A few words about reference photos

Here are excerpts from my texts to my helpful neighbors, Marci and Corrin as they prepare to take reference photos for me to use.

The photos that will work best for me are not “arranged” set ups as much as casual looks at items you use. When I thought of each of you, I thought of the items on your kitchen countertop Marci. Corrin, I immediately thought of a collection of items as a centerpiece on your dining room table. 

My work is about light and the way it strikes objects. Shadows cast by the objects are great. Light coming through glass is great. Here is an example.

This is a nice subject to paint but it doesn't hold my interest very long.

Here is the same subject placed in a more
 interesting setting. But because it is backlit, it is very dark.

A little work with Photoshop on the roses
 and I have a good reference photo, ready to paint. 

Help from nice neighbors

Social distancing and self-isolating suits me. The numerous volunteer positions I have signed up for are basically on hold due to the pandemic so I have each day to myself. I paint, I garden, I clean the house. Most days I cook dinner. Sometimes we eat "Refrigerator" for dinner.

For those who follow my work, you know I have painted many, many still life paintings of my "stuff." Also, it has been a long-term plan to paint interior scenes of our home and this year I have completed a couple.

New Year's Day, oil, 12x10 

Study for Easy Chair, oil, 10x8 

I'm still working on Easy Chair, 20x 16

Looking around my house...hmmm...I find myself uninspired with MY stuff as subjects for paintings. I need new subjects to paint as interiors or still life. I'm looking out my nice clean windows (thanks to my husband) out to the clear air of the world during this pandemic...over to neighboring houses. Aha! My neighbors Marci and Corrin have lots of stuff to paint. I texted them this morning to see if they would be willing to do a photo-shoot for me of their selected items and interiors. Nice neighbors, they said yes! This will be fun. From the outside view, their homes are similar but they have different decorating styles.

I will share my guidelines for taking reference photos for a good still life set-up and let you know how this Helpful-Neighbors Project goes. I just created a label for searching called Helpful Neighbors Project because this may take a while and posts won't be in sequence. You can search by the label.