What Kind of Artist Do I Want to Be? Holbein Watercolor First Impressions - 108 colors!

[@OtoKano]

wow what a beautiful piece! I knew those paints would be in great hands :D Thank you for the shoutout, really appreciate it. But more importantly, thank you for loving those paints!

[@MoonacreHandmade]

Oto Kano that was such an amazing thing to do for another artist! I subbed to your channel. ✨💕

[@sooyaa311]

Omg youre so very nicee I subbed to your channel

[@DigitalViscosity]

This piece does feel different, I know this is an older video but I do see this long flowing style in your illustrations after this. Fantastic work

[@InLiquidColor]

Gah, we are so on the same wavelength. I've completely felt this way recently. I went from (waaaay back when) never using a reference all the way to not being able to function without one. I really want to do some self exploration to figure out how to balance the two. I'm always going to use reference doing the wildlife portraits I do, but It would be nice to not feel frozen without one! Thanks so much for sharing this Arleesha. And yeah, Oto is such a badass. I can't believe the work she's put into for the other artists in the community. She's a class act.

[@InLiquidColor]

Also, this nose is amazing. I cannot wait to find the time to take your Skillshare class on them!

[@arleebean]

Oh, it's so good to hear that others are struggling in similar ways. Yeah, I can see that references are invaluable to you in your work! They can definitely play a crucial role, but it's fun to stretch out, experiment, and see what you're capable of in your own mind sometimes. :D

[@Penciledbykay]

Those paints looked smooth and beautiful! I have the same problem with references. I always feel like I need to learn and improve on something. But now I try to draw as much as I can from my memory and life and then I go back and use references for technical stuff

[@weronoyume]

I understand how you feel! I use references, if I need any, only after I got the concept done in my head (and usually for figure drawing I force my sister to pose for me ahah)! That helps me to free myself from sticking to someone else's photography and work! By the way it is very useful to use photos and stuff to study how things are made and learn how to draw them like you have to do it to learn, but I personally don't think that's a good idea to start a piece only after finding and putting together references that inspired me ! When I used to do it I always felt like it wasn't right, I felt like I couldn't comunicate my feelings in that way, because I felt like those things didn't belong to me!

[@InLiquidColor]

I love this idea of doing the concept first and then finding reference to make it the best it can be. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@arleebean]

I totally agree with you, Wero! I was falling into that not great place of creating things based around a few references, and it didn't feel like it was mine anymore. I've been feeling much better recently, which is awesome! Thanks for the words of wisdom. ♥

[@weronoyume]

I'm happy you feel better!

[@orkidbox]

You did those paints great justice in this portrait. I love the light and airy color..

[@NadiaRausa]

How nice of Oto to send these to you! I’m really looking forward to watching you grow in the direction you’d like to go as an artist!

[@autumnskiesart2686]

I can definitely relate to what you were going through with relying to heavily on references, feeling like you NEED that perfect reference picture to then make your own art. Gosh, pretty much every single thing you mentioned, I am currently dealing with. I dislike my own style and not happy with it because I feel like I can't make art with out the references. I don't believe in myself enough to know that I CAN make art with out it. Anyways, just wanted to let you know that you're definitely not alone! This was a beautiful painting btw!

[@rebatsu]

Oto Kano is the best 🥰 As you are, too. I love that you spoke about the struggle to learn and find your own artistic style. Your painting is beautiful and full of air. Love it.

[@WitchPixel]

I completely relate, I was relying too heavily on references when planning the theme of my bullet journal and figuring out how to doodle something new (not humans lol) and I got to the point where I couldn't figure out how draw the thing without looking at someone else's way of doing it. It made me kinda depressed, especially with my May spread, which I still haven't finished. I gave myself a week off from having to work on it or think about it, had this revelation and ended up with inspiration to do something completely different than I have done in the past for June and I will only be using my own photography for reference if I get stuck or need to correct the perspective.

[@karahnovak8122]

I’m so proud of how far you’ve come! Seeing your art, I don’t know, it gives me hope that eventually I’ll be able to make portraits this easily. I still struggle with them, but I’ve always wanted that to be what I paint. Right now I do mostly landscapes but portraits have been my goal for a long time now.

