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I have something to add to this photography argument but I am having some trouble organizing my thoughts about it. I do want to say that 1. it takes a lot of self-confidence to paint a realy good portrait from life and 2. an artist is not going to get that self-confidence from strictly photo work. That fact alone should convince artists to put the time in to paint from life. I think bravery (foolhardly or useless as it may be) is a very big component of being an artist.
Many of the artists I know that do excellent work from photos are also very good draftsmen and do excellent life work.
I think that people in our society are inured to seeing themselves in photographs to the extent that the photographic image is more real than any dubious 'reality".
I also think that models and friends are much, much easier to paint than clients, for a variety of reasons. I frequently draw clients in my studio in charcoal and they figure out after the first hour or so that I am the one having all the fun, they are suffering, and furthermore, they have to pay me.
I personally am trying to figure out a way to do entire paintings from life for clients which are not in the "loose oil sketch" category ot flashy painting.
Oh, that Bourgereau! Incidentally, if there are any satyrs out there reading this who would like a portrait painted from life, please contact me. Now, that would be fun!
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