Are Reference Photos GOOD or BAD? Watercolour Painting Time Lapse

[@thewonderforest]

What are your opinions on using reference photos?

[@25sweetpeas]

Wonder Forest I am definitely for it! In the end you’ve ended up embellishing it so much it’s not just one reference like you said!

[@paulaverger4129]

I think reference photos are useful for beginners because they give guidance for the new artist. For example proportion, point of view, color, placement, perspective, shading, highlights and many other things. It’s nice to grow beyond needing a reference photo for every painting but I think that a reference photo can come in handy for every artist no matter what level they may be at. Sometimes we may have an idea but we may want to look at other photos to kind of solidify that idea into something substantial. I have been painting for over sixteen years and I still use reference photos at times and I still paint from tutorials. There’s always room for improvement. Thank you for taking your time to paint with us.

[@thewonderforest]

Exactly!!!!! 👏🏼

[@me04100]

This is absolutely beautiful! Although I am a beginner in Watercolor, I think I am safe in saying that an Artist needs to have some kind of reference as inspiration. My late Mother was a fantastic Artist in all mediums. I was blessed to inherit all her art supplies, books, reference materials, field journals, etc. She painted fro the age of 6 until around the age of 80, when Alzheimer’s took away her ability. I watched her create beautiful work and know exactly what you are saying. Before she became bedridden one day, we put her in her wheelchair on the back porch, with a sketch book, and drawing pencil and asked her to draw what she saw. She lived along a river. When she was finished, it wasn’t anything that was in front of her..but to our surprise, it was the front cover of a WV Magazine they had gotten in the mail, two days prior! About a month later, she became bedridden, then on October 18, 2017 I lost her.

[@lindacsmith13]

I love that you had the door open where it draws the viewers eye in. Very nice.

[@TheSwissy4me]

It’s good to hear you say that you use reference photos. I often don’t understand why I can’t paint or draw from my mind’s eye and yet do a fairly decent job with a reference photo. I never post anything that I’ve done because I’ve felt that I’m not that good if I don’t create from my own head. I just put on Instagram (not under the same name as my KZbin account) some water color painting I did using your Wonder Color Forest book (which is so much fun btw). It took me weeks to get the nerve to post it though. .. Sigh. I would love some tutorials of buildings and such.

[@thewonderforest]

I don’t think enough artists talk about referencing things which makes newer artists or less confident ones feel like they aren’t good enough. I’m glad you had the courage to finally post some of your work!! It will only get easier :)

[@TheSwissy4me]

Wonder Forest thank you!!

[@25sweetpeas]

Love the idea of mini series based on little building! I love them and actually went out today to get inspiration!

[@kimharbaugh]

Great artists use reference photos and models like Norman Rockwell, it must be a smart thing to do.😊 the sweet shop is adorable 💕

[@KarenElaine]

In art school I remember learning about a famous artist who used his own representational drawings as reference for his massive abstract paintings. I have always used reference images in my art work. Whether it's an exact copy of an image or combinations of images I think most artists use some kind of reference. Thank you for opening a dialog on the subject and for creating such a delightful watercolor painting!

[@thewonderforest]

Whether it’s from real life or a photo, we all do it! ;) its how we learn!

[@KarenElaine]

@@thewonderforest yes, and we are always learning aren't we? :-)

[@Skinnychelle48]

I think u should consider dong a instructional book (same style as your others) with other everyday objects to paint, cups, flowers, etc. I LOVE your artistry and your teaching style but I’m not big on painting animals all the time. Beautifully cute pic. Pics like this in our next book would be awesome! I think references are great to use.

[@andreaharutunian3838]

References are ok as long as you don't copy exactly, create your own version! Loved the cupcake building ...

[@bettyroberts2068]

I love it. Great idea for a series. It helps beginners ease into details. If it’s a big project, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. Perfect details.

[@biancaandreamaral6266]

Super necessary video about using reference 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@amandasanderson6251]

I would love a series of buildings!

[@1radruth]

Nothing wrong with using reference photos👍 love your little shop🖌💕

[@shelleytrevino3699]

Super cute. I love to use reference photos for inspiration. It’s really hard for me to just come up with an image all on my own but with some references it helps get the ideas flowing. Thanks!!

