Make A Busy Photo Paintable For Your Landscape Painting

Sometimes a very detailed photo can look interesting, it’s easy to get caught up in detail with all its subtle color and value changes, so in the studio we want to be able to see the composition without all the detail, then decide how much detail to put in.
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[@johnharrison4716]

Thanks!

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks so much @johnharrison4716. I appreciate it.

[@marywebb1138]

It's amazing just how much one has to learn. Thank you 😊

[@philstarke.artist]

You’re welcome Mary

[@KenLundgren]

Really enjoy and benefit from your videos on simplification. Thanks a lot Phil.

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks for watching Ken

[@lindaolsen7828]

I have liked Marion Wachtel's watercolor and oil paintings since I found her. I'm so glad to hear her recognized in your program.

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks, Linda, she was good!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Good one again Phil. Fortunately, I have taken lots of photos of paintings of mine for a long time and I'm currently going back to redo and simplify those that were too detailed and had other "problems". A xerox of the photo, from my computer files, makes a really lousy copy; so, I don't get too much detail anyway, and I apply your other methods you teach about the "basics". Kevin Macpherson, in his book, talks about using colored construction paper to do block ins, on a piece of cardboard, that done long before our fancy editing computers today with our photos. That certainly works too, or to take a few colored makers and do a sketch that is basically a "poster". Love the Maynard Dixon pieces, but, like you, I don't want to "go that far" in my work! ;D. And, of course, there's an art gallery, here in Tucson, that specializes in his work; you know of it, I'm sure. Later.

[@maryanvia1982]

Thanks so much Phil!

[@philstarke.artist]

My pleasure!

[@EllenR654]

This was so helpful in showing how and why to simplify, thank you!!

[@philstarke.artist]

Glad it was helpful Ellen

[@shereewilson6278]

Thank you for your great tutorial. I really love the other artists paintings that you include and critique. Cheers from the Blue Mountains Australia!

[@philstarke.artist]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@gayeadams3675]

I want to learn how to use the digital tools to simplify my photos - are you using photoshop, Phil? I love your tutorials. You are an amazing teacher - I also love your work. Thanks in advance!

[@puppeli]

Im pretty sure he uses photoshop. But you can use Krita, its free and its meant for digital painting. Also, get a graphics tablet! A screenless tablet will do. They are not expensive. Its just that it usually takes people 2 weeks to get used to one. Pen displays dont have such a learning curve, but they are more expensive.

[@philstarke.artist]

Yes, I’m using Photoshop

[@carolynsharpart1109]

Which app are you using ?

[@philstarke.artist]

I’m using Photoshop on a desktop computer, Carolyn