Make a Better Painting than Your Reference

Sometimes artists have to work with less than ideal references. This can be frustrating, but it doesn’t mean we have to end up with a terrible piece of artwork. Watch as landscape painter and plein air artist Tad Retz demonstrates how he takes a reference that has issues, distills what’s important to the scene, and paints a piece that improves upon the reference. His methods will help you see how you can find creative solutions to common problems and that will allow you to work with more freedom when using any reference at your disposal.
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ABOUT PROKO:
Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
CREDITS:
Artist | Instructor - Tad Retz (www.tadretz.com/)
Producer - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokope...), Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodr...)
Editing - Sierra Tillman, Sean Ramsey,
Music Used with Permission
Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra

[@ProkoTV]

Thanks Tad! You can view more of his work and buy some of his paintings at tadretz.com/

[@HalfWarrior]

This is awesome and very helpful to a stroke survivor who now tries to paint on iPad. I used to try to be way too precise.Also, now have to use non-dominant hand(less motor control). I used to be left handed; but the left side of my body is paralyzed; thank God my right hand is still functional.Tad’s approach and thought process is awesome! Thanks!

[@nicoco678]

That's incredible! I've learned from my grandparents that learning to use your non dominant hand is a great practice for your brain. When my grandparents got Alzheimer's their doctor set them to do many non dominant hand exercises to help slow the affects. And it's almost funny how coincidental this is, but just yesterday my dad told me about his college friend who got his whole body paralyzed and made a beautiful animation with just an eye tracker. If there's anyone out there who thinks their disability has made making art impossible I really hope these stories gave you hope!

[@HalfWarrior]

@@nicoco678 Hello, and yes, this gives me hope.Thank you for your kindness!

[@nicoco678]

@@HalfWarrior no problem!

[@ConnorMagunnigle]

Youre an inspiration! Wishing you good health, keep creating!

[@kharikhy-ree2242]

❤❤❤

[@ricekrispies1917]

I love how thoughtful and free-spirited his style is. It made me think that it's more than ok to be messy during my own painting process, and that there's a lot of potential in embracing messy strokes. The painting turned out really beautiful too!

[@15palmtree]

Thank you Proko and Tad! It’s wonderful to hear his thought process! I think there is a lot we don’t hear that can’t be communicated through language. The “feeling” or intuition that goes into making a picture is what we all have to explore and develop artists. We all benefit by learning from each other!

[@DannySabraArt]

Tad is an exceptional painter! I love his work. This video was very inspiring. I don’t know how many times I see an intriguing scene but it has flaws. So cool to see how he manipulates the reference. I hope we see more videos from him!

[@asfandyaralam7180]

TAX!!! :D

[@DannySabraArt]

@@asfandyaralam7180 lol

[@Mi6ueLCarbajal]

I find it fascinatig How articulated he is about his progress: like entring his mind while he paints.

[@simonbryja68]

I have always hoped for this video to be shot. Tadretz is my all time favorite painter and I am glad I finally saw him on your chanel.

[@bodawei425]

Wow, there is a real emotion in Tad's paintings. I especially like the boulders in the middle of the water with their reflection in it. The way Tad captures the light is amazing.

[@renorodri474]

Loved this vídeo bc I always thought it was bad to modify the reference pics bc thats what a lot of ppl say but I always do it, and this shows me that is cooler to do so

[@rathodmukendra8924]

I love the way he paint, more than painting it self.

[@michaeljohnson4888]

This is wonderful, thank you. I love seeing an artist's process. Watching a vid like this that includes mistakes made and advice is truly valuable and encouraging.

[@AndrewDanielartofAndrewdaniel]

Great video Tad!! Makes me want to get my gouache paints out and play! Thank you!!

[@carolepivarnik9316]

Been a fan of Tad's lovely, lovely work for a long time (and he makes the BEST cigar box pochade boxes btw!), so it's great to see him getting airtime on the Proko channel!

[@leewarren492]

I'm trying to move from watercolor to gouache and an artist friend pointed me to this video. Spectacular. The water ratio has been baffling. Since I'm not crazy about barns, even though I live in rural VA, when an artist paints a barn that is a fabulous as yours, I rethink the subject. :-)

[@SebastianTinajero]

What a brilliant painter

[@peggy-lynnholland8392]

I love your style of looseness using gouache, lovely work! Can’t wait to see more!

[@tosteson1]

Love the painting, helpful advice, love Tad's whole vibe

[@clueless3680]

Your videos really help me!

