Back in the days of film photography, I often used photographs as inspiration for paintings and drawings. Capturing a good photograph took some doing back then, and often the image could be recycled as a more traditional piece of art.
In those days, whenever I got the urge to create, I would arouse the watercolors from their state of suspended animation, and I would search through hundreds of photographs seeking inspiration for a new painting.
And although I don’t find the time to paint as much these days, I find myself with more and more potential subjects. I have probably captured ten times as many digital photographs over the last three years and I had film photographs in the last twenty.
But the process is pretty much the same whether the image was captured on film or digitally. Examine the images, and determine which ones will translate well to another medium.
Try to visualize how you want the finished product to look, and then select an appropriate palette. The key with watercolors is keeping the range of hues under control, and to let the liquid flow.
Use wet paper and large brushes for softness in trees, sky and distant scenery, and dry paper and fine brushes for lines and details.
And don’t worry about your technical skills or lack thereof. Watercolors have a way of taking over on their own, and in most cases, the result is a nice representation of your artistic intentions.
Don’t think about making the painting look like a photograph. It’s not supposed to! Rather, it is your interpretation of the subject in pigment and paper.
And if you at first do not succeed, try again. It’s really very easy, and a lot of fun. And there’s a great satisfaction in producing something durable and lasting.
Photo: Yatesville Georgia Depot C.1985. Painting: Yatesville Depot 1991 by Richard Weisser. 8” x 4” Watercolor.
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