How to Enhance Your Paintings

In this workshop, professional artist Elli Milan demonstrates how to create paintings with bold and loose brushstrokes. This will not only make the painting process much more enjoyable for you, but will give your paintings a more effortless and expressive feeling!
Follow Elli here: / ellimilan
Your art career starts here. Check out the Mastery Program where you'll learn how to paint, draw and create like a master, then market and sell your artwork like a pro. It's where you'll turn your passion into a profession. Click here to learn more: bit.ly/48tdZoe
Whether you want to dive into art history, discuss current artist topics, or create beautiful art yourself, Milan Art Institute is the community you’ve been looking for.
Learn and connect with us!

[@milanartapp]

Check out our one year program that will give you the skills you need to turn your passion into a profession! bit.ly/48tdZoe

[@shereeglasson22]

I just found you this week. WOW! You have already changed my world. I got sick lost my job and enrolled in art therapy to try to heal myself. My trouble is I am blind in one eye from my health issue with allergic asthma which means I can only use gouache. I want to paint expressively like I used to when I could use acrylics ! But I will do what I can. But I am grateful for you sharing your wisdom so freely and generously. I want to do this too one day! ❤

[@dinaelmasry5534]

For me Elli is the Mel Robbins of artists she always motivates me and inspires me , thank you Elli for your energy and generosity 🙏💕💕💕

[@melodybrown986]

Love this!! Yes Elli is one of a kind and much needed in the community!

[@user-qi1tp7di8o]

Thank you Elli for sharing your extensive knowledge with us. It's much appreciated.

[@RossEricJamesAustin1001-0110]

"The hieroglyph of our life on the Canvass" I really really like that. I'm an abstractionists, but would love to attend your school to learn Portrait painting. You all rock!

[@stephanienolan9791]

This is probably one of your/the best explanations for painting portraits with expressive strokes (and how to get them using the appropriate brushes) that I have seen in a while. I would love to see more portrait tutorials if you can! Take care.

[@starveartist]

One of my favorite videos you've done. Very hands-on and practical, without any mention of religion or superstitious thinking

[@sharonclarke1876]

I went to a Monet art exhibit. When you stand back from his paintings it's gorgeous, then up close you see all his brush stokes. He is a master painter!

[@nicoline-norah]

Hey Elli! Thanks for sharing this video 🙂 I was wondering how you 'make' your source material. Is that a secretive process or is it something you would be willing to share with us? I'm quite curious!

[@hollybroxson5635]

After using murpy oil to clean the brushes-you can sometimes reshape synthetic brushes by dipping them into boiling water, then reshaping them with your fingers and a little gum arabic. Doesn't always work, but it will completely restore some brushes.

[@robynburgess3995]

I sure needed this, thank you so much. I'm grateful for the Milan's, all of you.

[@AngelaJsaca]

Hi miss you all. Love watching you here ❤

[@evrwonderwhy]

Thanks for sharing Jake, you seem like a very genuine person which is the best of all kinds!

[@teresacox6107]

This was super, thank you. Also you can reshape a brush with a piece of cardboard cut to size with a clip put on the tip, to hold the cardboard tight and still. Leave on over night. (If that makes any sense… ) and the fan brush is great for clouds 😉

[@davidmoore7115]

Intensly engaging, wonderful clarity, beautifully articulate about process and reasoning. So interesting, relatable and enlightening - Thank you so much Elli.

[@208amanda_martinez]

Fan brushes are for “happy trees” lol when you have watched too many Bob Ross videos lol thank you for all your videos! Love your knowledge!

[@sheilakellerman1961]

I love love the way you Express your style on canvas, and how you teach, makes me laugh when you tell us the no one's, thanks Elli, Blessings

[@christineHoxsey]

You can clean the brushes with acetone and it removes dried paint off your brushes,

[@marie3934]

Thank you, Elli, I am so thankful for you and all your family. This free workshop is perfect for me at this time. I am watching this video twice, to soak in the knowledge on how to use the proper brushes. You are truly the best person to learn from.

[@juliehardy2046]

An excellent video. Thankyou, I have learned a lot from this. What a beautiful painting you have created.

[@mel-melschell6562]

That was brilliant and so helpful! Thank you!

[@ilarialapreziosa]

Thank you so much for bringing us these amazing free videos!!! I love watching them and learn from you! Have a nice day ❤

[@tiffanyshiels1910]

This lesson was excellent.

[@777zauberfee]

Elli you painted this man but eyes and lips Look Like you 😊😊 Very interesting Video . One of your best !!

[@veronikababonics1839]

You are a good person. Thank YOU!

[@56breaths]

Thank you. You are clear, precise, and generous. I am learning, gratefully.

[@audedumoulin5082]

Excellent! Merci Elli! So generous! I have just started the Milan art programme and it helps! It gives me direction to finish my first portrait ever! Merci with all my heart from France!

