Painting Mist With Acrylics

In this video I'm showing you how I paint a large amount mist with Acrylics! It can be a process that takes quite a long time, as I like to bring the mist to life with mostly dry brushing and subtle colour mixing, building it up layer by layer. In the end, the time and patience is worth it as it all comes together for the finished painting. Enjoy!!
Music: •Epidemic Sound•
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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Website: www.josephkoensgen.com

[@berrenrees6314]

I have just started oil painting and the detail in this painting is ridiculous! The swans look like they're about to jump off the canvas! What an amazing paining, from a very talented artist!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! Appreciate that! Good luck in starting your oil paintings, I hope some of my videos can be helpful!

[@zaldum386]

Icredible painting honestly, came for the tutorial but just couldnt stop watching the birds

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much! I'm hoping to do a video about painting one of the swans in the future.

[@decoratedway]

What a beautiful painting! Thank you so much for sharing how you did it.

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! I'm happy to share!

[@loisjohnson7272]

Absolutely adorable, thank you for sharing your beautiful painting.

[@chrisproctor3779]

Thank you, Joseph. I have a painting where I need to add a little fog and didn't know how to do it as a new painter. 😉 That painting is absolutely beautiful!

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! I'm glad that is was helpful! I hope that it works out for your painting. Thank you so much!

[@Asdfqwerty1243]

Wow. Just incredible!

[@sharonrussell518]

Stunning! I love watching you paint. I would have loved to have seen you painting these two magnificent birds in real time just to see your blending techniques with the feathers. Thank you for sharing .

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! Appreciate that! I do have plans in the future for videos of more birds and animals. But for this one I wanted to cover the mist part of the painting, since I've had a few questions about the backgrounds in my paintings, especially these misty scenes! Thanks for watching!

[@sarahjadevolkmann5555]

Those swans are so realistic it’s mind blowing 😍🤯

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@soledude]

Wow! Incredibly cozy and knowledge packed video. Thanks for sharing it! 🥰🥰🥰

[@derryjs]

This is ABSOLUTELY beautiful!!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@user-ui1uh5dl8m]

Hello Joseph,I habe never Seen better paintings and the Natur can be happy that it is panting from you.

[@verabolton]

I never appreciated how much work goes into a seemingly simple painting. Will never look at paintings in the same way again 🙂

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! Appreciate you saying that. It can certainly be a lot of work, taking quite a bit of patience, but is definitely worth it in the end!

[@rickross6135]

Absolutely beautiful. Great tutorial. Thank you kindly!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@JulieQHHT]

Just stunning … beautiful! 👏👏👏

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@midnightpintowolf]

Gorgeous!!

[@kimberlydevoe5341]

Just love IT!!...☺

[@cherylroberts3395]

wow, just beautiful

[@klouise2800]

Just finding you now and thank you for the very informative and relaxing information . Beautiful work!

[@susannerauch8237]

Your swans are just gorgeous!

[@svelin2874]

how superb is THAT!!!

[@kristenpino4635]

I absolutely love your technique. Great tutorial!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate that!

[@darlenebaldwin1398]

Stunning!

[@CatherinePearson-nr1li]

Awesome Artist . Wow!! ❤

[@PaPa52109]

An excellent tutorial. The best technique I have see as yet. Your enthusiasm and interest in helping others is top notch!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that! It's my pleasure to help and share what I'm doing with my videos!

[@kbluuzy]

truly amazing!!!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@donnasnow5179]

Beautiful painting!

[@yycolawongyy458]

the tension you create is amazing!!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@AuntyWednesday]

wow that is so beautiful...the swans look like they're real....this is so much better than a photo...amazed at your process and talent...thank you so much for sharing.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate the kind comment! Happy to share, and will hopefully be sharing a video some time this year about how to paint Swans in sunlight.

[@andreasbrundin6669]

Simply amazing!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@michelineperreault]

Wow! Joseph, you are my idol! I love your job and all I love is to paint like you! I also do realism but as I am self-taught, I still have a lot to learn. Thank you for sharing these videos with us, it is greatly appreciated!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that!! There can definitely be a lot to learn, and being self taught myself, I'm still learning new things every time I paint. I'm happy to share what I've learned, and I'm glad to hear that my videos are helpful!

