Paint like Van Gogh in 7 easy steps!

Step by step tutorial on making a portrait in the style of Van Gogh
If you follow these advices please post your paintings on social media with the hashtag #mgfcpaint, so I can find them!!
As for me, you can find me here:
Instagram : @hervecotton
Tweeter: @MGFCotton

[@SamM-bl8yh]

I learned much more with you in this 10 minutes than in months of classes. And you are more handsome than my teacher! Thank you so much, following for sure.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Haha, thanks a lot! I will blush! ☺️

[@babyiamhome]

😹😹😹

[@panchatwyn5400]

Tienes razón, es muy guapo ja ja

[@SingYourselfWell]

Omg so great, Herve. Merci beaucoup! Watching now... 💖😇💖

[@alinalilka8430]

You deserve millions of subscribers you are a lifesaver

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@lov330]

This video motivated me to start painting again, thank you so much

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Happy to hear that! Go and create something beautiful! 👍

[@kathwilson9694]

Van Gogh is my favorite! I am inspired to try this!

[@hipiano]

He's my favorite artist of all time! I love his paintings and feel inspired very much by his artworks 🥰 I just repainted his picture "Marguerite Gachet at the Piano" today. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6S5koFpbdh6mJo

[@aerinpokhrel8894]

Tysm! I’m in AIG in school and I have to do a project of Van Gogh!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Great! Hope this can help you! There is another video about VG on my channel, with the acrylic version (but the technique is basically similar). Let me know how it turned out!

[@MagsArt]

Your wife came out so cute on this portrait 🙂 it’s really beautiful 👍🙂

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you very much!

[@susanlynne318]

Love this!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you for watching!

[@celiamuncaster2046]

This is brilliant. Thank you

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Than you for watching, Celia!

[@EmmaHarrington]

Very nice and the best practical description of Van Gogh's result. Great job!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@sabinelloyd8532]

Merci! This was very informative!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thabks for watching!

[@janecridland5105]

Brilliant! I’m delighted to subscribe!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you!

[@jadetobin]

This was wonderful! You explained so much but were concise!! Thank you so much...so many great ideas I look forward to trying out!!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@ghibsoo]

thanks a lot! i need to paint in the style of van gogh or gauguin in my exam tomorrow but i like van gogh a lot better and you did a wonderful job at explaining how to paint like him :)

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot! Hope your exam goes well!

[@Cristina97]

Better explanations than most related videos, thanks

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! I am not a specialist though... but I explained the way I paint it... 😋

[@Audion]

Love this method 🙂

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@oneoftheninetynine3953]

Thanks for the video it was really helpful.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for watching !

[@mohitayush6244]

We Will always support you

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you!

[@c7eye]

WOW.... magical

[@annoif8]

Love your 7 steps series!! Please do a Raoul Dufy. Love his vibrant paintings. 🩷💐🩷

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Ah! Dufy! Yes, I have touched a bit about fauvism in my video about Matisse, but Dufy’s line work could be a nice subject too! Let me see what I can do! Thanks for watching!

[@annoif8]

​@@mygeekfamilycotton yes, exactly! I adore his line work. Looking forward to more of your entertaining lessons!

[@irenan6585]

Wow! You actually did it, thank you!

[@nelsonx5326]

Nice result.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you!

[@ligaskirbauska8652]

Subscribed! Amazing series! Grate video and challenges,ideas to experiment around!thanks for grate work! 💐

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! Yes, these are experiments and games around a style, more than hardcore tutorials. I am happy you like!

[@flababofa]

This is the most helpful video i have ever watched while trying to learn to paint for so many reasons.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you!

[@sarahgherbi8401]

Ahah on arrive à reconnaître l'accent français!! Merci pour cette vidéo j'ai adoré je vais pouvoir commencer ma peinture maintenant!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Merci! C’est vrai que l’accent est difficile à cacher, même après 20 ans hors de France... crée de belles choses! À bientôt!

[@philippzottmann1226]

Great job! Thank you for the side information on colors, shades and outlining

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@lillara2010]

I love this channel

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for watching !

[@Meirecabral]

I loved... great job. You made seems it’s so easy.

