Painting Clouds and Abstract Art

Plein Air Artist Stefan Baumann Talks about painting clouds and how to use abstract art to create them

[@attheranch4876]

I love that you aren’t afraid to give an honest critique. When I was an art school some of the most painful critiques ended up being the most helpful. Not the critiques need to be painful to be helpful, but they really stuck in my mind and I understood what was being said to me.

[@vaneta6937]

Thank you Mr. Baumann, I always walk away with new, helpful information from your videos. We can hear/read the same information in a hundred different ways from a hundred different people/instructors, yet it takes that one special person/instructor that we connect with and it is like a light bulb turning on and we get that aaaha moment. Again... thank you for being the switch that creates the connection for so many individuals, but especially for myself, thank you.

[@StefanBaumann]

Wow thanks that make me want to do videos for ever. I'm glad that you get something of value from these videos and your comment really means allot. Thanks

[@PseudoBasser]

oh my... LOVE that statement! "Let the restorers figure out how to save Your paintings a hundred years from now. If You like painting on masonite, do it!" VERY well put! thank You!

[@salcarusomusic]

OH ! Talk about synchronicity ... Excellent !! Thank you Stefan

[@didee3333]

You are so inspirational , and right now I am feeling very blessed to have found you. Wishing you everything beautiful in your life. Thank you for sharing your wisdom so eloquently. 💖

[@reyan777]

Thank you, I was looking for this tool and now I know how to use it too. I learn so much from your videos.

[@HopiTrails1]

Thankyou Mr.Baumann for the Gesso /rustoleum info ,super helpful

[@sydneyc6190]

Am I making excuses for my art or am I trying to become a great artist, this is what your lectures do for me I love it! Thank for sharing your knowledge and insight.

[@dianakrah4293]

To me, abstract art is so fascinating, because it gives permission to the spectator to see, what they choose to see.

[@tangents6299]

I am tickled PINK I found you. You're AWESOME, thanks!

[@normanlove222]

I can listen to this guy all day long. He needs a TV show.

[@tangents6299]

He has one

[@hr2186]

Great vid Mr. Baumann!

[@xphyee]

Been watching your videos all day today, I don't even do landscapes, nor do I paint, I do crappy digital illustrations yet some of the information in these videos have been very valuable and insightful. Thank you.

[@artgalleryandcraftsbydeb9135]

I just stumbled onto your videos. I would just like to say how much I am learning from you. I have always been an artist from the time I was very young. I have never had an art class-so I guess you would say I am self taught. I usually work from photos. Plan to do more of the hands on-real life stuff. What I like about your instruction is you take time to explain things and not just picking up a paint brush and saying here this is how you do it. ( as I have seen so many others do.) You seem to have a real connection with your students and it makes the video also seem like you are there with you in the room. Thanks for all your great teaching and hope I can improve on my art as well. My theory is if you think you CAN'T do it, then you probably won't. If you believe you CAN do it you most certainly will succeed or at least give it the best you have at the time. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

[@dogeeen]

Just plain awesome and funny and extremely interesting!

[@StefanBaumann]

Funny? thanks LOL

[@msjheslop]

Gosh, Stefan, a lot of your criticism is spot on, but you need to say something nice about people's efforts before you knock them down! Take the first one: lovely foreground colour and mastery of cloud formation. You've got to tell students what you like about what they've done (even if it's just a good effort) or you will crush them. I was in agony watching this, thinking about the folks who were being torn apart. I've been a university instructor of English for many years, and always do this as I've seen the effect that nothing but negative criticism has on people. The sandwich method (positive -- critical -- positive) will not only help your students learn by encouraging them, but it will also reinforce the right things they are doing. It's a basic pedagogical method. .....Finally, further along in the video, you finally admire one and everybody else (who've now been beaten into submission, hanging on your every word, hoping to hear something positive) applaud because somebody finally did something right! Terrible! Personally, if I were in your class, I would feel completely discouraged and drop out after day one!

[@HondoTrailside]

I hear a lot of older voices and seemingly people he seems to know. Snowflake free zone one can hope.

[@jentextiles]

I have learnt more from your videos about painting than anything else, just got my BA Fine Art Degree thanks to your tuition! Bangor University Wales......

