How to switch art mediums (and find your new style)

I recently switched my art medium of choice, from watercolors to oils. In this video, I talk about how I did it, what problems I faced along the way, and my best tips for new and more established artists who are thinking of transitioning into a new medium, and develop a new art style.
(The chaffinch I'm painting in the video is available as a print: www.louisestigell.com/shop/p/...)
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MENTIONED
DIY Art School: louisestigell.com/diy-art-sch...
My oil painting journal blog series: louisestigell.com/blog/tag/lo...
TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Disclaimer + invitation
01:36 - The challenges I faced when wanting to switch art mediums
02:22 - How I learned how to oil paint, in 17 days. (And found my new art style)
06:08 - How I re-branded myself into an oil painter
ABOUT
Hi, I’m Louise: an artist, writer & creative solopreneur from Sweden. As a multi-passionate creative, I have spent my entire adult life avoiding traditional employment and instead making a living off of my art.
On this channel, I talk about everything I've learned along the way: About art making, creativity, mental health, and making a living as a creative. Dealing with perfectionism, fears, and overwhelm. Staying sane and productive among stress and distractions. And much more.
LEARN WITH ME
Pencil Sketching for Beginner Artists - A simple, stress-free roadmap to radically improve your sketching skills. In weeks, not years: www.louisestigell.com/pencil-...
Portrait Drawing for Beginners -
Learn how to draw any face you want, quickly, accurately, and in your own style: www.louisestigell.com/portrai...
Watercolor For Absolute Beginners - Learn the basics of watercolor in a playful, relaxing, and non-intimidating way: www.louisestigell.com/waterco...
Watercolor Birds - Learn all of my tips and tricks for painting birds in watercolor: www.louisestigell.com/waterco...
SHOP MY ART
Fine art prints: www.louisestigell.com/shop/fi...
Canvas prints: www.louisestigell.com/shop/ca...
Originals: www.louisestigell.com/portfolio
MUSIC
All music is from Epidemic Sound.

[@milenabdesign]

I'm not an oil painter, I have no intention of becoming an oil painter, but I enjoy watching your journey and cheering for you silently.

[@solamenscriptorium]

I've worked with pen & pencil most of my life, experimented with digital painting, oil, and recently started using gouache and acrylic. Within one study with acrylic, I knew I was in love, and switched the plan I had, from making a huge painting in watercolour.... to making it in acrylic. Which could go horribly wrong! I never though to make a 30 day challenge... didn't even know those were a thing. I may not do 30 days, but your video made me think that a few more acrylic studies wouldn't hurt before I spend 2 months on a painting in a technique I'm not very familiar with 😅 Thanks for the excellent advice as always!

[@glenda7921]

Gouache is kicking my backside but I like the relief of switching gears when watercolour maybe isn’t going so well. I applaud you knowing yourself well enough to just do it. Your birds are lovely, that raven is stunning. Nice video Louise, I wish all YT had composed voiceover like yours. You hold my attention throughout.

[@sonyaj66]