[@tove2032]

I'm absolutely in love with this piece and I really like watching you paint, its so satisfying and relaxing ❤️❤️❤️ Love your art and the way you explain things ❤️❤️❤️

[@BrybryCreations]

Such a pretty piece!! I love Holbein watercolors! I’ve only got a small set of them but I’ve had my eye on the huge set of 108 forever! So happy to see them put to good use!! 💖💖💖

[@Drumaier]

Nice video, and is nice to hear other people talking about the exact same struggles one has. What you are talking about in this video is really interesting and a universal thing for people trying to get better with the "grounding" part of their art (anatomy, perspective, lighting, colors, etc) but also at the same time be original and do what they really want (which we are unsure sometimes). I think what you are doing is the only possible solution...using references, then designing with no or less reference, then do some studies from references (maybe changing the subject or technique), then do creative stuff trying to apply what we learnt, and do both things (analitical and creative stuff) all the time until one feels that no more references are needed, or maybe using references to double check if our designs are as grounded as we want them to be. Sorry for the long comment, im really interested in this stuff lately. Cheers

[@rj.moment]

..WOW! we have the exact same problem! I always want to create emotion and storytelling with my art. I will keep using references, but only to get a grasp of the position I want, or the facial features, so it doesn't just look screwed up? haha, anyway, amazing video! im buying holbein paints right now, so i loved hearing your insight on them.

[@B1ackDahlia767]

❤️ Oto! Oto is fantastic, and we love your rainbow skin! I adore the few tubes of Holbein that I have in my watercolor collection! (I have mostly Holbein in gouache.) The only reason I don't have more is pricing in my area. I will always be so in love with your rainbow skin - WOW! W-wait - are you using Escoda Reserva brushes?! 😮❤️

[@ariblue6160]

Love you're brushes! Great video!

[@Lumixxful]

This absolutely beautiful! I enjoy watching you paint as well. Before Mermay came, I caught myself relying heavily on references as well. I'd spend hours just scrolling and scrolling through Pinterest trying to find anything that would spark some kind of inspiration to want to create art. I, however, did love the realistic style that I was headed towards but Mermay helped me kind of release from that cage and I've been enjoying drawing a little more. So, thank you for sharing with us! I'm so glad to hear that you broke free from that funk that you were in. Your art is absolutely amazing.. ❤️

[@sincostanian]

Love the colours and the eyebrows!!!

[@Threearrowstudio]

Agh, I relate to so much of what you talked about in this video. My own Patreon endeavors haven't worked very well for me, and I've been feeling the same way about using references. Though references can definitely be important and help you learn and grow, sometimes it's good to let go of them for a bit to just experiment and see what you can do without them. Looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you in the future!

[@wwowly]

OMG Cobalt Green! Shell Pink! i need them :0

[@fatmah_kj2432]

Turned out very pretty!

[@cgwifey08]

I ADORE lengthy chatty videos

[@nmonteiro7144]

I really like this video. Also, I love your classes on Skillshare. I finished the "How to draw noses" some days ago, and I am always looking forward to the next one. :)

[@TheSgyro]

Ya i was studying a shading technique by copying the work of another artist on insta.. They turned out great.. But then I studied wat the shading was about n took a normal reference and finished it somewhat in that style... Was soo happy 😁.. I guess references should always be to inspire and not to copy... Unless you're just working on skills😄

[@torikellyreeves]

So cool have you tried artezas water color brush pens

[@melissamedina6988]

Wow, I loved the piece, specially the color palette and the tecnique you used with the red-ish tones on the cheeks and nose? I'll be trying that out. As for the references, I'm just about to fall into the use of a lot of references now to build up a proyect so I'll be careful not to lose practice on drawing from my mind and my already learned skills, it hadn't ocurred to me that that could happen. It's really inspiring to hear what kind of artist other people want to be, you're doing really great! I love compositions like yours. As for me, I want to be an illustrator and storyteller. My biggest goal is to finish writing and illustrating my books :) and don't worry, if now wasn't the moment for patreon it'll be later, or maybe for something different, who knows?

[@artsyrina3217]

Hihihi, I really liked the way you ended up rushing though talking about the paints at the end! :D This was a very beautiful painting. I can understand what you mean about being too dependent on references. I am a beginner, and I feel like I'm having some trouble developing my style, just because I've been so confused about all the different ways you can work with art. But I guess the natural style comes naturally after doing art for a while. Anyways, thanks for sharing your first try with holbeins :)

[@jessicasobel4287]

You're piece is just beautiful. I do mostly wildlife and I always use a reference, but I would love to someday be able to do more from my head. I'm not sure how to get there, but hopefully one day I will. I feel like I don't really have my own style yet... Congrats on your shop!! Although I think you are selling yourself short. Definitely give Patreon another go, you can do it!!

