Gaussian Blur
When trying to create a base foundation to any painting or drawing, seeing the details in the reference photo can make this step confusing.
This is where applying a blur to the reference photograph can make it much easier.
The blur hides all detail and gives a clearer idea of what the base foundation should look like. As we begin building detail, the strength of the blue can be reduced to gradually allow more detail to be visualised.
If you’d like to see this blur method in action and how this can help, the Shih Tzu pastel tutorial, Schnauzer graphite tutorial and the Yorkshire Terrier acrylic tutorial cover this.
Most smart phones have basic image editing settings that enable blurring features as well as lots of app and programmes. It doesn’t matter which one you use but I do advise it’s a blur setting that can be adjusted.
A fixed blur doesn’t allow for the fluctuations in layers that we build when drawing realism. Having the option to adjust this means we can go back and forth and adjust layers where needed and have this visual aid as guidance.
If you know you jump to adding detail too soon in the layering process or if you feel you want your art to create more depth then the blur tool can make such a difference.