[@johnlennon5751]

this video helped me a lot, thank you so much!❤

[@lolappank4147]

Thank you this means a lot to me

[@SingYourselfWell]

Amazing.

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

Beautiful 😍

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@abettermousetrap]

i don;t paint or am i an artist. I jsut found this video and it was interesting ... well done and kudos from canada

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@Doursim]

Love these videos! I hadn’t painted in over a year and your videos were what I needed to muster the confidence to pick up the brushes again. Thank you and keep it up ❤️

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot! Happy you are back at the easel!

[@thatwaslithe3849]

I'm so thankful for this channel, thank you 🥺

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Awww thanks a lot!

[@guilhermealvesbarbosa5643]

I from Brazil, and I really love your channel!!! Congratulations 😁🙏🏼

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Muito obrigado, Guilherme!

[@user-sf1ru2id8u]

What an excellent tutorial, thank you for sharing!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you for watching!

[@mais_craftland5424]

It’s inspiring us to paint. Easy to follow. Thanks 😊

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! I will do more!

[@Barbien194]

Amazing. I dont know if Van Gogh painted like that or not but your painting looks great. I would definitely try the technique

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@rogerallen2685]

Incredible! This makes me want to paint...thanks Herve!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Roger Allen haha, you’re welcome! Show me your work afterwards!

[@terrywilson5753]

I really enjoyed the video. Others generally want you to just look over their shoulder. You however simplified and created a procedure that helped me. I have worked out some of Van Gogh methodology yet, I will work through your steps in an effort to push forward. Thank you very much. T

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks Terry! I do believe that everyone will (and should) do their own painting, so the process is more important than the result in the end. We are all here to try things and see what fits with our style! Cheers!

[@johnmurphy3682]

really enjoy your clear and simple advice, great fun and certainly makes us want to paint, Thanks.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you!

[@anakoviljac]

Your videos are amazing, and always inspire me to paint!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for the kind words, Ana!

[@euvid1]

You are delightful to watch and learn from. Thank you

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot for watching!

[@mashthemtators]

Thank you so much for this it has been really helpful during my art course at college , your bloody brilliant mate

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Welcome!

[@zaladebevec5842]

Thank you so much! I'm a student of conservation and restoration of artwork and this video helped me a lot while doing my research for making a copy of his work Landscape from Saint-Rémy. You are amazing!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you very much, Zala! I am humbled that a student in something as serious can like my little video! 😂

[@jatnielpaganrosa9839]

Excellent! This deserves more likes! You're a great help to us artist :)

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Awww thanks a lot! Just trying to help. I will try to do more artists styles studies! Stay tuned! :)

[@andrewkirsch9314]

I never use watercolor because I didn't understand how...ty so much for teaching this..I just happened upon your channel while searching for Van Gogh lessons.. Really Really great job..ty so much

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

No problem, Andrew! Happy to share! I will do more tips and tricks about painting!

[@thecreeperglider5785]

Wow this is amazing this will really help me with better paintings thanks a lot. 😀

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Happy to help!

[@macdog1]

Thank you good sir

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for watching!

[@wanamawi1804]

Thank you for this video ☺️♥️🎨

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@Sticky_Bling]

totally awesome ..rrrrrespect

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! :)

[@ButterFly-bc7yp]

This is a great tutorial and video! I am going to paint a scenery from my trip to Ireland „a la van Gogh“. Greetings from Germany!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot! Yes, you can apply the same techniques for a landscape!

[@ButterFly-bc7yp]

@@mygeekfamilycotton I did it! I painted it. It is the best drawing I have ever produced. Thank you soooooo much.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Excellent! Congrats! I’d love to see it!!!

[@hazelpixie56]

This is wonderful! Amazing how you can get oil effects using non-oil paint

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! VanGogh did a lot of water colors + gouache too!

[@vangart8472]

Great video! Thank you so much😊

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@mariasebastianart281]

This is wonderful!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Maria Sebastian Art thanks a lot! Love your Tyger, btw!

[@mariasebastianart281]

@@mygeekfamilycotton awww! Thank you so much!

[@hirakjyotimedhii]

Thank you sirr

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you for watching!

[@jenmartin2870]

thank you so much

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you for watching!

[@meganhouse948]

More. Videos like this please

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot! I am working on it!

