[ReNae Stueve]

Well,

I've read all of the posts here thus far. Mike O., I'm with you on Stanka's thoughts. The mention of how we poor aspiring artists might pick up bad habits by using photos is what has moved me to express myself.

I use photo aids. I have never considered this "copying" the photo. I'm not a xerox machine. I'm rendering life. The photo is a drafting aid. No more.

The fact that I see things in a different way than one who is not prone to our craft is what makes me...prone to my craft. Does that make sense?

Much of my work is done completely without models. My angel series is a good example. But I did take various fabrics and drape them in order to get a realistic rendering of how that particular fabric reflects light, etc.

There is no end to the resource material in National Geographic (more photos). Portraiture, (although I've only done 4 to date) is the same. I use a photo as a reference and paint the living person. Anyway, I can go on.