Finding models resource

Janel Maples · 05-11-2005, 06:29 PM

It is a sweet deal.

There Kim, I saved you $110.00. If we ever get to meet in person, you buy first round.

; )

Kimberly Dow · 05-12-2005, 10:39 AM

You got it!

William Whitaker · 05-15-2005, 11:21 PM

The One Model Place is indeed a wonderful resource and I use it all the time. It

Janel Maples · 05-16-2005, 09:40 AM

Thank you for adding that, Bill.

It must have been in a different place that I mentioned I found a wonderful young model only 15 minutes from my home who is willing to pose live (and nude) for me. I am very excited about this summer (she is in college at the moment) because I am in desperate need of the experience of painting from life.

I just came back from the PSOA conference and one thing that hit me hard (sometimes I am a slow learner because so many have said it so many times) was that I will never capture what I am looking for in my paintings if I don't do myself a favor and commit to painting from life on a regular basis. I have two commissions I am working on and I am going to ask that my subjects come sit for me.

If I could only say one thing about the conference (and I could say a lot) was that there was a "spirit" about the paintings from life that I can not find the words to explain. All I know, is I don't have it in mine........and I want it!

William Whitaker · 05-16-2005, 11:03 AM

Janel,

I am the world champion slow learner. If there is a dumber way to do it, I have tried it out.

Most people work from photos not only for convenience, but because they think it is easier. Once your drawing skills are adequate, that is simply not so. It is then easier -- and better -- to work from life whenever possible. All you have to do is paint what you see.

There is indeed a spirit that you can only see from life. Portraits from life are alive!

So many contemporary "realistic" portraits suffer because they are painted from photos.

In the last quarter of the 19th century, many painters turned to photo reference for their paintings and their work looks pretty lifeless to us today.

Janel Maples · 05-16-2005, 11:22 AM

Well, I have made a promise to myself to do it. And, I am prepared for my work to take a turn for the worse before it gets better. This is a very weak area for me, I measure EVERYTHING. But I am willing to accept that if it happens because I know, at least for me, I will never capture that "drama" as Simmie Knox put it at our SOG dinner, in my work without painting from life experience. So, if you see my stuff in the future and wonder "what happened to her?" you will know why.

; )