STOP Painting from Photos if you Want LOOSE PAINTINGS

[@passage2enBleu]

Paint from life is the most challenging way to learn to paint, but the fastest way to improve, and definitely the most rewarding.

[@karkaspir2102]

in my opinion painting other painter's works is best way to improve skills. you know I think painting from life is the next step.

[@mahtabuddin8747]

L

[@MariaRevArt]

Definitely the most rewarding.

[@jeannehayes7859]

You said a few really good things that shifted my perspective. Short timeframe and glasses off/squint. It’s been YEARS since I’ve painted but this video may be the turning point! Perfectionists like me need to just…relax…and DO IT. Thank you ☺️

[@YoshiSushe]

This is the third time I listen to your video while I'm painting, and to be honest? You became a part of my routine to listen to while I'm painting because they trigger my mind to stop thinking and just... paint! Other than listening to music or audio books your voice and your video have the thing when it gives me the relax and white noise I need to keep my mind on track. Thank you so much for those tips and videos and may I see you do more in the future.

[@ryanoconnor7957]

I have been thinking about this topic a lot recently, and I have started to form the opinion that when artists say they want to paint looser, they don't really want to just paint a whole painting more simply with a larger brush, but they actually want to push themselves more with a variety of brushwork and edges.

[@danielbrown6448]

So true. I noticed your use of somewhat large brushes and thus avoiding the smallest of details. I start big and navigate towards smaller and smaller brushes. Bad habit to break! I should put them away into the back jar. Thank you for the great video.

[@dancingpencil2]

This painting is gorgeous and it even wakens my emotions. Thank you! This is the painting style I am striving for.

[@johannebrun3409]

Right? It TOTALLY evoked feelings!!!

[@LouiseStigell]

Wow, those are some very valid points. I feel lazy for almost only working from photos (and sometimes video, for sketching practice.) And I really struggle with simplifying and staying loose with my watercolors. Mostly, I try to combat that by using larger brushes, but I constantly forget the squinting trick and stepping away from the painting. As you said: hard to do when you have a crystal clear photo right in front your face. 😂 Really feel like setting up a still life now... Thank for these tips, and for a gorgeous painting. 😊

[@neggit2063]

this is insanely good advice.I've been working on a self portrait (from life) and as i was struggling with the eyes and mouth and took a photo and started working from it. Needless to say I lost a lot of the looseness and brush work...

[@sketchninja7005]

Never thought about that, but you are right. The time limitation makes you choose very effective way of painting. Thank you so much for your video and your thoughts!

[@carlossalgado5205]

It's not only your brush... it is your voice too. Thank you for your lessons, a magical gift

[@huntsail3727]

Beautiful painting, interesting and informative discussion of your process and ideas. Well done!

[@karthikshanker9598]

Wonderful painting, you make it look so simple... beautiful the way you carved out the flowers coming to life. Thank you!

[@NCWildHeART]

Chelsea, you are helping me so much I’m a NC artist based out of Harnett County applying for a grant this year I can’t thank you enough for your videos. After loads of commission work which I felt tightened my style too much over the years your techniques and methods have been a real game changer for my approach to the canvas ! You have helped me let go, loosen up and enjoy painting again sans pressure. Thank you for all you do!

[@eileensottovia264]

Thank you for this Chelsea! How timely😉. Perfect demonstration of what we were speaking about yesterday. I see exactly what I’ve got to do.🙏🏻💗

[@andreagreff2316]

WOW! I am going to take all the advice you have given in this video. Especially having my reference 10 feet away. I usually get so frustrated towards the ends of all my paintings because they just are never good enough to stop painting. I always see so many errors or details left out. I quit painting for about a year because of this. Thank you so much!

[@markhamilton7291]

This is really helpful. The way you explain why paintings from life work better than paintings from photos--how the eye works and such--made this really click for me. Thanks!

