Using a reference photo, how to get a bargain!

 

Each of these paintings, were created from one reference photo!

 

Here's the deal with a reference photo: reference!  You use it for reference, you don't have to copy it exactly like it is.

 

1. Use it for a detailed painting.

 

2. Add a different background to it each time you use it.

 

3. Add different colors or styles to the subject.

 

4. Create the painting in different mediums.

 

5. Use one photo and see just how many paintings can appear!

 

And that's an artistic challenge for you to try for 2014. :)

 

 

 

Free reference photo, for you to use! Big Horn Ram.

 

 

 

Here's the deal!

Download this photo, and create a work of art from what you see.  Use the photo after this to create all the works you can.  It's free for you to use.

 

1.Send me a jpg of your painting/artwork, no larger than 600 dpi on the longest side.  Be sure you watermark your image, with your copyright notice if that is important to you. 

 

2.Send a link to your facebook page, or your blog or website, and I'll add the link with your work.

 

3.Send the jpg to artistreferencephotos@gmail.com.  Please use "reference photo entry" in the subject line.  You can also add a little blurb about yourself, which I'll copy and paste into this post.

 

It's that easy!

 

I'll upload your photo here, in this post, and place a link for you to advertise your work.

 

I have one entry all ready!  Which you'll see below, please check out her photos, they're wonderful!

 

Paper Moon Photography

 

Thank you for entering my contest!

 

 

 

A Blue Horse painted with Alcohol Inks

Do you suppose it's midnight?  Is this why he's blue?  Maybe there's another reason?  Maybe I ran out of paint and only had blue and green left?

Honestly, I don't know why he's blue, I think it's because he wanted to be blue!  And you have to admit, he looks good that way.

This is a 4X6 inch painting done with alcohol inks.  They're what I call a "fleeting" medium.  You can be painting away and have just what you want, when suddenly one tiny drop wrong, and your entire painting is ruined!  No matter how long you worked to get it perfect. :)

And today was no exception.  I had this finished, and because I have no patience, I didn't wait a day or two to spray it with varnish.  And to my horror, the painting dissolved in front of my eyes and went running off the Yupo paper!

What fun!  I sucked it up, roughed up the paper, and switched over to acrylic paints...and finished the painting.  So this is what you call mixed media, and that is the reason why.  I call that desperation painting, Lol!

Anyway, he's for sale in my Etsy shop, Stormy Ridge Studio.

November 21st, was such a cold day in Montana!

As I photographed the birds out side my window, I noticed this little guy sitting on the deck rail.  He'd filled his craw with black oil sunflower seeds, and he was sitting there, waiting for what he'd eaten to digest, so he could fill himself full once again before he flew away!

He was hunkered down against the cold wind, it was eight below zero.  I thought he was the cutest thing I'd about ever seen.

He's for sale in my Etsy shop of nature photography.

Toilet paper tube cowboy.

Cigar smoking cowboy loves the Blue Dog Saloon!

  

Here's Jake, he inhabits the Blue Dog Saloon too.  It's just about his favorite place!

In my Etsy shop, you can purchase these cowboys with your credit/debit cards, Etsy gift cards, or Paypal!  Shopping is fast and easy.

Cowboys made from toilet paper rolls. Reminds you of the old westerns!

Yes, they're made from toilet paper rolls!  Aren't they fun?  I love making them.  And they're for sale in my Etsy shop.

Toilet paper roll cowboys!

Home decor from my Etsy shop to your home.

Do you love butterflies? In this image, you can feel the feather softness of delicate wings.  This image is available as a digital download in my Etsy shop and can come from my home to yours in mere seconds.  Just click to purchase, and the download is available to you.

The wisdom of ages shines from this raven's eyes.  He was such a wise old bird.  Like the butterfly, he can be in your home in minutes! He's available as a digital download also.

This is Murphy.  I love the graceful curving lines of his form, and the graceful way his mane flows over his neck.

Here's a white tiger, created digitally, for those persons who love tigers!  I think he'd be great in a little girls room...you know those little girls who love pink?

Etsy has made digital downloads of photos easy for us to use.  Purchase the image, and the download link appears.  Click to bring the photo into your computer.  From there, you can print it out on your home printer, or put the file on a cd, or usb jump drive.  If you take the cd or jump drive to a photo lab, or professional printer, they can create the physical image for you.

You can find many many nature photos in my Etsy shop.