Organize Research and Reference Material

Majority of artists and designers keep a collection of ideas and reference materials for possible future use in tangible forms such as newspaper articles, clippings from magazines, etc. These references are stored away in what is usually called a morgue file.

Morgue files can hold inspiration or whatever content you choose which get those creative juices flowing. They may contain colour references, backgrounds, subject matter or even compositional ideas. They can also hold things that make you happy or whatever your eye is attracted to. The possibilities and spectrum of reference material is endless.


Reference materials should be organised and stored in a way that works best for you; folders, sketchbooks, box or hanging files, even digitally. A folder with plastic inserts or sleeves is probably the easiest to start with. Just a word of advice to you, make some notes to yourself, next to, even on or the back of the clipping. Write down what it was that you liked or why it was added to the file. Post-it-notes are handy and highlighter pens may also be useful. Notes you make to yourself will help refresh your memory when looking through the entries at a later date.

If by any chance, you would like to start smaller or even minimize ideas into a little snapshots, then why not try a small photo album? You can purchase small photo albums with space for writing memos next to the insert pocket.

While we are on the subject of photo albums, I would like to recommend to you,see through photo album. I have just purchased five to organize my ideas by subject. These are the frosted (translucent) cover with clear inside pockets. I find these are excellent as immediately you can see what is inside them.

You can also consider a flat plastic and handy brag book album, that fits into your either your man or hand bag. Pop a picture or a photo in the front cover of album to show what it contains inside. These are handy when storing photos in a folder alongside current research material that you may be using.

Collect, store, and record your ideas in a sketchbook journal! Everyone should have and carry a sketchbook or journal even if it is something informal.

Last but not least, another approach is maintaining a digital morgue. In essence, bookmarking websites is a way of adding ideas into a morgue. Flicker and Picasa web albums are also a way to keep track of your reference photos. These can either be shared publicly or privately with a password protection. And the neat thing is, as long as there is a way to access the internet you can pull up your photos wherever you may be.

Remember... The idea is to keep a morgue organized and accessible. Clear out and sort through your files at least once a year. Designate a time for you to do this such as in the New Year or during annual spring cleaning.

Best of Luck!
- Kim Bennett

Just Another Quick Study

OK... this is an unfinished study but thought I would show this to you before adding the final touches. During the time, I was more concerned with the skin around the eye area but planning to adjust the eye when the final section is added.

The past few weeks, I have been reading up on a method or technique used by some portrait artist's. It is an imprimatura layer of Raw Umber, an underpainting or deadlayer with Titanium White and then layering of colour on top.

It was an interesting technique and hopefully I will have the chance to work with it again.

Eye Study is 4 X 4 inches ( 10.16 x 10.16cm )
Acrylic on Watercolour paper
2009 Kim Bennett

Dutch shoes used to be made in a factory machine, until it got clogged up.

Freda "Stewart" Hyre- by Betty Hyre

I swiped this off the Our Beloved Hills.
The luncheon set belong to Freda.

Freda "Stewart" Hyre was all of 4’10" tall. She was small in frame but large in spirit. Born in 1889, Freda lived to be 96 years of age. I was sure she would live to be 100. Her mind was as sharp as a tack, but her heart finally gave out. She swore that creamed tomatoes were the secret to her long levity, and she ate them almost everyday of her life, breakfast, lunch and supper.
Like most people her age, she never let anything go to waste. Freda canned vegetables, made her own soap and quilted into her upper eighties. She would complain about her back, and at the same time work circles around all of us. She was spirited and talkative, while Grandpa was serious and quiet. But, It was fun to watch her and Grand Pal Opie set and recite poems and verses. She would start in and he would join. They both had been teachers, and reciting these verses gave them great joy.

Portrait of Mrs. Stewart Hyre, Betty Hyre, 20 x 16 inches
( 50.8 cm x 40.64 cm ), oil on canvas. The background of the painting is a suggestion of the pattern and colours of one of her favourite quilts. I took it from a photograph my husband took of her quilts hanging on the clothes line. Grandma, made quilts for all her children and grand children.

Written by Betty Hyre

Freda's Luncheon Set - by Betty Hyre

My mother sent me this photo of a painting she had just finished last week. What you are seeing is pink dog wood depression glass, luncheon set that belong to Great Grandmother Freda.

As seen in an old advertisement it originally sold in the 1930's for under three dollars. Freda earned it a piece at a time from the general store.

Freda's Luncheon Set, Betty Hyre, 8 x 10 inches (20.32 x 25.4 cm), Oils on masonite

This has been the issue of friendly banter for weeks. While I have been busy at the grind mother has been painting glass.

Good Day For An Outing

This morning I left the house with a little extra spring in my step. The weather had turned for the better and the sky was clear. As usual, it was a walk into Pudsey to see if there was anything of interest to be found in the charity shops. It just so happen to turn out to be a good day to add to my small collection of things.

There was just one item on my list to purchase and this was glass. If it was coloured glass, then even better. This isn't any old spontaneous buying. I have been searching in the charity shops for months. It was the matter of timing it just right to find coloured glass.

Then with careful consideration, I purchased a tea set. I didn't need it but, there was an unsettled question of when would the opportunity come up again. Yes, I admit it was a whim purchase but as the price was under a tenner it would be silly to pass it up. Who knows, maybe one day it may make a nice study of metal or just maybe even, metal and glass.