Thanks Janis! The comparison to surfing is a good one. With surfing and plein air painting you're responding to what nature delivers and trying to find a balance between control and chaos.
Your honesty and bravery are what set you apart and make your videos so addictive. When I first started Plein air painting I was terrified, but I told myself to feel the fear and do it anyway. Now it's not fear, it's excitement - trust your instincts and go for it. Your videos reinforce my instincts. When I am struggling I ask myself what would you do in this situation. Then I mix a colour and dive in! You're an inspiration! Thank you!
Don’t you think that once that feeling comes over you… that feeling of being puzzled, trying to figure it out, etc… that when you connect to something beyond yourself? That creative muse, that artists often speak of.
For me the muse you speak of is when I'm not overthinking and I'm relying on all the information I've absorbed thus far. All the paintings I've painted, the paintings I've carefully studied, the color charts I've made, etc.
So true when you talk about the chaos you feel while plein air painting. I don't do it a lot for this reason. As usual, you are an inspiration to get outside and paint Michael. Thanks for another wonderful painting, demo.
@Chris Homel you can take video of a scene outside you'd like to paint, bring home, play it and paint plein air on your studio. Take few close ups of subject as needed as well...
This is the ultimate plein air seascape master class and somehow you did it in 20 minutes. Makes me itch to get out there again. Definitely bookmarking this video. Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!
I remember listening to an interview with a successful older artist, unfortunately I can't remember who it was, but he said if you reach a point where you say "I got this" you're finished creatively.
Thank you Michael, I appreciate your in depth detail of the mixing of paints and the application. You captured it all perfectly. I especially love what you said in the end. I struggle with failure, so much so that I don’t even start. You are very encouraging to me to press forward, even if it doesn’t work out, just chalk it up to be an experience and learn from it and Try again. Thank you for your honesty.😉
This was a great video because you address more of the mental aspects. We can get mired in technique so easily. As always, I’m inspired to get out there and paint.
Thank you Michael for a great painting video including your thought processes. I have been oil painting for several years but plein air painting is new to me. I just finished my third plein air painting, and while friends and family have been positive I know the quality isn’t as good as my work in the studio. I know I should expect that for just my third painting, but I have to keep reminding myself I am a beginner in this arena. I wanted to learn this new painting skill because I love being outdoors and appreciating beautiful scenery and really taking a lot of time to absorb what I’m seeing and express something back by trying to capture it in art. Looking at the three I’ve done, I’d say the areas I am struggling with are proportions of the composition, and trees! 😂 Twice I have been in a location where I couldn’t move a few feet back to check the composition as I go. I need to remember that and possibly just practice sketching more often. But I still don’t know what to do about the trees. I’ve watched so many of your videos where loosely painted trees suddenly look fabulous, and that just isn’t happening for me. Any suggestions for a beginning tree painter?
Often we make trees too light in value, or we forget to put in a sky holes, or we make the shape too uniform. These are areas to focus on. Keep going, you’ll figure it out!
Love all of the information about the colors and the irregularity of the brush strokes. I love the ocean and the sound, smell. I live in southern California (oceanside) and your painting captures all of that the color, movement, sounds and even the "smell". Thank you for sharing, your knowledge.
I think Cézanne did something very similar (being comfortable between control and chaos I mean) In his most solid/strong and carefully structured and balanced compositions, he imagined this situation: first, everything shaken by kind of an earthquake, then, working this painting towards something as solid and strong as he possibly could .... (Cézanne, later in his life, was also primarily a plein air painter) (hope this all makes sense) Anyway, véry, véry interesting remarks here from you on the mindset of a (good) plein air painter: feeling comfortable between control and chaos. Once again: so inspiring ! Ur da best MC 😎
Very very interesting especially about the mental side of painting outside. I am doing exactly the same kind of painting myself at the moment. It is extremely challenging taking all the equipment needed for oil painting it's messy but oil is by far superior to acrylic and acrylic would be hopeless because mostly you can't move it about wet into wet. I like your painting and your videos it's very gestural and alive which I hope my own work is also. Keep up the good work and thanks for your wave painting it should help me a lot as I am about to try it myself very soon
Your reflections on your state of mind are helpful and your expressions seem to be a good insight to many plein air painters. Your George Bellows was excellent and having been to Monhegan he definitely captured its identity as did Marsden Hartley in his definite style.
I really appreciate your philosophy about painting en plein eire, and the fact that you learn so much from each painting you do. Thank you for speaking from the heart. Now back to the painting…the green wave at the front was initially bothering me but I watched to see what you did with it. In the end it was my favorite part of the painting. Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your painting process, philosophy and finished paintings with us.😊
Michael, great video! Thx for sharing your process and the fact we don’t ever have it fully ‘figured out’. I spoke w/ an art here in Houston that produces those beautiful Gulf Coast fishing scenes w/ fish under water and beautiful composition and movement, I asked him how he made it look that way. He said “man I just keep going until it doesn’t look like hammered sh…t! “ what an epiphany for me! That’s what I do!
