Seeing others colour out of boundaries frees my soul. It is like, I have the permission to go outside the lines. It is so valuable for one born into a bustling city.
When I first started urban sketching, I was anal about closing my lines and coloring within them. But as I developed some confidence in creating art, I began to not care as much, and I liked what I was producing. I remember my first grade teacher asking why I wouldn't or couldn't color within the lines. I remember asking, why should I? That is serving me well now.
I used to be obsessed with having everything perfect, every line, every stroke of paint. But after watching your videos I have embraced the looser style of painting. It's much more freeing and enjoyable.
I have watched you paint in your videos and your method of painting is much more expressive than a tight painting. I am striving to paint looser. Looking over my past works, once in awhile I Iiked one over others but didn't know why. Not until I watched several of your videos . Much more interesting. More energetic. From my too many years of art school to trying to loosen up is not easy. But I love your style and paintings and they have been inspiring to me. Thanks.
This is one of my favourite video on sketching and painting out of the lines! The book review is amazing also! You have a library that is worth envying! I am a newbie to Urban Sketching and I like to draw fast and loose. Thanks for your videos Teoh!
I use both styles. Normally, indoors where there is a lot of items such as furniture, wall hangings, large windows with items outside that can be seen I try to keep my watercolors between the lines. If sketching outdoors, especially where there is a lot of foliage, my colors will go over the lines. I think doing that gives the painting a feeling of movement, action, and life. I’ve looked back over earlier outdoor works and I see a resemblance to your work in so far as painting outside the lines, less details with windows and vehicles. I really enjoy your videos and feel I have learned quite a bit from them. Thank you for the help.
from a visual perspective it's probably better to stay within the lines but if you're just a beginner and still learning the medium, then it's better that you make many, frequent sketches, and don't worry too much about staying within the lines, you will learn faster that way. you can always do detailed sketches when you are a bit more confident
I like both, sometimes I feel the story better if the drawing is more loose, it's also nice to see the artist personality in his or hers sketches. I am very impressed by those artists who can draw so accurate with every single line and dot and I am very impressed by the style and uniqueness of those artists who have more loose sketches, I feel you are one of them, Teoh.
As for preference of style... It's sort of like asking me what is my favorite color... (to which I will always answer... ALL of them! ) I enjoy and appreciate so many styles! They each have merit and take skill and dilligence to perfect. I think art would become so very boring if only one style was consdidered best.. or better.. or preferred. I really enjoyed your presentation of these two constrasting styles. It brought out so clearly to me, again... the value of each style respectively... That said.. my own personal style tends to be more in the lines.. more precise.. I have embarked on a new learning adventure to losen up and go "outside the lines" .. a work in progress... thanks again for all your efforts! cheers :)
Great video Teoh! I really needed to see something like this. I've only recently been getting back into watercolor after not painting for roughly 5 years. I've been struggling a lot with controlling the paint; I get frustrated and give up after painting outside the lines and making the colors bleed unintentionally. Seeing a variety of different styles and hearing you talk about the aspects of each makes me feel a lot less self-conscious about my art, so I just wanted to say thanks for making your videos. Maybe I'll try doing some looser watercolor paints for a while! :)
+Yvan Subbotin You can just paint in whatever style you like and enjoy. Different artists have different styles they enjoy, and that why there is such a variety
Hi Teoh! I really enjoyed this video - I never really thought about colouring inside or outside line boundaries before and this video really got me thinking - I start off by trying to stick inside my line boundaries but somehow I just naturally end up going outside them and it's probably because I do prefer this loose look - to me watercolour is loose, flowing and unrestricted & sticking tightly within the inside of the line boundaries seems too restrictive to me...
It's an artistic approach. If you do like very artsy things, sketchy it looks nice actually to be messy. But if you make a finished piece, it's indeed a betetr diea to clean it up, unless you again... are that artist who has this sketchy style and is able to execute it
like somebody else said. I like it when the focal point is drawn and painted more neatly than their surroundings. Other than that, i most often prefer the messier and sketchier styles. But thats because im lazy im always on the lookout for inspiration and ideas. That said, if a meticulously or neatly painted painting has a _strong sense of color,_ then i think i will like it more than the messier paintings. But! I have a pretty high standard for what i consider good colors. Like for example, i didnt think any of the "neat" art style examples that were shown, had all that good colors. Yeah, i know its just a matter of taste and my taste goes more towards (some of) Alex Ross and Dan Brereton's painted comic book art or the concept art paintings of Syd Mead.