[@StefanBaumann]

your not the first person to say so Thanks

[@jdjones4825]

Cymru ...................nice landscapes up that part of home

[@martiwalsh2069]

"The world isn't pastel unless you have cataracts." perfect.

[@hwleitner2009]

Thoroughly enjoyable watching and listening to you.

[@StefanBaumann]

thanks

[@SikhiArt]

Stefan I get your point about abstract art and drinking to inhibit critical and free flowing thoughts. However not thinking doesn't make one stupid. I am at least an average intelligence guy and I practice not thinking quite often. I would say it is integral to artistic practice to not think and to simply paint from the place of pure, uncluttered consciousness. Thinking can clutter consciousness and can reduce the quality of your paintings. Drinking while it may clear thoughts also inhibits consciousness from expressing it self so it's not good. What I do is meditate, to clear my mind and to become one with the painting and the painting process so to speak.

[@catleonard3107]

Hi Stefan, I stumbled across one of your youtube lectures last week and have been binge watching you ever since. Wonderful and inspiring stuff, like every show has an "ah-ha" moment for me. KZbin is a better place because of this channel. Thanks for sharing so generously. sincerely, cat.

[@StefanBaumann]

your welcome

[@lc9594]

Same here! I'm on my 6th one😊

[@chocolatcats]

this is so enjoyable... + cool clothes style Stefan...thank you for allowing us to watch this....

[@StefanBaumann]

Thanks

[@caroljohnson-rm1tj]

Wyoming clouds are so beautiful and they are always moving. Tried to capture them on my camera but you cant unless you use a video. Like your idea.

[@j1c9a5m6g]

hi, you mention Rustoleum as a primer is there a specific type that would be used for canvas or MDF board. love your youtube videos. straight talking and informative. great.

[@AlonzoTheArmless]

That painting at the 14:30 mark. Love it! That sky!!! Wow!!! Nice job. If that was painted large, it would be breathtaking.

[@AlonzoTheArmless]

Terrific video too. Great subject matter for it. I got a lot from this lecture.

[@StefanBaumann]

I agree

[@annfaulkner9344]

I’m learning so much from you ! What a shame I had to get to old age to find you.

[@MichaelKingArt]

Agree with you on 'gesso' is crap. Painting on it is torture. :D I am a fan of Zinnser oil primer but I will have to give Rustoleum a try.

[@CaptainRadack]

Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@morgantannerart]

My paintings have some balls. I laughed out loud at that line !!

[@AndrewInmanartist]

I agree witb the student saying abstract are was harder than expected. It's takes a specific way of thinking. To take color, perspective, and shape to create a painting without putting much thought into it is difficult. I've done a few random doodles of just lines that people liked. Started in the center and worked outward to allow perspective and focal point to be there. The most common abstract art is the designs in adult coloring books.

[@braddarnell2498]

I agree with his break downs of each painting. I would have said similar.

[@StefanBaumann]

You have a good eye...

[@prattcreekart]

Interesting observation about gesso. I've often thought that acrylic gesso was just like latex paint. I prefer the oil primed canvases. But have not tried rust oleum. Sounds like a great idea for panels.

[@positivenergylife]

Hello! Thank you very much for the interesting video! May i ask what a rustoleum spray are you talking about? Are acrylic canvases not good enough for oil painting?

[@carolpolhill606]

Enjoyed this. Will acrylic paint adhere to rustoleum? Thanks, Stefan.

[@OyaRevolutionary]

14.41 love the vibe

[@ArtssyAbs]

What type of rustoleum oil spray do you recommend? You mentioned it was for auto priming. Is it the universal type? This is interesting, I'd like to try it instead of the traditional gesso I've been using.

[@theillermusic]

Darn so harsh haha but great advice/teaching and that's whats important!!

[@Flippables]

There is one thing I do not completely agree with you. Our brains are not stupid. But we are used to quickly classifying the objects from our vantage point and at a scale that is comfortable to our eyes and our brains. Our brains are very efficient they learn fast how to dismiss the information that is not necessary to survive. There are many things around us in real life that can be viewed from an abstract point of view, sometimes all one has to do is just to change a scale or an angle. Layers of peeling paint on the rusty metal of a car can look amazingly abstract, and one does not have to paint the entire car. In fact, if the effect is magnified on the canvas it could appear much stronger (you would, probably, call it a study :)). There are shadows without the objects. There are things on a larger scale that look very abstract. Farming fields from the plane look very similar to abstract paintings with fields of color. And I'm not even talking about scientific photography (cells, galaxies), that is where very real things look amazingly abstract. Another words, abstraction is all around us, but we classify and judge so quickly that we tend to dismiss it.

