[Michael Fournier]

First off, I did not mean that we should paint only from life and I know at times it is necessary or preferred to work from photos for many reasons. And of course a certain amount of photographic competency is required to take reference photos. But I just can't see going to the extremes of setting up a portrait photography studio in order to get reference photos. I do not hold anything against artists who work from photos. In fact, one of the artists whose work I love and whom I actually went to visit recently is Zhuo S. Liang http://www.liangstudio.com/index.html He works from photos for his portrait work and I feel he is a fabulous artist. But he did spend many years painting from life as well.

As for my own work, a link to my web site is listed in my profile if you want to see it. I have only a small sample of my work there now and most of my most recent work is not yet online but will be soon. Also, the address and directions to my studio are listed there as well.

I am not sure if the inquiry as to where my work could be seen was a challenge to my competency as an artist or my knowledge. But the link to my site has been in my profile since I first became a member of this site.

Here is an excerpt from my previous post.

Now, I am not trying to say I have more experience then those who have posted on this topic before or after me. And I have a long way to go in my own work before I would consider myself a master. It just seems to me that all this time spent learning to be a portrait photographer could be better spent learning to be a portrait painter. All you need is a canvas, your paint, your eyes and a subject lit by natural light. And of course many hours of practice.

My intention was only to add another viewpoint without making any assertions that anyone else was wrong or that I had the only or better way.

Michael, as to your inquiry "How do we capture in a painting, that moment which exists outside of our studio?"

Well, photo reference is one way. Also sketches is another and a good memory combined with the other two is yet another. And in the end it is by combining all these with years of experience and many hours of drawing and painting and then, hopefully, we can create just such a painting as you describe.

I doubt that you would get that one single photo that captures exactly the composition, lighting and pose you want. And most certainly knowledge of portrait photography involving back and fill lighting, strobes, umbrella flash units and reflectors would be of little use in capturing reference that is fleeting. But most certainly good drawing skills, sketches and a thorough knowledge of anatomy and composition would be indispensable.