For the past year, I've let myself be sucked into the abyss of mindless scrolling and content absorption, and it has all but killed my creative drive. I used to draw, write, and make jewelry all the time, but now the creative process feels draining and tedious. But for every one of your videos I watch I feel motivated to make art again. Thanks, Mick, from Michigan.
You calling it your informal Sea Creature Phase makes me really looking forward to seeing like a Forest Phase given as you are practically living in one. Much Love.
You may have done a bunch of "simple" paintings this month for the most part, but your style brings me so much joy. Thank you for sharing it! Knowing you are dabbling in cultural art has me looking forward to seeing what you make next. As for the crab with the plant life growing on it and your love of octopi... now I kind of want to either see or make myself and octopus with plant life on it, lol. Thank you for the inspiration
You have been blessed with the ability to create beautiful art! Since I was young, many years ago, I have tried to invest in original art whenever I could and I still love every piece that I have purchased. It would be wonderful if you could bring your art to market so that it can be enjoyed by others, what a wonderful gift to share!!!
Mick, your sense of composition, color, and silhouette are very refined. Your paintings are beautiful and so wonderfully delicate, reminiscent of vintage storybook art. You have a great understanding of when to add texture and when to simplify things. If you haven't already, I highly recommend experimenting with or adding gouache (water based and water soluble) or acrylic gouache (acrylic-based and non water soluble) into your arsenal. The way you use watercolors (using a butter to cream consistency to achieve higher pigment loads on top of lighter washes) would work great with gouache, and it's easier to layer lighter colors on top of darker colors with gouache paint vs watercolor. Looking forward to seeing everything else you'll create, and I'm wishing you all the best into your 2024 artistic endeavours!
Absolutely awesome man, I've been loving every video you're posting recently and I really have to say, and being completely honest here, that your content is bringing me lots of inspiration and I'm making more art; you can sleep smiling knowing that at least one random person on the internet is having a better day because of your work c:
Phenomenal, Mick! Your portaits are amazing. I can't believe they are only your 3rd, 4th, and 4th creations of the human face. Fantastic! Loved the colors and patterns used in everything you've painted, including the cultural art. Stay holed up in that cabi. You will gain so many new artistic skills on this incredible creative journey. Keep all of your work, i see you at the beginning of a fantastic joy ride into a life of art expression.
I really love this idea! As a fellow artist with a RU-vid channel, I've been struggling with keeping up with a consistent posting schedule when it comes to my art, but I like the idea of doing an "end of month" look at everything you create, including all the sketches and unfinished work, as well as the finished pieces. Always look forward to your videos and your beautiful work! ❤
Thank you :) it just struck me as a good way to make easy, enjoyable content in between more time consuming stuff. Try not to burn yourself out on posting, it’s a draining lifestyle. Wish you the best, subbed :)
Hey Mick, Illustrator here, who also paints like a madman, that isolating work is so important to establish the discipline you need. Its refreshing to see someone take pride in their work with this mindset of moving forward. I am 21, I'm self taught and spent a lot of time alone in New Jersey, I've learned that this art is the one thing no one can take from me. When I don't have the ability to go out, cant drive, have no money, no job, no friends around, I learn that this art can be more than just a crutch. It is demanding as you know but every day you get a little better, every day the ideas come easier. When we paint nature, we don't reproduce it but express some chosen sensation that it held upon us, and we can experience it more and more. Keep catching your fish Mick, but don't be afraid to try some different mediums to express them, it will help with the technical side. Charcoal and black ink for me have always helped my paintings and vise versa, plus they are pretty cheap and can be made yourself. Always great vibes here.
My how excited I was when I saw this posted. Honestly don't think I will ever get tired of seeing these creations ~ I tend to steer from vibrancy but each of your paintings leads me to believe I'm really limiting myself. Looking forward to seeing more of these!
Great vid again, love how you show everything even if you don't consider it perfect. I also really enjoyed hearing you talk about which pieces you were proud of and why. I tend to focus on the negative aspects of my artwork instead of the positive, so this video reminded me to work on that! Thanks!
Yknow it’s easy to hate on your own artwork, but that’s really a waste of time. It’s good to look at flaws clinically and just say “that could be better, let’s try and improve”, but beyond that it’s really not healthy. Art should be fun, strive to enjoy what you’re doing no matter how it starts out or ends up, and I can pretty much guarantee your craft will be better for it
I'm glad you have talent. My mother took up painting around 60 and got really good at it, mostly winter snow scenes with streams and mountains. I am in my 70s and the only talent I ever had was drawing a line on a board with a square to cut it. I do camp and fly drones so I will watch all your camping, and building, but will have to pass on your art. Just a different set of interests which is not an issue for either of us, I will be subscribed for what interests me... 😎
Mick, I would LOVE if you would consider making videos showing how you paint these pictures, from start to finish. We can learn a lot just by watching you and your techniques. I especially love the under water ones. Keep up the good work!
