I paint from photographs

[Chris Saper]

Dear Karin,

I am in complete agreement with you and David.

It is necessary for us as portrait painters to invest the time, first, painting from life, so that it is possible to understand the nature of color, value, and edges, for these are the three primary ways that the camera lies to us. It is just as necessary to invest time in learning how to produce the best photographic references possible, so that photos become useful tools instead of items of slavery. Even the painter who insists on only painting from life will be faced at sometime with a request for a posthumous painting. He or she will face nearly insurmountable obstacles in accepting commissions of young children.

In "Painting Beautiful Skin Tones with Color & Light" I have devoted an entire chapter to using photographic resources effectively. When I was writing this book I was warned that I would face some level of derision from the "experts" if I supported the use of photographs. So be it.

To me it is a great disservice to beginning painters to insist that they only paint from life. Such insistence may work beautifully for full-time college or graduate or art-school students who have live models and studios at their fingertips daily. Or for those painters who do not need to otherwise support themselves or their families financially.

For those of us fortunate enough to paint full time, I feel that we we should encourage painters to be the best they can be, understanding that each person's circumstances and path may be different. Your path does not need to be my path to be valid. There is room in this world for more than one path. after all we are all after the same result: the best work that each of us can produce.

Best Wishes, Chris