[@troyc4250]

Wish you all best. It’s incredibly relaxing to watch and listen to your art. I’ve never painted. I used to draw a lot. I was a copier. I would reference a lot of Marvel and DC and did a decent job. This makes me wonder if I should paint. Thank you for sharing your talent and passion.

[@beckyb76563]

I'm a beginner and am really finding your videos helpful. Thank you! I tried painting a still life from a photo but then from real life and the real life version looked so much better. The colours were truer and I made less mistakes with the shadows. I'm using acrylics so also having to be fast before they dry. I do think if you have a shorter time to complete something it focuses the mind!

[@ntakovacj3644]

don't paint from photos -- well i'm joking -- but better to stay away from them until you've done a LOT of painting from life. I agree with your mention of "focus" -- and also the fact that the colours come into your eyes and go right to ALL your senses -- not just visual. That will be in your painting too.

[@charmawow]

This is such a gorgeous painting. I so love your brush calligraphy. Btw……even your signature is beautiful!

[@slowandgentle8938]

This is soooo beautiful, Chelsea...! And its exactly what I want to adopt, a loose style. I paint my pictures from reference photos and somehow they seem to lack something....and when you said, keep the photo at a distance and squint-i felt, Ah! that really might work! Thank you so much! I am learning a lot from you!

[@sabihashaikh6180]

Thanks that was wonderful to watch.its true the less sharper the objects in paintings are the more appealing they look.

[@Michaelangie]

I love your explanation of the difference between how our eyes perceive and a camera lens captures and now I’m inspired 🤩

[@patticlancy6500]

Love how you set up your still life on your glass palette😊

[@PARoth2011]

Fabulous! Hopefully I can do this with acrylics.

[@stevecarmean2059]

Beautiful painting Chelsea. I look forward to adapting these habits to begin painting looser. Bet it will take more than one or two tries!

[@dinafragkia9049]

Very nice way to paint. I like that because I don't need to put details.I am an amateur painter and I want to watch more videos from you. Congratulations!!!

[@ireneashamoses4209]

Beautiful painting and your voice is so nice to listen to!!❤️❤️🌟🌟

[@deborahwright2318]

Loved this video…def makes sense as I’ve been painting from photos so much and you get so bogged down in the details!

[@sauldelvalle4288]

I wish the algorithm had shown me your videos a long time ago because I've needed this message for a while

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

You have such fantastic advice , thank you so much for sharing and making videos. Your work is Moving and your speaking is inspiring.

[@JulianneWeinmann]

Thank you. I'm a beginner and I'm going to try this technique! Beautiful work!

[@joyous120]

Very helpful as I am seeking to loosen up my painting. Thanks

[@jayantsalvi2241]

That's awesome. Great. Lovely. Beautiful way of mixing and playing with colours. You are amazing. Please teach me. I love it the way you are foing the painting. Thank you very much.

[@africo9104]

I think this will take years to practice, before I can paint anything like this gorgeous painting of your flowers. The reflection are lovely. By the way, why do you use gloss on all your paintings ?

[@larrypicard8802]

I love this painting. I painted something similar awhile ago and liked how it turned out.

[@KathyBrooksArt]

Great tutorial. also loved seeing you varnish at the end!

[@nativepiano]

Thank you for the tip and video! I haven't noticed the problem with edges, I'm going to pay more attention for it. When I copy the photo, I try to restrict the details in the distance, they are always too sharp

[@Art.ASMR-You2]

Beautiful I like the way you did your brush strokes thanks guys

[@ARenewedmind]

Thank you for the advice. I always work frm photos/pictures and yes, too tight... But you do have a natural talent and use big brushes, which I think helps. I always wanted to paint and only started in my late 40s. I will keep your advice in mind next time. Thanks your art is great!

[@mechelleroskiewicz1889]

Beautiful painting. Your videos have been so helpful to me. Thank you so much!