[@taylorgee_art]

OMG I can’t believe u have a video with tad!!!!

[@SC4RArt]

I love your artwork! Thumbs up 👍 Amazing vid! 👍👍👍

[@JoaoPedro-lx5up]

man!! this video is really helpful.thanks proko for more this video,thanks retz !

[@therupoe]

It breaks my brain adding yellow to the sky! Like... how? It totally works

[@artistvedantmane]

Thank you for this video ♥️

[@OliVeeTV]

I love him and his brother Zac

[@tangdongbai]

Beautiful artwork, Looks so real. 👏.👏.👏.👏.👏.👏.👏.👏.👏.

[@BarbWalkerPaintings]

Wonderful!

[@noiJadisCailleach]

Is this how gouache painters usually are? I've never seen a painting style that's as bold! Incredible stuff!

[@blue30827]

THANK YOU TAD RETZ

[@ShahanoorMamun]

wow!!! Outstanding painting Brother!!!

[@LouisGuidetti]

Beautiful work. Really came together in the end.

[@queldar27]

My God, you’re everywhere!

[@LouisGuidetti]

@@queldar27 damn right I am Queldarius Maximus

[@hazenaudel6146]

fabulous man! i learned tons

[@frederickletterblair]

This is really much more attractive than the photo.

[@DrawingIllustrationsAndArts]

Really like the painting and the video was helpful to.

[@sman7099]

Amazing, thank you!

[@uncleatelier8495]

💛💛💛You're really good at drawing. ~~ ^^👍👍👍

[@jalcomics]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@rodygonzalez7955]

Hello Tad, for today my reference is your hair and I will try to paint it better than the original LOL.

[@eternal_agony7718]

I dunno what you talking about mate, his hair is probably better than yours

[@kawaiimoemoe117]

Thanks for the insightful video

[@alec3476]

amazing video and incredible painting!!

[@pintorazer6006]

Thank you 👍

[@wack6473]

very interesting process

[@ioga1977]

++++++ rare stuff in these days .thank u for the inspiration . also beatifull works on the link at the pinned comment

[@heeakun9462]

THANK YOU!!

[@popnocturne7909]

what a video. wow. ❤

[@sujitdas3188]

Very. Nice

[@spiralcraft8957]

my cat is entranced by your brushes

[@nopseudosleft56]

This is amazing 😊

[@prestonowens4594]

Thank you for this tutorial I really enjoyed his input. On another note, does anyone know what kind of palette he is using? It looks like it’d nest nicely inside a pochade box for traveling.

[@robertradocha6871]

Very very nice 💞💯🎨🎨🎨

[@andreegendron]

Awesome!! Thank you so much. What kind of paper are you using ?

[@GalleryBry]

I really like hot press paper. The smooth surface makes very crisp edges.

[@darmakiel]

Silly question - I only have watercolour and acrylic paints, never used gauche. Can I use acrylic instead to to follow your demo? Thanks so much, the painting is fantastic!

[@lisa-gayle9939]

Wow!❤️

[@yuli4ka.w]

Wonderful process and result! But I can't help but be bothered by 10:10 😅

[@AminFx_Trader]

Nice work

[@Rodutchi]

This guy assaults the canvas with that big brush and I like that.

[@siegfreidx1633]

Zac retz's brother awesome

[@projp9057]

Good tip

[@godiejosef3788]

Wow

[@RajaArtWork]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@toufiq4204]

Proko please make a watercolor course on your website.

[@sauravharsh]

Miss the days when Proko himself used to teach

[@MastersZone1122]

Nice owsom I love you 💓

[@antonioblanco3086]

Next: acrylic with Ariel Olivetti

[@rafaelharte6052]

You good, TEM COMO ENSINAR PERSPECTIVA FORÇADA??

[@124Musick]

Organized chaos!

[@_xxdesignerxx_6058]

🖤🖤

[@usmanc479]

Does anyone know if this acrylic or oil?

[@seanramsey]

He's using Gouache

[@usmanc479]

@@seanramsey Ah thanks

[@ArtInsight]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@bhanuteja1884]

Iam still waiting for Tad to remove that tape ..😭

[@norah8883]

Did I miss something? How did that become that?

[@MrPen_]

Nxt, make a better reference that your painting.😂😂

[@sgtpepper91]

f o r e h e a d

[@afraafsara9596]

🙄

[@ArtInsight]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@ArtInsight]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