[@francoislauzon7716]

Wow! Thanks for sharing, this will be very useful for an abstract landscape i am planning.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! I'm very happy to share and I'm glad this will be helpful in your upcoming painting!

[@number1angel66]

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! You're an amazing artist! Blessings of love and light to all!🙏🏼💜🙏🏼💙🙏🏼🧡🙏🏼💛🙏🏼💚🙏🏼

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome!! I'm happy to share, thank you!!

[@joanielevasseur1773]

Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing I will try mist on my actual painting

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! I'm happy to share, and I hope it works out for your painting!

[@user-lx7lc4id5b]

So beautiful !🌹

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@gracewblessings77]

Thank you..your painting is amazing!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@fatherburning358]

Subbed. Your content is too good to scroll past. Very helpful tutorial. 👌

[@3cheersforrevenge]

Woha, this is awesome

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@MrSaxon2001]

Im planning on starting a new oil painting today , but I always struggle with seamless blending and came here for instructions. This is the best tutorial on how to paint fog. Amazing painting, looks like a photograph!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much! Appreciate that! And hopefully the longer drying time with oils helps with the blending and natural look. Good luck and I hope your painting goes well!

[@Milfeulle30]

Thanks for this! Was really a helpful tutorial 👍🏼 your painting was amazing too

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome!! Happy to hear it was helpful!

[@geoffc1862]

Absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing your process - fascinating to watch you work.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! Happy to share!

[@geoffc1862]

@Joseph Koensgen No problem. Wish a resource like this was available when I wanted to learn paint in the 80s and 90s. Drawing, no problem, but there's an obvious knack in painting one can't get from books or magazine articles. And my one course oportunity 1-1 back then was a disaster for my confidence.

[@JosephKoensgen]

I'm glad that my videos have been helpful. I was the same way, in that when I was a kid wanting to learn how to paint, all I could find were books which only helped to a point. So I'm really happy to make these videos and try to share the things I've learned in the last couple decades of my painting journey, and provide a resource that we both didn't have in the 90s.

[@Cephalopopo]

Great detailed explanation. Where I live it is so dry I cant really do anything wet on wet so it really helped to see an actual pro do such a huge painting dry. This piece looks so real it is just stunning

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! I'm glad this was helpful, especially if painting in a dry climate. And yes, especially for larger paintings, doing wet on wet with acrylic would require tons of paint, and working very fast. This way I can be a lot more methodical about how the mist will look, and I can take my time in getting it just right.

[@fanylopez3945]

Me encanta mucho ❤

[@ruger5764]

U blew my mind. 🙄😳 this is bad ass.

[@albania10]

Wow unbelievable 👍

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@TeenaStewart]

Beautiful work. Thank you

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! Thank you so much!!

[@EmberShadowtempest]

Wow. This was so helpful. Thank you.

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome!! Glad to hear it!

[@haphazardacrylics]

Joseph, I've been hung up on the same painting for months trying to find the solution of how to represent a foggy haze I'm seeing in my reference. This video helped so much! Thank you!

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome!! I'm so happy to hear that this was helpful for your painting!

[@florchaves4254]

Maravilloso ahora si aprendí como se hace la niebla gracias profesor saludos de Costa Rica

[@kellyrivers4769]

Amazing!!!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@daynarobinson]

Great video!

[@anne-mariemoore]

So beautiful 😍

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@xxxAmyPxxx]

Beautiful ❤

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! 😊

[@LoganLe93]

Thank you so much for the tutorial!

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome!!

[@douglasdishroon1834]

Brilliant and beauiful.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!!

[@mythicalblade339]

Your drawings are so awesome I literally can't find a flaw.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you, that is incredibly kind of you to say.

