the RIGHT WAY to do a mastercopy

[the_allejo05]

http://quanceblog.blogspot.com/ It is an amazing Ingres copy..

These guys are one of the top ateliers in the country..cant wait to see what they come up with next...

[Seedling]

It's only the "right" way if the master in question did the original with that technique or those mediums.

[Dizon]

thanks for the link Ale...Her drawings are really nice. I like how MIMS approaches it based on what I saw on the atelier's website.

[max xiantu]

I'm always curious about doing a master copy to the point where it seems like it might border on a forgery ;)
Isn't a master copy an aspect of study? For example, I want to learn more about rendering and anatomy, so I do a master copy of a Michaelangelo study with focus on his use of light and shade and how he defines his musclature.
Or I want to learn about injecting personality into a painting and using color effectively, so I copy a Sargent with those ingredients as my focus?
I'm just beginning, so I am curious as to the best approach on a master copy, but I've heard/read so many contrasting ideas.
thanks :.

[Dizon]

there's no right way in doing master copies, just different ways with different purposes. It's totally up to the artist on what aspect/s he wants to focus on when doing these copies.

[Elwell]

Re: "right" and "wrong" ways...
It's all about intention. If the object is to reproduce the original as faithfully as possible, then the degree to which the copy is disingushable from the original can be used as a measure of success. But is Reuben's copy of Leonardo's Battle for the Standard cartoon "wrong" because it looks more like Reubens than Leonardo? When you do a copy, you are getting into another artist's head. The only way to do it "wrong" is to totally miss/misunderstand what they were doing.

[armando]

Where is the Ingres copy?

[Dizon]

oh yeah...It's actually by David.:)

[the_allejo05]

oopss yeah is David..well ..in the past a pupil copy so much the master style that it was indistinguishible one from another.. copying from many sources its ok but is not the best way..because you are getting confused with so many languages (or ways of seing) that you learn none.. example Rubens copied Michelangelo extensevely ..hence his figures got that sculptural..van dyck after absorving his master style (rubens) he studied and copied so much Titian that you can read his colors from the older master as well as a much more natural aproach to figures than Rubens.. you have other examples of history from the three great ones... Raphael from PErugino, michelangelo from Girlandaio, Leonardo from Verochio,, and so many more..today..Marko from Hogarth..I think absorving another style is very important ..not many will agree with me..because it hurts "originality",or the issue of creativeness in an artist is foremost looked upon in this times.. IN the past ..there was one language..you learned it from your master..your teacher..as an aid in helping you understand the same concepts..and to be able to "see in the same way".as a sign of respect..too.. So many artists dont understand that nature is hard... My recomendation pick an artist and studied it until you know him by heart..study what he studied..start from where he started..(did he know anatomy? did he studied sculptures,perspective..color usage, learn as much as you can..from him, do the best you can..and when you feel ready draw from nature..or if you want to, draw now..but if you have a problem..see how he approached it..etc..forget originality..you are not an artist you are an artisan..work work work. Painting is a craft just like any other.. You can focus on other artists as well ,but try to keep it limited..you have to learn a language of expression..Unless you are an artistic genious who can invent a language..relly on what has been done,..most masterpieces where done in some sort of convention and concepts..

[armando]

This is really useful information, especially the part about about not over-emphasizing originality, which is a very recent 20th century concept the "everything must be 100% original" idea of modern art. It's important that beginning artists see this, so thanks for sharing.