Photorealistic Painting: How to Paint Like a Photo
Photorealistic painting is less magic and more careful observation. If you want a painting that reads like a photo, focus on value, edges, and color matching before worrying about tiny details. Start with the right photo, the right tools, and a clear plan — that alone solves more problems than hours of detail work.
Tools & Materials That Actually Help
Use good reference photos shot in even light. A RAW or high-res image gives you more detail to work from. For paints, artists often prefer oil for blendability and open working time; acrylics can work too if you use retarders or glazing techniques. Pick brushes that hold a sharp edge — small round and filbert brushes for fine work and soft flats for smooth blends. Add a fine-tipped liner or a sable brush for the last hair and reflection strokes. Use a smooth support: gessoed panel, smooth canvas, or masonite helps you get crisp edges.
Step-by-Step Workflow That Saves Time
Start with a value study. Squint or use a phone in grayscale to see darks and lights. Block in an accurate drawing and map large value shapes with thin paint — this anchors the piece. Next, establish midtones and major color masses. Work in layers: underpainting for values, local color next, then glazes and scumbles to refine tones. Keep edges varied: hard edges where surfaces meet sharply, soft edges where light wraps or diffuses. For reflections and highlights, paint them last and use the thinnest paint possible for crispness.
Color matching beats adding more detail. Mix tones that match the local temperature and value; a slightly wrong value will read as wrong even if the hue is perfect. Use a limited palette to keep mixes consistent: for example titanium white, ivory black (or mars black), ultramarine, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow (or a warm yellow), and a green like viridian. Test mixes on a scrap to compare directly with your reference.
Measure often. Use a mahlstick, a ruler, or sight-size techniques to get proportions right. When you work small sections without checking proportions, the whole image drifts. Take breaks and look from a distance; your eyes will reveal proportional or value errors fast.
Common mistakes and quick fixes: over-detailing before values are right — fix by simplifying and repainting value planes; painting every edge sharp — fix by softening with a dry brush or glaze; matching color by eye alone — fix by squinting or using a color picker on your reference photo. Varnish only after the paint is fully cured (oils take months). A final thin varnish evens gloss and protects the work.
Photorealism takes patience. Plan your session, work in clear stages, and don’t rush the underpainting or values. When those basics are solid, the rest becomes much easier. Want a quick exercise? Paint a single reflective chrome object and focus on getting values and edges right — it trains your eye faster than copying complex scenes.
