PAINT TALK: Why I DON'T like TIGHT painting as much as LOOSE painting

[@samuelmuiga3101]

When I see hyper realistic paintings I think "wow! you mean that's a painting?" when I see a great loose painting I think "wow! What a show stopper!" I prefer to acknowledge a great painting than questioning if it's one.

[@123agidee_2]

The fewer marks on a painting, the more perfect each one has to be.

[@jacobl6714]

true true

[@ScilexGuitar]

Reminds me of pixel art, where you are limited to a few pixels, each one has more importance

[@amysbees6686]

Absolute right about seeing loose painting in person! When I first saw a Monet, Van Gogh and a Rembrandt I was completely blown away! Seeing them up CLOSE is literally life-changing!

[@123agidee_2]

I think Rembrandt is the greatest portraitist of all time

[@nidhimoda605]

@@123agidee_2 Yep, Rembrant's portraits are epic and ahead of their time. And Van Gogh is such a great Impressionist. The thick impasto strokes . . .

[@danikaiser6508]

These paint talk videos are so helpful. Starting too early with detail and a small brush is perhaps my biggest problem.

[@hijodelaisla275]

I agree. There's something magical about how a loosely-painted canvas comes together when you step back. Photo-realist painting certainly demonstrates a skill, but it's a skill that can be matched and surpassed by a photograph. Both have their place. A painter friend once said, paintings should be of ordinary things; it's the study of those subjects that elevates them. Photographs should be records of extraordinary things, a moment captured. There are exceptions, of course, but I think it's a pretty good guide.

[@Insomnia_tic]

I think thats arbitrary. No offense, but with art you should do what you want, when you want.

[@hijodelaisla275]

@@Insomnia_tic I wasn't stating a rule; I thought I made that clear. So your "arbitrary" criticism is for something I didn't say. The only restriction to art is who gets to experience it.

[@stevechmilar1215]

There is one major quandary within the distinction between "tight" and "loose". With subject matter that is already known to the viewer, a painter can get away with a very loose interpretation of the subject matter. The eye of the viewer fills in the missing information. If the artist is creative enough to invent something that no one has ever seen before, they must render it accurately enough to communicate to the viewer what it is that they are seeing. Keep in mind also, that our perception of "tight" and "loose" depends on how closely we view a painting. Many pieces that appear "tight" can reveal a great deal of interesting painterly abstraction when viewed up close.

[@donjohn8668]

Y3s stev3, I totally agree. Because you see, a painting is best appreciated from a distance🤌

[@seanfaherty]

I dunno Nobody had ever seen a Van Gogh before but they filled in the details just fine

[@relevant_nebula]

I like your tips and talks. I have not started oil painting yet but you're inspiring me

[@paintcoach]

You can do it! Paint something and tag me on IG

[@crystalh6570]

Same here!

[@connielouu]

This made me excited to explore loose painting styles!

[@suecypher1100]

It’s so helpful to watch you paint along with hearing your teaching! Love it!

[@sylviapaints]

What you said about viewing art on screen - Yes 😭 I get so sad thinking about how few people have actually saw my paintings bc they’ve only saw them on screens. It is honestly not the same. Also thank you, this video was super helpful!

[@robertotcr]

Those things have always been on my mind whenever I imagine a painting, especially in attempts to painting from imagination. I once wished that my paintings would look realistic, and nowadays I realize that for me, it makes not much of a sense, because I want them to be noticed as paintings, not mistaken for photographs. Good talk.

[@marthaslater318]

I've been drawing and painting my whole life but have never felt I was painting the way I wanted to. In my old age I want to learn how to paint looser and quicker and more expressively. I'm so glad I happened upon your YourTube Channel! Your style is resonnating with me and I want to catch up on your tutorials. I don't see how to do your free course but will keep looking.

[@burak5601]

Chris you’re really one of the greatest oil painting teacher I’ve seen so far. Great lessons with perfect teaching methods, tips and answers. I want to thank you a lot once again for the time and energy you’re putting into this, really appreciate it :)

[@roxykcny]

Now I know why I like your work so much. Your paintings remind me of Fairfield Porter.

[@lisa-gayle9939]

This is, honestly, the most helpful video I’ve ever seen (for me) since painting loosely is probably my hardest thing to achieve! I’ll start out loose and gradually start tightening up. It’s frustrating! Thanks for this great information! Gonna go paint now...hopefully loosely! 🥴

[@paintcoach]

I'm so glad you got something out of the video!