[@Daxplaysgtag]

Loved this video as always! Using references is like doing quality research before any project. Please do a series of buildings! I am working in my custom house paintings and would love to see more of yours!

[@rnee1000]

Great video! The painting is so cute, I wish I could go visit that shoppe right now. I use reference photos more for inspiration than anything else. I paint a lot of abstract florals, not going for a botanical style, so photos give me a place to start and then I create my own. Another way I use a reference is to sketch a general guide for composition and then paint from that.

[@samr.2885]

I use reference pictures. Sometimes it’s good to be able to look at the picture to remind yourself of something’s that you may have “misremembered”. Or something you want to change or not bother with.

[@thanhvo-vm8gq]

EEK SO PRETTY

[@dianeo]

Sweet image! Reference photos are a great help even if only using a few elements from them.

[@dadadapna]

This was so validating. I recently tried to paint without a reference and had a hard time until I found some references.

[@glendacox6540]

I seldom think of using reference photos. Don’t know why...just never do it.. want to say I bought your new brush set and love them! Even the packaging is lovely❤️

[@thewonderforest]

Thank you! So glad you love them!!!

[@LanaGoesArt]

I agree with you and it's good to hear that from a bigger youtuber once in a while, because it reaches so many more! All great artists used references, be it a person sitting in position for hours or a landscape or whatever. But there are exceptions in the modern art, where references became less important. It always depends on what the artist wants to accomplish and what their goals are. :) Thank you for making this video, it was wonderful to listen to you and the cake shop is adorable!

[@thewonderforest]

LanaGoesArt I think maybe that’s the fun of abstract art as well.. more from the imagination and without reference! So yeah there are totally situations where they’re not needed too!

[@LanaGoesArt]

@@thewonderforest Exactly! :) (But honestly, I prefer painting animals as well, with cute fluffy references, that I can look at all day :D)

[@debmcguire2161]

When using a reference photo, I’m generally disappointed that my painting is not a “perfect” replica - even though that’s not really what I want to achieve... yet without a reference photo, I’m lucky if anyone can tell what I was trying to paint. So, I appreciate your perspective on using combinations of images to create something new that actually looks like what you see in your head!!

[@jengoodwyn2715]

This is so cute! I've been wanting to paint buildings like that and you've made it look so easy! And yes I use references. It makes for better art if I do. 😊

[@stephaniesingleton7229]

I use them all the time! I have to! Oh I just love this and hope you do a series of these little shops!! They are one of my favorite things to paint!!!!! Love ❤️ it!!!

[@thewonderforest]

I do think I may have to make some more!!!

[@lauracorkill9748]

I use reference photos all of the time for making my cards. If there is a certain subject I need to create a card for, I will google that subject and select photos that speak to me and pin them into a word document that I call my story board. I will then choose my papers, an image to color, a sentiment and add it to my story board. I will start to form my own picture in my mind and discard elements from the story board that I feel don't fit into what's coming together in my head. I've been doing this for 20 years, so it isn't just for beginners...

[@courtneydeason9502]

Please do the series..the shop is amazing 😍😍😍

[@TeacherGann]

I love your works..keep inspiring!😊👍

[@2lmdi]

Oh, I think its semantics really. Everything an artist sees is a reference. Whether you have a photo when a snag like light source shadows, perspective, etc comes up there's always something in the room or outside to look at for help with it even for the most experienced. Personally, I prefer designing everything myself rather than following a photo or real life reference... those tighten me up too much whereas when I design I'm too involved in that process for it. Example: I've been painting for sooo many years and yet I still seldom look at a sky without thinking of how I would paint it and the same goes for nearly any window morning sun is shining through creating strong shadows in the room. All of that is with me when I sit down to paint so I've studied a lot of references. They just weren't photos unless my own and even then a camera doesn't show things exactly as they are. If I had to paint a cloud a certain shape in a particular place or notice how the camera distorted tones or "fish eyes" that's what I would be thinking about and I would loose what I call "flow" or I would tighten. I do what's fun for me... otherwise what's the point? I do it my way I guess and it really doesn't matter to me what's "right" or "wrong." I use black and white in watercolor too... beautiful greens come from those yellows with hints various blacks. Very pretty soft pastels from whites I just couldn't do without. There is no red or rose to equal the pinks white provides nor purples/violets the lavenders no matter how much paper is left shining through. Big brands make a lot of money on those mixes. Photo references, light boxes or other tracing, blacks and whites... oh the tragedy! ;-) The only "bad" is not doing it your own way and the "good" is having fun while you're doing that.

