How to Paint a Blurry Bokeh Background with Acrylic Paints

[@maxineoliver7404]

Love the background technique, and the details on the little bird!🤗🐦🎨

[@StudioWildlife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alexandradoyle6289]

Can you do a video talking about the benefits of using canvas vs wooden pallets and maybe the process of prepping both? And maybe a video on why and how to varnish acrylic paintings?

[@TheSponge33]

What an amazing piece, it’s like 3d, I love it. Thank you.

[@AnimalArtbyTerraCotta]

It would be great if you gave a mini tutorial on how to mix the airbrush paints -- brand, exact proportion, cleaning afterwards. Guaranteed it would be popular! This info was great. Thanks!

[@AJ.1000-d9w]

I have been painting for over 50 years and I still learn a lot from you. You are truly blessed with an amazing talent!!! Beautiful painting!!!!👍

[@phyllisappleby4182]

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful talent and explaining things so well. I learn so much from you.

[@MargaretGooding-q4g]

Thank you for your clear and easy to understand instructions. I am just starting out using acrylic as a medium (versus watercolour or drawing) and like semi-realism. Love your work.

[@julieurlage1742]

You are such a talented artist! Love watching you work

[@mrdameacham]

You are a wonderful artist and your videos are so easy to understand and helpful! thank you!

[@anneashley5110]

Again, your boundless knowledge so freely given. Bless you. You are an exceptional artist and teacher. Will get your books.

[@tazBeaWheelz]

You are an awesome painter, I’m in awe of the details you put into your Art thank you for giving us some important information to help in developing good satisfying Canvases 😊❤

[@alexandrasanches-fearsnomo3422]

I love this so much!!! Very beautiful!❤🎉❤❤❤

[@irmawassing140]

Echt prachtig!🤩 Ga het ook proberen. Ik heb een rondjesmal, maar gewoon met penseel.🖌️

[@GaryAtkins-ho1eh]

thank you so much I've always wondered how artists achieve that blurry background

[@Apollo_Blaze]

It does create a beautiful fantasy-like effect for sure...Thank you for this.

[@kevinlea9518]

Thanks for this, I usually use my airbrush for backgrounds, but I will try the brush method. I will also try airbrushing with the colours and mid grey to see if it produces the same effect when blending.

[@mildredrobinson1803]

Beautiful. It looks real.

[@StudioWildlife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@GamingNuggetWR]

So relaxing watching this video

[@erinholly8841]

I used this video to make a background and it turned out SO beautiful thank you so much!!!

[@Myfavouritenohas]

Thanks for sharing different techniques brother, it helps a lot

[@MdSTherapeuticcoaching]

Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you

[@bonniemosesart]

Oh my gosh, I’ve been doing my circles with a brush. Never again!!! Thank you!

[@artsylady3187]

amazing...I hope I can create a beautiful bird painting like that someday.....mine are still kind of basic looking...but watching you I see what I am doing wrong.....so now back to the studio

[@echochamberz]

curious if this would work with any color background, even pink per say? as long as it shares the same value as the background, it should be good? well I am going to try it out at least, wish me luck! thank you for the amazing video, your painting abilities are AMAZING

[@juliacutting1817]

Thank you sooo much, absolutely beautiful technique so beautifully done ❤

[@barbarasmith3295]

Love this video! The background is amazing and the bird looks like it's going to fly away!

[@StudioWildlife]

Thank you!

[@SuperRoxanne7]

Spectacular!!

[@NancyM1115]

Painting a Bokeh background, cool

[@beenasibi5971]

Owe! this is absolutely awesome!!!!! Thank you so much

[@nox27-13]

Thank you for the inspiration! This artwork is just lovely)

[@НатальяФролова-ж7ю5р]

Hello, how do you prepare the MDF panel and what varnish do you mainly cover your paintings with?

[@SorayaZiziArtist]

Wow! This is outstanding 😍 so beautiful 👍

[@Doowhtucando]

Love this!

