How to Project Photos for Painting

Nice video! I'm sure you've been told in comments or figured it out... If you posterize to a 4 or 5 tone salmon or sepia, your pencil lines will be much more visible during the transfer process. Actual color doesn't matter, but grey tones tend to hide pencil without blocking the projector with your hand as you do. Anyway, thx for the good tutorial.

Wow, very good technique 👍❤

Great video, thank you!

This is a good technique for getting the foundations of your painting right.

I love this so much. I wanted a basic projector ...

people who trace pictures also like sodomy

I wonder how many non artist types ignored water color painting or any art because they thought they had to be a regular Robert Bateman type artist for drawing first!? This guy for sure! Im starting with a kids projector, (Lame), but hey, whats a guy to do right? James, ever try projecting onto something more comfortable, such as a drafting type desk? Where can we see the FINAL Painting of the lady window shopping?

Most times I am painting for fun, and for me just using the eye is more fun. More satisfying. But if you are trying to win contests or do work for pay, I can see using any tool, short of a printer

I used a data projector already for couple of years and it does make the job so much easier and fulling! I can really recommend using it!

I think the painting already looks fine!! Thank you for sharing! ❤🙏

Awesome job

Okay I got it. So that's how you guys do it. Thank you. Keep them coming.

That was extremely helpful,thanks.

Yes all comments valid, thank you, sufficiently instructive, and not a lot of wasted time on your point of view of life.
I have used a project several times lately and have 3 portraits I would like to do. Again, you are a good teacher, presenter.

Price please?

excellent

What software do you use to correct distortion and adjust color? And what posterizer filter did you use? Thank you for the demonstration!

How do you posterize a image?

Very interesting 👌

I like to use projectors or even tracing paper to lay down key landmarks much like you did in this video. But it makes me feel like a fraud, even though I'm quite sparse with my initial pencil marks. Do you have advice for people like me who just struggle with proportions and need to use methods like this, but feel like they're "cheating"?

Beautiful ❤

Very helpful, thank you. What projector would you buy now? There so many choices.

Very helpful, and you’re a wonderful painter.

So very helpful...thanks so much.have a digital projector but never ever used it shall try out this method.

Dear James,
Just watched you work on the street scene w/ the truck and this street scene/ city scape w/ window shopper and how you use the projection.
It is what I needed to see.

I have been trying to utilize projecting images and using a looser painterly brush work as you demonstrate so confidently, with grace, finesse and with great skill.

To know it is possible is tremendous!!!

I have been frustrated and disheartened by my own calligraphy of marks I have been masterfully overworking, choking out and beating to death on panels, canvases in acrylic, oil, epoxy as well as using similar methods used in the Prison System to extract pigment.

When I have done one, two, three simultaneous versions, each of which sucks and is embarrassing up close.
Same process...
It is scraped, wiped, picked, sanded only to start over again and again, until every last pigment tube is squeezed out and the ink in the printer has been commandeered & tapped dry.

All I can do is save every bit of scraping and remnant of the catastrophic artistic failures to keep as a conceptual trophy to justify the wasted time, wasted artist materials and loss of hard to come by cash.

In absolute anguish, clutching both outstretched arms near my side, my eyes are tightly shut with tears streaming down, my hands, filled with dried pieces of scraped off paint & squeezing so tight that water and oil drip from my clinched fist, as I scream out with all the pain of every struggling artist from caves and beyond the canvas, my scream can be heard as above so below, all that which tears away at my art spirit...
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Just want to say Thanks!!! Your insight, knowledge and astonishingly beautiful art is breathtaking and inspiring.

(I learned that I'm using my pigments too thick and getting an ugly buildup and milky creamy oil paint )

You have a new fan and truly have given back to the Universe.
With much respect and admiration.
Sincerely,
Randy Chavez
~Now I'm ready to paint

What about the issues of copyright when it comes to using other people's photographs and copying everything from such imagery using exact same colours etc.?
Some images are in the public domain such as Animals for example: since these are common place to society and therefore of itself may not be considered copying. However if one uses everything in a photograph rather than creating their own background etc then if for some reason, the painting or sketching is sold then that is clearly an infringement of copyright regulations, unless credit is given to the original author, whilst at the same time adding the artist connection to the painted image or sketch etc.

How do you, as an artist using a projector, deal with this issue of plagiarism, which is rife today in the art world?

Thanks James

Thank you what projector would you recommend

I'm very interested in your process. I believe your system will help me. Thanks

Looks like a handy tool for me to try .

This was very helpful. Thank you for explaining your process so well!

thank you

What kind of projector did you use? Thank you looking to find one on the cheap. Any suggestions?

Hi Jim, so appreciate your instructions on using photos as guides. I’ve been doing water color using a similar approach though very rudimentary. Cousin Colleen

Thanks I learned a lot .

Thank you for sharing. A very helpful and encouraging video.

Do you try to work from life regularly to find a balance?

I really appreciate your generous sharing of information for representational artists...thank you very much!

Fabulous video! What is the smallest size you are able to project onto with your projector? I'm trying to find something that will allow me to use a minimum 8x10 or 9x12 if possible.

You mentioned the grid method and that tracing the projection, as you are, is more accurate, why do some artist choose to use a grid vs a projection?

Did you apply a fixative for the pencil marks before painting over them?

Great! I frequetly use a digital projector to tranfer a photo on a canvas, but I had no thought of posterising the photo. Thanks a lot!

Another example of sound, well considered, content from the, ever excellent, James Crandall.
Thanks James ........superb.

Thank