Drawing lessons - illustrated lesson notes for teachers and students

Painting tecnique and computer graphics -2

IMPROVE YOUR OLD PHOTOGRAPHS No.2

Combining computer technology and principles of painting.

I quickly separated the major elements of the picture knowing I could always use the smudge

tool to put them back together.

Using some color controls (in a graphics programe), I removed color from the grey. This has the

effect of giving the picture tints of the opposite (complimentary) hues without affecting the

contrasts (values). In this operation I applied color theory regarding complements - while

keeping the values bright. The reason for this is important. In previous lessons I have talked

about the theory of 'subtractive' color and how we use it in painting. The theory I use here is

called 'addative color theory' and is commonly used in photography, film and computer imaging.

Simply put the spectrum hues combine to produce white light, and the removal of one leaves a

predominance of the rest. In other words if we had a red, blue and yellow spotlights and shone

them all on a blank screen they would produce white. White then is the sum (addative) of all

the colors. If we subtract red then the white spot will turn green, subtract blue and orange will

appear etc.

To produce the hues above I started with ovals of white. In the first I subtracted red, the

second green and the third blue. This is how what they call 'additive' color, works!

In this manner I applied hue (color) to the hat and uniform, the face and the shirt.

Next I put them roughly back together.

I gave the cheeks and the bottom lip a

little extra blush with a computer

paintbrush.

This meant I still had a raw figure with no

background ...

So I searched for a background that

might describe the nature of the war the

man fought. I wanted a stark, riveting

but an atmospheric scene. I found what I

wanted but it was tiny. This was not

necessarily a disadvantage as I could

repeat some facial and clothing hues in

the top half of the background.

I created the background then smudged

again with my smudge brush.

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