[@tubeyou126226]

I have the same problem! My natural tendency and comfort zone is to try and paint what I see as accurately as possible, that being the challenge. BUT it can be painstaking, at times, and not at all as creative and free as trying to loosely capture the true "essence" of the subject being portrayed. I'm still working on getting "loose."

[@enderwiggin8947]

Wow! that was brilliant. The painting and the talk. I have never painted anything in my life and I'm now inspired. I"m 50.

[@lisengel2498]

Like you I love loose painting styles - they seem to catch a free rhythm and to somehow express the pulse and movement of an image - and painting has the possibility of expressing experience from a synkinaesthetic perspective - not just visual, but tactile, kinetic, etc - you can feel it in a multidimensional way -

[@TheChristineLindsay]

Brilliant. I thank you so much, for not only giving a spoken tutorial, but a visual one at the same time. You are right; I get so tired of watching videos when all I see is the artist's face. I'm following you now.

[@patrickcharles7190]

Great advice. Everything was spot on and helpful and doesn't appear that your only motivation is to sell a product...like other channels....which usually means the meaningful stuff is intentionally left out. I've been painting for 30 years and your advice is sincere. I always tell people to NOT learn how to paint on youtube. This is a channel I will recommend. A natural teacher.....Coach.

[@jmotiondance8944]

Amazing! Glad I found you here. Thank you. So much to learn from you.

[@purelovepaintings5075]

you seriously should have a million viewers

[@Randaakarim]

the karate hands cracked me up! thank you so much for this, I actually wrote down your tips to keep them as a reminder

[@evelynbrogli830]

I like the new format.

[@surftheride]

Great format of listening with the painting happening in the background! Love it! Please do it every time!!!

[@bradad2026]

Appreciate watching you painting, even in time-lapse, because not only does it highlight what you said about shapes but it also demonstrated the need to add any essential details at the end of the painting process. Too many times I have found that putting any detail in too early really restricts looseness.

[@RealityRisingArt]

Thank you so much for this video, it was very helpful. I would also like to thank you for saying that this comes down to personal taste instead of saying "realism isn't art" like so many others. I draw with coloured pencils and I've always been obsessed with realism and hyper realism because I genuinely love it. I've recently tried oil painting and I love them! I'm trying to try out different styles of oil painting 😊

[@Chronomatrix]

I struggle a lot with this and somehow always end up trying to place things as accurately as possible, to the smallest shadow. It's crazy how it's way more difficult to paint loosely than "realistically".

[@Pstrawberry-t7s]

I don’t agree with you. Painting realistically is such a talent and gift; not to say loose painting isn’t. When it’s so realistic that you can’t tell the difference between a painting and photo, imagine the skill involved. There were many master painters who painted in realism style. I wouldn’t say the style is better, I think it is just a preference. Personally I prefer Realism but I also love the loose painting style.

[@antiquitesiletaitunboismeu9284]

You are crazy! I like all your explanations. It is clear, sometimes funny and very enlightening...

[@MYRIAMLATEUR]

One of your tutorials teach me more than eight hours of academy training... Love you for that! Thanks a huge lot!

[@frankovitchgrimowski4950]

Thanks coach, nice lessen today. (Liked and watched all the ads!) and thanks for showing the pallet.

[@paintcoach]

I appreciate it!

[@laurieyork5186]

Right on Chris! You sum up the painting process so concisely and so well. What a terrific teacher you are. Thank you!

[@jessica5497]

Yeah, I love to see the brush strokes

[@howardhill3395]

Spontaneous enjoyment & interpretation by the painter comes thru in the looser brush strokes. This is more interesting to me than precise detail which can be conveyed by a photo.

[@edwardpittar648]

Chris, really like your new format of videos.

[@paintcoach]

Glad you like them!

[@hmmmph3578]

By the way... You and just two other channels on youtube I consider to be the BEST channels to watch to learn to paint.

[@senseofwonder0]

What are the other two? :>

[@brendaword9010]

This was one of the most helpful videos I have listen to. So many tips and ideas for improvement!

[@elsombrero105]

Thank you for such a great explanation of the most valuable things to paint loose. I've found this really helpful!

[@michaelbone5177]

nice call on the timelapse. i usually listen while painting but this is more visually engaging. i also love the loose style! just getting into a rhythm with my landscapes. thanks!!

