Thomas Couture was an influential French history painter and teacher. It is the teacher part that impressed me the most. Thomas Couture was taught painting at two different art schools in Paris. Here he honed his own technique and became known for creating historical paintings, which he painted in his own studio.
He was commissioned to paint three murals, two of which he never completed and a third that received "bad press." It was this "bad press" that angered Thomas enough that he published a book that showed his working ideas and methods.
He then returned to his home town and taught young artists who came to him his method. A few artists are well known, but most famous would most likely be Edouard Manet.
I chose Couture's "Female Head" first because of two reasons. First, simply because it appealed to me. The subtle smile on the subjects face and the light vs shadow around her neck and chin. Secondly, its cold outside. I could reproduce this in my studio where its warm.
I learned a few things during this shoot. It's not always about where to place the lights, sometimes its about where to place the shadows.
Thank you Thomas Couture for your art, and showing me that sometimes you need to be your own artist.