[@anonymousfellowindian]

Thanks

[@mariecullenoliver1949]

Do you have a recommendation to prepare a surface on slate?

[@ZacharyZorbas]

Love your teaching Stefan but I also love your fashion style! Where do you shop?

[@tangents6299]

He has said he has his shirts made for him

[@chrishayman1747]

What colour is the spray primer you are recommending to spray Masonite?

[@DrachenPrime]

I like this painting at @9:31 looks really good, regardless of the lack of a central focal point. I like the colors and the bright red. I think for the first time Baumann was a bit too harsh on that one :D I probably don't see what he sees hehehe. I am a starter painter.

[@graemeherrington6673]

My take is that his point is that it wasn't what he asked for - I also think it looks pretty good as a landscape, but the homework was clouds and a minimal foreground.

[@MaZEEZaM]

Roosters LOL. Great upload :D

[@MaZEEZaM]

"How to tell our brain to be stupid?" Some people have this down to a fine art :D

[@bru1015]

What sheen with Rust Olium, and is it white, primer ????

[@Disirablepossessions]

what happens if you paint with acrylics on a board that has been primed with rusrolium?

[@pattykarma2576]

best video...funny :)

[@SharonCreamer671956]

You would like King Richard's Faire in Carver Massachusetts. This isn't a joke. The town is really called Carver. I didn't pick it! Anyway, we not only have King Richard's Faire, there, we also have Edaville Railroad, which is fun, too. King Richard's Faire -- kingrichardsfaire.net/ Edaville Railroad -- www.edaville.com/

[@LuzCanoPintodosSantos]

I Just love the way you teach! Is that oil? I am not allowed to paint in oils (enphisema in my lungs) Can I use your technics on acrilics? From Portugal.

[@StefanBaumann]

YEP

[@donnasmith4879]

Thanks Stefan, Love your videos! good info. Do you use rustoleum on canvas as well?

[@StefanBaumann]

NO just on boards

[@donnasmith4879]

what is best for priming canvas ?

[@Jay_Sullivan]

If you're painting with oil, use an oil-based primer; Killz makes a fairly inexpensive and easy-to-find one.

[@piscislunartarot1561]

I like his honesty in the critique.

[@StefanBaumann]

Thanks

[@JohnSmith-nc4rv]

Can we use Rust-Oleum on canvas or just Masonite? Rust-Oleum just seems like it would get brittle and crack if the canvas moved much. I need a way to lay down the background color fast rather than using acrylic which the canvas just seems to suck up and waste. Acrylic just seems slow, tedious, and wasteful as a background.

[@Jay_Sullivan]

Assuming you're painting in oil: for canvas, use an oil-based primer; Killz makes a fairly inexpensive and easy-to-find one.

[@leilahartman8426]

John Smith b

[@LuzCanoPintodosSantos]

Yes, we can do an abstract paint, but to do it seriusly, you must know why you are doing it that way! And for that, you may have to learn the basics of real painting and drawing! Today, every where there are trush that is exhibit as art! Like in the big exhibition at ARCO- Madrid!!!

[@caroljohnson-rm1tj]

Where are you teaching.

[@StefanBaumann]

San Jose, Redding and Medford and over the phone with coaching worldwide. Give me a call

[@karlfritz-fineart296]

What is your definition of "abstract art"?

[@StefanBaumann]

all art is communication either music or writing the creator must have something to communicate and the viewer must get it otherwise is it just wall paper

[@aliciapulcher8013]

You are always telling me to drink while painting. It could be the vodka, but I'm confused.

[@StefanBaumann]

That is a great quote Can I use it ?

[@aliciapulcher8013]

Stefan Baumann you bet.

[@aliciapulcher8013]

quote what?

