How to Document Art – Taking Great Photos
Jan 17, 2010 Art General, Promotion and Exhibition
Now that you’ve determined what kind of camera you’re using, and whether your images will be digital, prints, or slides, let’s look at ways to make sure you take the best pictures of your art as possible.
Positioning
Make sure your piece is sitting square to the camera. Ideally, it should be hanging on a wall so that each corner is equally far away from your camera. The center of your lense should also be lined up with the center of your art. Make sure the camera is far enough away from your work so that it doesn’t appear warped.
Flash or No Flash
I highly recommend against using a flash. It tends to cause uneven light and distracting glares. Ideally, the space you’re in should be bright enough that you don’t have to use a flash.
Light
This is probably the most important part of this proces. You want to take your photos in a well-lit area. You have two options for this: artificial light, or natural light. I’ve found that using natural light, when possible, usually produces the best results. Pick a day that is bright, but slightly overcast. You don’t want to take pictures in full sunlight.
If the weather isn’t co-operating for you, you can still take pictures inside, but you will probably need to set up some extra lighting. In an ideal situation, you would have two standing lamps behind your camera, one on each side. The camera on the left would point to the right side of your art, and the camera on the right would point to the left side of your art. This allows you to get even lighting across the entire piece. If your art is very large, you may even consider using four lights, pointing at opposite corners.
Not everyone has access to extra lights. If that’s the case, choose the brightest room you have and make sure you follow the next steps:
Tripod
A tripod is essential for documenting art. For one thing, it keeps the camera steady and level, so that you can set your work up as described in the first section. Secondly, it holds the camera still so that your photos will be crisp and in focus. This is especially important in lower-light situations.
Shutter-Delay
This is another tip for getting in focus images. When you push down on the button to take a photo, you often move the camera just slightly. In low light, this causes your image to blur. Even in bright light, it can make your camera shift enough to change the positioning of your art within the frame. Using a shutter delay ensures that your camera stays absolutely still while it takes the photo.
Camera Settings
Adjusting the camera settings is a good way to make sure the colours in your work comes out accurate. This is easier to do with a digital camera because you get instant results. With a film camera, it’s a good idea to try two or three diffrent settings, then choose the best when the film is developed. The aperture and the shutter speed work together to determine how much light enters the camera.
Remember that these photos are the only representation of your work that a gallery will have. This is how they will determine whether or not they want you in their gallery. You want these photos to be as perfect as possible! Don’t accept any images that:
- are on an angle or are warped;
- have a glare, or where you can clearly see which direction the light is coming from;
- are blurry or out of focus;
- are too dark;
- appear washed out;
- or have colours that aren’t accurate;
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t quite get it perfect. Next timt we’ll take a look at some digital tools you can use to subtly fix the pictures of your art. Sign up to get the latest articles in your inbox.
Tags: documentation, exhibitions, galleries, promotion
The Why and How of Spray Fixative
Jan 13, 2010 Drawing
One of the drawbacks of drawing in dry media (pencils, charcoal, pastels) is that it can smudge very easily, leaving your artwork vulnerable to damage from fingers and and other papers. Fortunately, you can use a spray fixative to protect your drawings. A spray fixative comes in an aerosol can and will ‘fix’ your drawings so that they won’t smudge. I use Krylon, but there are many different brands. There are also several different types of fixatives, and it’s important to know which is best for you.
Matte
A matte fixative is what I use for the majority of my drawings. This will fix your drawings and give a nice matte finish. Sometimes you can get areas of your drawing that are shiny from too much graphite. Using a matte fixative can help disguise these areas.
Gloss
I use this fixative more for my paintings than I do my drawings, but I have tried it on some of my mixed media work involving charcoal with great results. Gloss fixative gives your work a glossy, shiny finish.
Workable
A workable fixative is very useful during the drawing process. It allows you to fix the parts that you’ve already drawn, then continue to draw on top without worrying about smudging what is underneath. It’s also useful in providing some additional texture. Sometimes you shade and blend so much that the paper can’t take any more graphite. This will give the paper more tooth and let you shade even more.