[@tlembro]

Would love to see a mini series on small architectural subjects like this...shoppes, houses etc.....so cute! Trying to access the longer version and sketch on Patreon...I am a supporter...but having trouble doing so. Can you help? Thank you Shayda!

[@thewonderforest]

Yes of course! Click the “exclusive video” tag/category on the patreon page’s sidebar and you should be able to find it there!

[@5Shadee]

I really love your new brushes.

[@thewonderforest]

Sharon Estes ohh thank you so much! So happy you do!

[@5Shadee]

As a beginner in watercolor they gave me great control, I am a colored pencil Artist and love that fine point . I will for sure Demonstrate your brushes to all my friend that follow me on periscope an Facebook. Thanks for the quick delivery.

[@thewonderforest]

@@5Shadee amazing!!!!

[@allysonberry8708]

I think anything that keeps you practicing is great.

[@thewonderforest]

I agree!

[@DettolObsessed]

"...I feel pressured creating things that you guys want... tutorials that help you learn a skill... I feel there's only so much of those that you can do... The stuff has been covered before- I don't feel like going over it again. Painting for myself and painting something new and different is always a good thing..." Your art style is really nice and the content you put out there is really great and you are gaining a lot of followers but just a piece of tiny sisterly advice-- I don't think what you said above is nice, especially when you have a Patreon service running and those same people you expressed not wanting to teach a skill because there are so many out there and you don't feel like going over it are SUPPORTING you. Wanting not to create tutorials because there are so many out there and choosing to paint for yourself is absolutely fine. I just find it so weird that you chose to share those thoughts when many people choose to keep them to themselves or just say them in a different way out of curtesy. This isn't meant to attack you but since you choose to be 'very' transparent with your thoughts here, I thoughts it's fitting to do the same and let you know what your following might think.

[@thewonderforest]

Cup thanks for sharing your thoughts here about what I said. I don’t want it to be misconstrued and perhaps I didn’t say it in the best way... I absolutely LOVE teaching and helping others learn new skills. I was talking about this as more of an in-the-moment type thing. When I sit down to create a video for this channel and don’t know what to paint, sometimes ideas can feel redundant... i.e. I’ve done them before and feel repetitive and honestly unmotivated to do something similar. And yeah, I sometimes feel like maybe a video idea isn’t the best because it’s been done before by other youtubers. In that moment I don’t feel like putting my teaching hat on and going in depth... I just want to create something for myself and share it. I definitely didn’t mean that I’m eternally tired of teaching stuff, because that’s far from the truth! That’s the reason I have separate outlets - dedicated to sharing skills and teaching. I have spent more time there creating helpful content. I often struggle with sharing the same sort of things here on KZbin because I have actual paid lessons elsewhere.... it wouldn’t be fair to those paid members. I hope this clarifies my thoughts a bit!!

[@rvq1104]

There's nothing wrong with reference photos. Actually, it's beneficial for beginners as they are just novice to portraits and landscapes. Thus, sometimes it can be helpful if you have trouble of thinking what to paint. It just depends on how you really do paintings.

[@punkybauer1]

I am a new painter and I use tutorials as well as reference photos. I get concerned about reference photos due to copyright infringements. I mean at what point is it okay to copy and resell? That is what I want to know. I mean I use all of them for personal use but am afraid to sell anything...hah!

[@nounoulali3990]

❤

[@لمياء-د6ك]

I llike it😭😭😭💛💛💛

[@لمياء-د6ك]

wwwooow😭😭😭💗💗💗💗

[@courtneydeason9502]

I tried to find this video on your patron but couldn't find it 😔

[@thewonderforest]

Courtney Deason it’s under “Posts” as well as my “exclusive video” section www.patreon.com/posts/28153779

[@ajverrie312]

Its so adorable might remake in acrylic ✨❤ thanks for some inspo!🍰

[@thewonderforest]

Aj Verrie it would be cute in acrylic!

[@ajverrie312]

@@thewonderforest I will show you somehow when its done

[@nounoulali3990]

Good👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤❤❤❤❤