Gathering References
There are many ways to collect your references, but photography and sketching are the most common.
PHOTOGRAPHY
If you are serious about being an artist who paints animals in a realistic, detailed style, photography is an important tool. Since animals move constantly, getting good photos is a challenge. While you can capture only a few lines in a sketch, photographs can preserve a moment in great detail. This gives you a lot more information to work from and more flexibility as an artist.
MANUAL CAMERA EQUIPMENT
For basic photography, I use a 35mm camera with a normal lens and a telephoto zoom lens. The zoom lens is the most important because it allows you to take close-ups of distant animals. The zoom feature allows you to choose how you want to frame your subject. Even tame, domestic animals can be quite uncooperative about staying close by when you want to photograph them! The normal lens is good for photographing animals that you can get very close to, as well as for taking background photos.
I generally use ASA 400 print film, as this film speed allows you to take photographs in fairly low light conditions. Also, a telephoto lens needs more light to operate, so the 400 speed gives you more latitude. For sunny days, ASA 200 film is good.
Make sure any camera you purchase has a motor drive (most do) so that you don’t need to advance the film after each shot. If you’re shopping for a camera, also consider purchasing a polarizing filter. These fit over the lens to cut down on haze and reflections.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Recently I began using a digital camera to snap reference photos as well. I am able to take hundreds of photos without ever running out of film. Purchase a digital camera with the zoom lens built in. With good lighting, even a moderately priced digital camera will take great photos. You can then use a computer and color printer to enhance, enlarge, crop and print your photos. If this isn’t an option, most copy shops will print your images for you.
TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING ANIMALS
There is more to photographing animals than simply pointing the camera and pressing the shutter release. Here are some tips:
Get down to the animal’s level. Inexperienced photographers often take photos of animals while looking down at them. In most cases, it is better to look at the animal straight on. Sometimes this means you will have to spend a lot of time in an uncomfortable position, crouching or even lying on the ground to photograph smaller animals, but the results are worth it!
Take several rolls of film or dozens of digital shots. The more pictures you take, the greater the chance that you will get that one winning pose that is the basis for a great painting.
Take some close-ups of the animal’s features. Photos of eyes, noses and feet can be extremely helpful when you are working on a painting and the animal is no longer in front of you. Often the smaller details don’t show up well in photos of the entire animal.
Have someone with you for assistance. Often my husband or my son accompanies me to a photo session. Since they are very experienced with animals, they are real assets. One of the most common problems I have in photographing friendly animals like horses and dogs is that they insist on walking right up to my camera and sniffing the lens! Another person can distract the animal so it will look in another direction rather than right at the photographer.
Make sounds or motions that attract the animal’s attention. When I am photographing a dog that looks bored and refuses to put its ears up, I often imitate a cat’s meow. This usually causes the dog to prick its ears and cock its head. But some animals just aren’t that easily impressed! Sometimes tossing a small twig or a handful of grass will cause an animal to momentarily look alert.
Take Close-Ups
Take close-up photos of features such as eyes, noses and feet. You will find these to be very valuable later when you are painting in your studio.
TAKING BACKGROUND PHOTOS
In the excitement of photographing the animal, don’t forget to photograph the animal’s environment if the location is appropriate for a painting. Later on when you are in your studio working on a painting, you’ll be glad you stopped to take a few photos of the background. Also, take close-up photos of elements you might like to include, such as wildflowers, grass or rocks.
You can combine elements from different photos for use in a painting. When using more than one photograph—and when you have a strong light source in your main reference photo—be sure that you paint the background so that all light is coming from the same direction. If all of your photos were taken on a bright overcast day (which is the lighting preferred by many photographers), you don’t have to worry about the light source.
FILING YOUR PHOTOS
It is important to keep your photos in organized files, either in your studio (or close to where you paint) or on your computer. The more specific your files, the more useful they will be to you.
SKETCHING
Sketching is a great way to observe animals and have fun at the same time. While you’ll discover that animals seldom hold a pose for more than a few moments or seconds, even while they are at rest, you’ll learn a lot about their anatomies and their characters. Always carry your sketchbook so you can take advantage of opportunities—you never know when you might see an interesting animal, tree or other natural object. You’ll enjoy looking at your sketchbooks later to see what you have captured and to remember the experience.
Don’t Forget Your Sketchbook!
Sketching animals trains your artistic eye and helps you get to know your subject. Take your sketchbook with you wherever you go!
BOOKS
Well-illustrated books about animals are a good source of information. I have a large collection of animal books that I refer to on a regular basis—animal encyclopedias, nature field guides and books on animals in art. I’ve purchased many of these books at used bookstores and library book sales, where you can buy books for a fraction of what they cost new. Children’s books usually have good pictures, and you can find books that specialize in a particular animal or group of animals, such as pigs or farm animals, that you might not find in books written for adults.
FOUND OBJECTS
Found objects are natural things that add interest to your paintings, such as wildflowers, fallen logs or an ear of corn. Bring these objects into your studio and incorporate them into your paintings. Position them so the lighting is the same as in your reference photo.