Start to finish timelapse video of commissioned work, “California Dreamin”, by Lindsey Kustusch

I’m now accepting commissions for fall of 2021 and 2022! If you’re interested in a commissioned painting or have questions about what that would entail, I’ve added a new page to my website sharing a bit of that process. But please feel free to contact me with any questions you have at all, I’d love to discuss what you have in mind!
View commission information here... www.lindseykus...
A little bit about this painting...
In December of 2020, I was commissioned to paint an oil painting of San Francisco, California. A city known for its steep hills lined with cable car wires and colorful Victorians, breathtaking views of the bay, and all of its iconic ‘Summer of Love’ West Coast beauty. One of my favorite cities in the world, and a place I was fortunate enough to call home for close to 15 years.
The request for the painting was to not only paint a San Francisco street scene but to depict a memory of “home” for the collector. We discussed what elements would best represent San Francisco for them, as well as what overall color palette and size would best fit their home. After several iterations and photoshop adjustments, we narrowed it down to a morning on Russian Hill looking out over the bay. Except, we changed a few things! The less exciting buildings on the right were replaced with a row of ornate Victorians from the Mission district, cars were removed and palm trees were added, as well as areas of “busyness” to help add color and personality to the sidewalks and streets. The end result is a collaborative composition between the collector and myself.
The size was enormous, measuring 26x60 inches, so the challenges were stacked high and wide for this type of scene. The drawing and perspective absolutely had to be correct, otherwise the mistakes would be glaring. And working in a small bedroom studio, backing up to see the painting from a distance was next to impossible. Plus not to mention the sheer amount of paint that’s needed to cover a panel this size! So saying I was overwhelmed is putting it lightly, but I was also very excited to really dig my teeth into a project this size of a place that is so close to my heart.
The first step was setting up a large mirror in my studio opposite of my easel facing the painting. This is a great way to add distance to your space if you also work in a tiny studio! The mirror will double the distance while also flipping the image, so you can constantly “back up” and get a fresh perspective as you paint. It’s my all-time favorite tool, and 100% necessary for working on large scale paintings in a small room.
And then because this painting (like most paintings) is a marathon and not a sprint, it’s crucial for me to have some friends and familiar jokes keeping me company in the background. Literally (and shamelessly) “Friends” and of course the gang from “Sunny” keep the studio light and breezy and strangely have a meditative effect on me while I paint. So in case you couldn't work out what is playing on my screen, there it is… just some old pals helping to keep me focused and feel less alone while I try and stay planted in my chair. :)
But onto the painting bit…. for the drawing I used a simple grid to help with perspective and scale, assuring everything was correct before moving on. Step two was the “wash” or underpainting which was used as a base for subsequent layers of paint. At this point no white paint was used at all, it’s just the white of the gessoed panel showing through as I applied the paint and wiped it away that established a value study that I used as a roadmap. I let this layer dry completely and then began the many, MANY layers of opaque paint and glazes.
In total, this painting took me close to three months to complete. I worked on it simultaneously with other paintings, allowing time for the layers of paint to dry between each session. There were days when it felt like no progress was made whatsoever, and others where huge changes happened. But that is just the nature of a cityscape, they set their own pace!
I hope you enjoy this journey just as much as I did and get to do a little “California Dreamin” along the way. And if you’d like to see more progress shots and details about the piece, check out my blog post here… www.lindseykus...
Music by Composer: Ricky Valadez at www.pond5.com

[@khsngle]

By some reason these paintings give a cozy and nostalgic feeling

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!

[@CritelliArt]

Wish you guys would come back to KZbin. You're two of my favorites.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks! I promise we will be back!

[@MagsArt]

I can’t believe you painted this masterpiece with your hands, and brain 😀 you have to have perfectly working brain to manage such a scale! Perspective, angles, colors, foreground, background, everything in between! Wow 🤩👍

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much! Very kind of you to say!

[@spacewavecr]

This is G R E A T!!! Awesome job :)!!!!!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@Richardwright-we6rv]

How good would it be to see you both back on this channel 👍🇬🇧❤️

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks. We do have plans to get back into making videos, and we found a some lost footage from a 2021 trip to the Cotswolds that will be made into a vid soon!

[@brand808]

Yes! Can't wait.

[@artistrogersnell3298]

What an amazing master work. I love your channel and outdoor work, but this showcases how advanced you are.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!

