How this simple exercise will improve your paintings

Taking things back to basics: Sharing some of my favourite exercises, tips & experiments from my last 30 paintings - focusing on value studies to improve my art - and how you can too! 💫
On Substack I share notes versions of my videos for quick & easy reference. Check out the post that goes along side this video here: orlastevens.su...
Website Shop: www.orlasteven...
The Outdoor Sketchbook Collective - Patreon: / orlastevens
Instagram: / orlastevens
Sketchbooks & Materials Info Video: • Sketchbook ideas | mak...
Finding your Flow Painting Series: • Finding your flow: 5 t...
🌿

[@stacyg8847]

Your poetic words touched my heart with their truth. I stopped the video multiple times as several of your value studies really drew me in. Thank you for sharing your challenge and process. You are an excellent teacher Orla. Peace.

[@OrlaStevens]

Aw thank you so much - I'm glad they resonated with you and that you enjoyed the video! ♥️

[@maisycakes1125]

I have been a community artist - and I absolutely second these words above, this was outstanding teaching and lesson development. Plus the artwork developed in such a great way !

[@alisonlyons4691]

Hello Orla, this popped up this morning while having my breakfast. I can see l "liked" it when l first watched it. I am keen to start intruducing figures in my drawings/ sketchbooks. I used to avoid people when taking photos of which l have thousands. But a photographer l follow takes some amazing shots with one or two people at a distance, now l do the same with his encouragement. People give a differnt meaning and perspective to a landscape., and l see that in your drawings and paintings. SO.... thats my challenge. I love seeing people from behind, or sat in small groups or alone at a cafe table.......Thank you for sharing your knowledge and work.....Alioban ❤

[@circumboreal]

This video was exactly what I needed after a tough week here in the States. Those big-brush continuous line figure studies are powerful! Your videos always spread so much peace and inspiration worldwide.

[@NN-ht1lp]

Thanks Orla.

[@deborahcoyle7612]

@circumboreal likewise!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you so much - absolutely, we all need as much positivity at the moment as possible! Oh it's so fun using the massive brushes ♥️

[@mattbray_studio]

another great video, this week i started work on a black and white zine (monochrome photos + charcoal drawings) not quite what you're doing as there isn't really any grey, just black and white, but i also have on my list a heads and figures project that i will be starting once the postcard set and zine are finished, so i will take some inspiration into that project. i liked the figures in the snowy landscapes, reminded me of an artist called harry adams who made paintings of arctic explorers a few years back.

[@lulabelle33]

This series is going to be awesome. Love the prelims as is.

[@OrlaStevens]

thanks so much! loved working on these ones 😄

[@heathershaffer6148]

25-30 are absolutely gorgeous. I love your teaching style/manner and I'm learning a lot from your videos. I'm looking forward to doing this value exercise!

[@Toto-NaoWinter]

Your studies are beautiful. Thank you for sharing. And I will definitely try value study myself.❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Woohoo thank you, and glad to hear it! Hope you enjoy :)

[@rxneg]

What a great video, it was so inspiring! Thank you, it's definitely the kind of goals I set for myself and I am always looking for ways to better understand values. I will challenge myself with a similar project, for sure.

[@corinnapetry65]

It is kind of amazing that I love the end result but that, even when watching you work, I don't understand how you get there!

[@OrlaStevens]

Haha me too sometimes, it's the mystery of art! ♥️

[@angierobson1545]

I love that you work on the floor, and even though my bones will scream at me, I think I am going to try to do that more. Thank you for reminding me about the importance of value and practicing the fundamentals of this essential artistic component. It was inspiring and your approach refreshing. Keep up the good work, Orla.

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much Angie! And I hope it doesn't hurt too much though!! ☀️

[@maisycakes1125]

This was one of the most enjoyable and informative videos I have ever watched. I’d love the next video you do to be the next step you mentioned of 30 days of value studies from colour. Then the next vidoe maybe for you could be taking value studies from your plein air hikes in those amazing landscapes you belong in. This is me asking if you’ll do those !! Honestly Orla I feel like a mountaineering expedition needs to nab you as their expedition artist. Ive watched you often and I know you define yourself as an abstract landscape painter. I hope you won’t mind if I offer a gentle challenge to the ‘placing’ of yourself in a category as an artist, I wonder where this learning you are working on for yourself is going to take you. It is so enjoyable to be watching this process - I am going to try it for myself definitely. And I am excited to see your artistic development going forward from this. Thankyou very much for an outstanding video from an very talented painter.

[@KseniiaNazarenko-o6h]

Thank you for the exercises! They are very useful!

[@Sunburrs]

Like you I like vibrant colour. I always take a picture of my work in process, change it to black and white to check the value. It has helped me when things are not quite working, usually the value is off.

[@OrlaStevens]

That's what I'm going to focus on with my next paintings, it really makes such a difference eh?

