I tend to find a lot of my inspiration as a photographer and artist from the world of painting. Don’t ask me why I’m not a painter, or why I don’t find more inspiration from photography. I’ll take inspiration where I can find it.
On a recent browse through the Portland Art Museum’s permanent collection, I was struck by a painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I did a little research (on my phone, in the museum…), and found much of his work to be similar to my own aesthetic leanings.
A few months later, as I was photographing for the Astra Velum series with a young lady named Asia, I was reminded of Bouguereau. Something about Asia reminded me of his models; perhaps it was her hair, or the tunic she brought along. But I was pleased to see his influence on my work as I reviewed the images. I think of him each time I look at these photographs:
