- using Google Street View to provide artists with landscape painting opportunities and
- Bill Guffey's pioneering use of it forThe Virtual Paintout project and blog.
However at least I can get out and about and do walk a lot when the weather is better with a view to strengthening the spaghetti junctions in my ankles. (Believe me = breaking a bone is a complete breeze compared to tearing ligaments and tissue in your feet!)
However many people with disabilities greater than mine don't have the mobility I have. Many people can be confined to their homes for long periods and can have significant problems with travelling to see landscapes and paint. However Google Street View appears to offer some scope for artists to travel in a virtual world and paint in the real world that was never envisaged when this development of Google Maps was created.
Google Street View
Bill Guffey (Bill Guffey), a Kentucky artist, is the person who has been responsible for uncovering the potential of Google Street View.
First he started experimenting with Google Street View to complete a series of paintings, one from each state in the U.S. You can see his Street View State Series on his website. In doing this he contacted Google to find out what was and was not possible.
Using Google Street View as a source is legal - He secured the agreement of Google to the effect that it is permissable for artists to use Google Street View as a reference when working in traditional methods to create art.
All Google requires that if you choose to show the original Street View screen shot on which a painting is based on your blog or website, then the Google logo and copyright MUST be visible in the screenshot. There is no requirement for it to be acknowledged in any way in the actual painting.
Bill has also been complimented by by Google for his inspiring use of their technology.
Bill's use of Street View, to inspire his paintings and to create a virtual community of artists, is a remarkable example that we hadn't imagined but are really excited to see.Benefits for artists with disabilities - As Bill highlights on his blog...........
Stephen Chau, Google Street View product manager
This opens up an entire world for artists that are disabled and confined to their homes or facilities, or with restricted mobility.I think this aspect is really terrific for artists with disabilities. It's also the reason why I've chosen to highlight it today given that I'm sitting here and staring out the window at the snow coming down in London!
The Virtual Paintout
Bill subsequently started The Virtual Paintout as a blog project.
The Main RuleTo date the Virtual Paintout has visited the following places. If you click on the links you can view the paintings produced by participants as a result.
The artist must use a view found through Google Street View as the reference for the painting or drawing. Artwork created from photographs not acquired through Google Street View will not be accepted. User Photos found as thumbnails in the upper right hand corner on some views are not acceptable. Thanks.
- Amsterdam
- Baltimore
- Barcelona
- Belfast
- Corsica
- Florence
- Lisbon
- London
- Mexico City
- Nova Scotia
- Paris
- Seattle
This was a lot of fun to do and I would recommend this kind of activity to anyone
So - have you tried painting from Google Street View or participated in The Virtual Paintout?
- How did you find it? What are the pros and cons?
- Do you have any tips for others having a go?
- Google Street View
- Bill Guffey - blog
- The Virtual Paint Out
- Gary Nemkosky - GaryNem
Hi Katherine. Thank you so much for this post. I believe the opportunities for people with disabilities to use Street View as a resource have yet to be even scratched.
ReplyDeleteI've yet to use the Google Street View to paint from, but I use it, along with Google Earth, as a method to scout out locations in advance before I go in person.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Bill Guffey... what a clever and valuable idea! I know what it's like to not be able to get out for a time. Exciting project!
ReplyDeleteI have been participating in Bill Guffey's Virtual Paintout for a few months now. I am greatly appreciative to Bill for hosting the Virtual Paintout blog.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Street View is a fantastic artist's tool.
Street View allows travel to parts of the world that I may never get to see, and provides an on location view without the effect that tourist brochures have of only showing the attractions.
It provides a way of viewing a scene without being intrusive. It captures spontaneous moments that make for energized painting subjects...
Are you getting the feeling that I like the Virtual Paintout and Google Street View? :)
Highly recommend it. It takes a bit of practice to maneuver Street View, but once you try it, it's easy and fun.
Hi Katherine, I'm another Virtual Paintout regular and I'm indebted to Bill for pioneering this idea.
ReplyDeleteI live in a rural area and don't get to travel much. Like you, I've been pretty well confined to home since this snowy weather began so 'travelling' around sunny Corsica this month has been a dream.
It does take practice but I've found that viewing Street View via Google Earth rather than Google Maps gives a larger image and you can save it, rather than just do a screen grab.
Thanks for furthering the cause!
Thank you Katherine for posting this article that show cases the efforts of Bill Guffey. It has indeed been a lot of fun to participate and to get to know yet another circle of artists. Much of the fun is to see what each other finds - like a treasure hunt.
ReplyDeleteThat's such an impressive effort from Gary.
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to try this but computer RAM issues make me very nervous of Google Earth at present.
I think you're right to be wary Robyn. Maybe a newish laptop might move across the equator in the coming months?
ReplyDeleteOnly if an unexpected inheritance turns up :)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to Bill...
ReplyDeleteSome help to use street view?: You ask it, you get it! ;)
Launch google , on the screen use google menu - on the top - click on maps
Enter an address on the field after google maps logo and press the button you get a map of the location
you can use
- the zoom in/out scale to point where you want to go (lick +/- or cursor grab with the mouse button)
- use the four arrows to move left/right and up/down the map
to get more of the map you can use the small icon << top right of the links frame to hide it
Now on the Street view...move the mouse to the yellow guy - click on it (keep the button down) and drag it on the map. All the streets you can see are highlighted. Move the circle under the guy where you want it. If you put it over a highlighted road for few seconds you got the picture of that location.
Drop the guy and you get a large picture.
Now it is the fun....you take a tour
You get a 360° view using
- the fours arrows wheel or,
- using a grab/move with the mouse button
You get a zoom with
- the +/- icon under the four arrows wheel
- when you see a sall magnifier and click
You want to see forward or backward the road you can use
- one of the arrow on the white line over the picture
- or double click on a white circle on the road to go there
You like the view - you can enlarge the picture to full screen using the square icon in the top right with four arrow in the corners
then ESC key to come back.
You want a screen capture, use the "prnt" key and paste the result in an image software
You dont like here, and want to go elsewhere... just use the X icon top right
There is more but ... try it and paint it! See you at the Virtual Paint Out
Brilliant. I have been sketching from Street View for a while but wasn't sure if it was OK to do so.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to be able to sketch a street in sunny Nice while sitting in cold rainy Kent.
I will be joining you all at the Virtual Paintout very soon....