[@belindahall5220]

Loved this video and your painting, which reminds me of the late, great artist Richard Schmid 💙. He spoke a lot about this subject in his famous book, Alla Prima II. Many thanks for demonstrating it so well:)

[@seinso]

Bravo! Thank you for these awesome advice and footage. Keep rocking!

[@bernices9923]

This is the most beautiful painting I have ever seen.

[@ChelseaLang]

Oh thank you! If you'd like to take it home it's still available: www.chelsealang.com/available/strada-arrangement-i

[@vyvyienewalser6798]

Thank you so much.What a wonderful lesson.Appreciate ur sharing.

[@laurahensel9086]

Such great tips and explanations!

[@garymurray7062]

Really lovely piece 👍

[@nandadeshpande3523]

Really expressive painting

[@supratimchoudhury1635]

Thanks a lot for ur insights. This is really inspiring.

[@brianfarthing5288]

Great tips on painting from life- thank you.

[@artgeometrix6346]

This is great. Really excellent job here. I like the soft tones.

[@amypatton6730]

Now I can stop stressing about painting and start really enjoying it.

[@TrudieTiger70]

Are you changing brushes from light to dark? Love your work

[@maliequizhu6614]

Love the ways how you paint 💕💕💕

[@gerriekaychurch658]

Thanks so much for this fab video!!

[@vandadias7546]

Amei seu trabalho e técnica 👏👏👏👏 ficou lindo.

[@drawocado182]

This cool video! I just made the same video 😎

[@mona2242]

Just what I needed, thank you!

[@annamariavonschalien9346]

Lovely loose painting. Can you explain more about your use of gamvar, when in the process do you put it on? Also when you started the painting the paint was runny, do you thicken it by each layer? Thanks for doing great videos 😍

[@ChelseaLang]

Sure thing! And thank you. :) I put on Gamvar after the painting has fully dried to the touch - so usually at least 2 weeks after I'm done painting, if not longer. And yes, I thicken the paint as I go - so at first it's diluted with Gamsol, then I dilute with medium, but much less so, so that it's fuller bodied. :)

[@peterbrown7131]

Some great advice and ideas for me to try

[@gerriekaychurch658]

So very beautiful. Second time watching I would love to know your palate!

[@Neva56]

Hi Chelsea, been watching your videos lately and they are all like music to my ears, you talk about things that are my issues haha. Can you please at some point talk about transparency and opacity of colours and their applications, in my paintings I'm trying to paint with transparent colors in dark and use less opaque as opaque colors make things flat and dull and appear muddy in the dark, my main issue is how to mix less dark colors with transparent colors without using white as much, another issue I have is mixing transparent yellowish color, most yellows being cads and ochre are opaque, hope you got my question. Cheers N

[@johannebrun3409]

Omg I’m mesmerized

[@Alesauria2009]

Thank you for your motivation and beautiful art, please keep making this amazing videos =)

[@TrudieTiger70]

Love all your videos. I still woujd like to know what you are using to n my sake your paint so thin in the beginning ? Thank you

[@zenarart]

It's really beautiful artwork my friend

[@joelleducos1651]

J ❤ Des fleurs abstraites mais étudiées Des couleurs merveilleuses Merci 🌹

[@Engelhafen]

Distance. No glasses. Next you’ll turn the lights out 😂

[@deborahgonzalezknight168]

Lovely painting

[@MariaMilenovasArt]

Very well described

[@lynnehall246]

Wow love it !

[@jackiemargaret437]

Beautiful... thank you.

[@SonyaBatten]

It may seem really funny but some artists look through a glass jar while they paint to make it impossible to get tight. ❤ great video xx

[@siminkassaee6122]

Thank you , you included some many good points in just one video that other artists teach in several videos, but looked like you brush some Gamvar right on the wet paint and it did not smear the painting! And it didn’t seemed like time lapse ! How? Please let us know? However I need to watch all your videos .please keep these videos coming.

[@ChelseaLang]

Oh, don't worry! The Gamvar goes on after the painting has been drying for a while. :) And thank you!

