Friday, May 22, 2009

Photos for reference



I was looking at a basket of orchids that were given to me 2 years ago when my dad died. They were so beautiful, I was hopeful they would survive. They have thrived outside my studio window. In the deepest shade, getting all the humidity Florida has to offer. I photographed them for reference for future paintings. Several years ago I started photographing our kitchen concoctions. I would then add the photo to our family cookbook, makes it seem legit, hard evidence.
This spring our vegetable garden has produced such a variety and quantity of foods that I wanted to record it. The camera has been in the kitchen taking pictures of green beans, peas, herbs, ruby chard, and tomatoes. Photo! A dear friend brought a pot of parrot tulips to us for our graduation party. Photo! After Christmas I painted a picture of the fruit that arrived from an aunt in Phoenix. Some pears and apples, instant still-life, but I can't paint as fast as it ages so...photo! Lemons, limes, oranges from the trees in the winter. Photo!
I am not always in sync with the garden or with whatever would lend itself as subject matter. (I found out during a painting class that tulips open when exposed to light. The still life kept changing over a two hour period. A Disney nature film before our eyes.) I may not need the reference for years, but I have it recorded. A photo!
P.S. If you have an etsy.com store keep it going. This morning Good Morning America did a story about artists/crafters who have had great success on the site. Free publicity for the site and your work. Must get that updated myself.
http://www.niftyartgirl.etsy.com

5 comments:

  1. Wonderful post. I'm with you on the photos. Now that photos are 'free' (no film to buy or pay to process), I take a lot more photos. Sometimes 50-60 a day.

    Also like that you showed your photo and your charming painting. Nicely done!

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  2. Thank you. Sometimes the only memory I have of an event is the image I see in the photo. That sure is telling.

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  3. Digital sure has made it easier, I too take many more photos now. Love the cat portrait and your style of painting the floating people.

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  4. Wow, I don't think I knew that about tulips - here you'd think a flower would hold still to be painted!

    I have envy of your vegetable garden. Mine is just getting started this year.

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  5. Thanks for showing the painting that came from the photo. I love what you did with it.
    Tulips actually keep growing after they are cut. They are one of my favorite flowers to photograph and once after spending a day photographing some tulips, I came back the next day to find them longer and even more expressive than the day before. I confirmed this with a florist friend. Amazing!

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