How to Paint Photos or Copy Masters Using XL Transparency
Understand what you're working towards., Open a new Excel workbook's worksheet., Set the grid to inches., Select cells T17:A1 by dragging the cursor over them and do Format Cells Border Boldest Color (Automatic) Full Border., Mark off inch-marks...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand what you're working towards.
Excel will help you create a gridline like this so that you can base your painting off it. -
Step 2: Open a new Excel workbook's worksheet.
From the Dock, select the green X for XL.
From the File menu, select "Open New Workbook".
Name the top worksheet "Life-size Photo Grid".
Save the file as your photos name, or something similar, into a logical folder. , Do Format Row Height
1.44" for the actual vertical height of your painting (canvas), i.e. if it is 16" high, select rows R1:
R16 and then do the Format menu command.
Do Format Column Width
1.51" for the actual horizontal width of your painting (canvas), i.e. if your canvas is 20" wide, select columns A:
T and then do the Format menu command.
Check these equal 1" by 1" with a ruler, preferably a bendable plastic one.
Adjust the Row Height and Column Width until correct
-- your computer's display may vary somewhat. , This will darken the grid., Make sure to adjust evenly for any overall disparity between what was advertised and what was produced and sold.
In general practice, shortening both ends 1/16" to make up for an overall discrepancy of
1.8" is probably the best approach.
Either that, or adjust your Row and Column lengths on the ends in the Excel file (but this is harder to figure out how to do correctly). , Size it using the menu tool for Adjust Size to set it to actual.
Export it to an appropriate folder.
Do Select All.
Do Copy.
Go to your Excel file at actual size and, holding down the Shift key, do Edit Paste Picture (or simply command plus P might work) into cell A1. ,, Do very light shading to indicate the dark regions.
Acrylic paint does not pick up pencil very much but it will pick up erasure dust, hair and other undesirable elements.
Still, it's best to be light-handed. , This is not an exercise in how well you can draw, but it how well you can paint.
Painting the Masters comes with the strong warning that forgery is a crime.
Make the painting your own in some fashion.
Add a flower here or there, another person, a book, a building, etc., etc.
Change the color key.
Something to make it your own idea.
Notice in the example that there are additional flowers in the lower left, an absence of detail made up for by regions of gold, and so forth
-- all changes from the original photo.
Notice in the Van Gogh "copies" that the types of iris are different and are differently placed, the originals are drawn somewhat differently, etc.
It is assumed that you know color theory, how to paint In acrylics/oils, blending and basic painting techniques, brush cleaning, etc.
Some people apply 1 to 4 blended colors at a time, then rinse their palette bowl, blending tool and brushes, dry them and move on to the next color / (series).
That seems to work for acrylics quite well. , Soon you will have finished
-- hooray, you did it! , Above is the final painting and another series done via the same method. -
Step 3: Set the grid to inches.
-
Step 4: Select cells T17:A1 by dragging the cursor over them and do Format Cells Border Boldest Color (Automatic) Full Border.
-
Step 5: Mark off inch-marks along the edges of your canvas lightly in pencil.
-
Step 6: Get a jpg or png file format of your photo into the Preview app
-
Step 7: or an app that can make a jpg file and copy it to the clipboard.
-
Step 8: Double-click on the picture and set Transparency Tool to about 40%.
-
Step 9: Copy the strong lines from the photo to your canvas in light pencil
-
Step 10: placing them as exactly as you want (you may want to keep a yardstick alongside the canvas for this purpose).
-
Step 11: When you have sufficient detail to reference the rest of the detail from
-
Step 12: stop drawing!
-
Step 13: Take progress photos along the way -- document your process and progress so that your artistic friends can help you and make suggestions
-
Step 14: give you good ideas
-
Step 15: Try to practice
-
Step 16: practice and practice some more.
Detailed Guide
Excel will help you create a gridline like this so that you can base your painting off it.
From the Dock, select the green X for XL.
From the File menu, select "Open New Workbook".
Name the top worksheet "Life-size Photo Grid".
Save the file as your photos name, or something similar, into a logical folder. , Do Format Row Height
1.44" for the actual vertical height of your painting (canvas), i.e. if it is 16" high, select rows R1:
R16 and then do the Format menu command.
Do Format Column Width
1.51" for the actual horizontal width of your painting (canvas), i.e. if your canvas is 20" wide, select columns A:
T and then do the Format menu command.
Check these equal 1" by 1" with a ruler, preferably a bendable plastic one.
Adjust the Row Height and Column Width until correct
-- your computer's display may vary somewhat. , This will darken the grid., Make sure to adjust evenly for any overall disparity between what was advertised and what was produced and sold.
In general practice, shortening both ends 1/16" to make up for an overall discrepancy of
1.8" is probably the best approach.
Either that, or adjust your Row and Column lengths on the ends in the Excel file (but this is harder to figure out how to do correctly). , Size it using the menu tool for Adjust Size to set it to actual.
Export it to an appropriate folder.
Do Select All.
Do Copy.
Go to your Excel file at actual size and, holding down the Shift key, do Edit Paste Picture (or simply command plus P might work) into cell A1. ,, Do very light shading to indicate the dark regions.
Acrylic paint does not pick up pencil very much but it will pick up erasure dust, hair and other undesirable elements.
Still, it's best to be light-handed. , This is not an exercise in how well you can draw, but it how well you can paint.
Painting the Masters comes with the strong warning that forgery is a crime.
Make the painting your own in some fashion.
Add a flower here or there, another person, a book, a building, etc., etc.
Change the color key.
Something to make it your own idea.
Notice in the example that there are additional flowers in the lower left, an absence of detail made up for by regions of gold, and so forth
-- all changes from the original photo.
Notice in the Van Gogh "copies" that the types of iris are different and are differently placed, the originals are drawn somewhat differently, etc.
It is assumed that you know color theory, how to paint In acrylics/oils, blending and basic painting techniques, brush cleaning, etc.
Some people apply 1 to 4 blended colors at a time, then rinse their palette bowl, blending tool and brushes, dry them and move on to the next color / (series).
That seems to work for acrylics quite well. , Soon you will have finished
-- hooray, you did it! , Above is the final painting and another series done via the same method.
About the Author
Martha Ellis
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in home improvement and beyond.
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