[@DanilaAbramenkovArt]

Omg those details are craziness really.. Like your art. Have to focus more on details too 😊

[@colinleach6583]

Sorry for the late comment , only just found this one.. Oh my word, Fantastic !! You are a master oil painter.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Colin! very kind of you to say!

[@stylesybs2541]

Hello new friend here 😃absolutely love the size of this canvas and the colour story is just exceptional. Keep up the good work my creative friend 🎨liked & subbed

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Very kind of you to say! Thanks!

[@victoriaconto8231]

This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this with us. Just watching this scene come to life little by little was incredibly satisfying. So realistic

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Victoria!

[@muttlee9195]

Stunning and accomplished

[@artofbrettherman]

Absolutely incredible work Lindsey!!!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!!!

[@Aliartist84]

Very beautiful ,good painting 👏🎨🖼

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@markjones1542]

Beautiful ❤

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!!!!

[@DaveDanchuk]

Insanely good Lindsey! Great job once again.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Dave!

[@keithallen8096]

That's amazing, Lindsey.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Keith!

[@STAR-RADIANCE]

Incredible. No other words.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@LilyFromItaly]

Реально, шедевр!

[@40bdg]

Speechless!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@chrisblight6069]

That's a great painting, fantastic work. Thanks for allowing us to see your process.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!

[@Letsgetart]

The details wow twas beautiful ! I love it! Am a fan now

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!

[@emiliegoulet2804]

It’s incredibly moving to see your process and witness the painting coming to life. Thank you for sharing!

[@lorrainelaux8293]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!

[@dennisredmond9395]

Ok, that was too fast. I didn’t even have time to get my paints out. JK! What an unimaginable job that was. Your use of lights and shadow is amazing along with your attention to detail where its call for and none where it’s not. I so love your work!! I really wish you would consider some sort of online class or video.

[@tizi9139]

멋찐 작품을 보여준 당신에게 축복을!

[@deborahrech7429]

Absolutely awesome!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@DrawingIllustrationsAndArts]

Beautiful painting 🖼😍

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@yellowbicycleartstudio8974]

Wow!!!

[@marckustusch7487]

Wow....

[@deborahrech7429]

Awesome!

[@CedricWilliamsFineArt]

Quite a masterpiece 👏🏾

[@spacewavecr]

This to me is one of those videos that could go viral!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@heatherclayton]

Incredible work!!!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@biocreep2]

Incredible!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Michael!

[@RunThemAll]

Awesome.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!!

[@mikehayden8007]

This is incredible

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!

[@zigzag2162]

🤯wow

[@zoewhiteart7676]

Amazing job!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!

[@carmelmurphy2500]

Amazing 😁

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!

[@allandavies7112]

Magnificent! It brings back sweet memories of SF and absolutely captures everything I love about the “City on the Hill”. I imagine that the client was overjoyed with the result.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Allen! Yeah the client was very happy with the result.

[@petermurphy9968]

Wow ! what an awesome composition !. The colours are bright rich and seductive. The atmosphere and character of the light of this street is captured magnificently !

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Peter!

[@raghadfarhud1724]

Omg I don't know how to express, that's so amazing 😍🥲❤❤

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much!

[@yuswaechannel4]

Good videos, cool content and keep the spirit healthy greetings and greetings of success always, don't forget to be happy, God Bless Us Everyone, Amien

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you! I’m glad you like our videos!

[@arkasha1905]

Lindsey, you works are pure love!❤😊

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

That’s kind of you to say. Thank you!

[@jennifernichols8403]

Just AWESOME!! Beautiful Architecture, colors, perspective..lovely 👏

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@paintstorm1]

Wow Lindsey! by far my favorite piece of yours. Really knocked it out of the park. Glad to see you're back in the states. Say hello to Nate for us here in SD

[@heathermunsie1047]

What an accomplishment! Thanks for the detailed descriptions and tips about adding a mirror. I have a small bedroom studio and that's such a fantastic tip. Unbelievable painting! Thanks for sharing!

[@CathySikArt]

Stunning!! Your artworks are REALLY impressive! Please keep making videos about it💕

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you so much Cathy, I appreciate it!! I will definitely do my best to keep that camera rolling! 😊

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

THIS IS AMAZING!! I LOVE THE LIGHT AND COLORS

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Jackie, I appreciate the lovely comment!!

[@louisemissouri4410]

Thank you for sharing this. What a great eye you have. Was an adventure to watch.

[@aaronbrooks9711]

So cool! You are a master artist! Congratulations on your continued success.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Aaron, I appreciate it!!

