A_P_TPC_Vol11_2015_

TURN PHOTOS INTO PAINTINGS

LEARN HOW TO TURN STOCK PHOTOS INTO COLOURFUL

AND VIVID WATERCOLOUR STYLE PAINTINGS

TURN PHOTOS

INTO PAINTINGS

I

n this tutorial, you will learn how to take separate

photo images and turn them into a colourful,

watercolour style painting. A combination of

layer effects, filters, layer masking and general

creativity will bring the art to life. A graphics tablet

with pen pressure capabilities will be needed as a

majority of the tutorial will require brush strokes and

opacity that a mouse cannot easily achieve. Stock

photos will be used as an integral part of the

artwork, but both premium and free stock is readily

available to find and use online. The main image can

be purchased from Dreamstime.com (code

37368747); the flowers can all be downloaded for

GET STARTED WITH STOCK

USE STOCK PHOTOS TO LAY DOWN YOUR FOUNDATION

free from http://www.freeimages.com (search petals,

poppies and wildflowers), and the background paper

texture can be downloaded for free from http://www.

CGTextures.com (filename

PaperDecorative0026_3_L).

Inspiration for this tutorial stems from the look of

traditional watercolour on textured paper, combining

it with the myriad colours and techniques available

for digital mediums. Photoshop simplifies the

process of prepping photo files, while supplying the

tools and methods needed to create manually. This

tutorial requires only a certain styled brush that can

be used for more watercolour projects in the future.

01

SET UP THE FILE AND BASE

The aim is to turn photos into a

watercolour illustration. First, create a new

document (File>New), at least 1500 pixels high

and wide, at 300DPI. Fill it with a paper-like

pattern or image. You can create your own, use a

pre-made stock, or use a pattern. In this tutorial,

a stock paper texture is being used.

02

ADD THE WOMAN

The next step is to bring in your stock

image. The subject of this art is a woman with

flowers decorating her hair and clothing. On a new

layer (Layer>New>New Layer) bring in your stock

photo of a woman and fill the entire document with it

(Edit>Transform>Scale). We will mask her for the

background in a few more steps.

03

ADD THE FLOWER SNAPS

Next is to bring in your flower stock photos.

On a new set of layers, cut out or mask out the

flowers (Layer>Layer Mask>Reveal All) and separate

petals from your stock photos and layer them over

the top of her hair, bandeau, and cloth. To create

variance and volume, you can continuously copy and

paste flower bits and petals.

FROM STOCK TO FINISHED

ARTWORK

WORK IN

PROGRESS

Progress 1: Set up stock photos

Progress 2: Colour over

stock photos

Progress 3: Finishing touches

GENEVA BENTON

GenevaB.com

OUR EXPERT

Geneva Benton is a self-taught

American artist who creates for a

living and as a way of self expression.

She prefers to use bright bold

colours and organic shapes.

SOURCE FILES

On FileSilo is a single brush .ABR file

that can be used for the majority of

the tutorial steps. The brush can be

edited to the user’s needs.