Paint With Me: 3 Abstract Paintings from Start to Finish

In this week's video, I wanted to share with you 3 of my recent Abstract paintings I created with charcoal pencils, soft pastels and graphite in addition to paint. I thought it would be fun to share since this is different that my normal process as it's based on more abstract drawing rather than painting. So tune in and tell me what you think in the comments below!
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#abstractdemo #paintingdemo #abstractpaintingdemo #paintingtutorial #artist #abstractpainting #art #artistic #painting #painter #abstractart

[@lindapowell2660]

That was a joy to watch, Louise. What a privilege to watch you develop experiment and yet its always you. Brilliant. Thank you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you for your kind words Linda!

[@barbiebeckford2988]

I love this. I’ve just found you and love your style of art and teaching. I love to draw, honestly I prefer it, but am fairly new to painting and want to get better at it. I love the drawing incorporated into these paintings. I plan to download your find your style book and hang out here. I’ll try this type painting in the morning cause it really inspires me. I love the feeling of gesturing with charcoal. We will see.

[@deborahwolff5651]

You blow me away with your painting! I love the way you use colors

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Deborah! ♥

[@suzevanleeuwen3761]

Oh I like these paintings!!! It inspires me a lot!! Love to see the process . The third one is really great and I think it is finished.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww I am so glad you love them Suze! Thanks for watching!

[@gkmjk1001]

When you are brave enough; many doors to the genuine soul open. I love your work!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much Gerri! ♥

[@inesmonguio2886]

Thank you. I loved hearing you say maybe you liked the earlier version, and if so then you can go back.... that is so supportive and encouraging.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Ines!

[@emoryjoan6305]

Louise Fletcher you’re so very kind and sharing your knowledge. Thank you.❤

[@demist66]

These are beautiful 😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Awww thank you so much. ❤

[@frankfolino3118]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@ulrikeselleckart]

Love it, Louise! Thanks for being transparent too, in terms of you taking some time to think at times. Also I love when you use the word SMUDGE haha.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Haha you are so welcome. ☺

[@deborahwolff5651]

That painting is so beautiful ! I love how you blended the pink and black. It gives it a whole new depth. I respect your style you are very talented and I love to watch you paint.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you so much Deborah for your kind words. ♥

[@michelenishikatsu4273]

Layering…has attracted me…my entire life. And…in agreement, beloved…the beauty is..incomparable!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Michele!

[@jillpratt2447]

Hi Louise! That was great! I love the process and the results! On the one to the far right I saw a glimpse of Helen Mirren for a moment! But you smacked her in the face with a dab of paint! A bit rude but it worked out beautifully!🥰

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thanks so much Jill for your kind words and had I known that Helen Mirren may have popped up I would have resisted that dab of paint. 😂

[@janiceblough]

I think that this trio is gorgeous! These color’s definitely hit my love button! Thank you for all your time for us all.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad to hear you liked it Janice!

[@joanzivi7425]

Wonderful!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Joan!

[@susanpriestart]

I so love watching you paint Louise x

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Susan! ♥

[@melissataylor5494]

I love this group of three. I like the bit about memories it resonates with me.❤ Beautiful.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much Mellissa and I'm glad you liked them ♥

[@jendowdellartist]

Such beautiful artwork, Louise! i'm loving these simpler but still complex pieces, as the white space has as much to say as the marks, paints and smudges you make.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Awww thank you Jen for your wonderful words! Glad you liked them.

[@collagehouse]

I really resonate with the colors you use. This palette is one of my favorite so far.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you for the kind words Maureen! ♥

[@PaulWalesArt]

They're stunning Louise! Whether they're finished or not it doesn't matter. What struck me towards the end of the video is despite their relative simplicity compared to your other work, they are still very much Louise. The layers are incredible within the muted colours. Thank you for sharing.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you so much and I'm glad you still see they are very much still me. ♥♥

[@sheenasproule5335]

I love this! The form of abstraction, the black and pink, the reference to memory! Yes queen!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much for your kind words Sheena. ☺

[@sheripalmer3192]

Oh how I love these! The colors are amazing! ❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Lppl10]

Love love love!!! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome! ♥

[@melindastclair]

Thank you for showing us, Louise

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome and thank you for watching! ♥

[@cindythoms7246]

❤ especially the colors. I love pink!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks Cindy for watching. I love how they turned out as well ☺

[@laurienye7514]

Louise, I love, love pink, gray and blk. together. I loved that.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Laurie! So glad you liked it.

[@robyncanning7441]

I absolutely love these paintings Louise! Watching the process is enjoyable but I see that it is definitely an intuitive process that a person has to feel as they progress through the work. I understand better now what you explained in your email about how doing lots of art courses can be confusing (I have experienced that). I have found watching tutuorials by artists whose work I love, I try to work out what it is I love about it and practice my own compositions using those techniques. They key is always practice!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

This is wonderful Robyn and a great way to learn what you love. ♥

[@gregoraninalium]

Beautiful artwork! Love all of them!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! That means a lot to me!

