The term painterly, among other things, refers to a type of painting that is blurred, broken, or imperfect. I tend to be drawn to photographs that have a painterly quality to them. There is something about the fluidity of watercolor that makes me feel like I am in a dream. When executed well, a photograph can make you feel the wind in your hair or the sunlight on your face. I tend to take a more dark or dramatic approach but I still appreciate some sunshine and softness every once in a while.
Texture is another aspect of imagery that can be really intriguing. I have been exploring more ways of adding texture in the post process editing. I have found that many apps make cheesy textures like those brick overlays or the ones that look like sandpaper. I found one called ArtRage that is pretty cool. You can use your picture as a transparency under your painting or drawing. It allows you to select the type of paint, brushes, etc. that you would like to use. You can trace and make an image that flows well with your photograph. Once that is done you just layer it on top with an app like ArtStudio.
I feel like this is a way for me to combine my long time love of paint with my new love for photography. A vivid color added to a soft photograph creates such a stark, unexpected, and appealing contrast. I like the idea of knowing that each brush stroke is like a roadmap of where the hand has been. It tells a story that many forms of expression just cannot compare to. So, why not have my cake and eat it too?
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