Jane Slivka explains how Negative Painting can be a Positive Thing

Jane is often asked, "Why do you paint your canvases orange or red before you begin to paint?". This question is usually followed by, "Why don't you paint the sky first and your foreground last?". In this tutorial, Jane doesn't only explain it, she demonstrates the difference between starting with a plain, white canvas vs a painted red canvas, and painting the sky first (positive painting) vs painting the sky last while cutting into shapes (negative painting). Of course you have the option to decide which style you prefer. For Jane's list of favorite paint colors for her palette, visit her website at www.JaneSlivkaGallery.com/shop. While you are there, check out her classes available for purchase.

[@mydailybread777]

Jane, thank you for the tips. I did my first painting yesterday on a budget and I had so much fun that I wanted to let you know what I did cause it might help others. I didn't want to feel wasteful or stressed out just starting nor did I have the finances so I bought big bottles of Apple Barrel Paint and a pack of the large sulfite paper from Blick and some cheapo large brushes and I'm having a blast! I tape the paper to my art desk and go ham! I love the technique and even though I have to layer and repaint a bit due to cheap thin paint, I can waste all I want, splash it on, smear it around and what a blast! Thank you for sharing your technique of painting! My first painting was way better than I thought I would do so I'm stoked!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback and your great suggestions.

[@ichetucknee1008]

I've taken lots of workshops from many people and Jane's are among the best - on the road, in her studio, on video. Many well-intentioned teachers bog students down in complexity, do's & don't's, and rules. Jane: 2 brushes; simple inexpensive colors; always encouraging; no failures. Listen again starting at 17:05 - says it all. Good guide for painting (and maybe life).

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for your comment/testimonial . It is so appreciated!

[@333Judy333]

OMGoodness. I love the negative painting process. From the very beginning I loved the "sky holes" that appear so quickly and realistically. I've never tried negative painting before, but now that I see the differences between your two paintings, I HAVE TO jump in and give it a go. Thank you for sharing your skills and expertise with all of us! WOW!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for this great feedback. I use Princeton Dakota series 6300 acrylic brushes bright angle #12 (1 inch) and #6 (1/2").

[@susanmillsart4469]

Loved this demo thanks so much. You explained and showed the difference so well. The painting negatively painted and with the red background is so much lovlier!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Glad it was helpful!

[@veggiemom5]

Thanks for the demo. I really like the one with the red background. It looks more painterly and more pop. I will definitely give this a try!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@pamalou2084]

Hello Jane, you have reignited my passion for painting! Thank you for these wonderful demonstrations. I did a BA a few years ago in Fine Art and have generally stayed on the abstract path, I needed a change and the way you paint is exactly the way I want to. Abstract is great but I tend to be too precise with my painting of scenery and people, watching you paint has changed all that! 👋🏻🇬🇧

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

I so appreciate reading your comment. Thank you so much!

[@deborahburton2683]

I do like the one with the red background better. Thank you

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thanks for your feedback. Appreciated!

[@cathyserafinowicz6374]

Another wonderful demonstration Jane,your passion shines through!❤❤❤👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@sallyglenn5222]

New subscriber here. I hope you know just how much of an impact you are having, how relatable your work, your presentation and explanations. You are re-inspiring many - what a gift. Thank you!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Welcome! Thank you so much for your comment.

[@craigseaborn4222]

Thanks Jane I like your loose brush work and negative shape approach with a toned ground. Craig

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful feedback.

[@user-gm9wr9wp8t]

Рада новому видео,буду пробовать,красная подложка искрит и делает работу с солнечными бликами, спасибо за ваш труд

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Большое спасибо за ваш комментарий и получайте удовольствие от рисования на красном фоне.

[@scleo1959]

Yay! So happy to see a new video Jane. I love watching your style. Thank you. It’s nice to see so many more admirers too!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! We will be getting more tutorial uploaded to the channel. My camera person, the other Jane, is on vacation. We will be back in the studio when she returns.

[@gwengeithman9172]

LOVE it!!! Thank you for sharing your Secret!!!!!!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

You are so welcome! Thank you.

[@ulrikeselleckart]

Oh wonderful, Jane, thank you! Boy, your announcement ALMOST makes me want to go to Florida, just to have that workshop in person with you! For now, your videos free and paid will have to do.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for your feedback!

[@junkjournalingwithpam6706]

I'm so glad I found you, I'm really enjoying your videos, looking forward to more :)

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@luvurobert]

So excited to see a new video today! That made my day, so thank you! I love your work! 😊

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

You are so welcome!

[@user-gu2uh6nq6p]

Je préfère la peinture négative.... c'est pourquoi je regarde vos vidéos.... hâte de voir la prochaine. Merci pour les partages....