[@TrueLoveX1027]

There is such energy in these paintings! Love it!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@keldaycreativeart]

I loved watching you create three paintings. I have really enjoyed your colour choice. I have always disliked pink but when you put it with the black it takes on a whole new meaning for me. I love it. Thank you Louise for this video.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@swl9270]

Ditto the pink comment but somehow I like here

[@nikiawilliams5689]

I love the compositions of the paintings.❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Nikia!

[@lyndamalavanya9445]

I love this new work! Thank you for sharing the process.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome Lynda!

[@dianecharest8365]

Those are beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@estherljonesdotcomartist5505]

I absolutely love the one to the farthest right on the video. I enjoy all your videos, but I think this one might be my favorite. I'll definitely be watching it over!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you for your kind words Esther. I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[@TaraSueSalusso]

It was so lovely to watch you paint. I’m extremely impressed with the outcome. This is not a ways that I pant and don’t expect that I will. With that said, I greatly respect your work and style.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you for the kind words Tara Sue and thank you for watching.

[@trishhaugen6214]

I REALLY enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing. I love the looseness, spontaneity and colour tips.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Trish!

[@ruthwarlow7802]

I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you Louise.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome Ruth!

[@katleenemmens4451]

Thank you for this great demo and explanation! It's always so helpful to see you work and hear you talk...i sure are going to the this! And i LOVE working in series too, i discovered this lately...it's probably because i THINK less and PLAY more.😊❤🎉

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Katleen!

[@LauraLeinSvencnerCollageArtist]

Thank you, so enjoyed your understand of your process that can only come to the surface with the time you have put in.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Laura! ♥

[@dianecharest8365]

Nice nice

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you think so!

[@stargrannyavon]

Thanks for sharing this. Great results!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome!

[@sarawelder1]

I love hearing what you were thinking and your process. I had never thought of pink and black... in general I have avoided pink but I might let it in now.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

It never hurts to experiment. 🖌

[@mollab1]

Just beautiful!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you liked it! ♥

[@lorikurtzlarkin3141]

Thank you so much!!!!! You are so inspirational!!!!!!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Lori! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@frankmestdagh8334]

Stunning work - was hoping for start to complete finish

[@irenehenjumfineart]

I love this color scheme.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks you x

[@judyrandall9756]

Beautiful! Love these!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed them Judy!

[@melanieharris7472]

I love them!!!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much Melanie! ♥

[@recreepy]

This is truly beautiful. Thank you for spending the time sharing this creation with us. I love it.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching. ❤

[@RhondaMcIntosh-pp2oj]

Hi Louise. Loved watching this. Sometimes when I don't have time to paint watching is my brain on art loved the result

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Rhonda!

[@jeanedwards1857]

Marvelous!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you Jean!

[@geckonia]

Really enjoyed this video Louise. Thank you for taking the time to film for us.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome and glad you enjoyed it! ♥

[@anitaaspforswestin6139]

Love this!❣

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks!

[@johannalaurila4579]

Super lovely paintings ❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you Johanna ♥

[@demist66]

I just love these😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much ❤

[@angelaturcu9350]

Georgeus, thank you! ❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you ♥

[@charlottehogberg9855]

I love the colours together!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks Charlotte! I do too ☺

[@charlottehogberg9855]

@@ThisPaintingLife I ordered your book, and now I regret not asking for you to sign it. I am really enjoying it! ❤️

[@debtempleton9424]

Three beauties all in a row! Love your generosity of spirit Louise. Thank you. P.S. Nothing can ever be too pink.....LOL

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Awww thank you Deb ♥

[@cheraestone4333]

I’m loving watching your process! Thanks so much. I’m having trouble finding your 5 tips to finding who I am as an artist. LOL Could you please guide me?

[@angeladingwall5680]

Love the tonesx

[@ThisPaintingLife]

It's definitely not my normal but it surprised me how much I liked it as well! ♥

[@Banniesartistry]

Gorgeous

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks!

[@joanneberardi6598]

🎉thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so very welcome Joanne!