Bravo!! Bravo!! I was actually clapping when you displayed this stunning collection, especially when I saw the crab with the marine plants growing from it’s back. I’m sure hundreds of us would love a print of that one. Then came the orange, horizontal octopus and I cheered again. What fabulous negative space you created there! I like where you’re going with the indigenous art and cultural portraits also. And do keep showing us more fish and underwater coral and plants. I’m envisioning a painting rich in a kelp forest, teaming with fish swimming throughout. I was a graphic designer and an art director in New Jersey for decades and I can only hope that you continue to nourish your natural talent and gift all of us with your videos. You have even inspired me to get out my paints again, though I don’t have your natural talent or style. I can see your artwork in SO MANY places… wall prints, calendars, illustrated books!! And, as many of us have said, you could make a mint on that voice also!! Keep it coming!! -KW
You have such a great talent. A lot of your paintings remind me of the psychedelic style from back in the 60's with all of the vibrant colors used in abstract ways. Since you are so young, I have to wonder if you studied the art from that era. Keep using your imagination to create more of these paintings. They're very good.
hi mick!! wonderful video and channel in general. i think you'll like this suggestion since you like to paint fish: paint sharks! they are my absolute favourite animal and they vary so much you'd never get tired of painting them. of course, this is only a suggestion; i'd watch you paint anything. have a wonderful day 😁
Mick those paintings are FABULOUS! Incredible the amount of detail you put in even into the smallest drawing wow..Go you 👌. I've always been interested in the Maori face tattoo and it's tradition, culture its a really interesting subject, give it a read I'm sure you will find some inspiration. Looking forward to seeing next month's creative instalment.
Your style is so beautiful and you have such a lovely voice! I'm still a kid, but I'm fascinated with sea creatures and I love to make art. The anglerfish, jellyfish, and crabs were my favorite but they were all amazing and so inspiring! :)
I love to paint fish as well, marine life is one of my special interests with a focus on jellyfish so seeing you feature some jellies made me so happy. You inspire me to create!
I try to paint on rocks because it’s fun and very relaxing but only on occasion do they turn out awesome. I wish I could do fish like that. Can’t wait to see February.
Love the vibrant colors and shapes...pushing the boundaries of reality ever so slightly , but still believable . Delighted to find your post today ! Thank you for sharing ! I wonder...as Spring approaches , might you consider painting the local flora and fauna ...even if a technicolor version ???
I certainly will. As we get closer to summer in Alaska I’ll be doing a lot more en plain air painting on hikes into the mountains, and I’ve found that the plant/ flower species of alpine environments are absolutely stunning
If you haven't, you should check out kilifish and flowerhorns. Kilifish are very colorful with interesting patterns, while flowerhorns have a nuchal hump which you might find fun to draw. Freshwater rainbowfish and gobies might be inspiring, too.
All of these are so beautiful! The yellow octopus is amazing! I love all of the bright vibrant colours used. Beautiful palettes chosen for your pieces!
Really enjoy seeing your paintings. They are familiar, yet alien. I like these alot - enjoying your style. Also enjoying this recap method video. Thanks Mick!
Love your art. Mostly love that you 'just do it'. I used to paint. I have all the stuff. I dream about painting and ponder how to paint things I see everyday. But something just gets in the way of me picking up the brushes. So ... I'm jealous that you're doing it. I guess I better get off my butt and do something about it. Love your videos. Keep 'em coming.
Everything you've made blows me away! Even with taking inspiration from wildlife books and watnot, it's still AMAZING on what kind of Illustrations you've been able to create. I'm an artist that struggles a lot with being able to make things like this for themselves, but I have truly enjoyed watching you work, and the pieces you've come up with. Feel like you could publish an art book someday, or even sell some prints of your work, and if ya do, would love to buy 'em.
Love seeing how you incorporate the references into your workflow. Also the amount of contrast and cleanliness you get with these paintings is really dope! Your crab designs are so meticulous and the yellow octopus at 4:09 has a really nice blend of textures and gradients. The fish are always fun to zoom in on with all of the different patterns. Great stuff as always!
Mick, these are absolutely fantastic!!! I am loving them all and cannot wait to see more of your art!!! I painted for the very first time roughly 6 years ago. I mostly paint tutorials on RU-vid (both acrylic and watercolor). Should you ever offer a tutorial, I would love to give this style a try! Looking forward to your future art pieces!
I am simply amazed and blown away by your ability to this on such small stock. I love you the paintings in the cultural style. You should try pen & ink in your watercolor for added detail. I would also do this with pencil color or pastel. You are an extremely talented young man with the ability to work as an artist and “with your voice”………. You have that voice for film narration. You definitely have opportunities.
Awesome idea ! Now, i'm looking forward to see what you'll create in the coming motnhs ! I particularly loved your cultural paintings, the style and the colors are realy doing something. You're in the right path with this haha ! As always, this video is really inspiring to see and I have so many ideas on things I want to do for february now :) Thanks !
Great artwork ❤ Where'd you get your book and paper❓ I've been inspired by you and another RU-vidr I follow. I bought a sketch pad and have been doing some basic pencil drawings, just to hone in on getting started again after a few decades. I'm doing one drawing a day. I'd like to expand to other forms of picture art like chalk, water colors etc but maybe later on in the year. For now I just want to make my daily draw a habit and it's what I look forward to at the end of each day. Love the pics with the tree I think those are my current fav of your art. Thank you
Oh boy, you should definitely try playing Subnautica. ;) Just curious about the painted fish at the beginning of the video, is there a reason you tend to do them facing left to right? I remember as a child I became for a time obsessed with drawing sharks, including cutaway diagrams of their internals, etc. I didn't go beyond that singular topic, but my brother did, he liked painting general undersea scenes of a more prehistoric leaning, Plesiosaurs and suchlike.
That’s the second subnautica comment I’ve gotten 😂no I still have never played it, would like to though, just don’t play many video games. But really I have no idea why they’re all left to right, I was just thinking about that actually. Probably just because it’s easier since I’m right handed
@@Mickmakesstuff411 (the earlier Subnautica comment might also have been from me. :D) I was wondering about that too, whether the handedness may play a part.
What kind of Paper do you use? Did you do the rough edges yourself? I truly love this style of paper. I kind of want to start something like this myself now.
Very soon I’ll be opening some kind of online store where people can buy my stuff, so stay on the lookout for that. I’ll give directions to it in a video soon, so if there’s anything I’ve made that catches your eye, It’ll probably be up for sale very soon 👍
