How much does painted art inspire you . . . .

[daveleo]

or influence your photography (maybe I should call it your "image making" if you include post-processing)?

In my case, painted art has a big influence on the pictures I would call "my best" or "favorites". I think I am always moving my photographs towards what I think a painting of it should look like.

What is happening is that my ideas of "what a painting of it should look like" are changing. Well, anyway, that's neither here nor there, getting back to the question . . .

How much does painted art inspire you or influence your photography ?

 

[RichC]

I'm inspired by, among others:

• the American realists Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper
• the Dane Vilhelm Hammershøi
• James Abbott McNeill Whistler - his "Nocturnes"
• the surrealists - especially René Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico
• "Golden Age" Northern European still life painters - for example, Anne Vallayer-Coster, Floris Claesz van Dyck and not forgetting Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin - one of the greatest painters that ever lived, in my opinion.

And, moving to the present:

• Gerhard Richter (because he blurs the distinction between photography and painting)

 

[Calzone]

Painting was my first love, but now I'm a photographer. Painted for 12 years and had a two person show in downtown Madhattan.

Because of a disrupted life I gave it up, and then the galleries started calling. What I found discouraging was the art dealers trying to commodify my work.

In the end photography better suits me and does not require large studio workspace like when I was a painter.

Cal

 

[jwc57]

When I'm not feeling "inspired" I pick up one of the old art books I buy from used book stores or Goodwill. I started out with a sketch pad and pencils. I don't know why I stopped. But, like Calzone, photography is a better fit for me.

 

[back alley]

not much i'm sorry to say...if anything moves me then it's music...it creates a feeling that can take over...

 

[lynnb]

Painted art inspires me quite a lot. I'm a regular visitor to art galleries and have a small collection of art books. Content, composition, control of light and the use of colour are what interest me the most.

 

[benlees]

Ed Ruscha pretty much wrecked everything for me.:angel:

 

[photony texas]

Studied the Masters since I was a young teenager. Have a very large library of Painters, Painting, Composition etc. I would say it is a HUGE influence on my phOtOgraphy and Vision. A Major source of inspiration that I tap every time I touch the camera. Don't get me to talking about Eugene Delacroix, Vermeer, Goya, Velazquez, jeezz I could go on an on an never shut up

 

[rhl-oregon]

I think now that my recent turn or commitment to photography owes most to a childhood around an oil painter who happened to be my grandfather. The power of visual communication, especially framed oil portraiture, was impressed on me very very early--it was in every room of his home. But I didn't develop much skill or application in drawing or painting; instead I went to poetry and to music for many years. And in early adulthood I soaked up the work of the Farm Security Administration photographers. But I still love painting, and admire the painterly textural abstractions of RFFer bk1970 that on the gallery pages. My interest in tones not colors has more in common with drawing and etching, though I don't use bokeh or black or white backgrounds enough to imitate their commitment to to an image emerging from negative space. Still plenty of time to change my notions, though it's hard to imagine my taste becoming more painterly, i.e. for me, more texture-centered and coloristic, whether representational or abstract.

 

[Chris101]

I get most of my inspiration from painting, and not just for my photography. I painted my living room with a Rothko-esque interface near the top of the walls, and my bathroom has Van Gogh like irises on the shower wall.

But I don't take pictures like any painter. Well, maybe like Pollock.

 

[daveleo]

For me, the powerful influences are the lighting and surface textures of "the Dutch Masters", and the emotional "impressionistic" approach of the French and American Impressionists. Also handling the balance of translucent and reflected light by a variety of painters is extremely interesting.

Lately though I am looking at "Abstract" art and find it fascinating; I enjoy looking at some of it but can't quite explain why . (photony texas and bk1970 are RFF members who post very nice abstract images here on the forum.)

 

[koven]

inspired this



Life of an umbrella by MrEllis, on Flickr

 

[cz23]

Not much linkage for me, really, at least not consciously. But someday I'd love to create the photographic equivalent of Hopper's Nighthawks.

John

 

[TKH]

Whats the original??
Looks great!!

 

[bigeye]

Studied the Masters since I was a young teenager. Have a very large library of Painters, Painting, Composition etc. I would say it is a HUGE influence on my phOtOgraphy and Vision. A Major source of inspiration that I tap every time I touch the camera. Don't get me to talking about Eugene Delacroix, Vermeer, Goya, Velazquez, jeezz I could go on an on an never shut up

Get thee to Madrid.

Painting: to understand composition and lighting

.

 

[Contarama]

I think every photograph I make has its foundation in my college art studies.

 

[danielsterno]

As primarily a painter/drawing, my recent equalled passion for photography gives me an immediacy that is very fulfilling. They compliment each other nicely but differently for me.....

 

[williams473]

I learned more about the value of light from looking at painting than from photography I think. My favorite is John Singer Sargent - he's our American Rembrandt for my money... we have his "Ventian Interior" here in Pittsburgh and I've looked at it for long stretches of time. He (among others) taught me how to allow darkness to dominate a frame and enjoy the beauty of naturally lit scenes. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

Matt

 

[John Bragg]

There is no conscious link for me except maybe in lighting perhaps and of course the generally accepted rules of composition. My favorite photographic influence, the late James Ravilious had a very famous painter father in Eric Ravilious, so I guess the seed is there.

 

[daveleo]

. . . My favorite is John Singer Sargent - he's our American Rembrandt for my money... . . .

Oh yes. His portrait of Mrs Charles E. Inches and his Daughters of Edward Darley Boit hang in the Boston MFA. The second one is almost overwhelming in the posing and lighting. The first one invites you to imagine that he (the painter) loved the lady !