[@robertobolanos1919]

Awesome

[@indiea5588]

Your painting is simply gorgeous ❤️❤️. Can you please make a video on how to paint the swan ? The details are amazing 👍👍

[@Artful_Learning]

❤❤❤很厉害👍

[@ravenwoodacres-homegrown]

Lovely. I would have loved to see how you painted the swans too. I started out with oil paints when I was about 18 and haven't painted much since. I find acrylics challenging since they dry so quickly, but I would love an entire tutorial on this piece if you could.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! Yes, acrylics can be challenging because they dry so quickly, so painting with them tends be about doing many layers. In the next few months I am planning on making a video about how I painted one of the swans and the details that go into it!

[@karenhudgin8631]

Wow I just found your channel I love this painting!

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!!

[@karenhudgin8631]

When I searched how to do mist and saw your KZbin video I said to myself the name sounds familiar…..I have seen your work in Algonquin Park! Thanks for sharing the video!

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! I'm happy to share! And that's great you saw my paintings in Algonquin! I'll have a bunch of artwork there all summer this year if you happen to be in that area.

[@marymcneil9133]

🍁Thank you 😊 I dream of having his wisdom,practice and perseverance , to obtain this wonderful art ,👏👏👏💌

[@TheNordia1]

Thank you for sharing.

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome Michael!! Thanks for watching!

[@alinserea4179]

I love ❤️ the amount of information you give 💝in this interesting💓.,💞 video thanks for the beautiful💕video💯 you shared., 💖with all of us a big hug and good luck in what you do thanks for sharing,

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! I'm happy to share and I'm glad it was helpful!

[@goenart2244]

I like this channel..... Thank's...

[@tijanackonjevic5422]

Can we expect a tutorial on how you paint those swans? I want to try to paint the whole picture so bad. It is perfect.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! Because I've had a number of requests for the swans, I'm going to try and do a video to show how to paint one of them. However, it won't be for a while as I have some other videos planned before that, and some other projects on the go keeping me busy. But the plans are in place for one, so stay tuned!

[@user-pg1km2hi4r]

Yes please

[@Cccc-wm4ft]

😻😻😻

[@jacquelinethomas763]

Wonderful demonstration...was TOTALLY struggling with mist with acrylics. Curious what brush you used?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! Glad this was helpful! I'm using a round 12 brush - but one that's quite old and the pointed end is completely rounded off. You can also use a brush that already has a rounded end like a blender brush or something similar that won't leave hard edges when you apply the paint.

[@ChristineKnight-be6hy]

This is great. Do you have any technique for painting mist so that the landscape underneath come through?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! For misty scenes with the background showing through, there's 2 ways I've gone about it. I've done it where I do layers of washes with a large brush or sponge over the background I already have painted - building up the mist until you get it to where you like it. You may want to use an acrylic medium and experiment with this, as I've found that way a little more difficult to get right in the past. So most of the time now, I paint the background with the light and low contrast colour of the misty area right from the start and then do some very light dry brushing in areas to soften edges that may need it. This way can take a bit more time, because there's lots testing of the subtle colours that make it look right. But I like that I can control the look of all the background elements and give them the soft edges and light scattering look that misty scenes can have.

[@kathykoeslin3361]

Wowzer dude! Are you using a regular canvas or a smooth board?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! I'm using a smooth board like masonite that I've primed with gesso and sanded smooth. Helps get the very fine look for the detail that I want.

[@kathykoeslin3361]

Your film is exactly what I needed, absolutely stunning! What type of brush did you use? It looks like a stiffer round? Filbert?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! Glad to hear it! Yes, I'm using a bit of stiffer round brush and some filbert brushes. But I'll switch back and forth between them depending on how I want the paint to go down. It is a bit of experimentation at times, but those are the ones I use!

[@kathykoeslin3361]

@@JosephKoensgen thank you so much for answering me, I appreciate it!!

[@tharwatoday4480]

This is an incredible piece of art. I’m currently trying to paint some misty clouds coming over a mountain. Can you please tell me if you use any kind of medium mixed into your paint or just water? What is your paints consistency? Beautiful piece of art.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much! I only used water to thin the paint, and I like to get it to a consistency that's a little bit thicker than the fluid paints you can buy. For me this seems to be just right texture for doing the dry brushing for the mist.