[@Isaarne]

For me references and study from real life are necessary and mandatory in the learning process (the learning process being a life long story ) and also in creating illustrations, for exemple if I need to do a certain lighting on an illustration i will look for a reference of that lighting and learn from it, try to even do a study of it. But doing your own illustrations and failling, doing again and letting your voice express herself is also important. I'd say I like to study as much as I draw from imagination.

[@adildraws]

You did a great job. Your voice over is amazing. I like it a lot.

[@arleebean]

Aww, thank you!

[@redforrori]

This piece is stunning. Did you sell the original? I see prints on your store, but not this orig. TIA :)

[@evenmegan]

Wow lucky you! Those paints look amazing ;-;

[@mariakellner2221]

Amazing gift from Oto , i follow her as well ,and Denise what do you use to draw?

[@ramonavisconti674]

Hey, i dont know if you would like it, but i would love to see a video with all your sketching process!

[@ariellenathanson1640]

This is beautiful, i love this new style! The painting is gorgeous, and your desire to grow is inspirational. How long did it take you to go from reference studier to this new found style?

[@arleebean]

Well, ultimately I'd like to balance studies with reference AND more stylized things like this. I've noticed for the past few months that, when I don't use a reference, this sort of style becomes more apparent. This "style" is brand new to me, as far as development goes, so I'm sure it'll change a bit with every new thing I create!

[@MeowMeowKapow]

Yay! Shop update! And yay, Oto Kano! Both of these things are excellent things. (Sorry if that is accidentally objectifying you, Oto. =>.

[@korinabodisch283]

What did you sketch with?

[@arleebean]

This one was a Col-Erase colored pencil in Tuscan Red, I think.

[@valasafantastic1055]

It’s probably; oh-toh. Yeah do a second portrait this is more of a practice/test of the paint anyway so the next time you will be more familiar with the paint. To me this is a very androgynous figure rather than specifically male or female. If frustrated consider getting out of your comfort zone and do different techniques and subjects as well. I recommend animals! But yeah reference can become a problem if your not careful. Consider using a reference only for the lighting or colour palette. And defiantly do some art without the reference. You can also start the thumbnails/sketches with no reference. Then get helpful reference to help then part way through put the reference away and finish without it. If you want to do more than just portraits study the separate elements; landscapes, plants, animals, architecture, objects, etc. Look at the texture and lighting to detect different materials. It’s tons of work but worth it! Consider starting more in your comfort zone with a person and adding in plants, and animals and begin to fill in more of a background behind the figures. You can do it! Also I want the Holbein paints (I have one the pyrolle red and it is fantastic! Plus I have some of the Holbein gouache) so lucky to get these palettes. Now you can know what tubes (or all) to get when they run out! Great video.

[@elizabethfernandez9128]

5:55 you sounds like garnet from steven universe. The part of " that was good"

[@acrowd9796]

I want to be an animator !!!

[@dididouglas8659]

lol #notificationsquad okay im gonna watch now

[@arleebean]

This comment makes me so happy! Thank you for being so early. ♥♥

[@lbiwriter]

💖💖💖

[@MerakiPainter]

I definitely do get a male feel from this. Maybe if the jaw line was a bit different it would help

[@evgenmozolevski281]

I know you can get solutions for that on woodprix website.

[@Haruko95]

I think you pronounce it like "Oh-toe"

[@ramxnart9520]

Am i the only subscriber emotionally attached to you???

[@samzoost9779]

came here to hear about the watercolors and i wasted 11 minutes of my life listening to you ramble🙄 just don't put it in the title next time.

[@azalea1404]

That is just the most unprofessional video I've seen in a long time. You announce you will do a review on the Holbein paints, and then you just talk nonsens the most of the video untill you realize in the last minute what the purpose was - and just rush through it in 30 seconds. I don't understand why you didn't do it over - or at least a new voice over, but apparently you don't respect your viewers time more than you think it's ok to waste our time.

[@arleebean]

Long story short, I never intended or stated that this video would explicitly be a review. I actually "announced" that I had a lot of things to talk about. So, that's what I did. It was, as stated in the title, my first time using these paints, and I wanted to share that experience here. I hope your day improves for you so you can better enjoy whatever content you choose to watch - it definitely doesn't have to be mine if you don't like it.