[@charu2774]

This is the first video I watched from your channel and I adore your artstlyle. Would love to try something similar for myself

[@whoami6702]

❤ I love your channel ❤ I just discovered it & it is so soothing to my heart and mind ♥️ Thank you ❤

[@celia840]

Absolutely incredible! Thank you for the tips and sharing your creativity! These works are just stunning! 💛

[@aletabarker]

This is some of my favourite work of yours it’s strong! ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Oh wow, thanks so much!

[@le2382]

Beautiful paintings, absolutely loved them all, and I’m inspired to do some value studies of my own. Thank you!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! Had a blast working on these :) Hope you enjoy the process too!

[@firefly1013]

These are so wonderfully expressive and inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing. Would love to see more sketchbook tours!

[@sabinemetscher6449]

Very good, Orla🐾 This approach would be beneficial to a color jumper🌞You seem to be your own best teacher & great guide to others🌟💕🖌️🗓️

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! Haha I think every day is made better with a colourful jumper ♥️

[@lynnretzlaff2656]

What a calming video. I appreciate your gentle instructing/sharing as it puts the viewer at ease and lulls any inner critics that might be trying to watch over our shoulders. Thank you for sharing.

[@elfenzo]

thank you! you've got me thinking about value :) i tend to work intuitively, which is ok, but it means i don't always understand why something hasn't worked - so it's good to think. also, hello cat!!!

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you! :) and I totally know what you mean; that's what I am like too, and I often feel like I am working backwards to try understand they why/how :) hehe she says hello! 🐈‍⬛

[@staballoy]

This was very helpful. I look forward to trying these exercises.

[@OrlaStevens]

Aw brilliant, I hope you enjoy, and thank you!

[@dienekevugts5572]

Your studies are briljant. Every time there is so much inspiration and learning.

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you! I really enjoyed working through these :)

[@llucas2008]

This challenge is beautiful and your art came from your love of that particular experience of nature and the picture became real because of your expressive rendition. I loved it and felt it actually. Thank you, LizC

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you so much Liz! It felt like a really rewarding project to work on!

[@kandifish8942]

more value studies like this with ink and neocolors please?? THIS is so helpful💜

[@nathalieheath5693]

Yessss!! And all of them could be prints❤❤❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Sure thing! Such a fun material combination!

[@OrlaStevens]

Aw thank you ♥️

[@chrisjohnson7609]

Hi Orla, loved the 5 minute value challenge, so great you shared this exercise, Im definitely going to try this and improve my use of value in my art. I consider you to be an established artist, its encouraging to see you working on your skills and not resting on your laurels. Thankyou

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you Chris! It's a fun one for sure :) oh absolutely, there is always so much to learn! Thanks for watching :)

[@cocoandrobin]

absolutely brilliant, gorgeous studies 🖤🩶🤍

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! I appreciate it ♥️

[@francinetoni268]

Orla, this video is educational, inspirational, and fun! Such powerful paintings. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you so much, that's really kind! 💙

[@ChantelleArts]

these are some amazing tips, thank you for sharing them ☺☺

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you Chantelle! ☀️

[@LJ-xw3ou]

Fabulous collection!!!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! 😄 👋

[@iriliv2003]

Very inspiring video!

[@LJ-xw3ou]

Thrilled to see you again so soon!!! I will be looking for your store online. Thanks for being back so soon

[@ellenvd5543]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank youuuu! ♥️

[@marylawler-wb7kj]

Plenty of food for thought, thank you Orla. Mary

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you Mary! ☀️

[@elishawolter4968]

Another incredibly inspiring process with such beautiful results!! Watching you work always makes me want to jump into my sketchbook and goes crazy painting! Thanks for sharing, Orla!

[@OrlaStevens]

awww yessss to crazy painting hehe! Thanks so much 💙

[@pennykynigou6254]

Thank you Orla! That was inspiring. I had done a set of value studies in Copic markers and some Indian ink studies using different dilutions. I really liked your mixed media approach and the way you set up limitations to your investigation. That has got me thinking. Also setting yourself the goal of 30 sketches really gave you scope to fully explore your project. Beautifully explained, well paced and very engaging. You have just acquired a new subscriber!🎉

[@OrlaStevens]

Hi Penny! Thanks so much 😊 Oooh I've never heard of copic markers, off to look them up now! Yeah having the fairly large number definitely made me problem solve :) thanks for watching!

[@Tanya1q44]

Orla you’re so lovely. Thank you for sharing your ideas and processes, this is so inspiring to watc

[@OrlaStevens]

thanks so much! ♥️

[@drumweaver]

love your upside down one very much… thank you! ❤

[@melisarockhillesq]

What a great video! I love your ideas, the exercises, and your style. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so glad this popped up in my feed.

[@OrlaStevens]

thanks so much! ♥️

[@amandagloverart]

I'm loving the study at the thirteen minute mark

[@nathalieheath5693]

Oh my!! I am at a loss for words❤❤❤❤❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! ♥️

[@andrewabney2129]

I love doing notan sketches and value studies. One of my favorite exercises, when I am trying to come up with new composition ideas or just get out of my head is 50 drawings in 4 hours. It is both tiring and invigorating.

