How to actually use LOOSE BRUSH STROKES

[@welivedonthemoon]

Within the short period of time since I started following this channel (and I dearly wish I had found it earlier) I have learned so much more about art than anywhere else in decades before. I’ve had so many revelations, big and small in terms of painting and everything I never knew I might want to know about it, due to a very dedicated, and hands on approach on conveying all that knowledge that is unique to me. It’s also the no-nonsense mental attitude (including some sharp-edged truths) that made me come from a place where I just wanted to make pretty pictures but didn’t, because I can’t and it’s not worth the effort anyway to a place where I just want to paint. So, again, thank you, Mikko. You’re one of a kind and I’m so glad to be here. ❤

[@cheerychinchilla]

0:00 How to not get caught up in details, or get paintings that look too stiff. How to make art with wild and loose brush strokes! 0:40 You don't need to download any brushes or textures, you can use any brush 1:29 Size matters - I start with the biggest possible brush size 2:00 Use only one brush for the entire painting, to get the benefit from this video - texture, direction, blending 2:35 Choose a brush that shows the direction of your brush stroke 3:18 Brush stroke economy - try an exercise with max 30 to 50 brush strokes Brush strokes: 5:20 What do you do with the brush strokes? Where do you place the brush strokes? The rest of the vid is about this. 5:50 Paint strokes contain information: movement, energy, materials, volume 6:05 Annoying brush stroke? There is a right time and place for brush strokes, we need tools to identify where to put the brush strokes. 6:35 Make a mess! Random shapes and colors and brush strokes. This is a way to search for ideas. 7:35 When I see a shape I like / an idea Identify the Three Components and know when to go crazy: 7:43 Three Components: 1) roads that lead to the focal point 2) the stage for the focal point 3) the focal point 8:44 Stage should highlight the main attraction in your painting, not pull attention away from it 9:29 Does it read? 10:06 Everything has already been done, but not by you. Don't worry about originality. 11:52 A way to create a focal point can be, to place the hardest edges on the focal point, and add softer edges on other elements 11:40 Areas of play / Crazy brush strokes =) 13:07 Let loose! You can do this after all of the hard decisions have been made. 13:30 Which areas are NOT for play. Don't put crazy brush strokes here. TIP: Crazy focal point? Have a contrasting background (no crazy brush strokes), to support the focal point. 11:45 Light hack: defining shapes only in light 15:50 Don't put unnecessary detail in shadow parts There are many ways to be loose with your painting style: 16:34 Different ways to paint 18:30 Useful tools - choose one approach in one painting. 19:30 Don't take yourself too seriously 20:22 "What kind of brush strokes are ok here?" Answer: identify which component you are working with (focal, road to focal, stage) 20:45 Remember to have fun! The viewer can see your excitement in the way you are painting and feel that excitement: they will be painting together with you. That's how you create connection. Omg, this video was jam packed with advice! Thanks so much, Mikko.

[@mikedimples]

This is a VERY high quality tutorial, and that's coming from a major tutorial addict. You have a tremendous understanding of art theory and have a talent for communicating it clearly, and in ways that make me so excited to paint. Now I'm interested in buying your class.

[@itsmeloart]

Your channel is a goldmine of art knowledge. I don’t understand all of it because many of the things you talk about seem a little advanced for my skill level. I work from grayscale to color because I want to make sure that I understand value before diving into color. I still find it very scary to “embrace the mess” and trusting the process since I’ve always been very line-dependent, but I’m trying to break free from that. I can’t wait to finally be in the right mindset to actually follow along your tutorials. 😊🌈

[@angrymikko]

One way to ease yourself into the bright side of colours is by switching your screen temporarily to black and white instead of the painting. Like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqCVq4qrj9SIfLssi=zQYYlYYUNCx882Du This way you will be able to see the values but still paint and colour pick colours. Then simply ease into using more and more of the colour mode of the screen. I still switch my screen to black and white to check values with each painting. It’s a handy tool for everyone.

[@yingle6027]

Insane talent, you should be called happymikko with those skills!

[@angrymikko]

What about Hangrymikko? I am a mostly carb-based life form 🐻🐻🥯🥯

[@esther_hoffmann]

I'm so happy with this video!! There is so much info here. I struggle a lot with this topic (and even asked you few days ago about this perfectionism on details that will not be noticeable), and this is the most well-explained video that I have ever seen about how to break down your painting between areas of high and low detail, and the role of brushstrokes on this process. I'm so inspired to try this, and will definitely come back to watch this video many times to really process all this information. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, and being such a kind person! Also, loved that you named the last paining "invisible beach". It's cute and fun especially for us that saw live your process of making it visible ;D Hope you have a great week

[@angrymikko]

Definitely felt like the chat named that one. I remember how happy I felt after that session. It's always so humbling to hear other artists share their own challenges with creating art. I hope others also feel like they are not alone with those issues when someone bravely shares those things with the group. Despite having a bit bad day earlier for the few emails people sent me about this channel. I felt like that one art session immediately returned my faith in humanity 🐻 Also I know it's gross to say this but I got lucky with that painting. It was easy to be happy 🏖️

[@esther_hoffmann]

