No Brush Art Prompt Intuitive Abstract Painting Challenge

[@kallikenney]

Thanks!

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks so much, Kalli! I truly appreciate your support! ❤️

[@walkinjo1]

When you turned at the 1:50 mark I saw a cow head!

[@chrisloudart]

Hey JoAnne! I know exactly what you're talking about! I saw it when I was painting and decided it would sway what direction I went in, so I painted it out.🐮

[@sandiego2113]

The first painting looks like a person in a small boat who caught a fish :-) Fun I use color shapers with 1/2 paint & glaze for some fun mixtures. It give depth. Just takes longer to dry because of the glaze. Couldn't use it for 15 minutes painings.

[@chrisloudart]

Hey San Diego! Funny, the first person I showed that painting to said something similar. I totally see that now, but not at first. Do you find the color shapers easier to use with that mixture? I saw someone use them with watercolor which was quite impressive.

[@sandiego2113]

Funny I like the color shapers. I find the shapers easy to use. Never thought of using a yogurt container. I love using my fingers too. Just worry a little about the cadmium colors. I don't know if they are safe for the skin? Still Haven't started the warm up paintings. You have inspired me. Fingers crossed, I will start this upcoming week.🙃

[@annrubino6252]

This is a great prompt to encourage using our readily available tools. With everything at arm's reach, I automatically carry on with whatever (brush) is in my hand, ignoring the others calling 'use me, use me'. This should dispense with my blatant favouritism. Thanks, again for inspiring us.

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Ann! I know I tend to grab the same brushes every time, so I've started making tool selection part of my pre-painting routine. It definitely makes me think about what my choices are.

[@jenfleming9412]

Love the first at 44 Chris and love second. They are beautiful

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Jen!😊

[@mcblakemore3423]

I am working on a black&white (and/or gray) challenge, and even though I love B&W, it is more challenging than I thought to create something with depth and interest with a very limited palette.

[@chrisloudart]

Hey MC! Yeah, B&W can be challenging, but can also yield some incredible results. Do you have any other parameters that you're working with?

[@mcblakemore3423]

@@chrisloudart No other parameters -- it took me about a week to decide on an 8 x 10 canvas paper with paint and collage as my materials. Just today I've figured out a design, but I'm sure that I'll stare at it for a couple days before gluing ☺

[@chrisloudart]

@@mcblakemore3423 You've got this! Just start glueing. You'll figure it out along the way. Good luck! I think I'll put a B&W on my list for future video challenges. That's a good one👍

[@martineakbayrak8033]

Bonjour Chris 😊😊😊 waouh !! ❤❤❤❤

[@chrisloudart]

Merci beaucoup, Martine! ❤️

[@chrisloudart]

Merci beaucoup, Martine! ❤️

[@morganantoinettephoenix1107]

I love this prompt 🖌️

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Morgan!

[@kellybeale1895]

It’s me that thank you!!! Your so inspiring! Love this prompt! And I am super glad your post is on a Saturday so I will not be late for work 😂😂😂😂

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Kelly! Thanks again for the super thanks! Haha... I'm here for ya. I need to keep you on time for work!⏰

[@barbarasalmi3103]

I love the way you use your hands

[@chrisloudart]

Thank you so much, Barbara! 🙂

[@karenhall6401]

I really enjoy watching your video challenges. As a beginner, I've really learned a lot and it's really helped me get over feeling intimidated by the blank page. Thank you!

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Karen! I'm so happy to hear that these are helpful to you😊

[@KathyBrooksArt]

Watching your vids has really helped me get unstuck! I really like these works, and for the first I like the original orientation too. I enjoy seeing landscape abstract videos too. But all of yours are excellent and very helpful.

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Kathy, I'm so glad to hear that! I really appreciate your comments😊

[@DianneKaroly]

Fun prompt! I will do this later today! Thanks!

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Dianne! Let me know how it goes.🎨

[@bluediamond932]

You are so inspiring! I've been enjoying watching and listening to your techniques 😊

[@chrisloudart]

Thank you so much!

