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Author Messages Oldest First Newest First Dehoux Posts:5 04/01/2007 12:28 PM Alert  I am totally new to this site. Please excuse me if I am posting a totally ridiculous question. I was wondering where or how  you get your inspiration to paint something. I never "know" what to paint, I see paintings here and there and think "I want to paint that" but why don't I think of it. Is it bad for someone to repaint a painting for practice? And what about using photographs, is it okay to use a picture from a magazine and paint it? I want to paint lions, elephants etc., I do not live anywhere close to a zoo so where do I get my photo references from. Do I have to ask permission to paint them lets say if I was to sell one? My drawings are very good, I've had people ask to buy them but I don't cause they are not from my "head".  Please advise me... Materese Posts:123 04/03/2007 4:40 PM Alert  Inspiration is a deeply personal thing for all artists and you can't force it, it comes to you. Copying the work of others is a very trickly matter. If you're only doing it for practice, and have no intention to put it in a show, on your website or to sell it, that's fine. As an artist, by definition, you should be creating your own work, not copying others. Sell the drawings "from your head", they are much more valid (and legal) than anything you would ever copy. Materese http://www.ghostwoodstudio.com ArtRiver Posts:12 08/26/2007 7:56 AM Alert  If you need subject matter, go to www.wetcanvas.com. There are copyright-free photos to use as reference. Artriver ArtRiverStudio.com galfriday222 Posts:8 08/26/2007 9:25 AM Alert  I like to go to Goggle Images and print dozens of whatever I'm after at the time. Sailboats, flowers etc. Keep a folder of anything that catchesmy eye from magazines, photos and other paintings. I often compile one picture in to another i.e. birds in to another scene of farms, mountains or water. Alston Posts:19 09/05/2007 8:19 PM Alert  I am also new to this site, but have read it for some time and see that people are nice about sending you photos that they have taken themselves. You might try just asking. Workinforwood Posts:17 09/06/2007 6:28 AM Alert  There is a small blurr in copyright law where any images you want can be used if only for purely educational purposes. You can take any image you want and go ahead and paint it, and this is often the case in classrooms, especially at lower levels such as grade or high school. You can call your painting your own, but do need to give credit to the original. You can not sell the item, because now you leave the educational realm into the business realm. If you don't believe..just do an internet search on teacher copyrights, something like that and you will find the facts on it. Larimar Osprey Posts:60 09/07/2007 4:19 PM Alert  My friends and I are working on a little fictional series, and most of my work is somehow connected to that series. However, I've seen beautiful photographs on Jigzone.com...beautiful COPYRIGHTED photographs ;_; http://mistywolf.deviantart.com kierkegaard Posts:11 09/08/2007 2:01 PM Alert  "Is it bad for someone to repaint a painting for practice?" hmm i might get some stick from the older generation, because for some they really enjoy copying old masters... but really YES, yes it is. Its a terrible crime that is the biggest naughty thing to do (especially if you are a student) Picasso famously said "bad artists copy, great ones steal" theres little point in painting something that already exists, steal from it, steal from Rubens, Goya, Whiteread, Hirst who ever tickles your fancy. Just make it your own...play with painting techniques, half of Da Vinc's works were all experimental (granted alot are now fading away) but hes is a genius, and if you want to copy him, copy the way he played with his materials. Not just the image he paints. Inspiration is a funny thing, try to be inspired by everything not localised things as a means to paint a pretty picture. Unless of course pretty pictures are what you want, then by all means, look at localised objects/concepts its art because i say it is - Duchamp vikingwife Posts:878 09/09/2007 7:40 AM Alert  Hi Dehoux..... Well I happen to disagree with the majority I guess. I think it is fine to copy a painting....as long as it is ONLY for educational purposes....not to sell. I just read a book about Mary Cassatt and the art students in her time were ENCOURAGED to practice by reproducing the art of the "masters". And look how well SHE turned out. As for working from photos....I do it all the time. But I take my own photographs. One of the things that I have learned from being on this site, is that there is potential for subject matter all around you.....you just need to explore. I wanted some wildlife photos, so I grabbed my camera and went to the zoo. I took my kids to a park the other day and part of the park had a huge GORGEOUS fenced in garden. I found lots of floral shots.....some monarch butterfly close ups.....and even a few pix of a wedding taking place at one end of a garden. So my advice.....if you happen to have a digital camera....go out and just explore. I think taking photographs (even if you are an amateur like me!) really helps develope your eye for subject matter. I started doing that a few months ago and I came up with soooooo many reference photos that I probably will never be able to paint them all. Hope the advice helps. Good luck!! Jess vikingwife Posts:878 09/09/2007 7:50 AM Alert  Hi again Dehoux....I just reread your post. (Sorry, I missed the fact that you don't live near a zoo!) If you are looking for advice about using the pix of lions and elephants, try asking "One Who Sees" on this site. She does a lot of safari paintings and I'm pretty sure she works from photographs. If you look under the members section, her website should be there. Maybe drop her an e-mail and ask how she handles the reference issue. Jess LatrodectusLady Posts:4 09/17/2007 11:52 AM Alert  I dont' see anything wrong with copying for "practice" ... and I find the more I reference other pieces in practice, the more I learn about how to create the same effects myself, from my head. As for wildlife, there are plenty of copy-right free animal drawings available in bookstores and on the internet. Same technique applies ... practice enough and you'll be able to create new pieces on your own, once you understand the "mechanics" so to speak. It's like dismantling and rebuilding a clock radio, then building yourself a rocketship from scratch.
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