Photo to Chinese Ink Painting (Black & White)

Chinese ink painting (水墨画) is a traditional art style that emphasizes expressive brushwork, simplicity, and the harmony between ink, water, and empty space. Originating in ancient China and refined over centuries, it uses black ink in varying shades—achieved by controlling water dilution—to create depth, texture, and atmosphere rather than relying on bright colors. Instead of striving for precise realism, the style focuses on capturing the spirit or essence (气韵) of a subject, whether landscapes, flowers, birds, or figures. Composition often leaves intentional blank areas to suggest mist, sky, or water, allowing viewers to engage their imagination. Deeply influenced by philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy, Chinese ink painting values spontaneity, balance, and the expressive energy of each brushstroke.

By default, generated images are about 1 megapixel. You can increase the resolution to 4 megapixels by clicking the “2× Upscale” button.

You can also create a vectorized version. It works best for images with flat colors and clear edges. Vectorized images can be zoomed to very high resolutions without any loss of quality—just click the “Vectorize” button.

Photo-to-art conversion is the process of transforming your photos into artwork that retains the content and composition of the original image while adding an artistic touch. This could include styles like watercolor, illustration or line drawing. Unlike generic prints found in stores, these pieces are highly personalized, making them ideal for wall décor or meaningful gifts.

Traditionally, such artwork required commissioning professional artists, often costing hundreds to thousands of dollars per piece. PortraitArt offers a similar experience at a fraction of the cost using our advanced photo-to-art AI generator, recreating the artistic process with precision and creativity.

PortraitArt works with various types of photos, including portraits, group shots, pet photos, buildings, and scenic views. For optimal results, use high-resolution images with good lighting and a clear background.

• Your data safety and privacy are our top priorities. All photos uploaded to PortraitArt are securely processed and used solely for creating your artwork. We do not store, share, or use your photos for any other purposes without your consent. Additionally, all data transmission is encrypted to protect your personal information. And you can choose to delete your data after creating and downloading your art pictures. For more details, please review our Privacy FAQ.

• You can delete uploaded photo and all images generated from it. Click the ⚙ Settings button in the top-right corner of the input photo, then select "Delete this photo and all derived art pictures."