Oil and Acrylics - Optical vs. Conceptual: Translating Photos into Paintings with Bill McLane
Oil and Acrylics - Optical vs. Conceptual: Translating Photos into Paintings with Bill McLane
Fridays, January 17th, 24th, 31st, February 7th | 1pm-3pm
Fees: $140 Members/ $180 Non-Members
Many artists rely on photographs as references for their paintings, but photos often fail to translate directly into compelling artworks. This is because photographs are flat, two-dimensional, and monoscopic—captured through a single lens, lacking the depth and dimension we naturally perceive with two eyes.
Unlike a camera, we see the world stereoscopically, with depth and spatial relationships. The challenge for an artist is to transform the flat, two-dimensional photo into a three-dimensional image on the canvas. The photo serves as a starting point—a reference to visual reality—but it remains optical. The painting, on the other hand, is conceptual.
In this workshop, we’ll explore how to use photos as tools to enhance and develop a creative vision for the canvas. Instead of being constrained by the “freeze-dried” reality of a photograph, we will focus on building a strong conceptual framework for the painting before the brush ever touches the canvas.
By learning to bridge the gap between the optical and the conceptual, you’ll discover how to bring depth, dimension, and creativity to your artwork. This is the essence of the workshop.
Materials list coming soon. For class information or questions, email: [email protected].