[@geoffreymiler6624]

Same artist ofbronce earth

[@geoffreymiler6624]

Earn bronze earth

[@bramsanjanssan4908]

Do you mean atmospheric perspective? edit: Ah, aerial perspective is the synonym. ok

[@satchelyork]

The main problem is the clouds are painted with just white and gray. Try using naples yellow instead of just white for light in clouds. And then use pinks and blues for the shadows. Look at impressionist clouds all the colours in them. And just composition wise it is not interesting, looks like someone cut the middle out of a full horizontal painting. A portrait format landscape should not have a sky as a main part of the composition or focal point usually

[@tonihudson7319]

Maybe I just want water and sky......

[@howardhill3395]

Stefan, you know you can paint a feeling, in fact painting is feeling, and no it doesn't have to be figurative. It's not being dumb.

[@tina8palmer]

So many people are trying abstract painting these days, I see it all the time on facebook and there is a lot of bad work out there. From lack of conception to muddy color palettes.

[@vickihill2195]

I would love for you to critique some of my paintings I have a question are you married

[@StefanBaumann]

I love you

[@tonihudson7319]

So this teacher is a very successful very accomplished artist..???because he is the only one on the face of the earth that paints perfectly....????

[@tangents6299]

Those aren't clouds, per se, those are chemtrails remnants:(

[@narutobankai]

let me point out a subjective critic. let me commend you on a subjective technique. more art theoretical bs.

[@PlumbsmartPaul]

Don’t drink and paint. Hahaha

[@phillimbacher2223]

Stefan Baumann. I'm a fan of your channel. However, it seems to me that you're contradictory in your response to what I think much of abstract art is versus what you always stress in your class. Much abstract art - .e.g., Jackson Pollock - is about creating visual effects and about composition, leading the viewer's eye. That's exactly what I've heard you stress repeatedly: "We don't paint objects! We paint the effect of light on objects!" And you've stressed the value of composition, leading the viewer's eye around the canvass. I would think you would see some value in abstract artists extending that idea: they create effects and compositions while leaving out the objects altogether. I'm serious, not trying to just be clever. Your thoughts?

[@StefanBaumann]

It must be a human experience and a connection with the artist and the viewer and the viewer must get the message Art is communication

[@younzanraj1270]

Too much lecture less painting practice

[@milcotto4153]

This was very biased opinions that I mostly don't share...

[@naedolor]

Watt is love? Baby don't Hertz me Don't Hertz me No Morse

[@MaZEEZaM]

haha, I was thinking, "What's Love got to do, got to do with it, what's love but second hand emotion" :D

[@xavierghazi4939]

Perfectly inane assertions that only a dogmatic individual full of himself would make. To adopt and embrace figurative/representative form as the preferred approach is fine without a question, but to disparage other approaches as "stupid" is the ultimate stupidity in itself. A sign of limited intellect and a limited capacity to embrace all art forms as expressions of the human soul.

[@Bavubuka]

"Abstract artists like to think you're stupid, because then they can pretty much tell you anything and you'll buy into it. They don't make sense" Seriously?! You just put down abstract art? I thought you were an intelligent person. How can you put down an entire artistic genre and then call yourself an art teacher?

[@StefanBaumann]

I just went to a art show in LA where all the art was Plastic garbage bags.. I'm not stupid and that was not art.

[@salmadys]

You think an exhibition with plastic garbage bags is a representative of all abstract art , that as an argument is very stupid.

[@jstiller30]

With abstract painting you still have all the qualities of a normal painting, but normally no concrete subject matter. a successful abstract painting still has to focus on Composition, focal point, color theory, edge control or else it will not be interesting enough to keep our attention. In fact, i'd argue that stuff matters more in an abstract painting, because that's all the image has going for it. Now, modern art as a whole is a huge genre of art, and many of the abstract sculptures such as a display of plastic have different goals in mind, and pretty much have to be evaluated on weather they achieve those goals; similar to how a painting might have a goal of story telling, believability, or maintaining the viewers focus, and can be evaluated on whether those qualities were met. Trying to figure out what those goals are can be tough, which is pretty much why I don't like it, but it is no less art, it just not as well defined in terms of goals as say a painting.

[@tangents6299]

Stefan Baumann You are so correct.

[@tonihudson7319]

Is this guy a narcissist??

[@catlzo]

omg thank you. His ego is just so big. I read the comments and everyone is just thanking him but I'm annoyed at his sense of superiority. It also feels like is take pleasure explaning the problems with his students' painting. I know that as a teacher is job is to critique them but they way he does it is almost sadistic