Karen Sperling's Painting for Photographers: Steps and Art Lessons for Painting Photos in Corel Painter 12.1 and Adobe Photoshop CS5 Paperback – February 20, 2012

I have all 3 of Karen's books and they are all 5 star books. If there were 100 stars I would rate them as 100! Not only are they beautiful but they are all beautifully detailed with instructions that are detailed so it is very easy to learn how to paint photographs and make them look like real paintings. As a traditional artist all my life, I wanted to learn how to paint photographs that looked like real paintings. Karen's books are perfect masterpieces that shows you how to do this. She references traditional artwork, so I as an artist knew right away that Karen knows what she is talking about and you can see it in her work. Karen is so accessible and answers any questions you may have. Tell me, when do you ever hear of an author taking the time to do that? Not in these days. She really cares. AND NO, I do not know Karen personally, only through her books and questions she has answered in an email that I have had. I feel so strongly about Karen's books and teachings that I have reviewed all 3 of her books and in all these years I have never taken the time to review anything I purchased. I sure hope she writes another one soon. I have reread her books and reference them over and over. Thank you Karen! Anna

I really wanted this book, but I was put off by the high price tag....$50 originally. (I think it's because Karen Sperling self published it.) When I received a $30 credit for a new account, I used it toward this paperback. Lucky for you, she has lowered the price and published an updated version.Karen covers just about everything you'll need to know to change photography into digital paintings. She discusses principles of art theory, choosing a color scheme and how to pick a good photograph to use as your basis.Karen gives you information about which brushes to use and why. Then she constantly refers you back to the pages where a technique is explained in depth.Her illustrations are clear and easy to understand. It's an excellent resource, especially helpful for those moving onto Corel Painter 12.I hope one day it's picked up by a publisher who will reformat the book as it could end up with the same great information spread out onto several more pages.Corel Painter 12

I bought this book based on the title and maybe should have read even more of the reviews. The author does a good job of describing what makes a painting from a photo more "painterly," but all of the hands on examples are done in Painter. She only gives Photoshop techniques and tools a short section in the 2nd chapter.Since I'm upgrading my initial review, see discussion for more. In summary, after spending more time with the book I'm confident that I'm going to become a better digital painter, whether in Painter or Photoshop. It's more about the artistic process than the medium, and Karen really does a very good job of describing and explaining how to make a good painting. I can adapt the Painter processes to Photoshop with a little effort on my part.

I am a photogapher who was interested in learning digital painting. I took a beginnng online class (not Sperlings class) that was very detailed and I learned a lot, but found that I needed a reference without going back thru the video lessons and looking for where my question was discussed. So, to this end, I began looking for digital painting references and found this book. The book is very detailed and gives specific instructions and setting for using the various tools. Because I was not familiar with the techniques and tool, the specificitiy of the instructions was very helpful. I am still working my way through this book as I have just decided to go ahead buy Corel Painter. Thus far I have been using the book as it relates to photoshop. I would highly recommend this book as an excellent and detailed reference.

I have always painted and drawn using traditional paints and pencils and I wanted to find a book that would help me transition into digital painting. I wanted something that was not too technical and that would quickly get me up and running.I have found that Karen Sperling's book was extremely helpful in familiarizing me with the Corel Painter brushes. I found that I was quickly able to draw and paint using my new Wacom tablet and honestly, I'm having a blast!She also has art lessons and tips on which type of photos make the best paintings. For someone who is already experienced with digital painting maybe a more advanced book would be better but for someone like me who is completely new to digital painting, I found that Karen's Sperling's Painting for Photographers was a PERFECT introduction!

Fuggedabout the person who complained about the fonts. There is nothing wrong with the fonts in the book and in fact, I have read several chapters on the treadmill without my glasses on.Anyway, after reading this book and volume 2 my knowledge of paintings, (not just photo paintings), art, color schemes have increased dramatically and my photo paintings are beginning to look like the real deal.Thanks so much to Karen for giving so much of herself to the arts community.

I have been buying ms Sperlings books since 1999. This is the most incomprehensible painter manual I have ever read ,or attempted to read. Martin Addisons book on the same subject flows much more clearly.

Great book! Well written and very inspiring. I would recommend to anyone looking for good instruction for how to turn your photography into Fine Art.

A very helpful book

いくつもサンプルの絵が載っていて、親切な「英語の教則本」です。この絵を見るだけでも価値がありますが、ちと値段が高い。それで内容は、写真からどういう手順を踏んで絵になっていくかの段階が写真で掲載されています。フォトショップの場合とペインターの場合で両方の手法も掲載されているようです。もちろん絵だけを見てもなるほどと思う部分もありますが、でも、それを日本人がたどたどしく読んでいくにはかなり苦労します。