[@ruthmoore2246]

I. Really like what are you doing. Great job. I like your style talk and show how do you really paint. I love it..

[@lylebranch6660]

Love love love this video. I'm a recently retired pharmacist & have painted off & on for decades. I've always appreciated & started many of my paintings with the intent of using as you say "loose painting". Thinking because decades of a profession where I had to focus on details it became a part of my paintings to always end up with great tight detail. This program gave me fresh techniques that I believe will help me overcome this tight detailed style. Thanks.

[@claygreen4723]

I like the loose style because it shows off the artist's style vs. their technical ability. If I want to see an exact representation of something I can simply look at a photo. Be yourself!

[@BJBreukelman]

I'll be honest here, Chris. I prefer tighter paintings. My own goal as an artist is to eventually achieve a level of realism... where even up close, observers go "wow that looks like a dang photo! " But that said, I'm still working on some of you're coaching at least in the block in. If I can be accurate with drawing and values in block in, then that informs and supports subsequent layers... it takes some of the brain work out of things later in the painting. But here's something I do struggle with... when you're photo reference doesn't match the aspect ratio of your canvas. So it means you have to fill in things that may be cropped out of the photo... In that, maintaining values, continuity of texture and light source without redundancies. Any tips there? Thank you for the videos as always!

[@kylebalmer3396]

What a pointless waste of time, just use a camera if that's what you want

[@BJBreukelman]

@@kylebalmer3396 can't take a photo of something... or somewhere I am creating myself . What a judgmental and short sided comment.

[@kylebalmer3396]

@@BJBreukelman you're not creating anything at all if you're just copying

[@BJBreukelman]

@@kylebalmer3396 well, good morning, sir. My composition is usually my own. Admittedly, a few are direct from photo. But I always use photo reference to capture textured, lighting, and environment as best I can. And capturing a photo realistic look still takes all the skill and practice of an impressionistic artist. (Which, btw, I'm not even close yet. I need a lot more practice. ) No matter what, at the end of the day... even copying can teach. The artist can still enjoy the process. An observer can still enjoy the finished work. The artist can still say that the finished painting wasn't made by a machine (camera). They did it with their own hand. Sure, the idea in the painting is copied, but not the work itself. There's art out there that I don't understand either. There's this thing out there now where the whole painting is literally a single solid color. And it sells!!! But I'm not going to judge the artist, call what they enjoy a waste of their time. You don't like my kind of art. Fine, sir. No judgment whatsoever. But that's all you had to say if you felt you had to say something. Artist get a bad rap already. Within the artist community, can we at least treat each other with a bit more dignity? With current events in our country, do we not have enough negativity already.

[@BJBreukelman]

@@kylebalmer3396 I've just watched a few of your videos. And honestly, I'm surprised your comment came from you. Your clearly a talented artist. You can verbalize and teach your techniques, and you seem like a pretty cool person... so why the lash out at me??? One of your videos is specifically about capturing realistic skin. This is all I was tasking about in my original comment... realistic even up close vs the looser impressionistic look. Communicating form, texture, light source(es) shadows. Can we get off on a better foot here ?

[@annmurphy677]

Helpful tips. Thank you-I’m going to utilize your block in technique-excellent!

[@georgesaccoccio6923]

Chris, I’ve always learned something valuable from your channel, this video, however, is among your very best. The time lapse is most helpful in learning to see the large underlying shapes of your subject.

[@susannehawthorne4423]

I love your videos! Watching you paint while listening to your advice and instruction was awesome! (But we still got to see you talking in there too! Not just a voice from the beyond!) This was wonderful. Thank you!!!

[@julienielsen3746]

I've been painting with acrylics since 1969. Finally I'm getting my paintings to look the way I want. I've wanted to paint loose but not messy. Now I've started to block in the colors loosely and not flat like I've always done. That has helped me get more texture and looser look. Plus letting some undercoat color show through a little around the edges. Then I start adding details, but not too tight. I'm working on 8X10 boards right now. Doing still life paintings with birds added. Very happy with how they're turning out. I'm working from photos, but not adding every little detail.

[@catherinestotesbery9509]

So many good tips in such a short time ! Thank you!

[@kidneycarecoaching3766]

This is so helpful and actually common sense when you think about it

[@hsc3247]

Thank you! I am/was so lost about a few of these things and you are so right on. Every beginner issue you mentioned is exactly my problem. This is a great video. Much appreciated.

[@ghost21501]

I'm working on a very detailed painting of lake Como from a photo I took when I was on vacation there. I will try my best to loosen things up and keep yor advice in mind.

