From Idea to Canvas

Inspiration to finished piece is a different journey for every artist.

Some artists do lengthy studies, others create fully developed sketches, and some just begin with no plan and hope it works out.  I love the painting part, so the faster I can get to that, the more fun I have!

I mainly paint from photos.  So, after I collect my photographic reference material, what’s next??

Composition manipulation!

For each of my subjects, I shot approximately 200 photographs.  And no photo shoot ever led to a complete layout which pleased me.  (I guess if it did, then I should close up my painting studio and become a photographer.)  What then?

1. Sift through my photos and cherry pick a couple key images that I could meld together to create a great composition
2. I sketch my composition idea on paper and/or
3. Use Photoshop to create a rough composite of the images
4. Sketch my composition on my canvas

Choosing the photos are trial and error.  This stage takes a great deal of time, vision, and playing around in photoshop.

Now, some paintings are simple and are composed of 2-3 photos, while others are created from a more complex 5-6 photos.  My “DC’s Notorious Cherry Blossoms” painting had the largest number of reference photos making up the composition, with the oldest photo dating back to 2009.   I have kept that background photo in my idea arsenal all these years, as I knew one day it would make it into the right painting!  Lesson learned – have an idea?  Then leave it around and one day it will find the right spot!

About Jennifer Kahn Barlow

Jennifer Kahn Barlow is an award-winning artist specializing in painting life’s most delicious moments. She is constantly searching for amazing treats to immortalize in oil on canvas. Jennifer has had numerous, solo exhibitions in the DC area, including, “Capital Palette” at The Mansion at Strathmore. Jennifer works and lives in Potomac, MD. Jennifer's website may be found at www.jkb-art.com.

View all posts by Jennifer Kahn Barlow