Struggling with your ART? This ONE TIP might help.

This week's video is about using a simple technique to help you improve your art. It's about learning how to paint a study which is a painting made for yourself- one to learn and improve from without any expectations or judgments by others. It's a simple concept, but it's way more than just a practice painting. Painting a study in whatever medium you choose helps take away that fear of messing up or failing. I rarely even finish my studies, but they always help give me a bit more confidence moving forward. I'll show an example of a study I painted of a car (mustang), one of my favorite painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, and I'll also go over some art history showing you how artists in the past used studies to help them as well. Most of these are from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC- an amazing art museum which is a must visit. Thanks for watching!
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[@mwebb-01]

Im at that burnout point... not improving still struggling.. Its depressing which holds me back. Great info for me at just the right time. Things work in mysterious ways it seems. Thanks Mark

[@theartworkshop]

I think it's a very common feeling. Easy studies and working slow helps a lot. You have to paint something that you find interesting like a pet, a car, a landscape you like- anything as long as it's important to you.

[@pierreforget3357]

As a beginner, all my paintings are studies! But I consider them as paintings anyway and I see my evolution as I go. Thanks for the video.

[@theartworkshop]

Glad to hear that! When I started back in 2005-06 I really struggled with this and thought every painting had to be just right.

[@Grimprospect]

I'm so glad I found this channel randomly while doing air brush researching. I'm a low level wargaming painter but I still love this channel.

[@michaelthompson1185]

Heyyyyy brother Marcus, you are so so so RIGHT brother. WOW WOW WOW the Gesso is so much better. To work with brother Marcus man. I really appreciate you and love you brother GOD’S love brother. Now all I have to do is practice, practice and practice. The scratching and erasing is so so much better. You always said find what works for you. I found out looking at the references. And adding the texture to my iris is a lot better. Than watching Dru Blair, and doing what Dru Blair is doing. I should have been putting all the texture in the reference in my eye. Dru Blair did say over and over. Look at the reference, look at the reference. It’ll look more realism instead of following Dru Blair. I should’ve been paying more attention to the reference. The real reason I was texting you was to inform you. That you are so so correct the Gesso is the way to go for me anyway. It works better for me than the authentic paper. The scratching and erasing is much better for me, Thanks Brother Marcus!!!🎣🎣🎣

[@theartworkshop]

Yes!! I'm glad the gesso helped Michael. I prefer it to synthetic or yupo paper because you get way more control. You have to erase harder but you can control the better way better. I'm so happy to hear it works for you!!

[@cyrilpreece2658]

Great info again but can I ask that one time you can do a members tutorial for a Master study? Maybe Bougereau, Sargent Rembrandt etc. It would be great to see how it transfers to airbrush and acrylic.

[@theartworkshop]

I think that is a great idea Cyril. I'll def be doing one of those in the future. Rembrandt for sure since I was planning on it anyway, but Bouguereau is such a great suggestion. His techniques are like no one else.

[@robinludchak4651]

Glad you are feeling better Mark. A mid week video posting was a very nice surprise. Thanks for the great advice. Studies are the backbone to building a skill set. By the way, I mentioned your awesome channel to Dru Blair and he said you were a student and a great guy. I told him that one reason as to what makes you such a great guy, is that you have never ask viewers to donate to the channel. You are willing to share your content, tips and tricks for free. I shared with Dru that THIS is why people want to become members. Because you are NOT like every other creator who begs for cash. I know you stated that when you created this channel that all your content was going to be free. You are willing to share all of your years of experience and skills with the rest of us and I personally think your content is worth every penny. I apologize to any of the other members if I was a bit long in my comment. Thank you Mark for all you do and for all you share. And I totally agree with you in that Dru does have the best shields. Take care and look forward to more incredible content. Cheers! 🍺

[@theartworkshop]

Thanks so much Robin! That's very nice to hear, but I was never a student of Dru Blair- never met him or spoke with him. I have however bought his amazing color theory video (which is incredible btw) and his hair video too- does that count? Maybe he is thinking of someone else? Either way I've always been a big fan of his work and bc of his development of createx illustration line. I come from a drawing background and that paint works like graphite. It's brilliant and I'll always be grateful for his development of it. Swapped over from oil painting because of it. Thanks again for your kind words. I really appreciate it!

[@robinludchak4651]

Sorry about that Mark. I totally agree with you in the color theory video. It is AWESOME!! I have been oil painting for over 40 years and I thought I had a pretty good idea of how to match colors from reference. After seeing the video, I see the color wheel in a different way. I just purchased the color-theory-in-a-box and I would highly recommend it to any of the members. You will not regret it. The video alone, as you stated is amazing, let alone the rest of the kit. I am looking forward to receiving the rest of the materials later this week. I do hope you did not mind me sharing the comments that Dru shared with you, as well as the rest of the members. I remember in another video when you mentioned the "color buffer" and "color stop" methods. I agree that these are basically marketing terms. But the methodology behind either of these terms is based in a solid foundation. Basically using white mixed with any color either transparent or opaque, allows to manage the tint of that color. I really like the fact that you are sharing both transparent and opaque painting techniques. I still think the best example, at least to date, is from your awesome video of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres The Princesse de Broglie. I have to admit I am a bit jealous in the fact that one of the worlds most incredible museums is right in your back yard. Just kidding but the MET has to be incredible to see. Thanks again for the hard work creating such amazing works and content. Take care and really glad you are feeling better. 👍

[@theartworkshop]

@@robinludchak4651 The MET is one of my favorite places in the world 😁 It's an amazing museum. Thanks again Robin.