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Nous vous remercions pour vos impressions!

[@tubeyou126226]

Love it! Your demo is a great example ~ thank you!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@tubeyou126226]

@@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133 You’re welcome!🤗

[@lisa-gayle9939]

I’m so glad you did another video! I must agree that the red background gives it a much more interesting painting! I’m really learning some great stuff from you! Thanks!❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for your feedback!

[@thelauraolsen]

Love this side by side comparison. I see it in a new way now. Thank you! 🎉

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

I'm so glad! Thank you.

[@GeorgetteYoung]

Your channel is my new favourite channel.thank you for posting a new vid. I have been waiting. Love your work! Thank you.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much!

[@sanetjonker5183]

Thank you SO MUCH ...LOVVV it!! Summer greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦 🇿🇦

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@cathynelson9747]

So much info in this demo! Thank you! I love your negative painting, broken color style!!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

I so appreciate your feedback. Thank you!

[@donnatetreault5040]

I live your videos. I tried painting with the red first and I love it. You are going to get me to relax and enjoy. Thanks

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your wonderful feedback!

[@dennisredmond9395]

I am so glad I just found you! I love your style of painting and you make it look so easy! I am someone that sits to close to the canvas and tickles it to death. I am going to try your way tomorrow morning. I’ve also never used and angled brush before. Let me say thank you so much for sharing your talent with us and being so generous with your free video’s. I will be trying one of your online classes for sure!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it. Have fun trying this approach when painting. Relax and enjoy the process.

[@sandraboyer5060]

Thank you I started a couple years ago and have progressed pretty quickly. I'm happy with my progression. Thank you for your inspiration. I'll keep following you.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for commenting and for following the channel.

[@lindseyemberton5286]

Thank you so so much for this information! I have always loved this style but didn't know how to achieve it! ❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much!

[@caroleverette2034]

watching from Orlando. I'm glad to have found your channel. I decided to try painting and had no idea where to start. I was skeptical of the orange background, I'd never heard of that before. Love it!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Wonderful! Thanks for your feedback.

[@lithiumgaurd]

Don't be afraid, they look great- esp the red one!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@harrietbissette]

I LOVE the negative shape painting one so much better! ❤ 🤩 Also, thank you for sharing the “warm background” tip in your videos. I think this is what I’ve been missing out on and why I’m not as satisfied with my paintings. 😃

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for your feedback. Appreciated!

[@maryannteitman2022]

So amazing!!! Can’t wait to slap some red on my canvas & make a beautiful painting 🖼️ BTW, I have friends in Mount Dora. They are wonderful realtors, Jeanette & Linda. You may know them. Love your style. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! Have fun slapping on the red. And yes, I know Jeanette and Linda. Wonderful people.

[@sharonleblue9233]

I love your painting and you have inspired me to get out and try a different way so thank you! I was excited to see a new video. Will look for the new lesson too. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! We will be uploading new tutorials soon. My camera person is on vacation.

[@Sonyamixedmedia]

I’m so happy I found you! All the way in Australia so I’m going to take one of your online classes. I love your style you make it look so easy. Please make more landscape tutorials with different type of trees. ❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Yay! Thank you! Welcome to the channel, and I appreciate your suggestion.

[@rose-albasavoie559]

I love your style

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@lauracurran6192]

I love your style of painting. I’m going to get brave enough to try it.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! Relax, have fun and enjoy the process.

[@billdewar8476]

I'm excited to have found you....looking forward to more videos. This one was great and just what I was trying to figure out. Bill from Canada

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you, Bill. We will be posting more tutorials soon. I am waiting for my camera person to return from vacation.

[@michellevanderwalt977]

Beautiful. Like the one on the right more. Thank you from sharing. Greetings from Perth Australia.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@yvonneamos9677]

Thanks Jane from Australia.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@kellyanne3211]

I sure wish you had more videos on KZbin!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! We will be getting more tutorials up soon. My camera person is away on vacation and will be returning soon. Stay tuned.

[@abbyjolie7597]

@@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133 would you be able to do an autumn scene soon?

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

@@abbyjolie7597Thanks for the suggestion.

[@charlesa3374]

An excellent exercise! I always struggle with what color I should undercoat my canvas...I usually end up with burnt sienna, but have had excellent results with cadmium red or as you've suggested, orange...looking forward to your next video!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your wonderfu feedback.

[@charlesa3374]

Thank you for the wonderful video!@@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133

[@SteviePaints]

This was a great lesson! Thank you, Jane and Jane!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your comment. Appreciated!

