thoughts on tricks to use.  

My Etsy Store is always OPEN: Etsy - WendyMouldsArt

Originals, prints and Instant Printable Cards for all Seasons available. Special Note:  Instant Digital Valentine Cards are now Ready - Print, Fold and Give.  They are great for Pet Lovers, featuring Cats and Dogs - of course Max was my inspiration for the dog drawing!

Special Opportunity Coming Up:

Marketing Workshop - Let's Get Your Art Out There!!  

Sunday, Feb 24, 2019  10-3pm with Wendy Mould, AFCA

Need a focus for your Marketing Strategy?  Unsure where to start, where to head next? Marketing takes so much of your time away from the Studio, learn where to focus your energy and ways to maximize your time.  At the end of the day you will have plans and be ready for Action. 

 Cost $84 Tx Incl  

Working with Wildlife Artist Wendy Mould, AFCA bridges the gap between the Entrepreneur and the Artist in the Marketing World.  Contact Wendy to Register. 

Artists reading this post also find the following valuable:

3 Ways to Turn Drawing Despair into Action here

Drawing a Seagull Part 1 and Part 2 Starting here
Playing with a Very Limited Palette here

 Be sure to like and share my posts.

You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy

Time for a Photo Shoot- Painting & Drawing Tips

ARE your gloves, toque and scarf ready to go?

At this time of year the rains start.  It is cold, wet, gray and dreary.  For many it is depressing.  Not enough light.  Where are the Vitamin D capsules.

But it doesn't have to be that way . . .

THE NEW APARTMENTS - Lots of secret hideaways can be found in the dark corners of the forest

Get your gloves, toque, scarf, rain gear and for me the best invention ever - waterproof runners.  Head out and see a different world: spidery trees silhouetted against the storm gray sky; angry clouds swooping down over the rolling farm land; busy squirrels scurrying along the fence.  There is lots happening even though it is gray and dreary.

THE JOY OF SOLITUDE - framing the shot but still including lots of foliage information 

As many of you know I have a young dog, Max.  Let me tell you that gray, dark and dreary doesn't stop him.  (Well, actually add heavy rain and he really starts to wimp out).  But at any rate, he wants out for walks, every day.  We head out at least twice a day for at least 40 minutes each.  So I know, there is lots happening out there even when you think all is still.

PRETTY BUT POISONOUS - Names for future paintings POP into mind, when I am drawing from my experience

This is really a great time of year for artists. . .

Getting good Reference Material is tough.  I know you can hop on the internet and surf away, but painting from your own experiences, brings more emotional involvement into your work.  New adventures translate into more enjoyment for you, new inspirations, new directions, and better work.

THE HIDEOUT - Set my aperture speed so colours were rich and warm, rather than washed out as they would have been on Auto Focus

Max and I went on a photo . . .

It was AWESOME.  We have had a week of cool rainy weather, great for the mushrooms.  I grabbed my camera and Max and I headed out to Tynehead park. (the old wooded section, for those that live near here) It was wet and dark tramping through the trees yet surprising pretty.  Many of the leaves were down, so the ground was covered with rusts and golds, the long, straggly moss was clearly visible draped from the trees.  But more exciting of all was the mushrooms.  Max and I found lots of them.

THE FAIRY VILLAGE - I try and step back to get lots of location information when shooting my subject

THE FAMILY GATHERING - I zoom in, zoom out, try different angles.  You never know when you will capture that special shot. 

Some things I think about when shooting:

- change my camera settings to see what looks good.  My Auto Focus was gray but when I used the Program Mode and changed my Aperture Setting (closed up the light getting in) I got lovely golds and browns in my pictures.

- shoot my subject as closeups but also zoom out, try different angles.  Collect information on the setting that could be added to a drawing or painting.

- kept myself Open to new subjects.  Who knew I would find so many different kinds of mushrooms once I really started to look for them.  I photographed 10 different types on that one trip.

What was Max doing ?. . . .
You probably are wondering what Max did while I was kneeling on the ground, straddled over logs, squatting down behind trees.  He was being the most wonderfully trained dog I have ever seen!!  When we found our first mushrooms, I was so excited I drop the leash and started shooting.  He stood around, wondered a bit, but basically stayed within a few feet of me, dragging his leash.  He trained himself.

MAX - He is becoming the Greatest Artist's Companion!

There are great spin offs from every Photo Shoot and not all are predictable. . .

- I have, of course, already started to enjoy a few random sketches of my mushrooms

- My students have already expressed an interest in drawing and painting them.  I can't wait to try some of them in pencil

- Naming future mushroom paintings will be easy as I am already bubbling with names and painting ideas. (see last post on The Naming Game.)

- A new series may be born: one that might not have any wildlife in it but then again, maybe it will.  I wonder what kind of wildlife would be wondering by a mushroom.

- Writing and talking about my mushroom paintings will be easy, my adventurous day already has some great memories to infuse into my talks.  

For me the life of an Artist is more that just working away in the studio, what about you? What else do you do?

Wendy's Work is always available on her website:  "Art by Wendy" & at her Etsy Store: WendyMouldsArt

Opportunities Coming Up: 

1.  Nov 1, 7:30-9 pm,
The Secrets of Graphite - Thursday Night Art Talks with Wendy Mould AFCA, CDM.  Surrey Art Center, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey.
Learn how to make magic with pencil - Artists have been doing this since 1564.

2.  Thursday, Nov 22-Saturday, Nov 24. 
Paints'n Bloom Workshops & Art Show & Sale in Support of the Alzheimer's Society of BC
Gardenworks at Mandeville Gardens, 4746 Marine Dr, Burnaby

Workshop Day: Tuesday,  Nov 20
10-12pm - Beginner Watercolour Class
1-3pm Christmas Card Making Class
$40 ea. All supplies incl. Beginner to Advanced Welcome
Registration Happening Now Contact Wendy 

Artists reading this post also find the following valuable: 

How to find the Right Sketchbook Friend - here
Is Your Sketchbook Ready for You? - here
Have You Felt the Freedom of the Line? - here

 Be sure to like and share my posts.

You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email or Like my Facebook Page.

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy