1 Photographic reference

For the reference shot, I photograph my grandmother’s hands holding a glass jar that’s close to what I want to eventually paint in, to understand how it would react under the lighting scheme. I have stark sunlight coming in from the left, which makes the objects in the composition stand out in threedimensions and fits my design well.

I ignore the colours and the value scheme of the photograph. The reference is an aid, not a crutch. I ask my grandmother to hold the jar as naturally as possible, so as to not let the hands look strained or contrived in any way.