Photo to Painting

Transferring Memories from Photo to Painting

Photography has come a long way. The ways you can transform a photo from a simple shot to something else are infinite. Here we will discuss transferring your memories from photo to painting, specifically, oil painting.

From Photo to Paintings: What's Involved in the Process?

Going from photo to painting is a multi-step process, which involves the following:

From Photo to Painting: The Image. It all starts with an image, which can be any kind of photo. Photos can be presented as hard copy or digital images.

Experienced artists are accustomed to working with all kinds of images. However, when going from photo to paintings, the higher quality the original image, the better the oil painting. Digital images, because they use the most advanced technology, make the best images.

Professionals understand though that many clients have photos from the past that were taken when digital technology wasn't available that they want to have recreated as oil paintings. It is still possible to do so, very effectively.

The professional you're considering working with can guide you in the process.

From Photo to Painting: The Artist: Once a working image is presented, the artist takes it and begins to recreate it on canvas using fine, individual brush strokes.

From Photos to Paintings: What to Look for in a Professional

Uniqueness: When you are transforming your photos to paintings, you want something that is inimitable. Find a studio that will apply a stylized, individual approach to recreating your special image. Above all else, you don't want an assembly-line approach.

Experience: Going from photo to painting is a sought-after gift. Hence, studios can get fairly busy, especially around holidays (e.g. Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc.).

Most studios use freelance artists. You want to be sure that the artist working on your project has the necessary skill and professional background. Oil painting is different from watercolors is different from chalk, etc. Although many artists work in various mediums, if you commission an oil painting, you want to ensure that the artists are proficient in this medium.

From Photos to Painting: Types of Photos to Avoid

When going from photo to paintings, theoretically, any image can be recreated in oil. However, there are some that should be avoided.

Following is a list of the types of photos that should not be recreated as oils.

a) Group shots: Groups shots don't make good candidates for photo to painting transference because they're usually too busy. Not only that, they're likely to be much more expensive as well.

b) Unclear Images: As stated above, while a professional artist can recreate any photo on oil, there's going to be much more work – and imagination – involved. If you have an old, fuzzy photo you're having recreated, work closely with your artist to help fill in the blanks to create the painting you want.

What works best? High-resolution, close-up images of up to three subjects work best to achieve the best photo to painting results.