[@mwebb-01]

@@robinludchak4651 I did the color theory from Dru Blair as well a few years back. Once you do it you will see colors in a whole different way.. I recommend that as well. Mark here his color process is good as well. ENough to get the idea and go from there.

[@robinludchak4651]

@@mwebb-01 Thanks M or is it MWebb? Want to make sure that I get all members names or handles correct so I don't offend anyone. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights into how the kit worked for you. I am really glad it helped you and I only wish I could take a class. Hopefully soon. I am really stoked that I just received the rest of the materials so I will be working on the exercises this weekend. Even though the paints and mixing bottles are not supplied anymore, the paint and it's associated number is still listed. This way I can cross reference with my illustration paints to follow along correctly. One thing I wanted to share with all members is that I did ask Dru about which type of white (Transparent or Opaque) Dru uses with the kit. He said either one will work so long as it covers and creates the "buffer". I told him I have both and will let him know how it works out. Since I am an oil painter I will probably stick with the opaque white. I apologize to all members reading my comments if they are way too long. Sorry all. Thanks again for the insight and hope you, Mark and everyone is doing well and the painting projects that everyone is creating are looking awesome. Cheers! 🍻

[@laurahome1588]

🎉❤🎉

[@intheair4819]

Beautiful video !🎉🎉

[@PancholinMartinez]

The practice flow takes time ➰➿〰️✍️ holding the airbrush 👍

[@PancholinMartinez]

👍

[@farringeise1916]

Yes I to have felt very insecure & find myself frozen in fear. Feeling like this sucks.

[@michaelthompson1185]

Hey brother Marcus, I’m still working on Dru Blair Eyes. Guess what I’ve 😮learn the hard way. I know now doing eyes you really have to apply. Very, very light coats of paint in ordered. To make the eyes look realistic. I’ve learned to heavy on a base coat or any coat. All I’m saying is you want each coat to be very very thin. In order for the coat under it to show through. I love Dru Blair kits but you kind of have to figure out. What is going on, on your own. I guess that’s why you must practice in order to learn. I have learned that very very thin coats transparent coats. So you can see the next color or texture underneath. For me it works very well very very thin coats. Almost like dusting, the canvas or plywood or water paper with Gesso underneath. Applying to heavy of a eye color will hide the other color or texture that is underneath you won’t be able to see the texture. It will have it looking like a curtain or cloth like. if you understand, the texture would look heavy. I call it horrible. At first I said how in the Hell is Dru getting the Iris look. I did quite a few eyes until I realized very thin coats. When you apply the next coat you can see the texture underneath it scratching, erasing. I truly hope that I’m making sense. And you understand where I’m coming from. As you say building your colors up never heavy at first. Build your coats up!!!🎣🎣🎣

[@theartworkshop]

love to here this! Exactly, its always best to slowly build up transparent paint. Thin coats for best for this. You may like his synthetic paper without gesso. It erases much easier than a gessoed surface. It's a bit too much for me, but a lot of people love it.

[@TheDarkArtist66]

Hey man, great video. I was actually at a point where I was getting frustrated with everything I did and stopped painting for a little while and only sculpted. Actually almost a year. Think I might have just been a little burnt out. But ive gotten way over that so l thank God because I really love having an airbrush in my hand. Sorry I haven't been around in a little while, I got crazy busy, when I came back I changed my name my old account name was my real name(DS my initials lol) and just wanted to change it up. As always man. Great content and thanks for the help

[@Endofzionism]

-yeah I can relate to so much of what you are saying. So many photos I want to copy but just dare not . Ahh to be fearless … thanks enjoyed this.

[@ramonlomeli3306]

just the right message, just when i needed it. I usually build scale model aircraft but am dabbling with learning figure painting. your message resonates. thanks dude!

[@theartworkshop]

happy to hear it. thanks man!

[@juanQuedo]

Not into cars but the idea of painting them attracts me somehow so I'll keep an eye for that too.

[@theartworkshop]

I hear you on that. Reflective/shiny surfaces can be fun to paint though.

[@FoxiAndMolly]

Great again..... At 2:24 you are using a tool called gsi-creos. Wondering what that is, some kind of erasers?

[@theartworkshop]

good eye! I just bought it- it's called the gsi creos Mr. Line Chisel w/ 0.3mm. Its made for modelers but I've been testing it out for scratching out highlights.

[@mwebb-01]

@@theartworkshop hmm never heard of that. Ill have to take a look. I just picked up a Tombo Mono .2 eraser im trying for micro highlights. more than a blade less than my Electric eraser.

[@duanemarshall9486]

Excellent advice Mark. I do them all the time and have since I started drawing as a kid. Not only is it a great way to try new techniques or practice specific parts for a new piece I find many times it gets my creative juices flowing and leads to new ideas on future custom pieces. Hope you're feeling better!

[@theartworkshop]

Couldn't agree more. That is so well said. Adds some momentum in between more detailed paintings. Feeling much better- thanks so much Duane!