When you use photographs to paint watercolors, you don't have to worry about the weather or trying to be comfortable. Here are some tips for using reference photos.
While some watercolorists prefer to paint outdoors from real life, others have discovered the many advantages of painting from reference photos.
Advantages of Painting Watercolors from Photos
More accurate drawings – When you paint from life, you need exceptional drawing skills. However, if your drawing ability isn’t that accomplished, you can get a better likeness drawing from photos, using the gridding technique. With gridding you can also either enlarge or reduce the size of a photo by using different grid sheets.
More control – When you paint from life, you have to worry about moving shadows, bad weather and other changes in nature. If you’re a slow floral painter, your flower may wilt before you’ve finished your painting.
Comforts of a studio – When painting you should be as comfortable as possible. Unless you enjoy the challenge of working outdoors, consider painting indoors in a relaxing studio.
Tips for Painting from Photos
Create files of reference photos – Begin collecting reference photos from a variety of different sources, sorting them into categories. For example, have separate files for landscapes, animals, people, etc. Magazines, postcards, family photos, and greeting cards are only a few of the sources where you can find good quality reference photos for your paintings.
Choose good photos – The quality of your reference photo will make a huge difference in the success of your painting. Be sure your reference photo is not only focused, but contains well-defined details. Select photos that have distinct shadows and sunlit areas for contrast.
Look for a dominant object – Take the example of flowers. Rarely do flowers position themselves into groups that are paintable. That’s why you need to find a photo where one particular flower (or grouping of flowers) stands out as your dominant object. Otherwise, your painting will be boring.
Edit photos – Editing can mean anything from taking out unnecessary objects so your painting isn’t so busy to adjusting color. You may also want to combine two photos. In other words, take a photo that lacks people and add a few figures for more interest.
Re-establish values – You may have a great photo, but the values don’t focus on the main subject. For example, a background’s value may compete with the main object. Therefore, you may have to lower a value (making it lighter) so the main focus of your painting stands out or “pops”. On the other hand, by darkening a background, you can make a sun-lit figure stand out more. In other words, don’t depend on photos for values as often they need doctoring to render a good reference photo.
Use a View Finder – Use a view finder to eliminate the portions of the photo that aren’t of interest for creating a dynamic painting. You can make your own view finder by simply cutting out a rectangle from a piece of cardboard. Or glue four strips of paper together to form a view finder. A view finder can also allow you to create several compositions from one photograph. This is especially true when working with reference photos of floral arrangements.
Establishing lights and dark – Stand back, squinting your eyes. This will help you find the lights and darks in a photo. A painting should have only one source of light.
Study Art Books
Finally, study art books that give valuable suggestions for painting watercolors from photos. An excellent book is Painting Beautiful Watercolors from Photographs by Jan Kutz. Also, take advantage of watercolor classes. It won’t be long before you’ll be creating your own brilliant watercolors from photos.
The copyright of the article Painting Watercolors from Photos in Landscape Painting is owned by Venice Kichura. Permission to republish Painting Watercolors from Photos in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
