Painting from life: Pre-photography.

I feel, for me, that painting the human figure from life is the best way I can express myself. Is it better than working from a photograph, I will let others judge.

The direct experience in painting from life is almost inexpressable. You are not painting an interpretation of a thin sheet of paper or a digital image but from an interaction with a real live human being. It is difficult, expensive and frustrating. The reward is something that may be light years beyond the original concept, something that takes flight in our imagination that is not shackeled so often to re-imaging the photographic source.

It is a difficult thing to do, it requires many years of dedicated training and work to be able to paint or draw the human figure with any degree of ability. Our culture does not allow this today but celebrates the shortcuts and calls it 'personal expression', no matter what kind of garbage or personal neuroses is displayed upon the canvas. We have lost the quest for exquisiteness in our work.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Pre-photography.

Before we had the unfortunate crutch of the photo- artists really had to learn how to paint well. Really well. Now we can keep going back to the photo until we think we get it right. The photo never really changes- it may fade and in time fall apart, but for the most part the image remains the same. Of course maybe the artist has changed, maybe not.

Todays excuses:

A: Models are too expensive- of course artists in the past must have been much richer.
B: They fidgit and move, they are alive. If a model is lousy get a new one. I never start a major painting unless I test out my model on some small drawings first.
C: I can get more work done with a photo and faster . Yes you can- but is it better. Quantity has never meant quality.
D: I can get a more accurate rendering. Just post the photo.
E: The poses are boring and repetitive. Below are some lively figurative painters.

Boucher
http://www.google.com/search?q=boucher&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivnsulb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=c838TfeXL-Xg0QHLt4GrAw&ved=0CGQQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

Rubens
http://www.google.com/search?q=boucher&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivnsulb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=c838TfeXL-Xg0QHLt4GrAw&ved=0CGQQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

Veronese
http://www.google.com/search?q=Veronese&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8c38TabtAqPY0QGxsuS2Aw&ved=0CEIQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

Fragonard
http://www.google.com/search?q=Fragonard&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=J878Tfy9B-rZ0QGJv4SxAw&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

D: Painting from life lack expressiveness. I love this one as we are all brought up to think a portrait has to be smiling. Cheese everyone. Yet these masters acheived delightful painting in the past from life. Maybe we have not learnt how to paint well enough as yet. Look at the work of these painters.

Judith Leyster
http://www.google.com/search?q=Leyster&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7c78TdjILOGO0gHFtdXaAw&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

Frans Hals

http://www.google.com/search?q=Frans+Hals&hl=en&pwst=1&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7IRFA_en&prmd=ivnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Os_8TaWlLajW0QHOo_ikAw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=848

Murillo

http://www.paintinghere.com/uploadpic/Bartolome%20Esteban%20Murillo/big/Murillo_A_Girl_and_her_Duenna.jpg

Hogarth
http://www.abcgallery.com/H/hogarth/hogarth32.html

In New York, one of the biggest new slimeball (that takes chutzpah) movements is painted over photographs.

I am beginning to hare ALL FORMS of current realism- give me Rousseau- at least he was honest.

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