Post #358292 by cheeky half on Thu, Jan 31, 2008 8:09 AM

Here are a couple of velvets from our collection to perhaps 'inspire' you.

I'm not sure if basing your velvet painting on some old photos or postcards will get you in trouble until you start reproducing it and making tons of money selling it. If what you want to do is use some old pics as 'inspiration' I'd say you'd be in very good company. (Although I'd tend to steer clear of a certain well-known M. Mouse. His bosses tend to be, ironically, a bit overzealous in the protection racket.).

Naked, or semi-naked ladies in tropical settings are an obvious choice, and Svens' post above is a great jumping-off point. Elvis has been done a lot but it seems his Estate doesn't mind too much these days (sensible of them).

It really comes down to the lighting with a velvet. You just gotta go for mood and drama and boldness. Watch old Film Noir as well. You can say you're doing 'research' while enjoying great film.

Oh, and please don't paint bullfighters. Nothing personal against bullfighters, but they already have too many pictures of themselves in velvet. I know vanity is part of their 'thing' but really...

Wasn't it Picasso who said “good artists copy, great artists steal.”?

CH