Art Tips from Marionette - Collecting Reference Material

From my May Newsletter:
There is no time like the present to increase your library of reference material
for your painting. Plan a day to take your camera to the beach, botanical garden,
or even in your own backyard to collect some new and interesting shots! What better
way to inspire yourself to create a new work of art.

Here on Kauai, I like to take some shots at Maha'ulepu Beach near Poipu or visit
the McBryde and Allerton Gardens in Lawai. Make sure you have plenty of natural
sunlight on your subject. Sun and shadows add depth and interest to your reference
photos. They will make your paintings come alive! Too many times I've seen other
artists working from photos that are flat and have a small range of values. This
will almost always lead to a boring painting. Also, look for those subjects that
have a lot of color.