[@aaniyakashif333]

Beautiful

[@hephzibahsharond6083]

So cool and cute

[@AJ.1000-d9w]

Excellent art!!!

[@chriscruzdesigns6700]

truly beautiful thanks for sharing

[@chrislysne1046]

Incredible!

[@bcdgn]

Great paintings and good advice.😊 Please stress the health and safety for people with Asthma and COPD. I have both, coupled with a very dry throat due to indigestion acic burns. I cant even use a mask for either pastels or an air brush. For the Bokeh effect I will have to try and get round that in my own way. If I can develope a safer way.....I will put any results on here. All the best to you, your work is fantastic.

[@geckogX5-Cruiser75]

Hi @bcdgn, there is a safer way, without the expense of an airbrush and the accessories. I am an artist and craft person and I also have enjoyed making hand made cards with hand applied effects as well as teaching many techniques over the years. The Bokeh technique for card making backgrounds is simply using stamp ink in white applied with a fine sponge, then dabbed lightly over several different sized paper stencil circles. The same effect is achievable in acrylic paints on the same type of sponge, but after dipping sponge in paint, use a paper towel to dab off excess. Less is more with this method, so building up layers is best. I suggest practising on test pieces so you know just the right quantity of paint on the sponge to get the desired effect. I use large post it notes with 2 or three different size holes I have die cut, and the paper has enough tack to stay put while you apply the paint, then reposition as needed. They don't last like a plastic stencil would, but they still allow a semi-defined "edge" to the circle, where the thickness of the stencil will allow a softer edge to each circle. I hope this helps anyone out there that can't justify owning an air brush set up sitting in a cupboard and only seeing the light of day once in while. As a realism landscape artist myself, I have often thought about getting an air brush, but instead work in my own techniques of painting in sun rays and mists by building the layers. Trust the process! By the way, Studio Wildlife, your animals are absolutely awesome, I have watched a few of your videos, because I would like to try some animals one day. Keep it up! You are helping those of us who are nervous of trying something new and stuffing it up!

[@rudyadnan1445]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 👏👏.I have a question.Do you clean your brush each time before you blend them ?

[@StudioWildlife]

For the background no, but for the bird itself I do

[@erica73730]

Hi again & thank you for another great tutorial.. I’m a fairly new sub. Can you please tell me the thickness of the MDF you use? And what is the maximum thickness one could use for acrylic painting? I obtained was given several pieces of different sizes but I’m not sure if they are too thick even though that’s possibly a silly question.

[@RameyRocks]

Oh dang, I don't have an air brush. 😩 I love those circles. The detail your bird is amazing.

[@spearageddon3279]

Use the circle stencils with a sponge and offload most of the paint before stenciling for a barely there circle.

[@cecegiroux6966]

Thank you, this was so helpful.

[@edwinpavas1754]

Gracias, excelente maestro...

[@crisalidathomassie1811]

Awesome video with so much inspiration. Amazing. New subscriber and looking forward to see more. Blessings and take care.

[@Krista1921]

Love it!

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

You have any videos on varnishing your acrylic paintings? You ever try using Gamvar to varnish acrylic paintings?

[@jenayandfamily7452]

Really cool technique. What paints and brands did you use?

[@CanalLegallega07]

Técnica sensacional!!!!

[@kerrysartwork]

so beautiful!

[@merkadoarte]

Excellent, thanks very much 👏

[@FollowinginHisFootsteps]

How lightfast are the affordable acrylic paints? I’ve seen few artists using them, while I shell out 100s on Golden and Liquitex- please share!

[@bonniemosesart]

Can I ask how you thin your acrylic paints down to go through your airbrush? Being a cake artist for 30 something years, my airbrush has never seen anything that’s non-edible. I know how to work with that in an airbrush, but I don’t know how to work with acrylic, paints, and an airbrush. Thank you so much!

