Work from life or from photos?

[Linda Brandon]

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

Some of the worst paintings I have ever seen were painted from life.

And a lot of them are in my studio!

Mike, I don't think anybody is arguing that you get a necessarily better result with painting from life than you do with using good photos. I know many successful portrait painters that work only from photos and my work is not as accomplished as theirs. I work from life or from photos, and all I can say is that each process feels different to me. Each one is a struggle but they are different struggles.

A client doesn't really care either way, so long as you get a likeness and they look good.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the best way to paint is to put as much of yourself into the process as you can, and I can see how taking your own terrific photos of your subject can get you to that place.