Reference photos are raw material, not the end result

I encourage artists not to copy photos slavishly. I rarely portray a photo exactly as it is without making artistic changes. Even when doing portraits, which have to be accurate to the subject, there are usually ways to change and improve what is in the photo. Very few photos are perfect just the way they are. When creating artwork out of my own inspiration (not commissioned by a client) I make all sorts of creative changes.

A photo inspires me,

it doesn't dictate to me.

Here's a good example of what I mean by that. My artwork was inspired by this photo of a Whippet puppy by Jordan Goldblatt....

Here's the finished artwork, "Fast Prey". The autumn leaves suggested the leaf in the puppy's mouth, which gave the artwork a story: the puppy has been chasing a leaf....and he caught it! I didn't see any need to include that entire background of leaves. The viewer's eye fills in the rest of the story. Placing the Whippet on grey made his beautiful brindle coat pop. (Plus all those leaves would've been a heck of a lot of work. 😉)

I use reference photos as raw material, not the end result. All it takes is a little creativity and imagination. That's the difference between an artist and a copyist.

"Fast Prey"

🎨 Prismacolor pencil on “Felt Grey” Canson Mi-Teintes paper, 20 x 26 inches.

Photo by Jordan Goldblatt.

Available as a 12 x 16 giclee print:

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