Chosing Reference Photos...for your portrait drawing

by Marsha Robinett on 11/5/2007 6:31:14 PMComment on this

Choosing Reference Photos: The accuracy of your finished portrait is dependent solely on the quality of your reference photo. If I can't see it, I can't draw it.

Digital Photos... this is the best type of reference image for me to work from. I am able to enlarge them on the computer screen and see detail that would otherwise be hidden. You can send them to me by email or put them on a CD and drop them into the mail box.

I can work from a regular photograph... if the image is clear and contains lots of detail. However, if it is for a portrait, The subject's face must be at least three inches tall, from hairline to chin. If you are desiring a commissioned portrait from an older photograph or one where the face is smaller than three inches...please go ahead and send it to me. I can sometimes use a magnifying glass or scan these photos into "Photo Shop" and end up with a fairly good reference, especially if I have several photos to work with. Check out The Drawing Board and take a look at the P. Melcher...Portrait Commission Preview. This was a commission in which I used an older childhood photo for reference.

**Sending Your Images...Your digital references can be e-mailed if the image is not "downsized" in the process...if this is an issue, your photos should be copied to a DC and sent by regular "snail mail". I need to have the largest file size your camera can give me. Take your photos in color, do not crop, and do not convert to black and white.

Any traditional paper photos can be scanned at 300dpi or greater and emailed...or of course, photo copied and sent by regular mail. Do not send your "Treasured one of a kind family photographs." All reference materials will be returned with your commissioned drawing.

**Combining Images... If you want to combine people or pets into the same commissioned piece from different photos, make sure we talk, or at least email before you begin your photo shoot. The same is true for those of you who are wanting a commissioned drawing of a car, motorcycle, boat, airplane, etc. I have some additional photography composition guidelines not listed here that will make this process much easier for both of us.

**Using Studio Photographs... If you are thinking of using a studio photo, you will need to provide me with written permission from the photographer.

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