The Essence of Painting

"If a painting of a tree was only the exact representation of the original, so that it looked just like the tree, there would be no reason for making it; we might as well look at the tree itself. But the painting, if it is of the right sort, gives something that neither a photograph nor a view of the tree conveys. It emphasizes something of character, quality, individuality. We are not lost in looking at thorns and defects; we catch a vision of the grandeur and beauty of a king of the forest." -Calvin Coolidge

 

There is just something about painting an image that sets it apart. I ran across this image on Unsplash, and it caught my eye for all of the right and wrong reasons.

 

For instance, a young couple that is in love ✔️ but in an odd setting with awkward poses ❌. Now, I want to be sure that I stress I am NOT saying this is the photographer's fault! We have all had subjects that feel awkward and get in their heads. It's not always possible to reassure and make every subject comfortable.

 

With that being said, that's where painting comes in!

 

Changing the gentleman's arm, altering the lady's posture, simplifying the clothing, and tucking in his shirt 😅 made for a tender painting of a young couple. We are no longer lost looking at the awkward subjects but instead channeled into the essence of love.

 

Hand-painted in Adobe Photoshop CC using the Wacom Intuos Pro and the Wacom Art Pen.