[@nildacruz3521]

I really love your challenge. I have done two, but I have taken 30 minutes

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks so much, Nilda! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the challenge! No worries about the extra time-what counts is that you’re creating. Keep having fun with it!

[@cspain453]

I love your tutorials so glad i found your channel. Getting up my nerve to try abtract.

[@chrisloudart]

Thank you so much, Claudia! Go for it-you got this!❤️

[@nildacruz3521]

I did this challenge. I really like what came out.

[@chrisloudart]

I love going back and playing with this one now and then. It really keeps things simple, but the results can be quite engaging. So happy you gave this a try.😊

[@carolegourvellec1581]

hey chris, i just figured out what the thanks button is! ha. love your videos . i live a very saturated art community in New England and like to share your info links etc so folks can have more fun and freedom in their art making.

[@chrisloudart]

You are so awesome, Carole! Your backing truly makes a difference.❤️

[@mandimarie2379]

Thanks for such fun videos!! 😊

[@chrisloudart]

Thank you so much, Mandi! I truly appreciate it❤️

[@kellybeale1895]

Love the prompt! 15 mins no brush - did water colors with droplet bottle and pallet knife with acrylic pens and other marker tools no boarders on my painting. It was very freeing. Thank you for the inspiration 😁

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Kelly! That sounds like such an interesting combination of tools. I'm thinking of trying this prompt on a canvas tomorrow.

[@sharoneng1262]

I'll definitely try it.

[@kellybeale1895]

I hope Chris shows us some of his big canvas works some time :)

[@carolegourvellec1581]

Thanks!

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks so much, Carole! I truly appreciate your support ❤️

[@cat-annechats5362]

Those look like fun!

[@chrisloudart]

It's a pretty fun process! 😊

[@janetgoodwin9113]

I'm new to your channel and enjoy it very much. Haven't tried the 5 minute challenge yet but intend to. I liked the first painting over the second but learned from both. I myself rarely use a paint brush except for WC, so always like seeing new ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@chrisloudart]

Thank you so much, Janet!

[@Grumpysusie]

Hey Chris! It's been a while since I've been able to connect with you. I'm so happy I had these early Saturday moments to drop by for another great challenge. I really must have needed this because I'm working on a large canvas going nowhere! Once again, your video has inspired me to move forward in perfect faith that I will create something unique and oh so...Susie! Have a great weekend and thanks again for your inspiration.

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Susie! It has been a little while. I have no doubt you will pull something out of your large painting and create something "unique and oh so...Susie". Haha, I LOVE that! Have a wonderful weekend😊

[@Grumpysusie]

@@chrisloudart Don't hold your breath...I'm in a funk. Oh dear, dare I admit it? I will be watching many of your videos to inspire me to get back on the Susie track...thank you so very much for your inspirational lessons, in fifteen minutes I'm renewed as an artist. Thank you.

[@chrisloudart]

Might as well admit it...we all get there. I just got out of mine (hopefully, I didn't just jinx myself). You got this!

[@Grumpysusie]

@@chrisloudart Chris, I have a question. what color blend can you recommend for a very dark, night sky? I was thinking Prussian mixed with a bit of Mars black and perhaps one lighter blue, maybe Phthalo? What can you suggest? Thanks Chris!

[@chrisloudart]

Great question! I would suggest mixing either ultramarine blue or Winsor blue with Prussian blue or Payne's gray. Phthalo blue mixes well with both also, but might show a little more on the greenish blue side. My advice would be to do a few small swatches of each mix and see which you like best. Hope that helps.

[@emmanuelpower2439]

In case anyone is interested - I used a flat scraper about 2 inches across, and a cork - the two nearest objects to me that were not paintbrushes. I used green turqoise as my shade of blue, orange as my shade of red, and indian yellow for yellow. The result was a mess, but it was also a find way to get back into painting after a 4-day break.