[@Tat2TankT]

Subscribing In 3,2….. lol killer work

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@visuala1018]

I really loved this amazing painting it is very beautiful , you are so wonderful artist. thanks for sharing your technique.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the kind words!!

[@markwalker3957]

Thanks for allowing us into your world with this new video. I saw y'all in a Michael Chamberlain video and was hoping you would be putting out a new video. Please keep them coming.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Mark! We definitely have some more in the works, so hopefully it won't be too long before we add another. We'll keep you posted! 😊

[@glenswenson6493]

Unbelievably awesome! You are a true artist. The technique is awe inspiring. The rubber scrapper; if that's what you call it, adds so much to the variety of texture. I am a fan! I sketch and have used acrylics. I will be attempting to oil paint soon, and I blame it on you. Lol! Your truly appreciated!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Awww, thank you so much Glen!! I really appreciate your kind words, it means alot. I'm so happy you enjoyed the video and it's inspired you to start an oil painting! That's amazing, you definitely should! Just start simple and have fun!! ❤️

[@mgchevelle68]

Hey, I know you! How did I not know about the videos! Good to see you guys in action with the videos, makes me miss you guys. Hope all is well and love the work as always.

[@GatherYourNuts]

Wow. Masterful! It’s so lovely to see the painting process with a pairing of beautiful music.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Jonny!! I really appreciate it. Hope you guys are doing well! ❤️

[@DannySabraArt]

Wow! Really inspiring painting Lindsay, and so cool that you added the story in the description. I love how you used color and when you put in that car coming up the hill I felt that added tremendously to the painting. The SIZE! My goodness. What an accomplishment! Awesome job!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you so much Danny!! It's so kind of you to comment, I really appreciate it. And I'm so happy you enjoyed the video, hopefully I'll have the patience to set up my camera again for another one sometime! 😊

[@DannySabraArt]

@@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007 Absolutely. Sometimes i definitely feel the presence of the camera when I'm painting and it's just one more thing to think about. But i'm glad you did on this one. Such a great piece. Keep up the great work!

[@abbeyemmert5328]

Phenomenal!!!! Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you so much Abbey, I appreciate it!!

[@euanwardle4937]

Little bit in awe after watching that. Fantastic work :)

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Euan!!

[@artifexmom3824]

Wow! That’s so beautiful painting my dear. You’re so articulate with your crops.☺️❤️Hello I’m #2.37k+☺️ God bless you.🙏🏻

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!!

[@walterhundt]

Beautiful work, thank you for sharing it!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Walter!!

[@franciesartcorner6505]

I'm feeling very inspired now, thank you 😁

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Francie, I'm so happy you found a little inspiration!! 💕

[@theartgirl777]

That is amazing 🤩, the glow that you captured is gorgeous!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Michelle!! ❤️

[@theartgirl777]

@@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007 , EPIC video too!

[@harryjamessmithmusic7762]

Brilliant job! omg, you're so talented! Really beautiful! Fantastic art!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Harry!

[@harryjamessmithmusic7762]

@@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007 Cheers!

[@CupcakeCottage]

Wow wow wow! A master. I hope you charged $50,000 for this painting.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks!

[@tattooedwriter]

Wow! This is epic!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you!!

[@deirdrehayes3822]

This is beautiful. Love your work and your videos. Thanks for sharing. Can I ask what kind of panel you are painting on? Thanks!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks so much Deirdre! We use hardboard and hardboard with linen for our plein air paintings. Lately we have really liked the linen boards because the paint “ sticks” better if that makes sense.

[@markwalker3957]

I really miss your videos.

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thanks Mark. We have recorded some new ones and just need to edit them so more are coming soon!

[@laurettedicarlostern3356]

Amazingly beautiful! How many hours/days did it take you to paint this awesome scene?

[@Radiance415]

What tool are you using around the 20 second mark? Is it a sponge? A palette knife? Something else?

[@stephenabbott7259]

Don’t forget the homeless shanty encampment.

[@till1117]

Ah another painter with sunny running in the backround. Constant Circle between Sunny, "the office" and "Arrested Development"

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

YES!!! Those are absolutely in my lineup as well. And a few movies from the 90's that I've seen thousand times like "The Burbs". 😊

[@DanilaAbramenkovArt]

Omg those details are craziness really.. Like your art. Have to focus more on details too 😊

[@darinaboldizar7871]

Amazing!

[@paintingwithlindseyandnate8007]

Thank you Darina!!