I'm glad you took the time to write, Michael.
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As for Zorn's use of B/W photos - he took them himself with the subject in a pose and composition of his choosing, and these photos he used were supplemented by life.
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Yes, he often supplemented them by painting from life, but to my knowledge, he always edited and composed to the canvas. He used photos to get perfect values in his paintings, and a general layout, not to mechanically transfer the subject
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And his best work was painted from life and not from photos at all.
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It's a matter of taste, I guess. I, and many others up here, think his best paintings were his bathers, where he did use photos.
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If you think that a even a good portrait painting could be produced from this photo then kindly prove it to me - find a professional portrait artist that will take this commission based on this reference alone. I would love to see the painting.
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You'll never find any initials after my name, but I would do it for $500, 16" x 18" or so. It's really only a two day job.
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I would like to know where you get the idea that good planning of composition and proper reference are not important.
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The composition is handed to you in the photo, and it's a dynamic one (I spelled out the minor adjustments). There are three main values in the picture, which is all you need for a succesful picture. If you need a photo to come up with a decent flesh tone, you shouldn't be a portrait painter.
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This still will not solve the problems of the lighting which is most important in any painting, or the fact that the baby's leg is cut off. Also the fact that pulling off the changes you suggest without any new reference and without doing some sketches of the subject from life would be incredibly difficult. In the end, it would still, even with the most skilled artist, produce a less then desirable painting.
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This is very, very simple stuff. Anyone that claims to be a portrait artist can do those changes I mentioned in their sleep. The only hard part would be painting those enormous glasses... seriously.
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The artist who is posting this photo is not even close to the skill of Zorn yet you would have him go ahead with this painting that even a artist as skilled as Zorn would have a hard time pulling off.
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I saw the painting of the girl in an orange hat. He would do fine (I'm not trying to embarrass the guy). Best of all, the commission giver would be thrilled, and the world would be spared another painting of a cello.
I'm sorry for the eye strain, I can't figure out the proper quote function.
John