6 Surprising Benefits of Turning Photographs into Paintings

Photography and painting are two forms of art that are different but also the same in some ways. They differ from each other in the way the artist creates the pieces: one is by using angles and composition to depict what he sees and the other by brush strokes to recreate what he sees or imagines. They are similar in the way they both preserve people’s memories. Put into a canvas or printed on paper, an artwork serves as a reminder of what the artist did, who he’s with, or where he’s been.

Before, photography and painting are separate forms of art; now, people bridged them and turned photos into paintings. There are a lot of reasons why you should try this, too, and here are some of them:

1. Can Last for Generations
   Paintings, especially oil ones, could last for generations. The proof of this is the paintings you see in museums from years ago. You take photographs to preserve memories, so naturally, you want them to stay with you for a long time.

   Printed photographs tend to fade. Sure, you can store them digitally now, but what happens if you accidentally delete them or your hard drive becomes corrupted? You might not be able to retrieve your data. With paintings, you won’t have to worry about that. Just make sure to protect your paintings, so you’ll be able to relive your precious memories with your grandkids in the future when they ask you about the painting.

2. Turns Something Simple into a Masterpiece
   When you paint, you can do or add whatever you want to it that will make it more beautiful in your eyes. You can make your photos look different while retaining the essential elements in the painting.

   For example, you can change the background or scenery, remove or add people and things, or alter the colors. You can even incorporate your face into famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa. You can be as creative as you want.

3. Makes You Unique
   Instead of hanging numerous photos on your walls, why not do something different and hang a painting instead? All households have photographs of family members on the various walls inside the house. It’s common to see those flat pictures encased in glass frames that some people won’t take notice of them anymore.

   If you hang a painting of a family portrait, it will surely stand out. If you place the artwork on a prominent part of the house, your guests will surely take a moment to look at and admire it.

4. Adds a Modern Touch to Your Interior Decor
   As mentioned above, photographs on your walls are not new. It’s very predictable that people will see pictures of you, your family, and even your pets inside your house. It’s like a classic way of adding decoration to your interior.

   However, this take on turning photographs into painting is relatively new. Not everyone has tried it, so you can consider it as a modern piece of art. The painting will give your interior decor a modernized look and will provide your bare walls with some great aesthetics, too, depending on the painting style.

5. A Great Piece for Starting Conversations
   Imagine organizing a house party. You’ll invite lots of friends, and of course, you know all of them. However, there’s a high chance that there are two people in that room who never met each other and they’re only at that party because you’re a mutual friend.

   Gatherings like that are a good way for people to meet new ones, but the problem is breaking the ice. An outstanding piece such as a painting on a wall could serve as a great conversation starter. You can also use it to entertain guests who are curious about the painting. Show them the original photo and tell them how you wanted to turn it into a painting with lots of alterations in the elements, letting your creativity and vision shine.

6. Shows Your Appreciation for Art
   Have you always been a fan of the painting style in Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night or maybe you like the lines and curves in The Scream by Edvard Munch? Do you want a similar painting but personalized?

   If you turn your photo into a painting, it’s possible to achieve this as painters can imitate the styles of other painters. As they say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” You’re giving a compliment to your favorite artist by paying homage to their painting styles.

Final Thoughts

Keeping photos is the simplest way people can preserve their memories. But why only do this when you can do something different and creative? Others could have numerous photo albums or scrapbooks or digital folders where they store their pictures, but you can have walls of decorative paintings. It’s not the norm, but it does provide you with the above benefits.