Photo Art: Unleash Your Inner Artist
Anyone can paint a masterpiece with photo art
Who knows what Rembrandt might have produced if he'd had access to photo art? Back then, artists needed everything from paint and brushes to talent and inspiration. Now all you need is a digital camera, a computer and some killer photo editing software.
Photo what?
So what is photo art? Basically, it means taking a photograph and reworking it so that it looks like a piece of "traditional" artwork. In other words, thanks to your computer, instead of a photograph, the viewer sees a piece of art rendered in charcoal, watercolor, oils, pastels -- just about any medium your heart desires.
You can find many examples of photo art on the web, ranging from quick touch-ups to in depth and beautiful treatments. Once you're inspired, it's time to try your hand at some photo art of your own.
Photo art with Photoshop
If you have Photoshop, you can create photo art. Here's an easy project to get you started: an Andy Warhol inspired print. If you're not familiar with Warhol, he was a pop artist who created four-paneled pictures in a variety of colors. A quick web search will give you all the imagery you need.
To create your own Andy Warhol image, follow these simple steps.
1. Desaturate the photo. In other words, make it black and white (don't worry, it'll be brightly colored in the end).
2. Open your "levels" tool and slide the panels controlling lightness and darkness into the middle so your picture becomes starkly contrasted.
3. Crop your photo art into a square or small rectangle -- whichever you like when you consider that your finished print will feature four of these together.
4. Choose "select all" from the edit menu, then select "define brush preset." It offers you a chance to save your "new brush." Give it a name and do so.
5. Open a new window and fill the background in white. Paste your photograph in a new layer, pick a color you like and click your new brush. It will color the entire layer (i.e., your picture).
6. Repeat this process, remembering to open a new layer for each panel. You'll wind up with a gorgeous Andy Warhol inspired print. If you like it enough, have it printed at a photo shop and mounted for your living room.
Remember, creativity is personal, and how you use these tools is up to you. Have fun creating photo art. Feel free to get wild!
« BrainsBreaker Takes Photo Sharing to the Next Level With Professional Quality Puzzles | Home | 3 Things You NEVER Want To Do On Facebook »