If you’re selling or giving away your drawings, I highly recommend that you fix them. If your drawings are just for yourself, it’s up to you, but even when papers are carefully stored away, the graphite or charcoal can rub and transfer onto the next paper. If you’re worried about the images in your sketchbook transfering to adjacent pages, only draw on every other page, or slip a blank sheet of paper in to protect your work. It’s not necessary to fix every page of your sketchbook, but you might want to consider it for drawings with very heavy shading.
Fixing Your Drawings
- Whichever fixative you decide to use, carefully follow the rules on the back of the can. Here are some general guidelines for using a spray fixative.
- Shake the can. I know it’s time consuming and boring and you want to skimp on this part, but shaking the can will help the fixative flow smoothly through the nozzle without drips and blobs.
- Make sure your drawing is free from dust. I once fixed a drawing that had been sitting on my table for a week or so, and when I looked closely I realized I had fixed all kinds of little dust particles to the surface. Gently blow on the piece, or better yet, use a soft brush to get rid of any loose bits.
- Hold the can about a foot away from your drawing.
- Spray steadily back and forth across the drawing, overlapping your strokes and going off the edges to make sure you don’t miss anything.
- Use two or three coats, letting it dry in between.
More Tips
- Hold the can upright to ensure it sprays smoothly.
- Hold your drawing upright if possible. Spraying on the ground can cause dirt and dust to blow onto your work.
- Between coats, rotate your page so that the fixative can settle into the miniscule nooks and crannies of the paper.
- Use several thin coats rather than one thick coat.
- Make sure the fixative is able to dry for an appropriate amount of time before adding more coats.
- Check before every spray that the nozzle is clean and free from either wet or dry fixative. You may need to pick the dry fixative away from the hole to prevent drips.
- If you notice drips on your drawing, don’t panic. While it’s still set, dab very gently with a tissue, then spray another coat of fixative.
- Use outside or in a well ventillated room. Most of these products are very fumey.
- You may need to use even more coats for a heavy charcoal drawing.
Tags: better drawings, drawing tips, fixative
15 Tips for Realistic Shading
Jan 10, 2010 Drawing
Here are 15 tips to improve your shading techniques and help you create more realistic drawings. Don’t forget to check out my posts on how to shade and my tutorial for shading a sphere.
1. Avoid pressing hard, instead create dark areas by layering more and more graphite on the page.
2. As well as fixing your finished drawing, a workable fixative can be used throughout your shading to give the paper more texture (tooth). This will let you add more layers of graphite.
3. Keep pencil marks even and close together.
4. Work from light to dark.
5. Use the edge of your pencil instead of the tip.
6. Think in three dimensions and visualize the way light will hit your subject.
7. Use a blending stick to create a smooth texture.
8. Check your proportions before blending to make sure they are correct. It will be harder to erase after you blend.
9. Use a clean, fresh blending stick, especially for the lightest areas.
10. To lighten too dark areas, or to reclaim highlights, use a kneaded eraser.
11. Work slowly; don’t rush.
12. Use a variety of pencils to create a full range of values.
13. Create smooth transitions between shadows, midtones and highlights.
14. Don’t be afraid to go dark. The only areas that should be pure white are the highlights. Try making the darkest shadows as deep as you can, then adjust the rest of your values accordingly.
15. Use different drawing techniques to create a variety of textures with your shading.
Tags: better drawings, shading
How to Document Your Art – Getting Started
Jan 6, 2010 Art General, Drawing, Promotion and Exhibition
If you hope to have your artwork shown one day, it’s essential that you learn how to document, or take pictures of your art. No matter what type of art gallery you submit to, they will almost always expect to see some kind of example of your work. Most of the time, they will not ask for originals and it’s up to you to provide documentation of your art. Because this is what the gallery will base its decision to give you a show on, you want to make sure you present your work in the best way possible. Quality documentation is one of the key elements of an exhibition proposal.
