Paint with Me | Loosening up with movement & freedom | abstract painting techniques

Revisiting a technique great for loosening up and getting started with abstract landscape painting. Join me in this studio session, where I work into the next six paintings of an ongoing series exploring what the outdoors means to me.
Recently, I've been holding myself back with the need to re-invent the wheel all the time in my creative practice. I've made this video and project, structured to help a little with that. Stay tuned to see how it develops!
Here's a link to watch the first video in this series of Outdoors paintings: • Paint with Me | Workin...
Today I'm working from footage shot in the north west of Scotland, taking in views hiking up two munros, and exploring the summer isles by sea.
These works will be available for sale on completion of the series - sign up to my monthly newsletter for early access to the works, releasing in November: www.orlastevens.com
Follow along with my journey on instagram at: orlastevens
Substack Blog: substack.com/@orlastevens
Website: www.orlastevens.com
Patreon: / orlastevens
00:00 Intro
00:58 Summary
01:57 Exercise to loosen up
06:22 Current painting series
07:08 Inspiration & Ideas
09:16 Next day in the studio
10:33 Removing Tape & Completing Work

[@raerae6422]

How clever to have footage as inspiration!

[@annamichels111]

She’s only gone and done it again!!! beautiful Orla 😍

[@OrlaStevens]

💙💙💙💙 thanks Anna!

[@francescaaburabi964]

Omg I LOVED it! LOVE the paintings!!! When I see new content from you I save it, like a treat, like a squirrel, putting up little nuts to feed me! I’m quite selective about what I will give my consciousness over to, your videos never leave me feeling depleted. They feel generous and honest and nourishing. Grateful ❤

[@ulrikeselleckart]

Agree!

[@Lightpoetry.]

Also agree!☺️

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you for such a beautiful comment, it really means a lot! and your squirrel analogy gave me a chuckle 😊 I’m so glad they’re energy giving, exactly what I hope they offer people 🌞

[@stacyg8847]

Thank you for sharing your process. "Joy is found..." and "Growing..." came right through my monitor and touched my heart. For me, words matter so the titles also spoke to me. I'm also impressed at your ability to crawl on the floor for your painting sessions. Peace.

[@OrlaStevens]

Hey! Thank you - I'm really enjoying learning more about how to use words, so I'm glad they resonated! haha helps me combat hours at a laptop 🪑

[@kascialelonek8757]

This video was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. I absolutely love your art AND the titles. Subscribed

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you so much! Lovely to have you here 😊

[@artworld9799]

Great work my dear friend🌹Very beautiful painting🎨🎨🌹 wish you a great success🏆💪🏆💪 ❤❤

[@katleenemmenscreating]

Love how you work, the concept, the way you connect art with playfullness, love your words, how you connect with nature, your channel is a true treasure to learn and get inspiration from! Thank you. ❤🎉

[@OrlaStevens]

That’s lovely to hear it’s resonating with you, thanks so much! ☀️

[@teresavedovato3897]

Wonderful!!! (From Belgium)😂❤

[@OrlaStevens]

💙 thanks so much!

[@arttulip100561]

This series is so inspiring. I’ve never thought of making a video for painting inspiration. Can’t wait to try it. Your art is thrilling to me. ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

It’s so much fun, hope you enjoy the process! Aw thanks so much! ☀️

[@jennytellier631]

Love the video idea when putting down those first marks. And your commentary is so considered and reflective, love that about your channel. Thanks for sharing!

[@OrlaStevens]

It’s really fun, can’t recommend it enough! I need to try it out at the finishing stages of a painting too, see what happens then 😊

[@melissahobson1405]

Your titles would never be considered corny by anyone with a heart and soul! 🌟 There is so much love and care placed in every single detail and it is known and felt.💕💕

[@OrlaStevens]

That’s so lovely, thank you! I’m glad they resonate with you, because they’re feeling great to work with 😊💙

[@alisonlyons4691]

Hello a new sub here 🙂Im delighted you popped up on my utube feed. Love this set of paintings, they are indeed full of energy and cheery colour. My Grandpa wsa born in Reiff overlooking the Summer lsles. So much inspiration in that area. Thank you for the idea of painting to videos. I use my photography as reference for painting, but now will try the videos. Thank you.....Alioban

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! It’s such a beautiful part of the world, Reiff has amazing rocks! One of those special places 😊 ah good luck, hope you enjoy using the video!

[@rohandahiya6289]

Your videos are always such an inspiring, calming vibe. Thanks for sharing your process and your art!

[@OrlaStevens]

haha, I just can't stand to waste the paint 😅 although making backgrounds for things is a perfect way to use it up too! It's such a tasty process that one, gets such good paint brush textures 😄

[@AshleyMurphyArt]

That’s awesome your channel has grown so fast!

[@OrlaStevens]

It’s so exciting!! Feels a bit surreal 😊

[@samanthareid966]

I love how alive these paintings feel! You can really feel the movement and joy in them, which I can only imagine is even better in person! Can’t wait to see the whole alphabet and I’m amazed at how much work you can create so quickly! ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! ☀️ I’m wondering how long the whole alphabet will take me - both daunted and excited about the volume to come 😊

[@snowandinksoul]

This gave me lots of inspiration to get back into painting! Also, the paintings are stunning 😍 The energy you can see and feel is amazing and every painting has a different one!