[@bonniemosesart]

Amazing!!!

[@SonnyGrossoTheSongfatherBAM]

Awewome

[@victoriaconaghan3258]

Great video. Thank you 👍

[@juliemulie1805]

I sure hope you read this comment. I’m in my 60s and have buried too many of my artist friends because they didn’t understand the type of mask and ventilation system you need for work. Too many use a dust mask when a respirator is needed. Ventilation needs to be more than an open window or a HEPA air cleaner next to your work. Particulates don’t just go up your nose. Do some research, your future is very important, and what you do is emulated by your students.

[@pourquoipa5]

Hi, I'm also an artist and work with acrylics (but no airbrushes as shown in this video, just paintbrushes straight onto canvas). What you wrote is a bit surprising so I'd love to get some clarification if you're willing to share. The need for a respirator is really only for airbrushing, not general acrylic work, correct? I'd done research on this and what I read was that acrylic paint is generally safe to work with without a mask and if you don't apply heat to it (eg. using a hairdryer to speed up the paint's drying process). Of course, you still need a well ventilated space, but did you mean that respirators are only needed when using airbrushes? Thank you in advance!

[@juliemulie1805]

@@pourquoipa5 any time you create aerosols or particulates creates well documented risk. Airbrushing is hardly the only way to create aerosols. Using a mouth atomizer, flicking from a brush, or slapping a brush (the Bob Ross method) creates aerosols. Using any pigment delivery system that creates dust makes particulate (pastels, graphite, etc). Know your medium, the toxicity is labeled on modern materials, and take appropriate measures to be safe. Acrylics are a safer medium but don’t assume they can be used without precaution. Know your pigments, just being water soluble isn’t an indicator of safety. Work safe, absence of odor is not an indicator or safety. And understand the disposal of wastewater for the paints you use.

[@pourquoipa5]

@@juliemulie1805Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! You've given me a good idea what I should research specifically, so thank you x100!

[@swarnachandrasekera7545]

Amazing! Thanks

[@AlexanderAwakened]

Not sure if I’m not seeing it, but what airbrush from Amazon did you have exactly?

[@meichi308]

What type of brush do you use for the background?

[@Miyani-h4f]

Omggg color mixing looks sooooo delicious n yummy 😅❤❤❤

[@joylynnpursley8383]

love this techniqic

[@dogloverjb6873]

thanks for sharing .... I love the airbrush...but when it spits, it can ruin a painting pretty quick.

[@gemlife1329]

Amazing, thank you

[@shaymcquaid]

Great tutorial!!! Thank you!

[@kbm506]

Superb!

[@aswinidas8743]

What can we use instead of airbrush??? 😊😊😊

[@lrs0620]

I plan to try this using a circle template with a brush. Your paintbrush should be pretty dry and strokes going different directions to create a soft effect.

[@rogerinaustralia6242]

What airbrush did you buy?

[@beatrixtracy]

Super!!!

[@DeTurquoise]

Nice idea!

[@StudioWildlife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lisaconrad1498]

Thanks so much so beautiful

[@heverperez2013]

Grasias por este video yo lo hacia con el pincel pero esta un pomas dificil pero con esa tecnica de los circulos es mas facil i practico

[@4um360]

very good ideas!

[@ankitakumawat1636]

How much water you have mix in color?

[@psycheyura]

Thanks for sharing sir, will try it soon too…

[@robinred1851]

Hello Daniel. For making these circles with airbrush you could try the colours from VALLEJO. They have a range acrylic paints special for airbrush, and in about 210 (!!) different colours. Only disadvantage is it's sold in only 17 ml. bottles. But you can dilute them. Greetings and sub from the Čech Republic 🇨🇿.

[@michelepiercey1685]

Are you rinsing your brush between colors?

