Photo-referencing in visual art is the practice of creating art based on a photograph. Art produced through this technique is said to be photo-referenced. The method is widely used by artists, either in their daily work, as part of their training, or to improve their artistic eye.
Photo-referencing, rather than working with livemodels, is useful for cases in which an artist seeks to realistically produce a work of art based on some subject that is not readily available, such as a specific person who is not available or a structure in another country.
When an artist's ability to recall images is lacking, photo-referencing is a useful skill and especially useful when the goal is to replicate an image with great detail. Artists may use a lightbox as an aid in photo-referencing. Additionally, the use of the grid-method in photo-referencing has gained popularity due to its straightforward nature. The grid-method begins by drawing a grid on the reference photo, and then copying that grid lightly onto the medium of choice that the drawing will be completed on. By focusing on one block in the grid at a time, artists are able to recreate the image much more precisely.
Example of how to use the grid method
Artists choose a reference photo that usually aids in providing direction where creativity is lacking. Reference photos are also helpful for an artist to develop composition and proportionality in their work. Many reference photos are found on websites such as Unsplash or Pixabay. To avoid copyright, either changing the reference in noticeable ways or finding copyright-free photos is key. Some artists prefer to combine multiple reference photos they have collected as a way to aid in adding a unique factor to their finished piece and also a way to avoid copyright.
Usefulnessedit
Although the technique of photo referencing has criticisms, it is a very vital technique used by digital artists when their personal visual memory is lacking.[1] Many artists actually pull from multiple reference photos to create a finished work that wouldn't have been possible without the help of those points of reference. Especially for digital artists, the act of color-picking[2] is particularly helpful for accuracy purposes and is done by using a reference photo.
Comic Book Industryedit
In the comic book industry, photo-referencing is criticized by some as a technique used to disguise the weakness of the artist's technical capability. Award-winning comic creator Alison Bechdel[3] also uses extensive photo reference, frequently photographing herself in the poses of the characters she draws in order to convey body language accurately.
Critiquesedit
Many artists are criticized for using photo referencing in the creation of their artwork. However, many voices in the art community argue that photo-referencing is a legitimate technique. It is even useful when trying to simply improve skills Artists who have been accused of excessive photo-referencing by their critics include Greg Land and Alex Ross, though others defend the quality of their work. [4][5]
Referencesedit
^"Why Digital Artists Need to Use Reference Images". CG Cookie.
^"How to Create a Vibrant Color Palette Using Reference Images". escape motions.
^Currey, Mason. "Alison Bechdel's very labor-intensive cartooning process".
photo, referencing, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2010, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Photo referencing news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Photo referencing in visual art is the practice of creating art based on a photograph Art produced through this technique is said to be photo referenced The method is widely used by artists either in their daily work as part of their training or to improve their artistic eye Photo referencing rather than working with live models is useful for cases in which an artist seeks to realistically produce a work of art based on some subject that is not readily available such as a specific person who is not available or a structure in another country Contents 1 The Grid Method 2 Usefulness 3 Comic Book Industry 4 Critiques 5 ReferencesThe Grid Method editWhen an artist s ability to recall images is lacking photo referencing is a useful skill and especially useful when the goal is to replicate an image with great detail Artists may use a lightbox as an aid in photo referencing Additionally the use of the grid method in photo referencing has gained popularity due to its straightforward nature The grid method begins by drawing a grid on the reference photo and then copying that grid lightly onto the medium of choice that the drawing will be completed on By focusing on one block in the grid at a time artists are able to recreate the image much more precisely nbsp Example of how to use the grid methodArtists choose a reference photo that usually aids in providing direction where creativity is lacking Reference photos are also helpful for an artist to develop composition and proportionality in their work Many reference photos are found on websites such as Unsplash or Pixabay To avoid copyright either changing the reference in noticeable ways or finding copyright free photos is key Some artists prefer to combine multiple reference photos they have collected as a way to aid in adding a unique factor to their finished piece and also a way to avoid copyright Usefulness editAlthough the technique of photo referencing has criticisms it is a very vital technique used by digital artists when their personal visual memory is lacking 1 Many artists actually pull from multiple reference photos to create a finished work that wouldn t have been possible without the help of those points of reference Especially for digital artists the act of color picking 2 is particularly helpful for accuracy purposes and is done by using a reference photo Comic Book Industry editIn the comic book industry photo referencing is criticized by some as a technique used to disguise the weakness of the artist s technical capability Award winning comic creator Alison Bechdel 3 also uses extensive photo reference frequently photographing herself in the poses of the characters she draws in order to convey body language accurately Critiques editMany artists are criticized for using photo referencing in the creation of their artwork However many voices in the art community argue that photo referencing is a legitimate technique It is even useful when trying to simply improve skills Artists who have been accused of excessive photo referencing by their critics include Greg Land and Alex Ross though others defend the quality of their work 4 5 References edit Why Digital Artists Need to Use Reference Images CG Cookie How to Create a Vibrant Color Palette Using Reference Images escape motions Currey Mason Alison Bechdel s very labor intensive cartooning process Emmert Lynn April 2007 Life Drawing The Comics Journal Seattle Washington Fantagraphics Books no 282 p 36 retrieved 6 August 2007 Bechdel Alison 18 April 2006 OCD video YouTube Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 Retrieved 11 May 2010 nbsp This article related to art techniques is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Photo referencing amp oldid 1176505928, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