[@vjdrive1230]

I loathe watercolors but I'm going to try this with acrylics..crosses fingers😁thanks for the advice and video!💙

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for watching! Yes, acrylic is possible too!

[@abicadoavocado4650]

Thankyouuuuu☺☺☺☺☺ this helped me so much plus I love your accent :)

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Haha! Merci!

[@FLYINGWARRIOR19661]

Wow, i haven't tried this video yet but it looks super fun. I just began watercolor and i realize this is not but im tempted to try this instead. I learned more from you in 10 minutes than reading books would have taught me in months. You made it look simple and from my first few watercolor paintings it is anything but easy. Im a subscriber now, i look forward to other videos you have and learning more. Thank you! Tom from Boston

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks! Just sharing what I learned along the way! I’ll try to put more watercolor in the future

[@FLYINGWARRIOR19661]

@@mygeekfamilycotton tyvm.....i'll watch whatever you put up...i bought acrylic paints too but thought i should stick to one medium at first with the hope of getting better:) I also, love, love, love realism painting....how people can paint reflections so that on a flat surface you believe you see a 3-d image that looks like you are seeing a live seen before your own eyes. The scene might have a polished silver vase or the chrome of a hood on a car showing reflections of everything around it too. Even a simple painting of a flower in a vase is so realistic by artist Peter Lentini he usually has 2-3 flowers Red or Yellow in a clear glass vase and its amazing. Another person I saw on youtube uses the afternoon sun shinning upon a Brownstone building he painted. The setting sun had created so many reflections and shades of color and the details were so realistic you would think you were looking at a high quality photograph. I'd love to see a video on that subject if you have knowledge in that area but anything excites me since I know so little about art techniques....tyvm. Tom

[@romainvilleneuve]

vraiment bien !!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Merci! J’attends de voir ce que tu vas faire de ce tutoriel!! 😋

[@mikazaki7594]

This is the best instruction on how to paint like Van Gogh I ever found online! You make it clear step by step and you explain the reason behind it.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@jillcottingham9599]

👍👌

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@sarfatiassociates2818]

Merci beaucoup, tres instructifs surtout sur l’utilisation des complémentaires pour les ombres👍🙏

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Merci! Je parle un peu plus des couleurs complémentaires (et surtout, pourquoi on s’en sert pour les ombres) dans Ma vidéo sur Seurat si cela vous intéresse! À bientôt!

[@sarfatiassociates2818]

@@mygeekfamilycotton oui svp, car je ne vous cache pas que je “struggle” avec les ombres!!! Merci. Je vais chercher votre video sur Seurat👍👌🙏.

[@panchatwyn5400]

Me gustó mucho, quisiera saber si esta técnica se usa con acrílico sobre bastidor, gracias 🙂

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Holà Pancha! Si, no hay problema. Tengo una video con la misma Tecnica con acrilico : Paint like Van Gogh in 7 easy steps! (Acrylic version) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnO7p56jop5mraM. Gracias y saludos!

[@lukemotivationalideas4415]

Hi great artist

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks!

[@kirakelvinart2169]

Imagine someone complained, Instruction Unclear: Lose Left ear.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

😂😂😂

[@deniskomoda6423]

Does look very amature Van Gogh...

[@APchemistrycourse]

Wow, your video is very clear and really helpful, but sadly your channel is really underrated and you deserve more subs, and thank you for this great video tbh I was searching for such info on how to paint like Van becz the rest of the channels they just paint without explain. (if anyone need help in chemistry check out my channel )

[@alexmarx3358]

I didntunderstand: what do you use to transfer to picture to the paper? How does it work?

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Hi Alex! Thanks for watching. You can either blacken the back of your photo with a pencil or simply use carbon paper. However, as I mentioned, don’t follow the model exactly: your lines should be hesitant. Cheers! Don’t hesitate to post your art on Instagram or Twitter with the #mgfcpaint! Cheers

[@WhiteFyre]

What medium were you using here? ✨🌸✨

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Hello, young Skywalker! I started with watercolor and switched to gouaches for the thicker paint. Thanks!

[@munirah9020]

sir,may Allah bless you

[@AvOs1976]

Mmm. Bear!