[@tharwatoday4480]

@@JosephKoensgen thank you. This is helpful. 🙏🏻

[@AmberShockley]

This is beautiful. I've learned the hard way that painting fog is quite the process! Do you mind sharing what type of brush you're using for this dry brush blending of the mist?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! Yes, the brush I'm using is a Round 12 that's quite old and the fine point is completely worn down so the end is more rounded. So even if you don't have an older brush like that, you want something with a rounded or dome shaped end, like a blender brush that won't leave strong lines and edges.

[@AmberShockley]

@@JosephKoensgen Thank you! I'll find one the cats have gnawed on. 🤗

[@JayThinksHappiness]

Pretty fucking beautiful

[@user-yp7vf5lo8h]

This is amazing. What medium/retarder do you use to help slow down the drying process?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! For this I don't use an extender or retarder for my paint, just water to thin it out to the consistency that I like. I prefer if it dries quickly so that I can go over it with another layer not long after I've put the paint down.

[@hiltonleonard1586]

Love your painting . One question, do you add any medium ?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! I don't use medium as I prefer to have the paint dry quickly so I can continuously add layers. However, adding a medium could make it easier to blend in a wet on wet style and create glazes. Definitely worth experimenting with!

[@julieurlage1742]

❤ You are an incredible artist! Do you have any idea how long it took for you to do this painting?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! This painting took about 3 weeks to do. 2 weeks for the background and about a week for the swans.

[@Beck_O]

Wow i really would like to know how you paint the feathers? Greetings from mexico!!

[@JosephKoensgen]

I'm hoping to make some videos in the future that go into how to paint feather details like this one!

[@Beck_O]

@@JosephKoensgen oh that would be great!! I will be attentive. Thank you 😌

[@AbdulAziz-cj4hg]

Is it really caled round brush? In my country round brush is a bit more pointy than yours

[@JosephKoensgen]

Yes, that is correct that a round brush is more pointy than this. However, this is an old brush where the pointy tip has been worn down over time. I save most of my old brushes that have lost their shape, as they can have some usefulness for various paintings like this.

[@AbdulAziz-cj4hg]

@@JosephKoensgen yeahh i think its called mop brush in my country, very nice fog painting by the way!

[@sueharviel6510]

I watched this video to get a better idea as to how to paint mist. You said you added a "darker" color over the base mist but I don't know what "darker" color you used nor can I get a good view of the type of brush. Your painting is stunning BTW

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you! In this case a darker color would be adding the slightest amount of black or payne's grey to the mixture. When painting mist, it doesn't take very much to change value. Same with making the color lighter - I'm adding only a small amount of white. Most of this will come down to experimenting - mixing a color, then trying it, and making adjustments from there. The 2 main brushes I'm using are a round 12 that's a bit worn down, and a number 12 filbert.

[@sueharviel6510]

@@JosephKoensgen Thank you so much for your response. I binge watched your videos last night. Stayed up much too late. Haha I appreciate your taking the time to do these videos. I'll never paint as well as you do, but it helps me learn how to be better. I am having a blast learning. Thank you for that.

[@jjk2one]

Is this oil over acrylic or all acrylic

[@JosephKoensgen]

This is all acrylic.

[@Asdfqwerty1243]

Can you show us how you painted the swans?

[@JosephKoensgen]

Yes! I've got a couple other videos I'm currently working on, but I'm planning on making a video about the swans after that!

[@rymadas4072]

Why you hv so less videos?? I want to learn more through your work as I hv nvr done bird or animal paintings so far .. Nd i feel it will be tremendous experience to learn from you..

[@JosephKoensgen]

Glad to hear my videos are helpful! At the moment, I don't have as much time to make videos, so I don't have too many on my channel. But there will be more to come as I keep making more!

[@rickyhamilton1]

your awesome buddy been awhile looking at your videos its ricky hamilton the artist can u do an eagle and a moose in the mist??

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thanks Ricky!! Appreciate that! I do have an idea for an eagle painting, but it will be a long time before I do that one, but I'll certainly keep that in mind for a video!