[@fredasidaravicius232]

Beautiful.

[@orpheus6398]

Hello, I just wanna ask when do you stop using turpentine and start using linseed oil in a painting? 😭 poease help-

[@shirazyh1609]

outclass strokes. very much impressive.

[@rajputartroom2580]

realistic.very nice art

[@abigailh4109]

How long do you let your painting dry before Gloss? Beautiful work.

[@glenncheney906]

Beautiful painting, and interesting thoughts on Impressionism, but it would have been much more useful if I could have seen the palette as she blended the colors.

[@Wickedcorrupt]

You’re amazing.

[@sylviaceballosceballos8917]

Muy Bonitas las rosas, sólo no entiendo su idioma. Gracias de Chile.

[@allenvoss7977]

My Eye site is a little blurry, it works to my advantage!

[@Jeea84]

Wow this is so wow 🤩

[@drawingclasswithkalyan394]

Fantastic work

[@danartsjpg]

Nice video, thanks❤️ its alla prima painting?

[@d.johnson1811]

ok question from a newbie painter and dove in(just for fun hobby during lockdown) using gouache paint(himi)....is it easier to sketch out beginning of painting in pencil or paint? at thia point I'm just painting random art in a sketch bk just to get the hang of it and learn brush techniques.

[@antruirami]

Marvelous!

[@zaasaa_art]

🌟🙏🏼Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with us.

[@yematosan8837]

Vary perfect advice .

[@antruirami]

Maravilloso!

[@rainbowxwolf]

Lovely oil paintings. What oil paint brand and oil painting mediums do you use? I am trying to find a natural non toxic paint thinner to use for my paints.

[@drawocado182]

cool video! I just made the same video 😎good

[@ADITYAARTACADEMY]

Beautiful ❤️

[@Sebodawebo]

Hi Chelsea i really want to paint flowers but at certain times of the year there aren’t many around. So I resort to my photos how can I simplify the shapes etc in photo to be more like life?

[@rosinazaidiart7500]

Love it 👍

[@daveweir2308]

Loved the idea of standing further away and no glasses

[@Whalegamer9118]

God bless you!!!

[@lisengel2498]

Very fine way of explaining the importance of loose edges - beautifull work

[@KSokol-oz9tb]

Perfect .i love. ..

[@pocahontasseguinart7099]

I really don’t paint from photos as a self taught disabled artist . I also don’t think it’s a business and I don’t consider it as a hobby either . It’s not about money . I paint how ever I want and my art is abstract and expressionism especially if I am painting how I feel and tell my stories , and see what’s happening in the world and about what’s going on with the people that need help mostly the animal. I don’t believe in dumb classes -college . I go with the flow no matter what . It does not matter if others paint hard or smooth or loose with photos or not . Art not perfect and no mistake in art . I know what the eye works. I know there many colors in the world even the sky day and night . The sky is not all ways blue or blue pink or black with so darkness fully that you all humans know. It’s funny me being born with a condition called microcephaly that’s born the year January 18th,1995 and started painting as a toddler while stupid doctors told my family sence I was born I’ll never learn to talk and function like other normal people like you . I prove them wrong and those docters I don’t know where they are would never hear from me to know because they are ignorant just like I don’t believe in killing and or abandoning a baby that’s Trying to form 1-10,00 % that stupid abortion because we are born microcephaly, autism, down syndrome, Which is stupid and evil and sad .I never went to college either and I was pulled out by my mom for a reason at 10th . I just want recognition and know how I feel and my story , and help others ,and save the world using my art even though stupid ignorant full trying to ignore me and my art and how I paint . It really does not matter how others paint painting hard or loose . Mostly that’s how people paint . 9:57

[@renatevomstein7461]

Einfach grossartig, würde ich kaufen.

[@OurManInMarakesh]

Interesting that there are various points in this artwork where a balance is reached, and work could legitimately stop.