Why Paint?

Katharine (katharinetrauger.wordpress.com) commented on my picture of “Nella Chiesa” and asked (in jest) which way the window faced and what time of day it was, which reminded me about my previous post, “Moving the Sun.”  Being an artist, I can change the direction of the shadows or the quality of the light to enhance my subject.  I also use a compact camera, despite the salesman’s assurances that I would like a DSLR better because the quality of pictures is so much greater.  I want a camera that I will carry with me a lot, and, actually, I don’t want perfect pictures.  If I take a fantastic photo, then it should stay a photo.  I use photos as references when I can improve the scene or use different colors to enhance the mood or make the scene say something more than is in the photo.

For example, here is my painting of the Duomo (cathedral) in Gubbio, Italy.

Nella Chiesa, 23" x 18"

My reference photo is here:

Duomo in Gubbio

I have brightened the interior and put in colors which don’t appear in the photo.  A value study helps with this, as I paint from the study and therefore am not as subject to the tyranny of the scene as when looking at a photo.

And, Katharine, I think the window faces east-southeast and it was late morning.