I'm interested if you are formally trained? Alot of your knowledge and descriptive process during a painting in progress seems to come from experience gained over the years from just doing it. A big thank you for motivating me, and I'm sure others, to start painting. Your videos are super relaxing and a welcome escape from life's daily stress.
Thanks Lisa! I don't have much formal training. I'm mostly self taught. I learned most of what I know from books and from the painting process itself. So glad you're enjoying my videos! 😊
Another nice piece as usual, and of course the sound of the surf is mesmerizing. I am so impressed with your work ethic. I may have written this previously but your work is very upbeat. I think it is your light. It’s also very good to hear how you think, what you’re looking for, color, composition and so on. Keep up the good work.
love the life in this one ! I also love that you talk through what you're doing as you're figuring it out yourself and changing your mind without hesitating, good lesson to learn I think
Plein air adventure; outcome unknown Breaking waves ocean a baritone Making magic on an Anderson easel Would be called a wizard in times medieval Sun catches the light on the paint brush A winning result better than a straight flush There’s more to see on Patreon Times informational and halcyon 😁 What a spectacular day! You captured the colors in the water so beautifully. The waves and wet sand, the rocks and distant mountains, just spectacular. I don’t know anything about poker. Hope a “straight flush” is good. 😅 Thanks for sharing! Peace and love..Suz What ☮️💚🌻
Your sharing your process is very informative. Appreciated your comments back at home about embracing the uncomfortable unpredictability of plein air/adventure painting
Great words of advice for plein air painting!! It’s great to see your process and understanding more of what your thinking when you are making choices. Thanks so much for sharing! :)
Michael, it felt like you controlled your rage against chaos, I admire the way you handled such a complex movement, (ever changing whitewater), think I got lost in watching and re-watching, couple of hours at least, I like this painting’s complexity of movement, well done ❤️
Great video Michael! Really informative and compelling to watch. Not that your others aren't but this one particularly so. I like the random pattern of the waves, but I really think that isn't the only thing that creates motion and dynamism in the painting. For me, it's also your colour selection. I find that the colours that appear so fleetingly in the ocean as it rolls into the shore, change with every wave so the colours themselves suggest a huge amount of motion within the water. Beautifully done. You're a very busy guy Michael, what with painting so much and the videos, amidst what I can only imagine are other unrelated responsibilities. Hope you're taking care of yourself. Cheers.
Thanks Matthew! I think you're right about the color adding a sense of motion and dynamism. It's really enjoyable to look for those delicate shifts in color. I'm so glad you enjoyed this video! As for my schedule , things can be crazy at times but I do make sure to spend time playing music or surfing to recharge.
Hey Mike...this video says it all!... painting with irregular strokes,color mixing, composition...so much valuable information... capturing the movement in the waves was particularly helpful...and yes if the painting doesn't work out there is always something learned
Such a beautiful painting! And, as always, I love the at home discussion. Today I enjoyed hearing about skating the line between control and chaos. I’m a novice painter and am still afraid of plein air painting, but I need to - and will - get out there one day, thanks to your encouragement! Happy Thanksgiving, Michael!
Thanks Lisa! Painting with friends or a painting group can help ease you into plein air painting. Once you're comfortable with your materials, mixing color, the basics, I say go for it. Happy Thanksgiving! 😊
Well I finally got the time to watch some youtube...some week I've had. I love this painting, the looseness turns it alive, beautiful. You know in spanish (or at least in Argentina and here in France too because it translates the same) we call the "white water" espuma (mousse in french), which is literally "foam". Don't know why you don't call it like that, it's shorter and it's definitely foam LOL. Cheers Mike.
chamberlainpaintings I don't know about that LOL, you are just being kind...the most important thing is making your algorythm move. It's the way I've found to help an artist I appreciate and enjoy.
I liked the rocks so much and green colors were great. I'm amazed how you're so good at choosing colors so they perfectly fit in! And of course thick white lines for waves were the best! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm inspired for the rest of the day!!! Can't wait for the next video already! 😇
You have a great eye for perspective! It is something that I am working on in my own paintings right now. Has good perspective always come naturally to you? Excellent work!
Thanks Michael , great energy in this painting! A very pleasant video to offset my own cold and rainy Michigan morning. As the weather moves into winter , studio work helps until rain turns to snow in earnest. Maybe then I will venture back out to my field for some snow scenes . So envious ! Take care.
Nice work Michael! Iam always suprized to see through all of the paint at the end of a painting and see the canvas beneath with primer or slight tint underneath too.
I just don’t get it how much you can paint with one load. I also use liquin but still one brush load coverage is a lot less than yours. I use natural bristle brushes sizes 6 8 and 10.
@@arturgajewskiphotog I always use flats during the initial block-in because they hold more paint. It could have to do with the surface you're painting on. I get more coverage painting on panels than I do with canvas.
