How to improve your Composition Using Values

Composition can be one of the hardest thing for an artist to master, but once you realise the importance of tonal values, it gets much easier
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[@liselabelle4917]

Louise, I love your ‘not so technical’ terminology; it provides the encouragement and invitation for anyone to jump in and start their own painting practice! I also quite appreciate & identify with the confidence and familiarity with your own inner landscape. I find abstract art making in particular, is a wonderful metaphor for life itself. Making my inner known and communicated through the colours, textures shapes and marks that I put on paper or canvas are my ultimate ‘why’ for creating art. Although I’ve produced art sporadically throughout my life, and starting with acrylics 10+years ago, I find I’m only now just beginning to find my voice and rhythm.

[@monicastella9149]

I love it as is.... it feels like a storm coming.. you are scaring me to go further..I am holding my breath.

[@ConnyLehmann]

Dear Louise Thank you for this wonderful video and all the explanations. Now i understand so much more then before this video. You have made me fun to go into my studio and paint. Thank you soooo much

[@anitabradley5773]

Yes!! I discovered the same thing about applying paint in the free and energetic way in the thinking stage! I was getting so tight and the strokes would look contrived.

[@collinleech5297]

really helpful. Thank you Louise!

[@TheEngelbrechtc]

louise where will I fing the to be continued? would like to see the rest of your conversation.

[@DebbieStephens-ys5hw]

I am loving your easy relaxed approach to mixed media art Louise. You are so helpful to me with how to achieve loose expression with understanding what makes a painting work. Though, you mention Nick in your chat, so I just wonder who he is? As he sounds a good person to check out too. Many thanks for your inspirational videos. Debbie

[@Sharla1213]

Nicholas Wilton, Art2life

[@polson8084]

I appreciate your explaining your thoughts and energy as you touch and change the canvas!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@rebeccaschmidt7431]

You explained everything so well. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@terrismith5649]

I really enjoyed this video. I watch all of your videos Louise, I especially liked to hear your words about your shapes and values and how you clarified them. Your life experience one can see in looking. Fantastic painting!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much!

[@trudyberry3267]

Thank you. So much of what you said really clicked with me. Very helpful.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome

[@johnkitching6293]

Thank you Louise, the process you use is much clearer now! and will help me with my work

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ConnyLehmann]

Thank you for sahring this wonderful video with us. Kind regards Conny

[@marygilbertson4287]

thank you Louise, came just at the right time,finally the penny dropped.

[@painterofflowers945]

Fantastic video, Louise. Thank you so much. It's exactly the way of painting I'd like to do one day.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You can do it!

[@nicolabishop996]

Thank you for sharing. I've learned the most from watching and listening to your process.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I'm so glad and you are so very welcome! ♥

[@jojoduchannes3861]

This was so helpful thank you! I always struggle to find the balance between following my intuition and being too picky with my work, and you've absolutely flipped a switch on for me. I can't wait for your course this summer x

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lenore2023]

Found this so helpful. Watching the transformation was amazing. Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad!

[@renateantretter4820]

@@ThisPaintingLife Salzwassermaler

[@dannycarrick3739]

I quite enjoyed coming along this journey with you. It's turning put to be aovely landscape. The final pink squiggle you made sorted it right out! Love the contrast it gives the land.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much for your kind words Danny!

[@monicastella9149]

Looks beautiful , thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ednagallant4370]

Oh Louise, you are so pleasant to watch. You’re explanations are so simple to understand. You always make me smile. Your hands, dirty with paint and glue so remind me of me. When creating amidst my mess with my hands dirty is such a happy place for me to be. Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

It's the only way to be :)

[@dianagilbert8690]

Painting and watching/listening to you paint...it's helping me immensely. I'm working on a piece that I worked on late last night...what a difference a night and more light makes 😊🤪

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Haha yes so true!

[@sophiegervais2003]

j adore Louise et merci ! 🤗🤗🌼

[@ThisPaintingLife]

thank you!

[@sarahdemattos2679]

What a great video Louise! Thank you for sharing ......... :-)

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You're so welcome Sarah :)

[@CasparisHelena]

Thank you Louise for sharing your process; I like to see that. it is possible to think about shapes and values keeping the brush strokes loose until you find a more sophisticated and refined details to communicate your vision.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@monikalenander2902]

I liked this!

[@tuahabadar]

I love your analogies such as about conversation 'Quite and loud'

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I actually learned that from Nicholas Wilton at Art2Life. He's a great teacher - check him out x

[@monicastella9149]

Isn’t your hill the quiet conversation? Thunder is on the way...love the energy. Thank you for sharing.

[@rajpereira7280]

Awesome touch.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much!

[@heatherstubbs6646]

This is so instructive! The concept of loud conversations and quiet conversations will help me a lot. Thank you! (Another classical music word for “theme” that might be useful is “motif”.)

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marychristophi6688]

Ow wow it gets better and more life🌟

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you!