[@joe0xygen244]

Thanks. This was very useful. I love your accent btw where are you from?

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Haha, thanks! I am French but have been living in Singapore for the past 15 years

[@joe0xygen244]

@@mygeekfamilycotton that's cool man. Keep up the good work 👍

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks a lot!

[@sobanosilva8585]

I din't understand why we paint a complement as the underpainting then thickly paint over the area - I can understand the technique if you are layering.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Hi! Thanks for your comment! The idea is that the complementary Colors that are behind will peep through between the thick dashes. You don’t cover the shadows completely, but The Eye will mix both Colors once it is finished. Also, when using gouaches, the below layer will tend to be “waken up” by the moisture in the thick dashes and mix a bit with them, giving you a slightly darker shade. Hope this helps!

[@darkhoursofday6250]

Excellent study of technique and color. My only issue is with the carbon use to copy the photo. The idea of impressionism is more than color and technique. I love Van Gogh because when he painted a person or scene... that was how he saw it. It was not a photo or even similar. It wasn't capturing a moment in time... it was capturing an impression and view that only existed in his head... and that was beautiful. To copy a photo loses that mental ideal that he utilized.

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you, and yes, you might be right. You are absolutely free to trace your subject without the help of carbon paper. It might be a great help for beginners, and honestly, I wanted to show more the use of colors.

[@darkhoursofday6250]

@@mygeekfamilycotton It turned out great! Honestly I'm torn. I still love photorealism, but Van Gogh put a versions of the world on canvas that only existed in his head and I'd love to see more people able to get past the way things are "supposed" to look and show the beauty they alone see. Corny I know. I did love the video and plan to use a lot of these techniques! Thanks very much!

[@troyingram7023]

I can't keep up I want you to come back later!

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thanks for watching !

[@alexmonev8279]

HI Herve, how can I have you critique on my art?

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Not sure I am the right person to critique... if you post your art on social media, give me a link or use the #mgfcpaint, so I will see it?

[@alexmonev8279]

good job, what is your name?

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Thank you! I am Hervé

[@smfbmcpe5054]

I'm just curious.. are you a french?

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Yes I am! But I have been living in Asia for the past 25 years! 😋 Japan, Philippines and Singapore…

[@smfbmcpe5054]

@@mygeekfamilycotton wow..

[@hold_on4310]

Il est français ?? Si oui, j'aurais bien aimé cette vidéo en français😭

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

Oui! Je suis français! Si tu veux je peux t’aider?

[@hold_on4310]

@@mygeekfamilycotton oui ce serait un plaisir !

