Painter X Creativity

5

Painting from a Photograph

 

Figure 5.1 Dancing in the Mirror, 2007, 36 inches × 60 inches.

In this chapter we consider ways that you can use a photograph as a basis for creating an expressive painting. Before diving into techniques let’s examine the difference between a photograph and a painting, and understand the benefits of transforming a photograph into a painting.

Why Paint from a Photograph?

Photographs can be beautiful works of art in themselves and don’t necessarily need any modification or transformation to enhance their power or beauty. Fine art photographs taken with long or multiple exposures, soft focus and so on, can look more ...