[@grinderinthelid]

Thanks for this video! I’ve been longing for bigger faster brush strokes. After watching this I tried some paintings without my contacts in … and I am BLIND! 🤣 I was amazed what it did for the color and the brush strokes. Looking forward to watching more of your videos!

[@maggietattersfield2859]

You really are a good tutor. Thank you . Also when you don’t talk so fast like a high pressure salesman, I am tempted to subscribe to your patreon course.

[@briantownsley2718]

this is exactly my problem... . putting in too much detail right off and not filling in the whole painting first. good video. and I have cut down the size of my canvas from 16x20 to 11x14.

[@susiesunshine1969]

Awesome talk. I'm still learning the value and drawing basics but I really get what you're saying about an economy of strokes. I tend to try to "fix" my painting with more details. Keep the talks coming!

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! Will do!

[@Alucard33592]

I have that problem when I use pencils makes my drawings look flat with painting I get around it by using a thicker brush then I can really use for detail lol

[@jonathano.7109]

Good down-to-earth practical advice - and a great painting!

[@anastasiahertrich4745]

Great video for painters overly concerned with detail!

[@mazsroy9]

You explain very well. Glad I came across you. Subscribed and hope to watch you as much as possible. Thank you.

[@markahearn1]

I have heard all of this advice before but it is nice to hear it again once in a while till it becomes second nature.

[@helentretyakova7888]

I prefer loose paintings as well and love this video. Your oil for beginners video convinced me to go get the supplies 2 days ago and start. I was scared to transfer from acrylic and now I'm so in love this is what I've been wanting my paintings to have (more feeling to them) and that's what the oil did. So I just want to say thank you!

[@yonigreenberg2183]

Most of the stuff you're teaching applies beyond oil painting. I use acrylic paint. I've learned a lot from you. Thanks.

[@paintcoach]

Love to hear this! I have been experimenting with acrylics lately to help teach and bridge the gap with oils.

[@eiacollantes5731]

thanks for this! really enjoyed watching this

[@msmlfreeman]

Just found your channel and am excited! Your tips are awesome and timely. You addressed a couple of issues that I had tried many times to address...without total success. Some improvement, yes, but I wanted more and you gave me that. Thank you.

[@NCWildHeART]

I was doing so much commission work I fell into a real realism tightness that was excruciating. Watching videos like yours has really helped me get back to my roots. I think it's so important to celebrate paintings as... PAINTINGS. I think that's part of the art form. I feel like if I wanted to be photo realistic, I'd just take a photograph. Thank you so much for the great resources and continued encouragement!

[@michaeltar9978]

Great video man just so much great information 👍🏼👍🏼 hearing your confident casual confirmation of so many things that float through my doubting mind makes my game way stronger.Thanks ~

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Discovered this channel and really enjoy it! I love to watch skilled oil painters paint, because I am not one of those. My personal favorite is watercolor, which I have been doing a long time. I took an oil painting class once. I had to gesso and sand the canvas three times. Then I did a drawing of the still life I was presented, which took hours. Then I had to paint over my drawing with this brown stuff that totally obliterated the drawing I spent a long time on, so I had to guess where everything was, and it looked like a splotchy, badly drawn, unblended mess. I was really discouraged.

[@Twenty9point97]

I've been painting for a little while and I always get bogged down in the details EVERY TIME. Appreciate the tips on keeping things loose 🤙

[@ddk2797]

I have always felt just the opposite, it was the photo quality of paintings that I found interesting. The more realistic and detail, the better. I paint about as tight as you can, always have. But it is not fun. To have fun at painting you just have to loosen up a bit. We should enjoy painting, it should not be pain ting! Your great advice will help me I'm sure. Thanks.

[@ronm9428]

Thanks for all the great tips on painting loose. I've been painting almost a year and this is a big hurdle...I have the tendency to lean close to the canvas instead of getting arm's length away.

[@demej00]

Big shapes. Values. I just did a study and it looked awful. Then found your video, went back and painted better values over the large shapes and wow, it helped a lot. Still a stinker, but much much better. Thanks.

[@EdgarKohl]

In a fast paced environment it it's very tempting to fall into the entrapment or working loosely all the way, in my case I'd prefer to combine tight methods on up close subjects but leave the loose parts for background work.

[@PaulMartin-fu5qg]

Brilliant tips well done!