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks for sharing, Emmanuel! Speaking as someone who's seen your painting, it's a wonderful expressive painting. You should be proud!👍

[@priskateijo]

Always enjoy your challenges, I need more of these!. What was your idea behind not painting near the margins? It´s interesting. Thumbs up as always!!! Greetings from Acapulco 🌴🌴🌴

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Priscilla! I've been noticing that I typically cover every inch of a canvas or page. So I thought I would challenge myself to try something new and leave a little unpainted. The margins seemed like a good starting point. Greetings from Colorado 🏔️🏔️🏔️

[@debbiereed8341]

Great work

[@chrisloudart]

Thanks, Debbie!😊

[@LukenUSee]

Excellent idea for a challenging exercise. Thank you for your demonstrations and insights. I've been doing more experimentation with varied approaches to painting lately, including using different objects and textured items to try to create interesting effects. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Luken! Thank you so much! Any tools you recommend I try out or play with? Cheers!

[@LukenUSee]

@@chrisloudart I'm still very much a relative novice in painting, just kind of branching out. I've tried some things I think I've seen you use in your videos--torn cardboard, bottle caps, nut shells, household items like a spatula, packing bubble wrap. Found and tried out pieces of an old, weathered, woven-plastic tarp with a interesting texture (result: "meh"... haha). The bottoms of glass (and sometimes plastic) bottles of various kinds sometimes have interesting patterns. I'm always on the lookout for whatever could be useful.

[@chrisloudart]

That's great! Experimenting with new tools like that helps you engage with your art so much more.👍

[@Janie916]

Hi Chris! Perhaps you've already suggested this, but how about a circle as an art prompt?

[@chrisloudart]

Hey JH! I didn't have that on my list, until now. Thanks for the suggestion!⭕

[@kerrieb7473]

Hey Chris, these are nice. What do you do with all the art you create? Do you frame is and sell it and have some on a wall in you studio etc? Just curios. Thanks.

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Kerrie, thank you! I'm not too aggressive trying to sell my art right now. I've sold some in galleries, cafes, and I sporadically post some of my warm-ups on Etsy when I have time. Most are in my studio, some framed and/or matted and some on the walls in my house. I try and at least mat the paper pieces I like. How about you?

[@kerrieb7473]

Sounds good Chris, your work is certainly saleable, really glad you sell some. Maybe other subbies like me would love to see a studio tour vid of where you work and how you keep your pieces. Most of my stuff is in a few journals as I’m relatively new to abstract mixed media collage and I’m really enjoying it. I will start to stick pieces I like on the studio walls when I make them. I just love tearing paper and gluing and scribbling and painting over it. There is something very freeing about this style of art and every now and then something nice appears. Bonus! I have had a love affair with paper since I was a kidlet, so I do make lots of journals that I love to fill with scribblings and collages and paint etc. I’m planning to have market stall in the spring or summer to see of I can sell some bits and bobs. I love your videos, so please keep making them because they are really inspiring and I learn lots from them as do loads of people I’m sure. Thanks Chris.

[@clearfitness1954]

do you work on a composition for your abstract? i get stuck on tbat...whatis my composition

[@chrisloudart]

Hey Crystal! I do to some point on every one, depends on the painting. This particular painting was one that I just started painting quickly and adjusted to what I thought looked good. Other I go in with a specific composition in mind. I do a lot of practice paintings to help me get better at composition.

[@clearfitness1954]

@@chrisloudart thank you. i got to get better at composition

[@chrisloudart]

@@clearfitness1954 One little exercise I do every morning- I set a timer for 12 minutes and do four small collages to focus solely on composition. These are about 3 in by 3 in areas and I allow myself only three different colored pieces of collage paper on each. I tear them, cut them, use them however I want. It's quick, so I don't overthink. They typically don't look very good right after you've done them, but when you look at them the next day sometimes you'll see some pretty amazing little compositions.

[@clearfitness1954]

@@chrisloudart and i am doing just that doing small grid journals . it has helped, but its luck of the draw . i need to better understand composition(s) ive watched lessons on various types of compositions. "h", "t" "ratio" etc. and im getting braver. tge grid journals help me to try things i been timid about. thanks for the encouragement. thanks for sharing

[@chrisloudart]

@@clearfitness1954 It sounds like you're well on your way! FYI - I think most artists feel like they don't have a good grasp on composition. I know that's the case for me as well. You got this!