How to Turn Your Photo Into a Painting Using Gemini

There’s something timeless about paintings. They capture not just what someone looks like, but also the feeling behind the image. A good painting can convey emotion, personality, and history in ways a regular photo sometimes can’t.

Throughout history, artists have used different techniques to create paintings. Some use thick brushstrokes to add texture and depth. Others rely on soft washes of color to create mood. Each style tells its own story and carries its own charm.

The thing is, creating a painting takes years of practice and skill. Most of us don’t have that training or the time to spend learning. That’s where technology comes in handy.

Google Gemini’s Nano Banana Pro Model

Google’s Gemini platform now includes tools that can turn your ordinary photos into artwork. The image editing capabilities are genuinely impressive. You get the visual style of a painting without needing to pick up a brush yourself.

The process is easy. No complicated steps. No special software to download. Just a few clicks and your photo becomes art.

How to Get Started

Head to gemini.google.com and start a new chat. Look for the option that says “Thinking with 3 Pro” and select it. This version has better processing power for image work.

Next, attach your photo. You can upload directly from your device. Once your photo is in, you’re ready to pick a painting style.

Following is the reference photo I used for the following prompts.

Seven Painting Styles to Try

Oil Painting

Prompt: Create a portrait painted in thick oil textures with visible brush strokes. Use warm highlights, soft shadows, and a classic canvas surface. The face should stay detailed and natural with gentle color blending.

This style gives you that classic, museum-quality look. The thick brushstrokes and warm tones make the image feel rich and timeless, like something you’d hang in a living room.

Watercolor Painting

Prompt: Create a watercolor version of this portrait with soft washes of paint, light bleeding edges, and pastel tones. Keep facial features recognizable while adding delicate splashes and a light paper texture.

Watercolor has a gentle, flowing quality. The colors blend into each other softly, and the overall effect feels calm and artistic. Your photo becomes something almost dreamy.

Charcoal Sketch

Prompt: Create a charcoal style portrait with strong contrast, rough shading, and natural smudges. Highlight contours of the face and hair while preserving accurate proportions. Add subtle grain from textured sketch paper.

If you want something bold and dramatic, charcoal is the way to go. The strong lines and contrasts make the image pop. It looks like a professional artist spent hours sketching your portrait.

Renaissance Painting

Prompt: Create a portrait inspired by Renaissance art with soft golden lighting, smooth layered paint, and refined details. Add gentle shadows around the face and a traditional painterly texture while keeping realistic skin tone.

Renaissance paintings have an elegance that feels timeless. The golden lighting and smooth brushwork give your photo a classical, refined appearance. It’s perfect if you want something that feels a bit more formal.

Van Gogh Style

Prompt: Create a portrait inspired by Van Gogh with swirling strokes, vibrant colors, and energetic textures. Keep the structure of the face clear while applying bold streaks of blue, yellow, and orange across the background.

Van Gogh’s work is instantly recognizable. The swirling brushstrokes and bold color choices make this style fun and energetic. Your photo takes on an almost eccentric, artistic personality.

Digital Painting

Prompt: Create a clean digital painting of this portrait with smooth brushwork, polished skin textures, and soft gradients. Keep every feature realistic while adding artistic highlights and a crisp illustrated look.

This style bridges the gap between photography and traditional art. It looks polished and modern while still maintaining that artistic quality. Your features stay clear and recognizable, but with an illustrated twist.

Pastel Painting

Prompt: Create a pastel portrait using soft chalk textures, blended tones, and gentle color transitions. Keep the face recognizable with lightly smudged shading and a velvety pastel surface.

Pastels give a soft, dreamy quality to images. The colors blend smoothly together, and the overall feel is gentle and approachable. It’s like looking at your photo through an artistic lens.

Tips for Best Results

• Use a clear, well-lit photo for the best outcome. Photos with good detail and sharp features work better than blurry ones.
• Try each style with the same photo. You’ll be surprised how different each one looks. Some styles might feel like a better fit for you than others.
• Don’t be afraid to adjust the prompts slightly if you want something specific. Gemini can work with custom instructions too.

Turning your photos into paintings is a fun way to see yourself or loved ones in a new light. You don’t need artistic skills or expensive software. Just a photo, a web browser (or app), and a few minutes of your time.

Give it a try. Pick your favorite style and see what happens. You might end up with something you actually want to print and hang on your wall.