So how do you make sure you get quality documentation of your artwork? Before you start taking photos, here are some things to consider:
The Type of Documentation
When it comes to submitting artwork, you have three choices: digital images, slides, or prints. Make sure you check the gallery’s submission guidelines to see what they will accept. Some will accept all and some might only accept one or two forms.
Slides are a more traditional form of documentation, and while some people still prefer them, most people agree that digital images are much easier and more affordable. Digital images allow you to manipulate the colour and brightness of your pictures if you need to and can be submitted either on a CD or electronically through email.
Prints seem to be the least efficient form; they are bulky, costing more to ship and also more expensive to print. It is a good idea to include at least one in your proposal so that curators can get a quick preview without hauling out the computer or slide projector.
Digital vs Film Cameras
This is largely a matter of person opinion and depends on what you’re knowledgeable and comfortable with. There are lots of sites that compare the benefits of film and digital cameras, but neither one is better for documenting art. At one time, you may have been limited by the types of documentation you wanted to take. The good news is that digital photos can now be converted into slides, and film photos can be put on a CD, and both types of cameras offer similar functions and control.
Personally, I prefer digital because it allows me to see my pictures instantly and make sure I have a good quality image. I don’t find that using digital limits me in any way, and I like being able to manipulate photos afterwards.
Get to Know Your Camera
Whichever camera you decide to go with, take some time to learn its functions. You’ll need to know how to focus, adjust shutter speed and aperture,control the white balance and delay the shutter.
If you have a digital camera, you will need to know how to adjust the quality of your photos. It’s best to use the highest settings to get the best quality possible. This will allow you to crop and manipulate the photo as needed without losing quality.
If you have a film camera, get to know the different film speeds and how to adjust your camera to accommodate them.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a tripod to keep your camera steady, which makes it easier to reduce blurriness.
Coming up I will discuss in more detail how to actually take photos of your art. Stay updated by signing up for an email subscription.
Tags: art, documentation, exhibitions
Top 5 Websites for Artists
Jan 3, 2010 Art General
I’ve already shared with you ten artist blogs that I love, and now I’ve picked my 5 favorite websites for artists. These are more collective sites, with various artists sharing information. If you’re trying to find ideas and inspiration, learn a new technique, or tips on being an artist and marketing yourself, you will be able to find it on one of these sites. If all else fails, you can always ask at the forums and get advice from a variety of other artists. As artists, we are continually learning, and whatever it is you want to know, you’ll be sure to find it here!
This site has a collection of articles separated into the categories of drawing and painting. Each of these categories is quite broad, however. For example, drawing covers pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal, etc. The articles range from tutorials on specific techniques and subjects to general lessons on how to get started.
Fine Art Views is another blog with a group of artists submitting content. I’ve found the articles to be very well written and helpful. You can scroll through the most recent articles, or take a look at the extensive categories on the left-hand side to browse through the archives.
I’ve mentioned this site before and will again because it’s such a great resource. I’m a member of the forums and have gotten a lot of good advice over the years. Wetcanvas is a large site with a huge list of articles to read, a very active forum and also a reference image library full of pictures taken by WC members.
I’ve only recently discovered Art Bistro, but it looks like another great site. It focuses on a broad range of art and design careers and has advice on becoming an artist. There are also “how-to” articles, a discussion forum, and an option to create an online portfolio of your work. Another thing that looks interesting are their quizzes for artists.
This is another great site with a plethora of how to articles ranging from art tutorials to art marketing. Empty Easel is easy to navigate, its articles divided into categories and subcategories.
The great thing about all of these sites is that they are a collection of information from a large group of artists. This means that you get different points of view and different areas of expertise.
Another thing to consider is that many of these sites accept article submissions. Whatever it is you do, perhaps there is something you can share with other artists!
Tags: art resources, art tips, artists
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