Is It Better to Draw from Life or Photos

[@robb9777]

Excellent video. I used to exclusively draw from photo but recently started drawing from life much more and I already feel like my drawings feel more three dimensional

[@stephentraversart]

I’m not surprised to hear you say this Robb. There really is an extra dimension to life drawing!😆

[@sxmplyblossom8048]

Thank you! This helped me a lot, I can finally understand why people say that drawing from life and from photo is so different. Also, WOW your work is absolutely stunning!!

[@stephentraversart]

Kind of you to say. Glad it was so helpful. 😀

[@astrofeather5350]

There are drawing skills that you can develope when drawing from photos and that are still useful to be able to draw from life. It is a stepping stone.

[@stephentraversart]

They are different more than easier-harder. Some things are easier in life drawing and there are a lot of overlapping issues as well. 😀

[@peterstewart3563]

Thank you for this. I like drawing bush scenes and I couldn't work out why working from photos was so difficult, your explanation about photos flattering the images was spot on. Next time I'm taking photos to draw from I think I'll try both taking video as well as a number of images slightly offset to help me get some sense of the actual distribution of the landscape.

[@stephentraversart]

I started art painting tree canopies in oils, so this was one of the first things I had to sort out. It was a valuable lesson. Glad it’s helped you as well. Bush scenes are a challenge to draw. To convey the tangle and yet create some visual distinction between the various elements. All the best with it Peter. 😀

[@stephaniewarren7157]

I have a few questions for you. When you take a picture with your camera do you take it a certain way because your planning on drawing it? What kind of camera do you use? Have you ever thought about doing a video on how to take a picture for drawing it later? Thank you for your videos. I’ve learned so much.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m not a photographer, and don’t really understand how cameras work to any degree. When I was last overseas in 2018 , I had no idea I’d be starting drawing when I got back home, so did not take any photos with drawing them in mind. My next trip, where I then planned to do that, was COVID cancelled. I’ve taken a few photos in Australia since for drawing, but I just use my iPhone camera. I think it’s more about knowing what you want to draw first, and then learning whatever photography skills you need to capture references you could use. 😀

[@stephaniewarren7157]

@@stephentraversart Thank you for responding. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

[@isabelawenderl.fernandes]

Your videos/lessons are amazing! Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

I appreciate that. Please tell your friends if they draw. 😀

[@Teetucker74]

It also depends on the foto quality. Is it done with a single point focus, or auto-multi focal setting. Is the angle good or rather a "flatt on look", that makes it harder to get an interesting scene and is it a good lighting, that's supportive of a good variety of shades for depth perception. To get the best reference picture (if you're able to take them yourself) is to take single focus ones with your main object of interest as the focal point. Everything else will start to blurr gradually from there then and make it a lot easier when using it as a reference. Also time of dsy/night and overall light situation has a big influence. Midday often isn't the most interesting time with the light coming from nearly straight above. You can guess I consider myself a way better fotografer than drawing artist/painter, but I keep trying non the less,lol.

[@stephentraversart]

One of advantages I think of drawing is that we can adjust a photo any way we want. We can choose what we will enhance or minimise, we can manipulate tonal values to accentuate certain areas, and create depth through a variety of techniques. My photography is not so skilful, so I’ve had to learn to enhance my photos when I draw them. 😆

[@jjpadrones4718]

waw thank you

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure. All the best. 😀

[@КазбекБутаев-л8х]

Доброго времени суток. А можно эти видео с переводом?

[@stephentraversart]

I’m not sure how to do that. I have been trying.