[@OrlaStevens]

woohoo that's great to hear! thanks so much 😊

[@pawshire]

I really enjoy this video! Your sketches are really cool!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! 💙

[@carlalaatje]

I love these works! I find the figures in them very exciting. For me they give your work an extra layer of meaning. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you - and that’s really interesting! I’m planning to play around with the idea more to see if it settles, as it’s something pretty new for me 😊

[@Mirathehermit]

nice artblog, u got my subscription

[@OrlaStevens]

thank you, great to have you here!

[@romanowskiart]

Very interesting ideas, love it

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much 🌻

[@redwing3969]

This video was such joy to watch, both the process and the results, and the beautiful footage of north-west Scotland. All wonderfully inspiring! Glad this popped up in my recommended... subscribed😊💜

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello 👋 aw thanks so much - I’m glad you enjoyed the footage too! It’s such a beautiful place 😊

[@remodernist]

this was great. i do a similar game sometimes, making drawings from tv shows, but never tried it with colour. thanks :) PS the figures worked really well, particularly the JOY one

[@OrlaStevens]

Ooo I haven’t tried that - I’ve seen people work from films too, which could be fun! Thank you! I think I need some space from them before they’ve settled, going to play around with that idea a bit more ✨

[@alicecilepin9370]

Love your work….. I also love nature and enjoy getting inspiration from it…. Really enjoyed watching your intuitive mixed media approach as this is something I do and is quite rare to find much of this on KZbin that satisfies my curiosity on others artists processes…… I love that as artists we all have our own individual ways of doing things, but also when I find similarities in the approach, it excites and inspires me to continue with my own expression, the feeling that im not totally alone in my craziness lol Thanks for sharing! Im in London and have only been to Scotland twice, to Glasgow and Edinburgh….. My grandmother is a Bruce and always spoke about the tartan and things….. I really need to see more of this beautiful place sometime!,,,, so thanks for sharing all this beauty in your vids too! 😍Have a lovely week!!!!…. 👍👌

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello! Thank you so much, I'm really glad it resonates with you :) It's always great when you find people on similar paths or approaches, helps make it feel like something bigger I think! It's honestly such a great place, so much to see in such a small area :)

[@Lightpoetry.]

Thank you Orla! 🤗 It is so interesting to learn about your process! You have such original ways of approaching your work, love it! It also helps me question about my own intentions and find the process that suits me best in my practice. This video footage idea is brilliant! I am use to take up close photos of nature textures when I go hiking, but maybe I’ll try this for fun😉Yep, as always, this video is a real gold nugget of inspiration!

[@OrlaStevens]

You’re more than welcome 😊 that’s great to hear it’s prompting some questions in your own work, I hope it leads you to some ideas & processes! It’s lots of fun working to film - I imagine stringing lots of photos together would work great too! 🌞

[@mysoulrambles]

"Growing to be a better person" is my fave but love the little figure in "Joy is found....." 😊

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! Excited to see where these figures take me in future paintings 😊

[@dancingwithefloor]

AMASING WORK Orla

[@OrlaStevens]

That’s so cool!!! Thanks for sharing that with me - I feel intrinsically drawn to the sea, and have painted several collections of paintings based on edgelands and shores - maybe my name has something to do with it 😌

[@susananielsen8911]

Really great work, very inspiring🌺🌺🌺

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much 😊

[@dianecharest8365]

You are a true artist, with so much planning and knowing exactly what you are doing. Those look so beautiful when you put them on the wall.

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello 👋 thank you! I’m really happy with how this set turned out ✨

[@liannejohnson5491]

I am really loving this series! The textures...and watching you combine materials in ways that make me nervous 😂. You are inspiring me to be more brave with my supplies! 😎 Your pieces are ones I could look at for ages and keep finding new things. Thank you!

[@OrlaStevens]

Haha that’s brilliant; just go for it! The worst thing that happens is it goes in a sketchbook 😊 aw that’s lovely - that’s something I’ve been hoping my paintings do for people!

[@hellejensen9914]

These are really just gorgeous -and very inspirational process - thanx for sharing 🙏😊🖍

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! I hope it gives you some ideas 💡 😊

[@janechorlton5015]

Love your process....and results! Thank you for sharing.❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! 🌞

[@ceciliawenwen]

My favorite channel ♥

[@OrlaStevens]

💙💙💙

[@CathSheard]

I love the energy your works have ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you! ☀️

[@philipanderson2627]

excellent art Orla, and I so miss Scotland

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you ☀️ it is a special place!

[@LMuse9]

I just discovered your channel and I love your work and hearing about your approach. Looking forward to more. ❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello! Thanks so much 😊

[@ChantelleArts]

fantastic video, i love all the tips you give ❤❤

[@OrlaStevens]

Thank you, I’m glad they resonate! 💙

[@LemonadeOnMars]

I just discovered your channel last night and am totally inspired by your work and process. Thank you for sharing with us :) You may have answered this 100 times already and I apologise if so-- but how do you manage to store all of your loose papers that are covered in artwork? This is a problem I haven't found a decent solution for and lately it's really getting in the way..!

[@OrlaStevens]

Thanks so much! haha no worries at all, and actually it's a new one! I keep them in hardback folders, with greaseproof paper in between the pages if i've used oil pastels :) I've got this one by Daler Rowney - www.cassart.co.uk/daler-rowney-earthbound-portfolio/

[@LemonadeOnMars]

@@OrlaStevens Thanks so much, this does look like just the thing!

[@charlesrankin6768]

Columbia SC USA. 81 year old.

[@OrlaStevens]

Hello! 👋 great to have you here 😊