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

voici une traduction rapide du texte de la video, dis moi si je peux t'aider plus! (desole pour les faute de frappe, je n'ai pas d'accents sur mon clavier anglais) Chaque peinture est unique et ces conseils ne sont pas graves dans le marbre. Vous pouvez, et devez, utiliser vos propres sentiments quand vous peignez. 1/CROQUIS j’ai pris une photo de ma femme, dans un beau chemisier pour cela. Le chemisier, sans être un costume traditionnel du tout, est cependant vraiment influencé par l’Asie, et c’est tres bien puisque les impressionnistes avaient une fascination pour le Japon en particulier, mais pour l’Asie en général, et je pourrai donc donner un peu de cette idee a l’image finale. Encore une fois, j’ai utilisé du papier carbone pour transférer l’image sur le papier. Ça aide beaucoup, mais vous pouvez faire un croquis a main levee. Gardez votre croquis lâche, vos lignes doivent sembler presque hésitantes. Il ne s’agit pas d’un dessin technique, pas de règle ou de lignes droites. 2/TEINTE Nous devons maintenant donner une tonalite au papier. Cela fera ressortir les couleurs beaucoup mieux et donner une tonalité générale à la peinture. J’ai utilisé un mélange de Sienne brulee et Ochre Jaune pour cela, très dilués, pour garder l’idée de chaleur que je veux transmettre. 3/TRACER Comme la plupart des impressionistes, Van Gogh s’y connaissant beaucoup en peinture de paysages. Et il savait que les couleurs froides font apparaitre les objets a l’arriere, alors que les couleurs chaudes les font ressortir vers l’avant. Donc, je vous demande de repasser sur votre croquis avec 2 couleurs (disons bleu et rouge) en essayant d’estimer ce qui s’eloigne du spectateur et ce qui s’en rapproche. Il n’y a pas de vraie regle ici, une ligne peut commencer en bleu (parce qu’elle serait derriere quelque chose) et finir en rouge (parce qu’elle sera passee a l’avant). Essayer d’estimer au mieux, et en vous amusant, ce n’est pas une science exacte. 4/OMBRES Maintenant, Van Gogh etait tres connu pour son utilization des couleurs complementaires. Utilisons les pour nos ombres. Une plante serait jaune-vert, la couleur complementaire sera donc rouge/pourpre. Vous pouvez peindre les ombres sur vos plantes avec cette couleur. La Peau est orangee/marron, la couleur complementaire est le bleu, le chemisier sera rose, les ombres devront etre d’unbleu-vert. Etc, etc… si vous avez un doute, consultez une charte des couleurs et trouvez la couleur complementaire de celle que vous utilisez, ou vous pouvez appliquer un filtre « negatif » sur votre photo et voir quelle couleur serait sur un negatif (attention : les couleurs sont parfois differentes car la peinture utilise rouge bleu et jaune comme couleurs primaires, mais les ecrans et la tele utilisent rouge bleu et vert. Ceci etant dit, la difference n’est pas un probleme, vous pouvez utiliser n’importe quelle methode ou meme les melanger : l’idee est d’avoir une couleur opposee a la couleur principale de l’objet.) 5/SURFACES Utilisez un petit pinceau pour ceci (relative a la taille de votre peinture: bien sur une grande toile demandera un pinceau plus gros) et appliquez la couleur percue de chaque objet (la couleur que vous voyez, pas la couleur complementaire) en petites touches epaisses. Soyez courageaux et ozez, car Van Gogh n’avait pas peur de faire des erreurs et de repasser dessus si necessaire. Ici, nous ne parlons pas d’etaller la peinture, mais de creer plusieurs couches de tirets de couleurs rapproches qui vont donner l’impression d’une surface uniforme. N’oubliez pas que les coups de pinceaux de Van Gogh etaient directionels, c’est-à-dire qu’ils suivaient les courbes et les lignes des objets. Mon couseil est d’utiliser des peintures qui ne sont pas trop melangees, pour garder un eu des couleurs originales dans le melange. Utilisez differents tons des memes couleurs (plus clair, plus fonce, un peu plus bleu, plus rouge ou plus jaune…) pour créer les effets d’ombre et de lumiere. La couleur du fond, et des ombres que nous venons d’appliquer, vous paraitre entre les coups de pinceaux et donner l’impression de zones d’ombre completes. 6/CONTOUR N’utilisez pas de noir pour cela. Un marron fonce ou un bleu marine sont possibles, mais evitez le noir si vous le pouvez. Le contour est la pour corriger et retoucher les formes qui auraient devie un peu trop du croquis original. Marquez l’endroit ou les lignes passent en dessous d’autres choses, et ne donnez qu’une indication de coutour, sans refaire votre trace complement. Le contour est la pour servir les surfaces, mais pas leur donner l’air d’un livre de coloriage. 7/ LUMIERES Avec unpeu de blanc (ou une couleur Claire, selon ce qui capte la lumiere), appliquez simplement une toute petite suggestion de reflet. C’est l’endroit ou la joue va refleter la lumiere, ou les cheuveux brillent, ou le tissus de la chemise rebondit. Et voila! Vous avez un portrait dans le style de Van Gogh!

[@hold_on4310]

@@mygeekfamilycotton un énorme merci! 🙏🏻

[@mygeekfamilycotton]

De rien! Si tu as des questions, n’hésite pas!

[@paulamarr6993]

Doesn't show anything. Just him painting too fast

[@toecutter8002]

Actually don't paint like van gogh. Paint like you. Van Gogh never wanted to paint like anyone else. So you shouldn't either.

[@marypartridge5154]

This goes too fast and you are not showing enough of how you do the painting.

[@arttutorialsartlessons9909]

This is more of how to recreate a piece that looks like VG art. Technique ????? No even close. Sorry.

[@joeswampdawghenry]

I disagree. Cheers