[@kianjude1]

Hi Louise,. I love your style to pieces. You are such an inspiration to me xoxox In foreground, it looks to me like you that there is an old boat.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

How interesting what we see in abstract paintings!

[@i_do_notconsent4968]

Dear, you have so far surpassed both of the teachers you've said have made / informed your current direction that it makes them both look kind of bad. 🤫

[@kathhicks6439]

Beautiful!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@christinemullie1253]

Just watched this after seeing Nicholas Wilton’s free workshop on value today (2022). So great to see this principle being applied in your video. I totally get everything you’re saying in terms of process and what you’re trying to achieve. Plus you make me laugh out loud. Thank you so much!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marychristophi6688]

Really beautiful wonderful art 🌹

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much 😀

[@johnscoppa6767]

Gorgeous painting

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@leilaskye8143]

Your non techno ways of explaining is so accessible to abstract newbie like myself. A year on I understand values. So appreciate your videos better this year. I dont use acrylic. My materials are watercolours with other watersoluble materials like inks and markings . I love this peice.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad to help!

[@sherylwhite2201]

Louise, thanks so much for this video. I just heard you say about painting shapes not your thing and that you're demonstrating a different style while applying the principles of value. I love your style, and am wanting to paint similarly (not copy!) and it is so helpful to see you do this (nearly two years ago. Thank goodness for KZbin!) So so helpful to see you clarifying the values in this work - gives me a starting point for the second pass on some boards I'm doing. (CVP 2020). I've looked at several of your videos now and every one of them has been incredibly helpful! Thank you. Sheryl

[@Andeana13]

Thankyou so much I understand a little better!! But I really would like to see the finished painting... please show it. I have signed up to your free course on 3 June ... can’t wait 😛 😀😀😀

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Sorry but this was years ago and the painting is long gone

[@suemiller7937]

Thank you for sharing so honestly.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@monicastella9149]

This is called abstract landscape? I love it as it is. Does abstract have to have eq Equal sides?

[@helennewman1382]

Do you know what this painting is called? I'd like to see the finished version, I've had a look on your website but not sure how different it looks now! Really enjoyed this video it was really helpful seeing what you responded to and how you stop it from becoming too static, not that I thought that at any point!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

No, sorry - this was a couple of years ago and it would be sold by now. I don't remember if it stayed like this or if it changed significantly afterwards

[@Artfulearth]

Dogs dinner! I love it ❤️

[@susancostes-mote210]

Just. Found you this demo was amazing and your comments were really helpful Are you still doing online classes?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes I am! www.louisefletcherart.com/art-tribe

[@AdrianaHernandez108]

Hello there , thanks for your video. I like to know if you have a video about the type of paint , the brushes , if you add water or not and this kind of technical things. I am kind of new to painting and like to have this kind of information by an artist. Is there some made already? Thanks!❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes I have a free course. www.louisefletcherart.com/acrylics-basics

[@annclairegreig2635]

Helpful, with the adding of more color theory. In CVP I’ve lost the sense of loud conversation . A little discouraged at this point ..I like hearing your observations about your thoughts.

[@chantaldumas7013]

Hello, I really like what you do, it's very beautiful! I'd have a few questions for you... when you say that it is more rewarding to paint with the heart than with the head, how do we know that we are there?

[@susankolberg963]

I haven't tried doing this kind of painting yet. I love watching what you are doing and your explanations. Yet, I don't think I understand what you mean. I hope it will become more clear when I try it myself. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You can do it!

[@rolandkrager227]

“The loud and quiet conversation.” I’m writing that down. Thank you!

[@ilovetobemom]

Is it the dark and lights that create the composition, I am a bit confused

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Primarily yes although shapes and lines also matter - but dark and light will mainly do all the work xx

[@jamesfblaisjr]

Binging your excellent videos! I watch them on my 75 inch TV w/ Bose sound. The audio volume of this and other videos is TOO LOW. Adjusting the volume up invariably blows out the speakers when your music comes on TOO BLASTINGLY LOUD. Not everyone watches videos on their PC or cell phone where the volume is less low. Do you have a mic? If no then PLS PROJECT your voice AND adjust the audio levels when editing a video. Thank you.

[@diannedonnelly6278]

You are a brilliant artist and I have learned so much. Please can we see the videos without the written text. It obscures so much and is so often incorrect.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hi Dianne, thank you for the feedback!

[@chayapellin8992]

Who is Nick? Would like to c where u r coming from Thanx

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Nicholas Wilton

[@suzannewebb2418]

Faffing about with my painting is a big problem. Just keep poking away, dabbing in bits of colour, awful. Just leave it alone I think😬

[@boxerdogmum583]

I find my paintings are always darker the next day because of the way acrylic paint dries.

[@kathleenkaleookalanismith8724]

I learned so much from just watching this process. Wow and thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@monikalenander2902]

I liked this!

[@susancostes-mote210]

Just. Found you this demo was amazing and your comments were really helpful Are you still doing online classes?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes I am! I teach in my online community www.louisefletcherart.com/art-tribe