How to paint creatively from photos
Get creative with your photos and develop your own style as you use my easy five step method of painting.
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
Find out
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 colours,
- how to draw accurately and simply,
- how to express yourself in you art,
- and how to be free from the tyranny of copying!
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!
What is in the course?
1. An introduction to the course (video)
2. Introduction to the five steps (video) 3. Step 1. Getting the right composition (video) 4. Practical assignment: How many compositions can you find? 5. Step 2. Designing with thumbnails (video) 6. Practical assignment : Creating your thumbnails 7. Step 3. Drawing the bare essentials (video) 8. Practical assignment: Quick and simple drawings 9. Choose your colours (video) 10. Practical assignment: Three colour combinations 11. Step 4. Blocking in with colour (video) 12. Step 5. Finishing the painting with details (video) |
13. Introduction to the painting projects (video)
LANDSCAPE 14. The reference photo (video) 15. Step 1. Composition (video) 16. Step 2. Thumbnails (video) 17. Step 3. Drawing (video) 18. Step 4. Block in (video) 19. Step 5. Details (video) BUILDINGS 20. The reference photo (video) 21. Step 1. Composition (video) 22. Step 2. Thumbnails (video) 23. Step 3. Drawing (video) 24. Step 4. Block in (video) 25. Step 5. Details (video) STILL LIFE 26. The reference photo (video) 27. Step 1. Composition (video) 28. Step 2. Thumbnails (video) 29. Step 3. Drawing (video) 30. Step 4. Block in (video) 31. Step 5. Details (video) |
You will need:
a small selection of paints, either watercolour, oil, gouache or acrylics.
I demonstrate using water mixable oils and watercolours, but my methods are easily transferable to any medium.
I suggest the following colours, 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:
I demonstrate using water mixable oils and watercolours, but my methods are easily transferable to any medium.
I suggest the following colours, 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 colours - 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