[@dogstoryteller]

So helpful! Excellent explanations and teaching style, Jane!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Glad it was helpful.

[@sdc9572]

It would be so nice if we could see your studio and how you have it set-up.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your suggestion.

[@christinefollowerofchrist1532]

I’ve been watching your videos for a week or so and thoroughly enjoy your process. I’m not a negative painter mostly because I am detail oriented… but I have two canvas painted red orange and waiting for them to dry. Can’t wait to see if I can do it and hold back lol

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you! Enjoy and have fun with the process.

[@sanetjonker5183]

It Is good when you zoom in ..lov from South Africa 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

I will have to try that. Thanks!

[@lyousiaermakova3772]

Джейн, спасибо за "радостные" работы!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Спасибо за просмотр и комментарий.

[@sassymama25]

This was so interesting and helpful, thanks for explaining it so well!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeannefritz5807]

I love your style!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much!

[@mvswaaij]

Great video !!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@peterhoffman7830]

Very cool, thank you for this

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

You welcome! Thank you for watching.

[@davidblandin8139]

Thanks beautiful,but I would have liked to see the comparison between the two techniques with both canvases tinted.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for your feedback. Appreciated.

[@topcat5990]

I love the way you use plenty of water.... Does it ever compromise the bonding power of the paint?

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Not at all.

[@freedomvassigh3998]

❤❤❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thanks!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you so much for your comment.

[@freedomvassigh3998]

love your work so much. looking forward to your videos in autumn. ❤

[@user-si4dj5ce9q]

Que bonito y educativo

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

¡Muchas gracias!

[@teeluckdharrysunil2299]

Super ❤❤❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Glad you like it. Thanks!

[@annipetratos9401]

Inspiring. Obvious which picture has your "soul". One is a picture to have on your wall, to gaze at and dream....the other is very nice too ..perhaps for a doctor's surgery or travel shop. ( Hope im not insulting you)

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

You are not insulting me at all. Thank you for your feedback.

[@user-dl2wt8dr6r]

I asked my son which one he like best at the end when they were done he picked the negative one I’m torn myself I like EM both and I enjoy doing both styles I never knew negative until watching this channel and I tried it and actually really have fun with it Your videos are appreciated!

[@user-dl2wt8dr6r]

I do want to add he did mention the red kinda threw him off he almost picked the other one but I told him you probably would clean the background up you just usually do it off camera to save time because the lesson was demonstrated and that was the point It’s something to me about the negative painting that makes it feel like authentic art and it’s beautiful thanks again!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you for commenting. I like your son's taste in art. Glad you tried negative painting and enjoyed it.

[@user-dl2wt8dr6r]

You are welcome! You definitely have a fan! Gratitude!

[@user-dl2wt8dr6r]

(2 Fans) I was talking about myself but we can consider him a fan too❤️

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

@@user-dl2wt8dr6r I appreciate your feedback. And you are correct. I usually come to the gallery the next day and look at the painting with a critical eye and start touching up.

[@tubeyou126226]

❤ 17:27

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@heatherhardiman726]

Another great lesson thanks jane! Question, are we allowed to sell our renditions of your lessons?

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

You are welcome! You can sell your painting, but you cannot enter it in a juried show.

[@heatherhardiman726]

@@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133 no worries there jane! Thanks a bunch

[@kathys7283]

Love, love, love!!!! Only complaint- you don't post 3 a day😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

We are working toward upping our uploads. My camera person is out of town for a month and will be back soon.

[@kathys7283]

@@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133 oh, I hope you know I really have NO complaints!! I'm just so excited I found you!!

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

@@kathys7283 Thank you Kathy, and I am delighted you found my channel.

[@gwenritch]

Do you have more tutorials to download on your website? thanks

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

We plan on adding more classes to our current ten available at the website, JaneSlivkaGallery.com.

[@pammckee2617]

Your voice is kind of echoey. Maybe if you wore a mic you would sound clearer? Just a thought. I love all of your videos. I’ve just recently found you and you’ve really inspired me to start painting more loosely. Keep ‘em coming.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

We are looking to upgrade our sound system.

[@robertradocha6871]

💕💯🎨🎨🎨

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!

[@patsyscott672]

I love your method of painting but how do you finish them. I don’t think you leave it at this stage. I need more help with finishing than starting. I think I ruin my paintings at the end.

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

We try to keep the tutorials on our channel between 20 and 30 minutes. The finished canvas is always showcased at the beginning and ending. At our website, JaneSlivkaGallery.com/shop, we do have full classes available for $25 per. The tutorial is downloaded to your email, and you can watch it at your own pace.

[@maralabas]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@freedomofacrylicswithartis5133]

Thank you!