A collection of images, notes and random ramblings to inspire my creative process and to share ideas.
Objectives
Shoot reference images for paintings.
There are
two, three,
several scenes I'd like to shoot reference photos for:
- A pretty girl in dramatic chiaroscuro.
- A pretty girl lazing in the sun.
- A pretty girl with a shiny horse.
- A pretty girl in wet clingy drapery sitting on a waterfall.
Beauty in images
- Simple shapes
- Images that are easy to read
- Images that tell a story
- Lighting options
- Soft Rembrandt
- Key, rim, fill, backlight
- Good core shadow
- Soften by bouncing off large reflectors
- Backlighting to provide separation
- Depth
- To provide in terest, scale, context and to focus attention
- Separation
- Simple backgrounds contrasting with the objects, back/rim lighting to outline objects
- Contrast
- To separate objects and focus attention
- Palette
- Simplify with a one or two coloured light
- Focal point
- Draw the viewer's attention with leading lines
Dramatic chiaroscuro
The execution of Lady Jane Grey

This is my favourite painting from the National Gallery in London.
I want to create a painting full of interesting light and texture.
Because the end goal is a painting and the reference photographs will be for the main subject of the painting, then we don't have to worry too much about the background/setting/location for them. Background references will be sourced separately (if required at all). The only consideration for the shooting environment would be light bounce or lack thereof.
My compositions are likely to focus on the main subject and have little or no background.

Other chiaroscuro
Lighting for chiaroscuro
High contrast, side and rim lighting. It adds drama


Rim lighting can make it seem like the viewer is part of the scene too. Like they are with the subject rather than with the audience.
Practical lighting
Lighting whose source is within the image.
These images with candles are great. I like when the candle itself is hidden by something such as a book or, even better, something translucent like a page or particularly a hand.



Alice lit by a register - Burrage
Split colour lighting
I'm also fond of split colour lighting.

u/taylorhb

Damian Lechoszest



Daniel F. Gerhartz
I like his use of shining back-lights through transparent materials.



Lazy summer
Flaming June is another of my favourite paintings. I like the feeling of quiet relaxation, the following cloth and the warm colour scheme.

Flaming June - Frederic Lord Leighton

Top down shot sleeping in piles of cloth
Satin
I loved it the The Execution of Lady Jane Grey and in many other paintings.

Dawn - Edmund Hodgson Smart, 1907

Desnudo de mujer - Joaquín Sorolla, 1902

Pensive - Czachórski, Satin and side lighting
Gorgeous satin dresses aren't easy to find but satin drapery is a cheap way of looking expensive and luxurious. And it always fits.
@_KikiBrook_
Loise

Tom and Loise photobash.
Venecia Troncoso - Burrage

Venecia Troncoso - Burrage
I also like the idea of recreating classic. Might be a lot of work. Even selecting a target is tricky. Maybe another time.


The Rokeby Venus - Velázquez?

Makeup
I'm not asking for any particular makeup. It's not my place and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.
But just to let you know I'm a sucker for dark eye liner!





Characters
Paintings should tell a story. One way to come up with a story is to start with a character. Here are some starting ideas.
I'd like the character to be someone you can really get into. Who (what) do you want to be?
A priestess

Priestess of Delphi - John Collier

Priestess of Bacchus - John Collier
A witch
Magic Circle - John William Waterhouse

Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus - John William Waterhouse

Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse above is supposed to have many semi-hidden features such as faces in the column of smoke but I can't see any. I like the idea though.
A vampire

Vampire - Edvard Munch
Envelopted (sic) - Cloaked Vampiress 🦇🦇 - @ninjacapers
A warrior

Britomart Redeems Faire Amoret, William Etty (1833)

Zenobia's last look on Palmyra - Herbert G Schmalz

A demoness

Siren's song - Boris Vallejo

Succubus - ArtofTy

Demoness - MariannaInsomnia

Lilith and Eve - Yuri Klapouh

Demon Lover - Boris Vallejo
A murderer and/or victim

Meurtre au sérail - Fernand Cormon
Nothing to stop you playing two parts!
A nature goddess or nymph

Circe - John Collier

Girl holding a snake - Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach

The water nymph - Ludwig Von Hofmann

Nymphs and Satyr - Bouguereau
A statue

Psyche Revived - u/Pomelo_Past
Statue girl - Burrage
High key edit - Burrage
A reclining nude
A dancer

Bouguereau

Bouguereau
Whoever these guys are!
This is an intriguing painting. How are these people connected? What do their various expressions mean? Why is he carrying a knife? Is that carafe of wine deliberately phalic and is too it's placement near the girls mouth? Why is the table covered in flys?
What is the cat thinking?
Props
The same things crop up a lot in classical paintings. Most of these should be relatively easy and cheap to source.
- candles, candle holder, candelabra, lamp, lantern
- keys, padlock, chest, piggy bank
- ropes, chains, nets
- clock, astrolabe, sextant, magnifying glass, googles
- quill, pen, scroll, leather bound books
- hat, mask, shoes
- ballet shoes
- wine glasses, goblet, drinking horn, amphora
- bottles (and food colouring)
- barrel, keg
- skull
- coins, ingots, jewelry, crown, tiara
- dagger, sword, axe, arrow
- cauldron, pestle and mortar
- grapes and other fruit, bread
- mushrooms, crystals
- broom stick, spinning wheel, bucket, umbrella
- bell, gong, harp
- hammer, horse shoe, anvil
- statue
- flowers
- translucent fabric/mesh/netting
- pillows, blankets
- satin
- fur, hide
- flowers, loose petals
- a mirror ( Rokeby Venus effect)
- bubbles
- balloons
Girl with horse - meh
I've painted a couple of "Girl with horse" before and they've been well recieved. I like painting horses and live not far from some stables. I'm sure we can borrow a horse or two.
I'd like to get some shots in the "golden hour" if the time and the weather permits. Pretty standard fare.




If we can work some sort of story into the shots that would be great but it's probably not essential.
John William Waterhouse - mermaids







Charles-Amable Lenoir - drapery
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Other example photos
straight on head down eyes up

hidden light






Lorde











Highlights


Flaming June, - Frederic Lord Leighton




Desnudo de mujer - Joaquín Sorolla - 1902.jpg

The Rokeby Venus - Velázquez?

John William Waterhouse - Magic Circle
straight on head down eyes up

hidden light






Notes
- Scene 0
- Standing next to the easel to display an as yet unpainted painting
- Scene 1
-
360 static shots for 3D scanner for an as yet unsculpted sculpture
revisit the pose from the marble and copper AI edited image - Scene 2
-
Revisit hugging the fur
Reproduce the lighting from AI images, warm tavern, split lighting - orange and teal
Curled up like a cat - lit from within - Scene 3
- Revisit the waterfall Details to capture
-
Reproduce the lighting from AI images, back-lit golden hour
Focus gaze on near / far / high / low positions
Will she let the weeping willow wind its branches round - Scene 4
-
Set up a frame for black mesh drapery over a bed
The mesh drapery can also be used as a veil - Stories
-
Murder (the British in particular are fascinated by murder)
Leaning over and teasing someone's ear
Greeting a dragon
Talking with animals
Sistine chapel ceiling - elegant flying weightless poses
In uniform - Ideas and props
-
Dry ice / aerosol fogvisit u/Historical-Engine906 for ideas
Projected lightset up a venetian blind shadow mask
Shadow performing a different act to the subject
Fur
Feather boa
Feather fan
Baby oil
Mirror, lying on a mirror, non-matching reflection
False shadows - Locations
-
Fireplace
Waterfall
Fire pit
Bathroom - bath
Bedroom

…and relax