How to Photograph your Painting?

Same Painting - Different Photo Techniques

  

Are you looking to upload the photo of your painting? Are you wondering what is the best way to do it?

Well if you paint on paper then you have another choice that is very cost effective and yields good results.

The left photo was taken using a professional camera with professional lighting. This method was quite expensive since I paid for the professionals time.

The right photo was taken using an ordinary color scanner. My painting is on paper that is 30cm by 40cm and it does fit into the scanners that are found at foto shops. I had the painting scanned and I have to admit that I was quite happy with the results. The colors are not so vibrant as the left, they are lighter, but I can't say that it bothers me since it is very very close to the original painting.

The painting is of a man lying down and I chose to paint him in these bright pink and orange colors. I am passionate of the results I get from watercolors; it's a skill that takes time to acquire but once you're there you're usually addicted. 

Nude Man Crouching Watercolor Painting

                                         Feeling Purple

There are many ways to paint the human body but this pose really challenged me. Here is a man that looked quite innocent and peaceful and I transformed it into fire. The fire that is in his veins; the fire that is in his head; the fire that makes up who he is.

It was quite challenging to get the pose right; the proportions right but I think I got it.

I love how the colors blend into each other and there is no distinct borders between colors.

I think the depth and muscle tones were achieve quite nicely. Not a typical male pose looking into at the beholder but rather one that holds secrets.

In this painting I chose to draw him in purples, blues, grey, orange and yellows with a distinct highlight of purple.

This painting was inspired by one of Lucian Freud's oil paintings. This painting is watercolor paints and pencils on paper 30cm x 40cm.

Male Dancer - In the Nude

                                                      In the Nude

A dancer is a man that works hard at developing his body and his dance skills. In this pose you are able to both his dancing skills and how hard he worked and keeps working on keeping his body fit.

I have a lot of respect for dancers and their abilities. It is a hard profession and a very rewarding profession.

This painting is quite intricate. It is layers of black watercolor on very white paper and layers of black ink. The depth of the muscles and length of the body is extensively expressed.

The painting is on 100% white cotton paper - 30 cm by 40 cm.

Male Dancers in Watercolor

                   Male Dancers - Black Male and White Male

Two male dancers coming together to make a statement. This is one of my earlier paintings with this technique of watercolor and ink. I first draw the outline of the male figures, then I lay down the different shades of black watercolor then I go in with the ink overlay. With the ink I also create different layers to show the different muscle tones and lighting.

I love this painting because I also allow the background white to play an important role in the lighting. The lighting of the hair, arm muscles and the rest of the body.

These two dancers have come together in harmony. Their years of training have allowed them to stand so eloquently next to each other - totally supporting each other.

The painting is on 100% cotton paper and is 30 cm by 40 cm

Male Dancer in Motion

Male Dancer

While I was experimenting with the background color for this striking male dancer in pose... I decided to try a light grey. As with the Male Dancer post of February 25th the same watercolor technique was also used here. I had to use a roller to make sure there were no visible brush stoke marks visible on the paper.

The pose of the dancer showing all of his exceptional muscle tone is still brilliantly evident on the lighter grey background. I do believe that on the darker grey background the beautiful muscle tones are more evident.

I hope that you enjoy this black and white watercolor and ink painting  as much as I do.

I use 100% cotton paper that is manufactured in Spain - Garzapapel  of Garza Papel, S. L. Spain CE and is very difficult to attain.

Man Dancing - Watercolor and Ink Painting

Man Dancing

With this watercolor painting of a male dancer I experimented. I wanted to see how I would be able to paint the background a dark color before I start with the actual male dancer. I wanted to see how the lighting on the paper would change when working with a dark grey background. The background is painted with about 4 layers of watercolor black - yet look at how it is still not opaque and how the light still comes thru. 

This was quite a challenge - to paint such a large area and not leave brush stroke watermarks.  Using the brush just did not work. I decided to use the roller (yes roller with watercolors - acquarelle) and that worked perfectly.

The pose of the dancer showing all of his exceptional muscle tone is brilliantly evident.

I hope that you enjoy this black and white watercolor and ink painting  as much as I do.

I use 100% cotton paper that is manufactured in Spain - Garzapapel  of Garza Papel, S. L. Spain CE and is very difficult to attain.

Blue Dancers in Watercolor

 Blue Dancers

The Blue Dancers pose captured me in how it highlights not only the dance but also all the muscles that magically come together to make it happen. 

I have another Blue Dancer painting that is the same except for the representation of the upper Man Dancer.

In this watercolor painting the Male Dancer is real; he exists and he is very very intriguing.Two dancers that come together in very different poses that make this painting come alive.

The technique in this watercolor painting is indeed very high quality watercolors and ink on cotton paper.

Blue Dancer in Watercolor

Blue Dancers

 

The Blue Dancer pose captured me in how it highlights not only the dance but also all the muscles that magically come together to make it happen.

The Man Dancer up above; is he really there or is she just wishing, imagining, visualizing...

Watercolors allow you the capability of such transparency on the cotton paper that no other color (oil painting or acrylic painting) will allow.

The technique in this watercolor painting is indeed very high quality watercolors and ink on cotton paper.