Skip to main content

The Gossips, A Lesson Painting, Part I

ABOVE and BELOW: Both in process views of new painting "The Gossips," 9" x12", Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, available for purchase. I anticipate finishing this painting later today or tomorrow - pleaseemail me if you are interested in purchasing.
A couple weeks back I asked on Facebook what sorts of critters you wanted to see me paint. Cows were an overwhelming favorite, and one follower went so far as to send me some fabulous reference photos.
Doug Nelson is a phenomenally talented photographer, with gallery representation and plenty of experience shooting reference photos for his artist wife. I was beyond delighted to have his blessing to paint from a few of his bovine photos (please see below for more information on working from photographic references).
I'm kicking myself for not capturing this piece's underpainting - the top 1/3 was a luscious violet, which you can still see peeking around the cows' toplines. The middle was a swath of orange, and the bottom a rich ocher.
Overtop those layers, I began sculpting the forms, using loose brushmarks, building generic shapes. And I gradually am working to tighter marks and more distinct forms - but I never completely cover up the yummy colors that started it all off.
Ok, back to work! This one is truly a good time!!
Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family,
Kim

Using Photo References

Did you know that artists MUST have permission from the photographer in order to use their photos as references in the creation of an artwork?

Regardless of where you find the photo, whether it be in a magazine or online or someplace else, you must first obtain the photographer's permission.

No exceptions. Ever.

This goes for copying paintings/other artwork, too, even if you are doing so as a learning exercise. (It's also worth noting here that copies made for learning purposes should be clearly marked as derivatives by titling them "After so-and-so." It is also unprofessional to exhibit copies or present them as your own original work.)

Lifting an image - photographic or otherwise - and copying it in any manner without the originator's permission is stealing.

I have this conversation regularly with my students and on many online forums/groups.

It's simple.

Ask. Permission. First.

You only have one reputation.
Labels:

Comments

  1. martinealison3:33 PM

    Très joli travail... Un beau troupeau aux couleurs qui m'enchantent... gros bisous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kimberly Kelly Santini4:09 PM

    Thanks, Martine. I'm looking forward to sharing the finished version with you! :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,   Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.   Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?   And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.   And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue  their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...
33 comments
Read more

Picture Book "A Dog Named Blue" - now available!!

The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," now available from Blurb publishers. When I first painted Amelia I never imagined that she would be re-christened "Blue" and inspire a book. In her defense, Amelia had a number of other partners in crime - animals who's portraits seemed to fall into a specific color category and prompt color-centric names. In typical ADD fashion, my brain started spinning 100mph. What if I turned those muses' paintings into a picture book for animal loving kids? I shared my idea with three friends in the industry, and they eagerly offered their expertise. I am truly indebted to them. Illustrator and author Matt Faulkner and children's book author and literacy expert Kristen Remenar edited an early version of the draft. They suggested key plot/conceptual changes that made it oodles better. Designer Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson worked her magic, pairing the images with perfectly color...
1 comment
Read more

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me .  Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po...
Post a Comment
Read more