# Creating Subject Matter

**URL:** <https://www.smartermarx.com/t/creating-subject-matter/836>\
**Category:** Artist's Lounge\
**Created:** [February 14, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/creating-subject-matter/836 "2019-02-14T17:53:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![daniel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/daniel/32/1355_2.png) [@daniel](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/daniel)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/creating-subject-matter/836/1 "2019-02-14T17:53:25Z")

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I would love to know how some of you create subject matter for your paintings/ drawings. Do you take a photo and Photoshop it, paint from pure imagination, use online drawing tools to create a base model, etc. Certain artists create these ornate paintings of subjects that are out of reach of just taking a photo, they must either be able to paint anything they can think up (rain men of art) or piece subject matter together in order to create a grand masterpiece. I don’t think there’s an easy answer but I feel that I need to be a photographer, Photoshop expert, painter all in one which is certainly fine but again I’m looking for all options…Lots to learn!

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**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/creating-subject-matter/836/2 "2019-02-17T16:03:08Z")

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I work from photos/life/digital reference—you name it. The real challenge for me is weaving all together into a seamless vision.