Lesson to copy famous paintingsWhy copy? To learn of course!Copy famous paintings to educate yourself! You don't have to worry about composition, colors, subject matter, etc. Cause its been done for you already! This page talks about the why we copy famous paintings, but it also part of a bigger picture of lessons. The table of content below gives you what each section is about and all for free!
Now, back to Copy famous paintings. It is merely an exercise in hand to eye co-ordination. It helps you learn technique. We copy famous paintings to also inspire us to create something similar. The practice will also quickly can get you into "the zone" or "dual mode brain activity. (Remember "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" notes in the complex drawing lesson). Before we get too far into this lesson, I got a great idea for you. Most people that visit, and are artist's, will bookmark the site. That's great, but I've got a better recommendation. * If you want the latest demonstration. * If you'd like just the updates of new tips. * If you like my special time savers demonstrations. * And, If you want the first peek at my video's. Then Sign-up! for my e-zine. Details are at the top right of this page. It's FREE and full of great information. Draw the painting first, then follow all of the seven layers steps from ink drawing, imprimatura (1st layer), burnt umber (2)(2nd and 3rd layer), dead layer(4th layer), color layer(2)(5th and 6th layer) and finishing layer(7th layer). Lots of work. Yes!, but you will begin to think like the Master, understand the why's by doing. And imprint in your mind what a masterpiece really looks like and what it takes to complete! Your memory will forever hold this piece. And when you find yourself in a similar situation, your mind will remember and your paint passage will happen as if by magic! That certain fold in the linen. That twinkle in her eye. That sparkle on the ear ring. They become imprinted, and when a similar painting comes along. You've already done it in once, and you will remember for the next one. Here's an attempt I did of a very famous painting almost 10 years ago!  And the original.  Girl with a Red Hat Order This at Allposters.com And create your own masterpiece! I first saw this painting in the National Gallery in Washington D.C. I was captivated by it's intensity, the gaze of the young woman, and the size (about 8" X 10"). I copied the painting to help learn working in this size, and color matching. Though these photo's don't show it, the colorization was matched quite well but I lost the likeness somewhere in the process. Again, it is an exercise and I learned a great deal in doing it. Color is one of the minds most difficult thing to remember. especially certain shades. But certain things in nature, the colors always stay about the same. Once you have learned how to mix them, you will remember that in future paintings of the same subject. (Especially if you follow my advice below!) Skin tones, hair, clothing certainly change, but after copying one master, you will remember what you used to paint those lips, the cheek, the scarf. Here's another example of a copy of a famous painting. 
More Tips: Keep a journal! of your mixtures, and techniques on how you accomplished a certain passage within the painting. I remember when I first started painting drape. The folds were killers for me. I took notes of what worked and what didn't. How I blended using a certain brush, what brush I used to touch or stab at to get a certain soft blend. How I dry brushed softly to get a certain shadow. So again, we say, copy famous paintings of the master's. Looking back through history, it was common for artists to copy not only the work of masters, but they copied their own work as well. Back then, they didn't have giclee printers! Famous Painting Reference Site! Oh, I almost forgot. There is another very legitimate reason to copy a piece of art work. I've had customers that simply did not want a giclee print! But having seen a piece and remembering it, coming back to make the purchase only to find it had already sold! The gallery advised to order a copy, and they did! It gives you the opportunity to do the painting a 2nd time, and improve areas you felt may have been weak in the first. It also can be completed quicker, because you know all of your tricks to accomplish that special effect. And you get to put that "II" next to the name! Check out the daffodil painting named "Frontline II" below. 
The customer was happy to get the painting she wanted. It is still considered an original because no matter how hard you try, there will be differences from the original, and you're 2nd attempt will be an improvement! During the Renaissance era, some artist's made a living by painting only 2 or 3 paintings, over and over, because they were so popular! So if you sell one that you've done. Do another, and label it number 2. Did you know Claude Monet did this! Check it out:
Go ahead, give it a try! Copy famous paintings and learn to paint like the Master's! Hey, don't just take my word for it. Check out this site on
There are certain rules to be adhered to when copying a fellow artists work.
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I think however, that you get the picture with these.
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