The Art of Elevating a Basic Photo Into a Masterpiece
August 2024 By Goodrem Paintings
Original Painting
The New Forest Ponies, Oils on Stretched Canvas 2024
Starting a new painting is an exciting experience for an artist. However, that excitement can quickly disappear when you’re uninspired and uncertain about what to create next.
I pondered a few questions, leading to an illuminating realisation. What if I took suggestions on what to paint, but rather than replicating a photograph, I use the concept and idea to transform the landscape into a dynamic and vibrant masterpiece.
I posted on my Facebook page, asking my followers to share a photo they cherished but found a bit… dull and boring. There were so many fantastic entries yet one stood out and resonated with me above the rest.
This photograph, captured by one of my followers, shows six ponies crossing a road in the New Forest, Hampshire, UK. Having been there many times myself, the experience of being amidst the ponies in such a stunning and expansive landscape is truly awe-inspiring!
So, I had a photograph and I was feeling pretty inspired.
I then visualised myself in this scene. I imagined what it would have been like for L. James (who submitted this photograph) to drive along this road and be met by these 6 wild ponies. What if she got out of the car and ran across the field to take a photograph of these ponies coming towards her? What if the sky wasn’t dull and grey and instead the colours of the sky captivated our attention and allowed these ponies to reveal their true beautiful colours?
My mind ran away with itself! I started to scribble some ideas down into the sketch book and pencilled some small thumbnail drawings of my vision. I wrote notes and jotted down my thoughts to expand on them later.
Next, I used Procreate on my IPad to sketch further adding a touch of colour for visualisation.
My top 5 considerations while sketching this piece were:
- Subject (x6 Wild Ponies, their character and colours, where to place each one and why).
- Focus points (Where do I want my viewers eye to be led, what do I want them to look at the most, rule of thirds, golden ratio rule).
- Direction (Direction of light and direction the ponies are heading).
- Colour Harmony (Complimentary opposites, Monochromatic Colours, Warm and Cools).
- Texture (thick v thin).
The next day, I went into my studio and sketched my vision onto a blank canvas. The complete process from sketching in the sketch book, IPad and Canvas took approximately 8-10 hours. But so worth it, right? That’s what I ask myself often. But what kind of artist would I be if I didn’t ask myself questions constantly and reconsider every decision? After all, it’s kinda scary to attempt to bring justice to someone’s memory!
Before painting, I like to seek inspiration from other artists. There are some remarkable artists who have captured the most amazing landscapes and in particular, wild western horse paintings. I possess a collection of about 200-250 reference images from various places and experiences that I refer to while crafting each section of the painting. I maintain a printed copy of the photo I’m working from to ensure the essential elements are preserved in the final painting.
Considerations:
In the photograph, there is a single white pony among others that are various shades of brown. Some might instinctively place this white pony at the forefront leading the herd. However, as an artist, my responsibility is to give each pony its distinct place and personality. Positioning the white pony at the front would make it the focal point, causing the rest to merge into the background.
I positioned the white pony on the left so that it would overlap with the cloud. This placement is crucial because the pony is crafted using various tones of yellow, a hue that is the complementary opposite of purple on the colour wheel, ensuring that each colour stands out against the other.
Another aspect to consider is the effective use of repetition. The interplay of yellows and purples is also evident in the grasses and foliage in the foreground, which are dotted with purple flowers.
The challenges I faced:
Like many artists, I frequently grapple with self-doubt and can be overly critical of my work. Occasionally, when I encounter a challenge during the painting process, it can lead to some major frustration! Over the years, I have taught myself to recognised when this situation occurs and have learned to step away and take a break. Often, when I return with a fresh perspective, I can see exactly what my next steps should be. Sometimes, I have to go back to my learning resources to remind myself of how to use a particular technique to create a certain illusion or texture.
As mentioned at the start of this blog, I didn’t know what to paint and was feeling uninspired. Some call this ‘artist block’ or ‘creative block’. Taking some time to wait for the answer to come to me, I had an idea to reach out to others. On reflection, this worked wonders because I was instantly inspired and my mind had visions of how to transform this photo into a beautiful oil painting!
Initially, capturing the light posed a challenge. However, I devised a strategy using string to manipulate its direction, allowing me to ascertain where the light would fall on each object.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I hope the insight and adventure into my mind was interesting!
This beautiful painting is now available to buy! If you love it, don’t miss out! Please click the shop button below.
Original Painting
The New Forest Ponies, Oils on Stretched Canvas 2024
