High-resolution photo for my Watercolour?

I would like to make a watercolour painting of a mineral specimen as a sort of try out since I am thinking of making a series of watercolour mineral specimens.

Does someone want to 'Donate' a high resolution photo of their mineral to be painted?

It has to be high resolution for the details, etc and a very well-photographed specimen.

I put this here instead of 'Mineral Art' because it's just a request for a photo.

I didn't want to google a mineral photo or just pick a photo at random because of copyright issues or the possibility of stepping on someone's toes.

If there are several people that offer up a photo, then I will pick the best photo out of the lot

-Bri

Hmm...

Okay, I will just use one of my own photos.

Hmm,
I don't know why someone didn't jump at the chance to send you an image. It may stem from the fact that many mineral collectors are purists and want the real unaltered, natural, undamaged specimen rather than something that has been "diddled". If you can't have the specimen, perhaps you can make do with a good sharp picture of the specimen. Some may feel that a painting or drawing of an specimens is just a blurry photo and not very desirable. Sort of like you would degrade their specimen in some way. That is just a guess.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Maybe people are just too shy. It might be best to do some browsing to see what you like and then to contact the owner. (You are welcome to any of my photos but for the most part they are more of scientific than aesthetic interest.)

Regards - Modris Baum

Thanks for the response : )

Well, to me, I guess making a painting is like making a portrait of the specimen.

Since they are unique in their own way.

I will also take a look at your gallery Modris, thanks for the invite ; )

Bri,
For that matter you can use any of the images in my gallery to work from as well is you wish. However, you really should have a decent specimen in front of you to study while you paint/draw it. You will need that so you can pick it up and study the crystal shapes from various angles, the surface texture and the way light reflects from its various faces and perhaps even how the color of the specimen will change when viewed under various kinds of lights. Even if you figure your time at minimum wage you should be able to afford to spend some money on a specimen to draw. If you are really pretty good, post some of your work here and you might find someone willing to send you a pretty good specimen to work on.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Hi Bri

I'm looking forward to seeing your work. You can use any of my photos that you feel are worthwhile. How about this one for a challenge (darks are always difficult!):



Regards
Steve



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2009 12:17PM by Rock Currier.

Bri,

You can use every of my photos.
I have in most cases a 12 Mpixel version available.

Stephan

Thanks guys

Rob Woodside was also kind enough to email me a high-res photo of his Nepheline specimen so I am working on that now but I will actually be doing a series of mineral watercolours and posting them in my Mindat gallery .

Hello Bri!

If you would like to, you can choose any photo of my gallery. If there is something useful and you need a higher resolution photo, please tell me (because they are all reduced).

Perhaps something like this:

Regards, Marko

Gentlemen!

I know this is not a "fine arts" forum. But for goodness sake, you can paint a picture to rival a Rubens from a low resolution blurry photograph!