How to paint creatively from photos

Name: How to paint creatively from photos
Rating: 4.6 (134 reviews)

Get creative with your photos and develop your own style as you use my easy five step method of painting.

Created byAndy Walker

Last updated 4/2020

English

What you'll learn

The best way to paint from a photo
How to use a photo as inspiration for your creativity

Course content

7 sections • 28 lectures • 1h 46m total length

Introduction to the course1:59
Find out what you will learn in this course.

The five steps5:35
Find out what the five steps are that will transform the way you paint from photos.
Stage 1: Getting the right Composition4:19
How many compositions can you find?
Stage 2: Designing with Thumbnails9:10
learn the importance of tonal values and have creative fun making value thumbnail sketches from photos.
Creating your thumbnails
Stage 3: Drawing the bare essentials7:20
Find out how to edit down your drawing so that you can express yourselves with paint.
Quick and simple drawings
Choose your Colors6:12
Learn how to use just a few colors to create your painting.
Three color combinations
Stage 4: Blocking in with color7:37
Learn how to block in an oil painting and a watercolor painting.
Stage 5: Finishing the painting with details7:10

The landscape photo reference1:28
Check out the reference photo and begin to plan your painting!
Stage 1: Composition1:13
Use L shapes to find as many compositions as you can, then choose one to paint from.
Stage 2: Thumbnails2:39
Have fun using thumbnails to refine your composition and to build a strong structure for your painting.
Stage 3: The drawing2:13
Draw out your outlines for your painting.
Stage 4: Blocking in4:58
Block in your painting with local color.
Stage 5: Final details2:38
Add as much or as little detail as you like.

The photo reference0:46
Look at the reference photo or find something similar on the internet or from your own photo collection.
1. Composition0:58
Use this photo, or one of your own, and think about how you could improve it to make a great painting.
2. Thumbnails2:54
Use the photo to create interesting thumbnails.
3. Drawing2:03
Draw your design as simply as you can.
4. Blocking in4:17
Block in your painting with local color.
5. Final details2:52
Add as much detail as you feel you would like to, in order to finish your painting.

The still life photo reference1:17
Try various layouts and angles for your still life photo.
Stage 1: Composition1:49
Use L shapes to find the perfect composition.
Stage 2: Thumbnails4:27
Draw a thumbnail (or two) to learn more about the composition and to create that all important tonal structure.
Stage 3: The drawing7:24
Learn some techniques for getting proportions and placement correct in your drawing, and also find out how to prepare a board for painting.
Stage 4: Blocking in6:34
Block in your painting with local colors.
Stage 5: Final details4:34
Add the final details - not too much!

Requirements

You will need paints (these can be watercolour, acrylics, pastels or oils), brushes and paper or canvas. Also a sketchbook or paper, and pencils or pens.

Description

This course will help you to improve your painting, especially when working from photos. It will also help you to develop your own unique style.

My aim is to give you an easy five step framework that will enable you to become creative with any photo. By using the photo as a starting point, as an inspiration, I will show you how to develop your painting in a way that is unique to you.

I'll demonstrate how to get several compositions from one photo, how to focus in on what inspires you, and how to use this to form strong tonal images that will be the backbone of your painting. I will then show you how to use what you have learned to create a piece of art that is eye-catching and painterly.

Find out how to paint with just a small selection of colors, how to draw accurately and simply, how to express yourself in you art, and how to be free from the tyranny of copying! (This course is not for those who want to paint the photo exactly as it is.)

There are demonstrations to follow and some assignments that will help you to develop your skills.

You will need a small selection of paints, either watercolor, oil, gouache or acrylics.
I demonstrate using water mixable oils and watercolors, but my methods are easily transferable to any medium.
I suggest the following colors, but don't worry if you don't have them all. These are just suggestions but you can use whatever colors you have at home. My suggestions are:

Two blues - ultramarine and cerulean
two reds - cadmium red (or pyrrole red), and alizarin crimson (or primary magenta)
two yellows - lemon yellow and cadmium yellow medium
two earth colors - yellow ochre (or raw sienna), and burnt sienna

You will also need
something to paint on - good quality watercolor paper, or for oils use MDF board or canvas.
A variety of brushes
A sketchbook or drawing paper and a 5B pencil

I provide photos to work from, but please also use any photos you have at home that inspire you!

By the end of the course you will have all the skills you need to create stunning and original paintings. You will be beginning your journey of developing a style that is unique to you. And you will never be stuck for ideas of what to paint next!

Who this course is for:

Beginner or intermediate painters who want to improve their art.

How to paint creatively from photos

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Getting creative with photos7 lectures • 47min

The painting projects1 lecture • 1min

Practice: a LANDSCAPE painting in oils / acrylics6 lectures • 15min

Practice: Painting BUILDINGS in watercolor6 lectures • 14min

Practice: a STILL LIFE painting6 lectures • 26min

What next?1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: