Don't Photo Copy Your Next Painting-Updated 2019

[@sirishmosale]

Eye opener. The axiom "what it could be " opens the door to not just drawing, but also to reason to why liked most of the paintings i liked. Thank you

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Sirish, happy to hear this made you think a bit differently. Thank you for watching.

[@lynn_thinks]

Thank you, David! This affirms the method I’m trying to practice. Right now, I’m spending a good deal of time in the ‘construct the value study’ stage. I often do 6 or 8 value studies (including a b/w notan) to help me SEE what I want to paint and how I want to compose a painting. Choosing color schemes is another kettle of fish, but I’m plugging along and learning a great deal! Thanks for your work here! 🎨🖌👍🌟🌟

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Lynn, you’re on the road to being a much better painter!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching "Don't Photo-Copy Your Next Painting-Updated 2019." Let me know if you use value studies to paint from - or if you use reference photos to develop those studies.

[@wittesend]

David M. Kessler Fine Art Both, but the photos are changed to gray scale if I do use them primarily.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Bob Witte you missed the entire point of the video!

[@wittesend]

David M. Kessler Fine Art Actually, I didn’t, David. I was simply answering your question. This a poor forum for a give and take to explain what and why one does certain steps. We’d need a half hour over coffee somewhere! Suffice it to say, I agree with what you said (not that you need me to) and thank you so much for taking the time to make these great videos. Thanks again for your response.

[@samirasimagination]

Love the landscapes, the colors are amazing. You give me new inspiration. I just decided to challange myself by crafting landscapes. And i don't like to use "realistic" colors, and guess what i don't have to😊. I always have to remind myself i can do what i want. Thank you

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Tali, you can and should do what you want! I know you’ll do great with the landscapes - have fun! Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@johnswaim3919]

Amen. Photos are ok as a point of reference or an inspiration. But to try to copy the photo is a fool's game.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

John, thanks for that! My thinking exactly.

[@mylesd4839]

John Swaim is this the same with portraits?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Myles D, I’ll let John answer for himself, but I’ll give my two cents. With portraits your goal typically is to create the likeness of the person, but beyond that you’re still trying to create art, not illustration. The camera is not going to capture the correct colors, neither will it show that the hair at some points blends with the background - but maybe that’s how you typically paint it. Somehow you have to move beyond mere copying to infuse the work with something akin to art. Thanks for watching!

[@jk3253]

This was very helpful and informative. I have an unrelated question for you: in the painting hanging behind you, how did you get such a great hot pink color? Did you mix it? My mixed pinks always come out more floral than dayglo, but I worry about the lightfastness of the neon colors I see in craft stores

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Jodie, I think it is partly fluorescent magenta, quinacridone magenta and white. Fluorescent colors are not lightfast and I don’t use them anymore.

[@wazzap500]

I played this Fool's game. Copying a photo exactly as it is. It just sucks the fun out of painting. After three of those copies I just asked myself... why don't I just print the photos and start to develop my own paintings. That's how I ended up on this video.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Yep, it’s a trap. And lots of people fall into it everyday because that’s what lots of lazy teachers teach. Instead of learning how to create your own reality where you can express yourself. Best of lick with your new direction! Thanks for watching.

[@autisticcormorant6881]

I'm curious as to how much you should charge for a commission in comparison to your already made works. Let's say we're talking about a 24x24" canvas. If the original costs x, then how much would a commission of that same size be? How do you figure it out?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

You have to figure out what multiplier you need to add to your typical retail cost of the work. It will be different for everyone. My multiplier starts at 25%. You have to figure out what works for you and your labor rate.

[@autisticcormorant6881]

That’s what I don’t exactly understand though. Because as I understand a commission doesn’t involve more labour than a regular painting. I though the customer were paying for the “customisation”

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Malleboy122 more customization takes more time! You are spending TIME talking with client, you are spending TIME making the piece fit their needs, you are taking TIME to customize the piece. Time costs money! It’s pretty simple math.

[@autisticcormorant6881]

Thanks David. Since I haven't done commissions before, I didn't think it would take so long. I mostly hear that people want a painting in certain colors and that's it. By the way, do you do a commission for a client if the colors they want do not go together on the color wheel?

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Malleboy122 its your job to make sure they go together while giving them what they want. You have to guide them through the process. You can say, yes, I’ll use those colors, but I’ll need to make a few adjustments so we get the best final result possible. You’re the designer, so you negotiate if needed to give them a piece of art. Most commission clients are not very sophisticated, so part of the job is education.