I HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO BREAKTHROUGH SINCE IT originally appeared as a pamphlet back in 1988, and have noticed one reoccurring message that has been expressed by the authors in all the phases of wildlife art shown between its covers: REFERENCE IS KING!!! We can’t effectively portray wildlife unless we study the real thing.

Live specimens in the wild are always the best way to study WILDlife. Being among wild fish and beasts is the ultimate way to understand and capture the essence of the particular species we are trying to portray in our art. Moving past the “essence” (in this case, of fish) and getting down to the details, we need to take a closer look. Live fish and photographs are both great, and a freshly caught specimen is even better for getting that closer look. We can observe anatomical features, textures and colors up close and personal to gain many new insights. The downside is that a fresh specimen is not a stable form of reference because dehydration, shrinkage, and distortion begin almost immediately. Soon after that, decomposition starts and before long that excellent piece of reference begins to draw flies and eventually the neighborhood dogs.

...Continued in the Summer 2004 Issue of Breakthrough.

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