The Right Photograph

Taking photographs is never easy. However, the quality of the photograph I have to draw from, the better the final portrait/painting will be. It is therefore extremely important to supply the clearest and sharpest photo you can. If clients are local to Market Harborough, I am happy to come out to you and take some photos myself..

If you have a digital camera, this would be the preferred method, although you can also get some fabulous photos with smart phones as they are improving more and more - I have taken some great photos with mine! I will, of course, discuss photos with you and will let you know if the quality isn’t right - please don’t feel defeated if I ask you to take more as this is a two-way process. The light and position of the subject is the most important part of a great photo and end drawing or painting; I have noted a few tips below:

Light - I have drawn many black labs in my time! All black animals are extremely difficult to photograph as they show very little definition and can appear very flat. Natural daylight is best - please avoid direct sunlight as this can give false colouring and squinting! If a sunny day, take a shot in the shade. Flashes are an absolute no-no and this causes red-eye!

Position - This is also important. Taking a photo of an animal or a person from above can make them look distorted. Also, taking a photo ‘straight on’ can make them look a little flat. I find the best position is being slightly lower than the subject, or if you are at the same level, take the photo slightly off centre. This is relatively easy if your subject is a person or horse, but if a small animal, perhaps have them sitting on a table. Try and get as close as you can, especially ensuring the eyes are clear. As the artist, the most important element of the drawing/painting for likeness is the eyes - if they are not clear it is very difficult to see the true character.

When - Please, if possible, give me 4 weeks lead time when commissioning me for a drawing and 6 weeks for an oil painting (drying time essential before framing - this alone can take a week or two). These timings will give us time to get the right photo. Don’t stress about getting the right photo in one shoot; animals and children especially get tired and bored if you are spending too much time snapping away at them. If they have had enough, stop and try again another time. I love to draw/paint subjects with a natural pose, so do try a few of these too. Most importantly, have fun!

REMEMBER, THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH RESULTS IN THE PERFECT RESULT!

NHS Portraits

Portraits for NHS Heroes was an incentive which took off on Instagram at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.  The aim of this venture was to encourage artists to draw or paint portraits, free of charge, for our hard-working NHS workers.  Having completed 4 pieces of artwork, with the last drawing on this page being very special to me!  I have been a sufferer of Meniere’s Disease for a very long time and since moving back to Leicestershire I have been treated by Professor Peter Rea from the London Road Clinic in Leicester. After treatment, my life has changed enormously for the better!  Prof Rea was an obvious person for me to approach as a way of a thank you!  He had already had a painting of himself, so I suggested drawing his wife, who is an ex-nurse.  The drawing of his wife and mother-in-law is a poignant composition as his mother-in-law had literally just finished the same treatment I had had a year earlier.