Reflection, Venice - Turning Photo Inspiration into a Work of Art

A Step-by-Step Oil Painting Demonstration

Our goal in this article is to share with you the short-cuts and procedures we have learned which allow us to take ho-hum digital photos and manipulate and repaint them into something resembling the inspirational visions which caused us to take them in the first place. In this Step-by-Step lesson, we show you how to take that improved photo reference and turn it into a small oil study. The purpose of the oil study is to make the important conversion from photographic reality to painting. We are not interested in reproducing photographs in paint, and we have found that the process of making an initial study in oil, watercolor or pastel first, allows us to disengage from the photographic image and begin thinking in painterly terms. We try not to think of these small studies as finished pictures, but as a learning process. They are a vital step towards making a larger, successful studio picture we can be proud of.

My Open Box M oil easel, 9 x 12 color-primed panel and iPad mini with refe…