Pic attached. Am I dumb? I can't work this out.

[sadkoala]

I've recently messaged an artist who does commissions with 2 old pictures attached asking them if they are able to work with that resolution of photo and create a piece using them.

The reply I got is in the pic attached. Am I correct in thinking they are saying they cannot do it? Or are they just covering their own backs and stating upfront it might not be as detailed as some of their other pieces if image isn't high resolution?

I feel really dumb and like my brain isn't working. Help?

The pictures aren't blurred but I suppose if you wanted to zoom in on them to get the super fine detail they would be as they are rather old and taken with a film camera.

That’s not hand painted, that’s why they need it to be high res. There are quite a few apps that can do it or photoshop.

Have you done much research into the artist? It looks like they may not actually be doing hand painted watercolours. It looks like it is scanned and generated in watercolours by a printer. It can also be done in pencil and it does sound like this is what the 'artist' does. It would be quite possible to do a watercolour from a less high resolution picture if it was done by hand.

I know this isn't your AIBU, he/she lost me at "However there is a few things".

That watercolour is not hand-painted. It is a digital composite. That's why they can't create a version with your lo-res photos.

They are saying go for the pencil option.

Whatever the equivalent of "allegedly' is in this context to cover my arse but I've seen that type of work before and it's basically a manipulated photograph overpainted in oil acrylic or watercolour . Not without skill but looks very similar to other computer generated images with a watercolour or paint app printed on to watercolour paper or canvas .

I’m currently working with a lady who is doing a water colour for me. She was straight up and said that the picture has to be high resolution, and clear with no crops etc. I think a previous poster pointed out that the artist is criticised for their work when the reference may not have been the greatest to begin with.

If you want watercolour maybe find a better picture.

How much are they charging, out of interest?

Ok so by the sounds of things they are using Photoshop or the like to get a "base" for the watercolor painting ?
To be honest it does look like it taking a closer look at the other watercolours they have done.

So pencil might be the option to go?

Looks like photoshop thingy to me to. Have you tried looking yourself, It’s easy.
Simple web version

Do it yourself then get it printed onto a canvas of your choice. It would be really nice if it was your own work.

It reads like the first part has been written ad hoc, and the latter explanations copy-pasted from a standard piece of text someone more literate has written for them. They just haven't bothered to string the information into a coherent email.

I wouldn't mind the pencil to be honest as they are still rather nice. I'd just hate to commission it just to find out it's all actually done on a computer IYSWIM.

Def using a computer program and I suspect for both the 'watercolour' and 'pencil' versions of their work. There is probably some handfinishing on the final item but it doesn't look remotely like fully hand created.
The watercolour program will need a higher res original picture than the pencil program.
Be very wary and see the final products in person depending on how much they are charging before committing to this...

I think you need to ask the direct question: do you do this all by hand, or do you use a computer to assist? Honestly, I think I'd look for a different artist as they are definitely leading you to believe it is all handpainted/drawn and the end product definitely isn't...

I think he is saying no to watercolor, but yes to pencil but manage your expectations.

Just email them back and ask for clarification.

It's the sort of thing that I (can) do in Photoshop but the resolution does need to be very good for a watercolour effect. Pencil style line drawings can be done with a much lower resolution image.

This is an example of what you can do yourself - it's not watercolour because you have to pay for that - this is just from my phone too. You can really easily do it yourself.

It’s a photoshop filter. The pencil filter will distort the scanned pixels off your picture enough so it looks like it was sketched that way.

It makes no sense that someone can draw a detailed pencil sketch from a blurry photo but they can’t draw a blurry watercolour portrait. It makes perfect sense if they’re scanning your photo and digitising with filters.

I can recommend an artist who can do this for you. She painted my nan from a photo and it was lifelike. The artist is a mum of my DH's friend so very reliable.

Pencil version.

I think the cost is a clue. 😅.

There is nothing wrong with digital art. Its worked well for David Hockney. It depends what you want.

Oh and to add insult to injury, you don’t even have to be an expert in photoshop. You just buy a few add on filters for £5-20. Like these