[@dakotarocha6735]

I am a recovering stab and dabber lol can’t wait to start the program!

[@colorofgloryart8443]

Thank you Elli my teacher! Loving watching this while working on my first mixed media with collage in the Mastery Program. I enjoy the program and your family and the contest show all so much. Having a wonderful time and learning a tremendous amount. You guys are setting us up for success. Thank you so much!!

[@MyJuliebean]

I'm also in the Mastery Program and just started media with collage! :)

[@colorofgloryart8443]

Awesome! Hope you are loving it too!@@MyJuliebean

[@kaygilbert8773]

Such great training! I had no idea could do so much with different brushes. Thanks

[@zenab71]

Really really enjoyed this video

[@SashaFitzgerald]

Thank you for all the fantastic tips Elli!

[@aunty_emm]

this is so inspiring, thank you so much ❤

[@silkesauritz7690]

Thank you Elli, this was a wonderful and in depth explanation of all the beautiful tools 😍✨

[@susijones2875]

I needed that encouragement - thank you!

[@salomeh2215]

Thank you for these powerful words and ideas☀️

[@dianecharest8365]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You are good.

[@CMVille]

Brilliant-lov the don’t dos

[@jinimurray4090]

My mom painted oil & much more (not acrylic, so I don’t know how to remove acrylic, sorry) But her focus was painting painting painting not cleaning brushes. I inherited all her rock hard brushes And oil/turps pots, l learned since that apple cider vinegar soak for 24 hours works amazingly!!!! Things I thought were doomed for the toss, are alive again. It really works!!!!

[@soniamurray1185]

Thank you so much for this. It is exactly the info and advice I need right now to step up my skills. I have been mostly a one or two brusher who blends everything……will definitely broaden my brush use to ten or twelve, and stop blending (get out of my comfort zone). Excellent video. Again, thank you. 😊

[@kimberlydianelucas2591]

Amazing tips! So simple and memorable Thank You!

[@jbvatuone]

This video is everything 🙏

[@joycelalka1280]

Thank you for all the tips.. luv India

[@simplyme135]

Amazing! Thank you, learned a lot.....I think if I would listened to your instructions 5/6 years ago when I just started painting, I probably would not understand everything, but, now it makes total sense....Would you please tell me which canvas sizes you think the best for portrait painting?

[@DonnaFoxy]

Try just two hours for the brush bath instead of two weeks- I don't think they need that long, and it might save the shape of some of them :)

[@pattiklein7013]

Thank you!

[@kozanton]

I love your work, and Your videos are amazing and I value what I learn from you, but My word that is a lot colors in that pallette

[@johnhendryx2832]

Where do you get the photos from with flowers in them

[@sanetjonker5183]

It will help very much if you can show the reference photo while painting...

[@kozanton]

17:00 For a cheaper method to Bring your brushes back to a soft state, soak them in Vinegar for a couple days.

[@tiffanyshiels1910]

Do you have videos on how to make the source?

[@sharynmellors3624]

Murphy's soap? Is that the same as Murphy's oil soap? The image went too fast for me to catch it. I loved this lesson

[@DonnaFoxy]

yes, it is

[@dorigregg8058]

I love daggers!

[@jinimurray4090]

Elli it would really help if when showing, say a brush you had a contrasting background so it was easily visable.- also I WOULD prefer to hear you say a 2” brush or a number (? Size), rather than ,”this size” Do you have a PO BOX I could snail mail write you? Thanks

[@quietspacearts]

i love acrylics but am so scared to try oils, im sensitive to smells as have fybromyalgia

[@carolejameson4238]

Can you show more of your references photos please

[@TriniRoyQuiReyes]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@selfless-esteem]

The problem that I have with it is that I am not good at measurements and symmetry

[@user-oh2xs5lt7c]

let that dryyyyyy, these are oils though?

[@CupcakeCottage]

It depends on the style of the artist.

[@MyHawaiiLife]

Please have your camera on the task while you’re painting. They keep panning out and we miss your examples.

[@hannahjones9413]

What if I don’t want my brushstrokes to show if I want to look more realistic??

[@WompWompNootNoot]

Start with large brushes and finish small xx

[@TriniRoyQuiReyes]

Start with large brush and smoothy smoothy, blend , blend and blend towards the shape that you want to plant.

[@lindz916]

Less brushstrokes doesn’t always create more realism. Everything in nature and reality is not blended.

[@zeynozeyno7632]

I'm that kind of blend -er painter 😂 I'm trying to quit that

[@lindz916]

Same!

[@radurobert1]

pork hair school brushes are ok ?

[@KristopiaArt]

Blendy blendy smoothy smoothy and stab and dab should be song lyrics.

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

I don't like it