image_to_pixel_vector.py

from PIL import Image
import numpy as np

def pixels_from_path(file_path):
    im = Image.open(file_path)
    np_im = np.array(im)
    #matrix of pixel RGB values
    return np_im
  
def vector_of_pixels(np_im):
    pixels = []
    for row in np_im:
        for pixel in row:
            pixels.append(pixel)
    return np.asarray(pixels)

file_path = "mypic.png"  
np_im = pixels_from_path(file_path)
pixels = vector_of_pixels(np_im)