[@Vera4Art]

The colours are beautiful. Complementary colours but muted variations. The combination of little bit of the green (kaki) with more of the pink, works. It demonstrates that one should not use equal amounts of complementary colours but keep one dominant and the other one in small amounts just to liven up the dominant colour.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you liked it Vera! ♥

[@theresahenderson5637]

I love your videos and talks. I have learned so much from you. Mostly, just be me🌞

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you loved it Theresa. ♥♥

[@lisajohnson-crawford935]

I love these! I was just thinking of ways to expand on my art style and I think, "I need to leave more white space" or "I need to use my soft pastels more - I wonder if I can find some info on that" and then I blink and that's just what you're doing too:) Also, what you said about memory, that is an idea that's always been present with me since I started painting several years ago. I like to paint loosely and abstractly and that's how I think memories are... kind of fuzzy and blurry around the edges, and my perspective of a memory may be different than another person's perspective of the same moment or place and so it looks differently when I interpret it through my lens, skills, and materials than anyone else would do. Sadly, my Art Tribe trial ended this week and I can't continue at this time but I'm so glad I can still follow and learn from you in other ways:)

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Lisa

[@user-ox3kr7wc5o]

There are now ink blocks that are like chalk pastel, but they are fixed after you use water on them. They are super cool and I am having a lot of fun playing with them.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Wow those sound amazing. I will have to take a peek at them.

[@debbiewells2851]

I think these paintings are gorgeous! What kind of Fabriano paper is this? I couldn't understand.

🙏

[@ThisPaintingLife]

❤❤❤❤

[@marilyncarlstead2601]

Love your work. Love, love these colors. Could you mention the type of paper and size of the paper that you used, please?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hi Marilyn, I usually don't talk about supplies because I use anything and everything and I'm bad at keeping track. I think this was Fabriano Pittura in whatever size that comes in.

[@EvaNichols28]

Thank you so much for sharing - I always enjoy your videos (and love your podcast). Wondering how you would frame these, since they are on paper, and you are using charcoal and pastel. Can you still seal them, or do you have to put these under glass?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hi Eva, these were just an experiment for me and I had no intentions of keeping them. It was just a way for me to step outside of my norm. Most likely I may use them as collage pieces. ☺

[@traces2807]

I love this direction you are experimenting with! When you stop to mix a colour - in your other style, not this one - does it interrupt the 'flow'? 😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Most of the time no but occasionally I can battle that feeling.

[@elenapalacios6374]

It’s interesting watching that you make the same stroke on each paper but in different part., although it looks similar and different at the same time. Now, my question, does each of your stroke you made is something you want to reflect or just made the stroke without planning and go as you wish? I like abstract painting I want to try but I need to understand better.

[@junebloye1487]

These are great! I like them better than some others. Could it be the colour? And I’m not usually a pink person.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

The pink is definitely different for me as well but I love them.

[@cailinsuiledonn]

Hi Louise, a newbie to abstract art & a new subbie for sure 🤩 What a pleasure to watch your process. Do you run any in person classes or weekend seminars ? Would absolutly love to attend 😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hi Ann Marie, Right now there is nothing in person however I will be launching my course again soon so stay tuned!

[@cailinsuiledonn]

@Louise Fletcher Art great, I'm based in Ireland, so I could arrange hols around your dates. 🤩

[@jackieswe]

Great to see you in action Louise, I’ve fallen off the creative wagon again but I’m inspired by this so thank you! Btw the link for the free guide doesn’t work..🙃

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hi Jackie, I am so glad I could inspire you! I just checked the link and it seems to be working for me but here it is again for you in hopes it works: www.louisefletcherart.com/free-guide ♥

[@jackieswe]

@@ThisPaintingLife thanks so much Louise, the link has worked here😁😁

[@Sebastian-wd9fp]

Hello dear, what kind of paper do you use for those paint- regards from Chile!

[@gailierunninglynx7310]

👍😚

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks for watching. ♥

[@jacquelynamerman1945]

Are you using a spray fixative?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes :)

[@jaysea5873]

Love these paintings! Do you apply the fixative directly after you place your charcoal or soft pastel marks? Or just over your finished work? I work mainly in watercolour and gouache and I struggle to layer over soft pastels. Any tips would be really helpful :)

[@yopestevens1505]

Can i steal that color pallette?! Just joking, but it's lovely that you left so much white space - is it gessoed or just raw paper? And if raw, can you still varnish it? Edit: Would love to paint this way, but I don't always use gesso......?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

this is just plain acrylic paper - I don't varnish paintings on paper. They'll be framed behind glass anyway, so there's no need x

[@yopestevens1505]

@@ThisPaintingLife Oh, I just found this reply, thank you! You just opened a whole new chapter for me, up to now I've been studiously covering every square inch with paint, even if it meant ruining some really neat effects. There have been many, many fails because of that, when I was just so happy with what I did have & then seriously overworked it trying to recreate the magic. It was "constipating" me, so I'm very glad to have found this info before starting FYJ taster, yay for me!

[@lgmount]

Do you teach classes?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

At this current moment, I am not teaching however I do teach and my most recent class just a few months back. ❤

[@mohandas1621]

Your paintings are nice. They are abstract paintings, but are they abstract art? Thank you. Please comment.

[@owenhaibach9648]

An abstract painting by definition is abstract art