There are various ways you can turn your photographs into paintings in 2021. It is a great thing to do, and when done right, the finished art will be special, to say the least.
There is something poignant about transforming an image of a loved one or a memory that you hold dear into a piece of art to hang on the wall.
So if you are interested in doing just that, let’s take a look at 5 ways you can.
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Ordering Art from Paint Your Life
I would definitely recommend (although it is not the cheapest way by any means) artwork from Paint Your life.
I have reviewed this service in detail here, however, in summary, it is the simplest and most effective way of turning photos into art available right now.
You upload your photograph (or plural as you can combine more than one image into a piece of art) and select from a wide range of artists, painting sizes, and mediums. You can then create your order directly from the website.
Once the artist is finished they send you a proof online, (ie an image to see if you are pleased with the results, or require changes.) Assuming you are happy, the art is fast-tracked to you in the post.
You can even send it directly to another address as a gift.
I’ve ordered 4 different paintings from Paint Your lIfe and am a big fan of the results. Definitely worth checking out.
- Related Content: A Look at Paint Your Life’s Poor Photos to Masterpieces Feature
Use Image Editing Software
This method is more cost-effective than a service like Paint Your Life, however, the results will depend on your image editing skills.
Filters on Adobe Photoshop and other professional software suites such as Corel Painter will allow you to add oil or pencil effects to any image that you load into the program.
With a few clicks, you can turn that photograph into something that does resemble a painting.
However, resemble is the word. You can often still tell that the image has been altered via a computer. The end result lacks the “soul” that you get from a finished piece of art from a real artist.
Especially when you consider that you will be printing the finished image electronically. It is difficult to imagine that you will hold the end result in such high regard knowing that it is a computer printout.
However, if budget is an issue, this is a great way of going about turning photographs into something that looks like art.
Hire an artist
Another option and this one is likely to be the most expensive (unless you have mates rates), is to hire a local artist.
The process is relatively self-explanatory. You can find an artist for hire on Craigslist, Etsy, or even one of the many freelance websites, and contact them for rates and availability.
You should ensure that you have seen examples of the artist’s work and be clear on what medium they are comfortable working in. Essentially, is their artistic style suitable for your needs?
Before making any payment you will also need to clarify the number of revisions and changes that might be willing to make. I would advise that you pay a deposit, with the full amount paid upon delivery.
If you can find an artist that you trust and for the right price, you will be on to a winner with this bespoke approach.
Use a Phone app
Okay, so this one really is for budget-minded users and is more an idea for a bit of fun rather than fully-fledged artwork.
If you have taken a photograph using your phone and would like to see how it looks after a paint-effect filter has been applied, there are countless apps that can help.
The BrushStroke App is a popular option and is available through the Apple store for IOS devices. (There is an Android version but it isn’t as reliable).
The Prisma App is another good option with millions of downloads. It is also the most cost-effective way of adding a painting effect to your photographs as it is completely free, (with in-app ads).
If you would like to add watercolor effects to your phone images, the Waterlogue App is worth a look.
Essentially, a quick browse through your device’s app store will reveal a number of options when it comes to adding paint effects to photographs. Give them a try to see what works for you.
Order from MiiCreative & Instapainting
There is a number of paint-on-demand online services available today that are in competition with the likes of Paint Your Life.
Instapainting.com is one such option that has fewer features and available mediums however, it is more cost-effective.
MiiCreative is an interesting choice if you would like to paint from the photograph yourself. You simply upload a photograph and they will convert it into a paint-by-numbers canvas.
They then send you the canvas with all the relevant paints and materials so that you can create the artwork.
The packages they provide are well worth checking out.
Final words
And there you have it, 5 simple ways of turning your photographs into artwork. While some are mere hacks using software, others will actually help you create works that you will treasure.
Whatever you are looking for, I am sure one of these options will provide you with the end result you seek.