[@indiea5588]

Hi Joseph - posting second comment today. Can you please do a video on dry brushing ? I tried painting this but could not reproduce the mist effects. The canvas didn’t show the mist as smooth. It ended up looking more like clouds 😞

[@JosephKoensgen]

I think I'd be able to put something together in the future that discusses a few different techniques. However, it wouldn't be for a while as my time for making videos is limited. I'm sorry to hear that it turned out looking more like clouds. What I might recommend if that's the case is potentially using less paint on the brush and building it up in thinner layers, waiting between each coat for it to dry. As well, depending on whether you've had a harsher edge to the mist, very slightly darkening the mist colours and slowly blending them into the background colour to soften the edge as much as possible. It may also be the kind of thing where you alternate lighter and darker colours to get it just right. As well, this is a very time consuming and slow process that also takes a lot of practice. So I'd encourage you to keep trying and experimenting!

[@indiea5588]

@@JosephKoensgen thank you so much for the detailed reply - appreciate it 🙏🙏. I will try as you suggested and also wait for the video. Thanks again- you are an amazing artist - this particular painting looks more like a photograph than a painting ! It’s that real !!

[@NikkiA.Art.]

So if we make more noise on wanting to see the swans painted would that encourage you to show it sooner? *smiles cutely and hopes it works* Many artists on youtube keep saying "don't try and be perfect, don't try and be realistic, don't do this and don't that." Though how can you look at a painting like this and not want to paint real? I have been playing around with watercolour at the moment and try and bring realism into it. Still a work in progress as it seems I have a talent for making watercolor look like acrylic. *laughs* Love your talent. Love it ! Though I can't thank you enough for supporting those who do love to paint realistically and who strive for it.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you so much!! And you're welcome, I'm happy to share my work!! I love painting realism, and trying to capture what I've seen in nature in the best way I can. In the beginning I also did watercolours for my animals and did realism with them since it was faster for school projects, so I definitely support that endeavour! In the end, it's your work, it has to be what you're happy doing. And I'm sorry I didn't include the Swans in this video. It can be tough filming all aspects of paintings, especially for larger ones like this that take more than 2 weeks to complete. But I'll keep filming my work when I can, and as I go along I'll try and cover as many aspects of my work as I can! Thanks again!

[@NikkiA.Art.]

@@JosephKoensgen Joseph you are doing a great job. Honestly, I wasn't having a go at you. I thought it may have been amusing as others brought it up also. I just wanted to make you smile. I have had a few run-ins with rude artists online, though those who really work hard are recognized. I am not sure if you know this, I suspect many like me just love to watch you work. You don't have to talk, just watching you is enough, and that's how I love to start my morning, watching videos and having my coffee. You have one hell of a gift Joseph, unlike anything, I have seen before and I hope you understand we are just curious creatures that like to learn. So Thank you. Thank you so so much.

[@JosephKoensgen]

Thank you!! I really appreciate you saying that. It's incredibly encouraging, and it spurs me on to think about more videos I can make. Hopefully over time I'll build a good collection of videos that you'll be able to enjoy! Thank you so much for your kind words and support, it means a lot!! And I like watching videos with my morning coffee too!

[@ameerakhalid7149]

Is this painting on canvas?

[@JosephKoensgen]

This is done on masonite primed with gesso and sanded smooth. It's a great surface for painting detailed work.

[@ameerakhalid7149]

@@JosephKoensgen Thank you!!

[@marymcneil9133]

🍁Thank you , I could have the information on the materials use do in executing this art 🖼 💌

[@JosephKoensgen]

You're welcome! I'm using Liquitex professional heavy body acrylics, and a combination of round and filbert brushes. And my brushes are usually the artist's loft brand, but if you can, the best thing is to be able to look at and feel the brushes in person to help in buying the best ones that work for you.

[@juliemoffatt3112]

do have a lesson for the whole painting?

[@JosephKoensgen]

I'm sorry I don't have a video for whole painting, but I'm planning on making a video about the swans in a different painting that I have coming up in the future!

[@art_sunflower_me]

Process to paint ducks?

[@JosephKoensgen]

It may be little ways in the future, but yes, I will be making a video about the swans.

[@ChristineKnight-be6hy]

C