Work from life or from photos?

[Mike McCarty]

I think it would be an interesting conversation.

What I find aggravating is that the argument always compares the best of the life painting experience with the very worst photo reference. Some of the worst paintings I have ever seen were painted from life.

A camera never makes a judgment. When a subject is before the camera they are also on the move. The artist is making the same subjective judgments, only before the fact. The best photo reference is also the best judgment of the artist. Having witnessed the many movements, angles and subtleties that were presented to, and cajoled from, the sitter.

It is also a moment of inspiration producing all the ingredients of a great portrait, such as a perfectly lit face, great composition, lost and found edges along with wonderful color harmony. All these things captured forever for the artist to ponder, manipulate, condense, expand and interpret.