[@stevecarbone9759]

You explain the process very well . Thankyou

[@atroutflycrazy8057]

Thanks Chris , it's not easy finding a balance between loose individual expressive marks and tight smooth highly detailed paintings. I think both have advantages and disadvantages. But a great piece of art is great regardless. John sargent painted loose on paintings and vermeer paintings were extremely tight but personally i think sargent found a right balance between the two for my taste. I think a painting that gives you all the story in full detail aren't always the most interesting.

[@lindischoltz1146]

Fantastic advise!!!

[@Туристизмирамертвых]

Thank you, Chris, for this tutorial. It is very helpful for me.

[@zenoist2101]

I like abstract painting and do it because I like it. Theres no right way to do it and its always good fun and experimental and see what happens. I do draw portraits to keep my hand in at realistic though .

[@charmcrumrine8750]

Thank you this helped a lot!

[@kerryheller1754]

Just watched one of your videos. Thanks. Looking forward to following you.

[@weekendatbernies2265]

Really picking up Amazing tips and going to get busy! Thanks for inspiring me! Also Love the Lucy drawing tool commercials 😂

[@buddybrown1713]

Great lesson

[@jamestierney7123]

Great stuff love the block in. New format is super seeing you painting. ? No sign up for your newsletter, I want to know when you year end program comes out 👍🏻

[@stevenshackelford1937]

So we'll said! TY

[@kimbreawhaleywhaley6767]

I love it Love the painting im getting lots of tips

[@lankabhumi1114]

Good coach!

[@2broger]

Outstanding.

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

Chris, this was such an important Paint Talk video for me. I spent the first 20 years painting details, and the last 20 trying to undo it. You are so right. Easy to be detailed, and you have to really know what your doing to paint loose. And yes, values another issue I’ve struggled with. Thanks for the tips, ( paint small, bigger brush) which by the way, I just got in an order of brushes from Rosemary and Co. thanks for everything, Chris. 😄

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! Glad you like the video! Rosemary and Co are the best!

[@maple5703]

I also just ordered brushes from Rosemary and Co. I let them know that it was you, Chris, who recommended them! Thanks 😊

[@paintcoach]

@@maple5703 thanks so much! They actually commented on one of my videos so hopefully in the future I could have an official brush set with them.

[@maple5703]

@@paintcoach you deserve it, Coach!

[@jonathanlow1494]

Totally agree with you on your points. I find the modern allure of hyper-realistic painting hard to understand. It is very impressive sure, but a camera or photocopier can do a similar job, so for me it is more reproduction than art.

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

7:21 oh I totally feel called out 😅 I did a painting recently of a cosplayer dressing up as Yuno Gasai. I mean I guess it's good for someone who's never painted with oil paint before but man it was brutal. First face look like a surprised blow up doll.. then look like the kid from Madd TV.. and finally I managed to get it from uncanny valley to something that looks nearly human and feminine. I probably spent 3 days on just her face trying to fix it. In the end; it's exactly what you said. People look at certain things more than others and you mess up the face and the rest of the portrait is ignored 😅

[@hollylong2511]

This was full of great tips! Thanks!

[@Elisa001]

Lol you’re endings are too cute. I have a question: when do you know that your drawing skill is developed enough to move into oil painting? Or should you just start painting with oils and work on your drawing skills simultaneously?

[@paintcoach]

Don't wait! Just start painting. You'll get drawing practice automatically just from painting.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

You could do Drawing daily at least 15minutes (post dinner) and paint whenever you have good time. It helped me a lot.

[@hmmmph3578]

I could draw before I started painting, which is the reason I learned to paint relatively quickly. If I were doing it simultaneously, I think I'd be most afraid of feeling discouraged with myself when things didn't look right and I didn't know how to fix them. Having said that, I've seen brilliant work by people who couldn't draw.

[@mikeg3660]

Really helpful… thanks.

[@iCharlesT]

Thank you so much! Your tips are very helpful!

[@pedroden6561]

Can’t subscribe until there is some painting instruction. 😆😆😆

[@creativesolutionstoart]

I love using water brushes with ink in them because they create such a loose watercolor a style or the board line. But every time I take a picture of it with my iPhone, it just looks like crap! LOL it over corrects, and puts it in HD, and takes away all the flow and flattens it out. LoveThis video

[@regandanielle]

I appreciate your videos so much. You are so to the point, it’s great. Do you have any tips for painting small faces loosely?

[@JGOREWXYZ]

awesome mate

[@jaym3064]

Solid fundamental advice!

[@goosecouple]

Good points. This is video I need.

[@lisarettig2740]

Thank you

[@H.m.d_art]

Thanks for the tips. Love from iran 💕