[@OrlaStevens]

wow I need to try that sometime, it sounds intense but fun!

[@staceybrister1315]

I love this video! I'm going to save it in my playlist for later inspiration. I just ordered some new supplies that would work well for value studies. I'm new ro art, and not at all good. But, I'm still going to e. Thank you 😊

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! Ohh exciting, I hope you enjoy :) It's all in the practice! ♥️

[@SN-sz7kw]

Terrific! Definitely need to do this. 💗

[@OrlaStevens]

It's such a good practice, I'm already thinking up plans for another!

[@tofino14]

These paintings are incredible

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! Really enjoyed this set :) :)

[@jesswoodhere]

Beautiful work!!!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you!

[@pjlewisful]

I love the kitty cat!

[@TeaBird01]

I love these!

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you! :)

[@diaryofdakshaaa]

Hi Orla! I see you make almost all your paintings as part of series. Would you please make a video on the benefits or just advice on making art in series?❤ Thank you!

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello! Oh that is a great idea - stay tuned, it's going to fit perfectly as a video 2 from now! :)

[@oxheysarah]

Beautiful ❤

[@jadeklassen2002]

I love this video!! I’m currently only working in black and white. I want to try the white ink you’re using 😮😮

[@OrlaStevens]

aw yess! so fun! it's by a brand called Amsterdam :)

[@ahmadalojail8480]

Very beautiful 🌸.

[@msilva1999]

Omg I love your value studies! At 4:01 what is that lamp? It’s so cute, I’d love to buy one for my mom, she loves that kind of thing

[@KittehNow]

Great video ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you! ☺️

[@tracytaylor588]

Thanks ❤

[@lovinglife4437]

This is one of the best videos I have seen. Many thanks I will be taking it all on board as a project and applying it to the countryside and seascapes where I live. Your approach takes me back to basics but your indicidual style and approach is quite unique. I paint very differently to you, but learn so much from your approach, one being to look to paint vast, whereas I get caught up in cropped images and close ups. One question......are the photos you used available to practice with

[@OrlaStevens]

That's really kind, and thank you! Beautiful, it'll be lovely to respond to your home landscape, it always brings that personal element to the work ☀️ I love looking at different styles too :) The images are from a book called 'The Big Walks' by Ken Richardson and Richard Gilbert 1982 - there's currently a copy on ebay UK!

[@RR-hm5bq]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing your process and thoughts. I've been wanting to improve my value skills and plan to give this a try. Quick question--did you not use any color in any other paintings during this project to keep your mind focused on values? That would be the hardest part for me. I love color. But I can see the value (pun intended) in staying in black and white and not working on other pieces during the study.

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy your value project :) Hehe no I couldn't resist that; I worked on different colourful studies alongside this - at least to keep my happiness levels up in winter weather!! Oooh good pun - and yes, maybe I will try that hardcore mode in the summer time ☀️

[@samstruys3088]

Hi Orka, Great job on what you created and on sticking to your plan. Discipline and talent. I'm an artist myself but at age 51 I'm still unsure how to start selling. Where do you have your fine art prints printed? Because your prices are really low when I see the prices I find onljne for fine art prints. Have fun using color again. Have a lovely day.... 😊.

[@dejavulaverite9086]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💫💫💫

[@susananielsen8911]

Thanks as always so inspiring. One question: you have a Big black Canon “thing” on your shelf to the left of the place where you stand up and draw. Is it a printer, please tell me about it, how you use it, and its official name and number. I am looking for a better one right now.

[@OrlaStevens]

Hey Susan! Thank you :) And of course; it's a fine art printer by Canon, Image Prograf pro 300. I regret buying this one as I don't use it enough - however it is a beautiful printer if you are consistently making your own fine art prints. It's fine art specific so not for normal home printing (the inks are expensive)

[@susananielsen8911]

@ ok not for me then, I was thinking about a printer to make prints of sketches etc to put in my art journal, as background work for a bigger painting… something I seem to have a problem to get started on😭

[@OrlaStevens]

I’m on the lookout for a simple one I can use for daily printing (probably just b&w though) - can let you know how I find it when I get round to buying one :)

[@marypartridge5154]

Its great but you need to teach your audience. Unless all we see is how you are doing and so people loose interest. But you are doing well.

[@Samiroseb]

Orla has lots of videos where she shares different approaches and technique ideas with her audience! 🤗

[@SN-sz7kw]

She has a Patreon site for that. And a substack in the links. This is totally free - we’re grateful for all the hours of work she does just posting these beautiful segments.

[@OrlaStevens]

Hi Mary, you can find my teaching over on Patreon, and I run a free blog on Substack. In my latest post linking to this video, I've shared a step by step breakdown of one of the exercises which you can try out here: orlastevens.substack.com/p/back-to-basics ☀️