Avoid These 10 Pitfalls To Make The Best Painting From A Photograph

In the realm of art & painting, every artist has his own belief, views, and techniques when it comes to painting. Some of them even possess strong feelings about what they should do while painting from a photograph.

Painting from a photograph is not so easy, as it has a few pitfalls. Over the past few decades, the ever-going controversy, about whether we should use photos or not, has become eminent. However, processes do not define art. It's all about creating all those dramatic orchestras from the artist's point of view.

Creating the perfect ambiance in your photo requires some cautiousness. This article is all about avoiding those pitfalls that may limit your beautiful painting. So, hop on board as we discuss what to consider while painting from a photograph-

1. Not Every Photo Is Worth Painting

Be choosy! That's the very first thing to consider if you decide to make a painting from a photograph. Not every picture is worth it. There are various points you need to consider in a photo before you decide to use it as your reference.

The opacity, light, focus, shadow, and details in the photograph are all equally important. So, take numerous pictures & then find the best one which suits your creation.

The best thing is to take photos by yourself. When you use someone else's captured photo, you always limit your imagination. No matter how much you edit the picture using the software, it still lacks the creativity that only you could create. So, try to shoot the picture yourself. Otherwise, find the best reference photo by searching thoroughly.

You also need to choose your painting kit wisely. Having the right kit will make things much easier.

2. Picture A Roadmap First

Whenever you travel to someplace, what do you do first? You go through the roadmap of that place & decide to take the best route. Painting is also very similar. There is always a roadmap for every painting. You need to determine where to focus, and what parts you need to sketch first.

Being always meticulous doesn't help at all. However, you can't overlook the importance of making a roadmap before starting to paint. Otherwise, you will find yourself trapped in an irking position in the middle of your painting & will have to repaint.

3. Be Less Meticulous

We are humans & it's obvious to have flaws. Painting has its flaws too. Sometimes, that's what makes it more elegant. For example, the white portion of our eyes is not white. So, if you are painting a portrait of someone, try to blend the white colors with ash or ultramarine and amber.

The same goes for the lips. The sharp edges of the lips make the portrait a bit pale. Try to splash the brush over the two layers of colors rather than forming a sharp edge.

Don't be afraid if your color spills over to another portion. You can always create lighter shadows from darker shadows. Besides, doing so creates a more artistic ambiance.

4. Look for a Composition, Not a Subject

While deciding to choose the perfect photograph for your painting, you may encounter a situation where only a part of the picture has caught your eye.

What will you do then? Crop it up & draw that portion only? No, not advisable. Whenever you are selecting a photograph, try to see the picture as a whole composition.

Maybe a beautiful pine tree or crimson red leaves have left you startled. But you need to consider the surroundings of those objects.

If the surroundings aren't appealing enough to you, skip it. Keep looking. The reason behind this point is that a photograph is a composition of a number of subjects.

You can not keep one by omitting the rest. It decreases the artistic value of the picture. That's why it's better to select such photos which combinedly are astounding. 

5. Prioritize the Big Shapes

Whenever you look at a picture, don't jump straight to the small details. Imagine you are drawing a picture of an old lady walking with her dog along a muddy road in the countryside. There's a brick wall & a few trees by the road.

What will be your primary focus? Not the bricks, of course. Instead, you should concentrate on the big picture, initially focusing on the lady, dog, street, wall & trees, etc.

The bricks are the secondary priority considering this picture. The depiction here will be flawless if you follow such an approach while painting. The same goes for portrait paintings too. Focusing on the larger areas is intrinsic to a perfect picture.

6. Adapt Every Subject to the Painting Impeccably

This is one of the most ignored parts of a painting. In a picture, placing each & every item where it belongs is fundamental. But most people forget to do this positioning before starting to paint.

They begin painting & in the middle of it, try to make way for a subject. Thus, the painting loses its subtle artistic taste.

To avoid such troublesome situations, try to make a raw placement of things necessary for your painting first. You should try to find the center of your picture, the main object of your focus, and the shape of smaller pieces of stuff along with other things. Positioning everything right will result in impeccable art.

Benefits of Painting from Photographs

There are also some perks of painting from a photograph-

Photos Do Not Move

Although many artists believe that painting from a photograph is just copying & it lacks creativity, it certainly has its charms. Think of a black cougar. If you want to paint a black cougar, what will you do? You surely can't ask the cougar to pose for you sitting on a tree.

Even if you manage to be there in person, it will undoubtedly be too risky. So, a photograph is your only option here.

A Photograph Can Capture A Perfect Moment

Besides, painting natural scenery is also tricky. It's because of the color, warmth, shadow, and light; everything changes with time. A photograph captures a moment & stores it as long as it wants. So, if you're going to have a touch of artistic depth in your painting, you will want to paint from a photograph as it freezes the moment.

In terms of detailed information, modern cameras can be more powerful than human eyes. If you adjust the right ISO, shutter speed, exposure, and white balance.

Final Thoughts

Painting from a photograph has a few pitfalls and some perks. Try to follow the above-mentioned tips so you can use your favorite photo as a reference and still make an amazing painting out of it.