Great video! I completely relate to what you're saying here, and i'm kind of going in the opposite direction: I've been a pastelist, primarily landscapes, for the past 15 years or so. Have won awards at plein air competitions, sold paintings through various venues, etc. Did oils as part of mixed media sculpture (realistic equine) prior to that. Wanting to try and streamline my approach and gear when out in location, I have begun experimenting with...watercolor. And pen and ink. And, an addition to my photography obsession with butterflies and florals: birds. So, that's me now: wanting to do birds, florals and other wildlife in watercolors, based almost solely on my own photographic references from the past 18 years. I love the immediacy of pastels, but they can be messy and the inability to blend as you can with wet media is frustrating. The precision of watercolor for capturing the details in birds and flowers/butterflies is greatly appealing to me. I've done still life and some animals (chickens and cats) in oils, and I love the versatility of it. Oils are great because they are so amenable to fixing mistakes, unlike watercolors. I'm also going to experiment with gouache, which has some of the flexibility of blending like oils but isn't messy like they are. Also, you are absolutely correct that daily paintings are the way to show rapid improvement in skills of any kind! There is no "magic bullet" for improving, and it's not talent, but just putting in the hours, creating a lot of crap paintings, and learning something from each of them. Gradually, the "crap" to "not bad" ratio improves, and that's motivating in and of itself! Finally, the beautiful thing about watercolors, pastels, and to a lesser extent, oils, is that they will just wait for you to return to them, if and when you choose. I had to throw out some of my oils that were 10 yrs. old, but most were still in good shape when I pulled them out about 6 mos ago to do a few paintings. Enjoy your journey, and it is nice to have a head start with the foundational skills of drawing and color theory that translate nicely to any new medium.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I found your classes in Watercolor painting on Skillshare yesterday and like them very much. I like your gentle approach to teaching, and your determination to be honest and clear. Plus you actually know something about the subject, which is quite rare on Skillshare. I am about to produce a new video tutorial for my channel and I‘d like to feature your classes as my „pick of the month“ which might lead to some new subscribers to your class. I wanted to ask if that‘s okay with you, as you are now focussing on oils. I‘d also like to encourage you to continue with watercolor as well as painting in oils, as the two complement each other. Best wishes Louise, from a like-minded creative.

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much, Diane! Of course you can feature my classes, that just makes me happy. 🙏🏻🖤 I will definitely not quit watercolor. It will still be a part of my practice, only a smaller part than before. Like you say: it's a great compliment to oils, and I will probably still prefer it for illustration work. 😊

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

That‘s great Louise, the Skillshare video will be going up next Friday most likely. I hope you continue with KZbin (I‘ve watched a few of your videos where you explain why you don‘t post often) because content like yours is rare and worthy and we need more of it!

[@AngieG11]

I just purchased oils - I am excited!

[@seen99999]

i love your thought process.... & arts for sure!

[@tommylee6741]

we are your fans, no matter your medium :) see you!

[@kattenihatten]

A year ago I started moving from watercolor and ink, to oil pastels. Now it is all I want to paint with. But I find it frustrating when people ask for and praise my work in watercolor and ink. I know it looks good, better than my oil pastels, but I still want to paint with oil pastel! It's like they don't see what I see.

[@jaroslavaart]

I am starting to attend lectures in Latvian Academy of Art next Monday and I am forced to switch mediums from acrylic paints and watercolor to oils. Thank you for this video, it's really relevant for me.

[@alyshatakoushian]

Wow, your style translates soo beautifully into oil paintings! It's a medium I've never tried but this has definitely inspired me to give it a go at some point. Love the expressiveness of your brush strokes and the way you use colour!

[@majeddraws5104]

You're so fun to watch! keep going!

[@lstandish9]

Will miss your videos. Good luck in your new ventures.

[@elisanishimura974]

Beautiful painting, different medium but still very Louise. Change is good, I tried gouache last month and I am loving it. Looking forward seeing what else you create.

[@jasonn7192]

Hi Louise. Thankyou. You are super detailed in your content. I have always thought about trying oils but have not really had enough space to have paintings hanging around for a while drying or wanted to buy mediums to accelerate drying.....that said, still curious.....I actually interrupted your video on my tablet with this video on my phone 😉🙏🖌

[@OrrieInBetween]

Hi Louise, thank you for this great video! I have never adhered to one medium for longer than a few months, and oil painting is something I'd love to try out soon! Would you consider making a video about your colour mixing process? I'd love to hear your approach on it. So happy to see a video from you every time! Good luck with your journey ❤

[@RRoommmeell]

💯💯💯🍁

[@davidmaxwell1354]

😊 Promo SM

[@mariastigell7776]

Varje gång du byter medium slår det ut en ny underbar blomma på ditt konstnärsskapsträd. :)

[@grahamparr3933]

I drew for years, trying different mediums, pencils, color pencils etc, and now have found my style, it’s called crap.

[@user-ew9hu3eq4u]

את מציירת מדהים. אפשר לרכוש ממך ציורים בישראל?

[@futuristica1710]

You can do anything it would seem.