I've found that a regular camera with a 50mm lens does a better job of taking reference photos. Also, I feel that taking a photo from 10 feet or more back, reduces lens distortion, while a photo taken within 6 inches of the subjects face gives you the needed details for a close to life size portrait. So both are needed I feel. I also feel that the painting should be less than life size when working from photos. Also, determining the direction of the main light source and temperature of that main light source (warm or cool). really helps.
Try the following trick: instead of making photos, shoot a 4K video of your model posing. Then you have thousands of single frames, many of which are absolutely natural and convicing. Often the frames make the difference between a believable, great glance and an unnatural one.
Shooting your own references is a crucial step once you master the painting process and decide to even use your painting skill commercially. But honestly, it does come with the need to investing some money depending on the level that you want your references to be or on the type of photographs. If you do nude figure paintings, for example, you will need most likely a professional model. Or if you shoot in raw, you will be needing software that can edit this format, which mostly isn't available for free.
Hi Chelsea! This video was so inspiring! Ok, so here are my questions: Which camera do you use? What is the lens you use? How do you get your photos off the camera and into Photoshop or in order to have Walgreens print them? Is that. the order you do this in? Can you do a video on Photoshop of the helpful tools to know when using photoshop and how to use them? I did watch your video in the bootcamp, but I feel like I need more assistance to understand step by step, more slowly and for what purpose. Like if you can do an actual video on how you are doing these steps? Thanks Chelsea!
Thank you for this video and for the clarification at the beginning about only painting from your own photos or copying [my word] other folks' photos and calling it "referencing" More importantly, if artists never or rarely do sketches that mix and workout composition then we don't develop our technical "hand" or "eye". I'm in my 60s, we rarely had the means or resources to access tons of photos, digital photo editing or the tech to see photos taken with a camera (or phone) instantly. We were forced to sketch everything, even from photos and other printed materials. I many of those instances it was simpler to just create your own reference sketches from life, live models and still lives...
me thinking you were gonna talk about how pintrest punishes people for saving pins that they consider against the community guidelines, even though you arent even the person that uploaded it and they served it up for you to see. and often times it is a perfectly non violating photo. but instead, its just....you can paint better from photos you take lol.
You are absolutely right good reference is crucial and I’m not going to lie I’ve clicked Pinterest and then gone off the tangent to paint with big headache to get family or friends to pose for me….
Chelsea, love your show, but I'm not a portrait artist, mostly do landscapes. But as you know every genre demands good drawing skills. Landscapes, done outdoors, require this cuz you can't "cheat with a projector" in a studio, for example, the way so many "artists" who do wildlife or portraits do. You, of course, do not. Anyway, yes if you are a pro like you who needs to do portraits for a living you need the best possible reference, particularly if working from photos with kids for example, doubt they sit still long!! LOL. I don't have any good cameras anyway! So, I get my ref stuff where I can for quick head sketches done as "drawing practice for the eye". So, I feel if I can do a portrait well, I know I can draw and paint anything, Any Darn Thing, I want to! I sometimes just cruise the you tube for images, and use those a reference, such actors, political figures, famous figures from history, or a model that other artists are working from, etc. I did not even consider Pinterest images until you mentioned it, so I will check that out too. Thanks, and keep doing well. Later.
For some stuff is not a bad idea. For example you need a victorian livign room background... it is unfeasible to take your own reference, but generatign soem 50 AI images to get Ideas of furniture is very doable.
Models cost money. And what if you don't have family or friends? Many of my closest friends have moved on to fight evil in the next dimension. I'm on fixed disability income. You have no idea how easy you have it.
Exactly 👏. Paying models is very expensive, and not everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of relatives or friends who are willing to be models. So this suggestion may only be valid for a portion of the population but not for many others
there are so many options man. street photography, urban sketching where you draw people or whatever from life. or just using photos off pintrest anyway. so many options.
You got me. After promoting Pinterest as a tool for artists for so long your title had me very interested. Was it intentional click bait? Can’t say I’m not a little disappointed. I’d have watched if the title said it was about reference photos and not Pinterest at all, and the content is useful. I still feel tricked in clicking though.
I spent so much time on pinterest, I can recognise it immediately when an artist used a reference from there for a portrait 😅
Sameee. 💀💀💀
It would be interesting to watch you take one of these photos through the whole process; Lightroom, transfer to canvas, and the painting process.
I've found that a regular camera with a 50mm lens does a better job of taking reference photos. Also, I feel that taking a photo from 10 feet or more back, reduces lens distortion, while a photo taken within 6 inches of the subjects face gives you the needed details for a close to life size portrait. So both are needed I feel. I also feel that the painting should be less than life size when working from photos. Also, determining the direction of the main light source and temperature of that main light source (warm or cool). really helps.
Try the following trick: instead of making photos, shoot a 4K video of your model posing. Then you have thousands of single frames, many of which are absolutely natural and convicing. Often the frames make the difference between a believable, great glance and an unnatural one.