I guess we should draw within the lines at the focal point of the piece and draw outside in loose style away from it. Don't know if this is correct in principle of line and wash. I guess it works.
Thanks Theo. I prefer a mix. Obviously, the style is the artist's voice and tells different stories, as the books in this video. My opinion: the loose style is beautiful when it is part of the composition, the purpose and the harmony of the drawing. The "loose style" is not good when it is the result of bad tools (for example: ink, fountain pen, wrong brush) or the artist has problems with his skills.
My style is quite neat, but I sometimes go for sketchier lineart when I'm painting realistic things or landscapes. Doing the lineart for my illustrative art can be quite stressful though. I love both styles. Your sketches are fun to look at.
I have always admired a loose style but have not painted that way myself. Till now. I have developed eye problems and the lines are not always sharp. So I am leaning toward becoming looser and really enjoying it. As others have said, it is a freer way to paint.
The way you draw foliage and buildings remind me of Quentin Blake! I wonder if you ever entertained the idea of becoming a children's books illustrator? :))
Hi I'm quite new to your channel but have been watching your videos alot and you have inspired me to draw alot of urban sketches which I really enjoy thanks for your videos they are a great help keep up the good work your art is great :)
It is really nice to hear how you "plein air" (if you will). You do videos about cafe sketch but I would like to see someone help you video a day under the sun. 😅
+Daina Zhou I am not sure when I will get making that video. I have a text review on my blog at www.parkablogs.com/picture/ipad-pro-pencil-artist-review-rob-sketcherman
Great video as always. I think it depends on the subject matter. If I am looking at a modern city, neat is preferable. A post-apocalyptic city then I think a loose style would be far superior. If I am looking at a forest scene, loose is ideal, but I expect botanical pharmaceutical art to be precise.
Loved this video, all the different styles are inspiring Teoh. Would you have any recommendations for publishers for someone who is trying to make a book from their sketches perhaps?
Are you making a book to sell? If so, I think the company Blurb does offer self publishing. If it is just a single book, you can consider publishing from Apple (yes the computer company). Apple has some sort of publishing service but you have to search for it.
Thank you for doing this video which follows the reply you sent me last time explaining the different styles. I am only a beginner trying to draw and paint and I recently joined the thousands of people who use colouring books, which is very relaxing. I always keep within the lines but seeing the books you show in this video, I like both styles. The problem is I can't let myself go over the lines and if using pencils I have to get a fine rubber to erase anything over the lines. I wish I could loosen up. Out of interest can you do it both ways?
I can colour within the lines if I want to, but it takes too much time. For sketching, I usually colour outside the lines. I have friends who are strictly in either camp but never cross over. LOL.
i bought a zig kuretake transparent watercolors. not the gansai tambi but a set with a plastic case that comes with a waterbrush and pen . so cute hehe have you tried those?
I like both, to be able to use both but my drawing style is more primitive. Do you know any watercolor artists who medical physiology (not anatomy) type work? That is why I want to learn watercolor for my notes & protocols journal.
That can be your style , to be known for in the future. Do not worry, be happy. Maybe this will be your famous art trade mark, when you become rich and famous? Regards Gary.
Thank you Teoh for your subject. Perfect as usual. My name is Mehdi. I am from Algeria in north Africa. My hometown is Algiers. I am Fan of all your work. I am one of your faithful follower. Let me explain to you my demand. I will travel in February to Singapore for business and will be happy if I can meet you. It will be a honor for me and a great pleasure.
Cool. You can contact me at www.parkablogs.com/contact Or join our Urban Sketcher group on the last Saturday of the month where I will be there. facebook.com/groups/usksg
To me watercolor seems to lend itself to be a looser style of expression. Of course you can be very exacting and stay within the lines but for me that is an uphill battle. On the other hand with something like markers the effort to stay within the lines is more than worth it.
Hi Teoh! Can you tell me what is the name of this technique? How can I search in google for images like this, colouring outside lines boundaries? thanks you!
