Last blog we saw different setups on what to use and how to position them for best results. This time I would like to show you the technique I use to get the image from the photo onto the canvas. This is a technique most artists use and it involves using a thirds grid. Now this may already sound complicated but I have taught this and it works really well.
First an explanation of what a thirds grid is. The grid is lines dividing the image into thirds for good composition. They appear on cameras, smartphone cameras and video camcorders. They help in taking a photo with good composition and in the transfer process also. Here are some basic rules of good composition, keep the horizon line on the first line up from the bottom or on the next line up from the top. Try not to put the horizon right in the middle because it cuts the painting in half. Put your center of interest on one of the four cross points not directly in the center of the painting. Keep equal weights of objects on both sides, think of a seesaw with one heavy object on one end and maybe two or three smaller ones on the other to balance it out.
Feel free to move things around a bit to make a good looking composition. You are just using the photo for reference not copying it literally. In the photo below I moved the flag and street light over to the left a bit so they weren’t in the center so much when I painted it.
When you are ready to paint from a photo, select photo gallery app. on your phone and bring up your photos and choose one to paint. There will be an icon to select that will let you edit the photo. Select crop but we won’t actually be cropping just using the grid. Use the crop grid to help transfer the photo to the canvas. Draw the same grid on canvas in pencil. Looking at the photo with the grid over it, draw the image onto the canvas using the two grids. this will help get your compositon correct. Look to see what things in your photo are on what line and draw them on the canvas in the same place. Make any changes at this point.
The grid can be drawn freehand or with a ruler or straightedge if you prefer. They don’t have to be perfect as they are for reference and will be painted over anyway. You will be adjusting the composition here and there as you go but this technique will help you get the image onto canvas.
This is the drawing from the grid on the photo. You can see the cross points on the church tower. The lines don’t have to be very dark, just enough to see. You don’t have to erase the line you can paint right over them. With this technique you can transfer any photo to canvas to paint.
Drawing is the one thing that probably needs the most practise. It is the foundation of painting and the better the drawing, the better the painting can be.