[@StudioWildlife]

Yes, I’ll rinse and dry between colours

[@airbrushken5339]

When buying an airbrush, buy a mid-price quality piece and then consider spare parts and ease of getting them. Companies like Paasche, Sparmax are two I can think of.... In England, Schmincke Acrylics or Golden airbrush colors (They are sold there)... use low air pressure, under 20 psi as I use an open window with a mini fan...with COVID I'm so tired of wearing a mask...LOL ... also very nice work and finally someone who thinks outside the box! I still own a "MOUTH DIFFUSER" from the 1930's....

[@shrutichoughule2572]

How to draw circles without airbrush ?

[@StudioWildlife]

If you are doing it without an airbrush you could still use a stencil but apply the paint with a sponge or a brush instead. You could also cut a sponge into a circle shape and use that on its own too

[@shrutichoughule2572]

@@StudioWildlife thanks

[@cherylmullender3869]

Where did you buy the circle stencil from?

[@StudioWildlife]

Hobbycraft 😁

[@artistme9099]

Hi, Why you are outlining with white instead of dark colors...reason please

[@StudioWildlife]

This video explains it kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaSqZGyBp816e9k

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

Back light effect.

[@nazl6258]

do you have reference for this painting

[@judywebster7972]

Couldn't you get a similar effect from using a pouncer with thinned down acrylics and lightly press onto the canvas?

[@StudioWildlife]

Yes I imagine you could, I’ve never tried it though. My only thought with that method is the individual circles might look too consistent. Using the airbrush adds some subtle gradients within each of the circles making them look a bit softer.

[@thealabelle1423]

May I know the kind of palette please

[@nadiaali7830]

Thank you so much 🙏💞

[@odcruz7740]

❤❤❤

[@melissasibbald4617]

Thanks for this tutorial ☺️ Also, you said that the paint in the sprayer was acrylic but then said that you used paint thinner and that the process had fumes. 😢

[@janette8696]

Now how do I do this without an airbrush D:

[@sharonwiebe8027]

Hi. I really appreciate your videos. You mention your patron channel with a painting session of your bird. How do I access this, where do I find it. Thankyou.

[@StudioWildlife]

Hi, here’s the link www.patreon.com/StudioWildlife

[@biggersound]

What is the point of photographic paintings? Isn't that what photographs are for?

[@Andriyanova_Ilona]

Как круто 😃

[@bebe60602]

🙏👌😍

[@Frank_Nemo]

You really don't need an airbrush for this. I just use a round foam sponge.

[@bh69videa]

nice, but I don't understand why to paint background circles produced only by lens of camera ? :-) It has nothing to do with nature nor human seeing.

[@amel2784]

Photographs are used as art. People put them on walls and enjoy looking at the images created by a camera lens. I see a lot of artwork where the bright spots created by the light hitting the lens as part of the imagery and people enjoy it. Often, minimizing the background is helpful in artwork for increasing the focus on the subject. The human eye does not blur out the background like an artist may choose to do in his work, either. So this common technique also is not how the human eye views the world. There are more techniques used by artists that are also not natural to the human eye. Techniques such as minimal information)detail provided by the artist for artistic reasons. All of these and more besides are reasons why the artist is not limited to the experience of the human eye.

[@DraMaurenNavarro]

I found it!😂😂

[@DobblemeD2]

Wow that just spoke VOLUMES!😂

[@izzyjones7108]

🙃 I don't have an airbrush...and don't you need an air compresser with these

[@izzyjones7108]

That's too $$> air compressor

[@FaganMrs]

fumey :)

[@AR-mu4zq]

Why not just buy a photograph? Why paint it to look like a photograph? What is the point of that?

[@missmelj7540]

The process of art my dear can not be explained to someone with your mindset. You have already made your mind up using the word pointless. Why do you do anything at all in life? You know you won't live forever.

[@InkeBrauer]

I thought I learn to paint. Not to spray...

[@Pugggle]

Gah, was looking forward to this topic, then he got an airbrush out. Should include airbrush in the title so i dont waste my time getting part way through a video i wouldn't want to watch