How can I convert or turn photo into art painting?

My favorite app is Krita, a fantastic tool for this kind of creative work. It's especially popular because it is professional-grade, completely free, and open-source. Unlike simple photo filters, Krita is a dedicated painting application, meaning the process to turn a photo into art involves actively painting over the photo, giving you full artistic control.

How to Turn a Photo into Art in Krita

1. Go to File > Open and select your photo.

2. In the Layers Docker (the layers panel), right-click on your photo layer and choose Duplicate Layer.

3. On the toolbar, select the Brush tool.

4. In the Brush Presets docker (usually on the right side), search for brushes with the word "Clone" or select the brush icon that looks like a dotted square with an arrow.

5. CTRL-Click (or Command-Click on Mac) on an area of the photo. This sets the Clone Source—the color and detail you will be painting with.

6. Start painting over the image. The brush will clone the detail from the source point but apply it with the texture of the clone brush you selected (e.g., a thick oil texture).

Krita's Clone Brush Engine is the core tool for converting photo into digital art painting. It allows you to "sample" the color and texture from the "Original" layer and paint it onto the "Painting" layer with a styled brush.