I'm in a kind of marathon mode with your videos Chelsea 😂. Thanks for the great education you are freely sharing with us!
You nailed it! Exactly what I need to here! Thanks for the kick in the back side.
Shooting your own references is a crucial step once you master the painting process and decide to even use your painting skill
commercially. But honestly, it does come with the need to investing some money depending on the level that you want your
references to be or on the type of photographs. If you do nude figure paintings, for example, you will need most likely a professional model.
Or if you shoot in raw, you will be needing software that can edit this format, which mostly isn't available for free.
There is a free editing program called GIMP. It was recommended by a pro photographer friend. It's quite good.
Exactly
Hi Chelsea! This video was so inspiring! Ok, so here are my questions: Which camera do you use? What is the lens you use? How do you get your photos off the camera and into Photoshop or in order to have Walgreens print them? Is that. the order you do this in? Can you do a video on Photoshop of the helpful tools to know when using photoshop and how to use them? I did watch your video in the bootcamp, but I feel like I need more assistance to understand step by step, more slowly and for what purpose. Like if you can do an actual video on how you are doing these steps? Thanks Chelsea!
Thank you for this video and for the clarification at the beginning about only painting from your own photos or copying [my word] other folks' photos and calling it "referencing"
More importantly, if artists never or rarely do sketches that mix and workout composition then we don't develop our technical "hand" or "eye".
I'm in my 60s, we rarely had the means or resources to access tons of photos, digital photo editing or the tech to see photos taken with a camera (or phone) instantly. We were forced to sketch everything, even from photos and other printed materials. I many of those instances it was simpler to just create your own reference sketches from life, live models and still lives...
me thinking you were gonna talk about how pintrest punishes people for saving pins that they consider against the community guidelines, even though you arent even the person that uploaded it and they served it up for you to see. and often times it is a perfectly non violating photo. but instead, its just....you can paint better from photos you take lol.
You are absolutely right good reference is crucial and I’m not going to lie I’ve clicked Pinterest and then gone off the tangent to paint with big headache to get family or friends to pose for me….
Very good info. Made a lot of sense. Thank you!
I really appreciated how you, not the model, moved. Perhaps someone could take a photo shoot of YOU!!!!!
right, Chelsea is highly photogenic!! : )
This is fascinating ☺☺
I adore your work and love your advice and instruction! Thank you for such a wonderful art channel! ~
Chelsea, love your show, but I'm not a portrait artist, mostly do landscapes. But as you know every genre demands good drawing skills. Landscapes, done outdoors, require this cuz you can't "cheat with a projector" in a studio, for example, the way so many "artists" who do wildlife or portraits do. You, of course, do not. Anyway, yes if you are a pro like you who needs to do portraits for a living you need the best possible reference, particularly if working from photos with kids for example, doubt they sit still long!! LOL. I don't have any good cameras anyway!
So, I get my ref stuff where I can for quick head sketches done as "drawing practice for the eye". So, I feel if I can do a portrait well, I know I can draw and paint anything, Any Darn Thing, I want to! I sometimes just cruise the you tube for images, and use those a reference, such actors, political figures, famous figures from history, or a model that other artists are working from, etc. I did not even consider Pinterest images until you mentioned it, so I will check that out too. Thanks, and keep doing well. Later.
Good lord the pinterest thing is the worst, hundreds of drawings of the same pictures over and over and over
Thank you.
"Sitting on your easel for months, unfinished". Who let you in my house?😂
🙌🙌🙌
For a second I was afraid you were gonna say use AI to get a reference
If you have no other option, then using AI to get a reference is fine.
@@barrythawn3083 Its never fine
For some stuff is not a bad idea. For example you need a victorian livign room background... it is unfeasible to take your own reference, but generatign soem 50 AI images to get Ideas of furniture is very doable.
@@tiagodagostini Not acceptable, simply by using AI you are giving them attention and money, hurting real artists and also the environment
😄
Oh it is 1000% better but i disagree that 'most painters' can access this, we don't all have people able or willing to create good reference from
Models cost money. And what if you don't have family or friends? Many of my closest friends have moved on to fight evil in the next dimension. I'm on fixed disability income. You have no idea how easy you have it.
Exactly 👏. Paying models is very expensive, and not everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of relatives or friends who are willing to be models. So this suggestion may only be valid for a portion of the population but not for many others
there are so many options man. street photography, urban sketching where you draw people or whatever from life. or just using photos off pintrest anyway. so many options.
@@devernepersonal3636 you're assuming an urban environment. Not as many options as you imagine.
@@devernepersonal3636 and rural folk aren't as trusting as city dwellers.
@@devernepersonal3636 you assume too much.
i still have no idea why people still use pinterest when we mostly all have a phone with a camera that would get us reference photos
You got me. After promoting Pinterest as a tool for artists for so long your title had me very interested. Was it intentional click bait? Can’t say I’m not a little disappointed. I’d have watched if the title said it was about reference photos and not Pinterest at all, and the content is useful. I still feel tricked in clicking though.