I am not sure how much of this thread I have read, but I know I should go back through anyway.
I am wondering, am I asking too much from myself when I think that I should be able to paint a figure from a photograph(s)? I feel like I have a much easier time working from life. I used to use a grid to plot out the larger drawing on a large canvas from a small photo, but I felt 'blind' doing this in comparison to working from life. Of course, painting after plotting it out went pretty smoothly.
Lately I've been trying to use my methods for painting/drawing from life when working from a photograph... I use a ruler to measure distances, multipy as needed, compare angles in my reference and on my canvas, etc. But, I always have a whole lot to correct all along the way and it is very frustrating. I have this problem mostly when doing a figure as opposed to a portrait.
Maybe some of the issue is that I am working from too small references? When working from life, I keep my drawing/painting the same size as the subject appears from where I am. Maybe I should try to blow up my references to life size. Ideally, I should get more real people in here to work from!
OK, sorry about the rant... I've been doing a lot of that lately.