​@@angrymikko I remember you mentioning live something about bad comments you've receive. I'm so sorry for that. It's really great what you do here on youtube. And this last week watching two livestreams of yours (for the first time btw) really made me appreciate more your work and effort, because you are really raw, vulnerable, genuine, humble, and kind. Connecting with and supporting this kind of people is really what I live for, because we feel heard and >really< connected as human beings. It's easy to get lost and kinda numb on social media interactions, people can be very plastic, superficial, plain, distant. And hearing about your story, seeing how genuinely happy you were telling us you had an extra corgi to take care that day, and even giving us the advice of treating past trauma with bullying by GETTING A DOG XD (I found this really funny and cute), made me restored too my faith in humanity. It reminded me about how I enjoy surrounding myself with human beings when they are kind and caring like me. I'm so happy you felt that way too with that livestram ^-^ connecting as a community can really be powerful and uplifting. Hope you always remember that you have here lots of people that enjoy your work, your art, your decisions and even talking to you.

[@leanalapointe4209]

Fun editing ! Great advices Mikko, love your content.

[@angrymikko]

Thanks so much! Tried new things with this edit because there were so many points that were better illustrated by practical situations in paintings rather than motion graphics. As a side benefit I got to make a whole lot of art which was fun for me.

[@ryeryeflow]

Todella hyvä video, tää auttaa rutkasti! Kiitos :)

[@angrymikko]

Kiva kuulla 🐻

[@Jaemy_art]

Quality video!

[@angrymikko]

I found a lot of clarity for myself too in this topic so I’m really happy the process made me break down these concepts into words. Glad you enjoyed it but I enjoyed making this just as much 🐻🌸

[@juanmanuelgarcia4605]

iPad powered by Nintendo.

[@angrymikko]

That charger costs a fraction of the official one☝️

[@artbyddp]

Love Nintendo ❤️

[@CaptainFistArt]

Simple is complicated and complicated things are simple

[@angrymikko]

That is the revolving door every artist spins around. Even though now I feel more confident than ever about using expressive brush strokes I’m sure in few years I’ll still keep discovering new facets about them. If art was just simple I don't think it would keep us all in its spell the way it does. 🐻

[@PsychMandril]

Really good video! Did you finally get a paper like cover though? There was practically no glare on the screen!

[@angrymikko]

I will never get one. I tried one already and it is incredibly gross to paint with. I can understand if someone likes them for drawing but for painting it is a terrible hindrance. Especially for the type of painting techniques discussed in this video. For anyone who is thinking about getting one, know that there are also temporary magnetic options so that you don’t have to glue it permanently to the screen. That way you can for example use it for drawing and then throw it away when you start painting 🐻🎨

[@PsychMandril]

@@angrymikko I agree. I was using a matte screen protector and it quickly proved destructive cuz (my theory is) there were electrons or something getting trapped in certain places and the Apple Pencil would skip those areas when I drew. Or it might have been a magnet thing. Used it for a year until the problems showed up. Then I changed it to a different one and the problem was still there. I removed the protector and now there is no problem at all. I didn’t enjoy it as much when I had it anyways even if it worked.

[@mivuh]

Im just starting drawing in general. Using Krita because i have a windows laptop/tablet. What would you do in order to learn effectively? Where would you start? I dont even know what exactly i want to paint, im completely lost :D

[@stroodledoodles]

Start off by experimenting! With brushes, shapes etc, that'll help you figure out what you like/dislike and get you familiar with the program. And if there's something specific you wanna learn that's when you look up tutorials and stuff. Have fun!

[@angrymikko]

I always do this exercise for new students: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6LMmq2Zp8ysZ7ssi=Qrt4afJMm7RmeN2y For learning colour I recommend starting here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4LSgGZpopyoY68si=7u62u16H89pXeyUy

[@angrymikko]

These are all good ideas too👆

[@cheerychinchilla]

Krita is amazing!! I've been painting with it for 2 years now, and I am still learning about amazing features it has I never knew about. It has it all - liquify, textures, stabilizing, etc. At the beginning I just started with testing ALL the brushes 😄and then I dove straight into portraits - not sure if I recommend 😅stick to Mikko's advice.

[@sumetta_art]

❤❤❤

[@angrymikko]

🐻🦊🐻

[@kamokurii]

omg my dreams come true to subscribe on your course! I do it on domestika. I really do hope I can have fun during my study with you and thru this can I boost up my digital painting. ❤

[@angrymikko]

Gumroad one is longer, made by me and comes with more tools;)

[@4tarobyte]

1:25 the voiceover saying “short king” but the subs reading “pocket gay” took me out. good to know a Nintendo charger (I’m assuming Switch?) can charge an ipad, though! my charger got chomped by my cat and I fear it’s not much longer for this world. and to actually address the video: thank you! it was good food for thought and the vibrant paintings were fun to watch. I really do struggle with being too focused on the little details too early in the process 😭

[@angrymikko]

The official apple one is just way too expensive considering how fast it breaks. Steam deck charger works great too! 🐻🌈

[@4tarobyte]

​@@angrymikko oh that’s a good idea! makes sense that the power-hungry Steam Deck would have a decent charger too. I’ve been using the cable that came with my Genki Shadowcast (portable Switch dock) and it’s been great