We couldn't agree more about the importance of loving the process. We've heard a lot of professionals talk shop over the years, and one of the best quotes came from an architect talking to a student. They were waiting in line to buy supplies, and the student said how much they hated making site models. The architect looked shocked, and said, "Oh, no! You have to love it! If you don't love the craft, you'll never make it!" As many hours as an artist spends making things, always speculating on the outcome, if the doing weren't so rewarding, we wonder how many of us would have persisted? We think all of us engaged in creative pursuits start out loving the process, but at some point, it can be too easy to just focus on the product, or achieving career milestones.
I agree people get so worried about what they are supposed to create and compare themselves to others. When I teach I tell theme”love YOUR ART” it is you, don’t try to be someone else!
Love that you took the time to make this; this is exactly the mentality that has been keeping me going. Art is play. Creation is play. The zen I experience with art is the same thing I experienced as a kid building LEGO - complete presence in the moment, the world melted away.
Thanks Steve,😍😍 Sensational, Love the portrait! He looks so much like my sons too, it'll be great practice & the music is great! PS. the football player analogy was so apropos! 😅🤣😂🤩🥰
Your subject looks so much like my brother, I'm going to use this technique for the portrait I've wanted to paint of him. Thanks so much for the pep talk as well.
Susan Harrison -Tustain taught me that the Journey is more exciting than the end result. Steve thanks for putting a smile on my face with your sense of humor while I lay here with an injured back. Nothing brightens my day better on days like this than to watch your RUclips channel and enjoy your talent. God bless you! You have blessed me this day!
Thanks so much for that insight, I needed that. I started to try watercolour a couple years ago or more (wow, time flies) and gave up, tried a few other art hobbies since but have come back to watercolour. I always give up thinking I have to be good, I have to be able gift it, it needs to hang on a wall, there has to be a purpose, I will never be a master…not enjoying the process, relaxing and just doing it for me.
You are so right about enjoying the process. I lose myself in the process and when the painting is over it can be very anticlimactic. But that motivates me to start another painting.
I started doing intuitive paintings to reduce the self pressure for perfection that I’ll never achieve. It’s totally about the process and exploration, not the result.
WOW, Steve! He is amazing! He looks more "real" that the photo reference. He truly looks like he stepped right out of time. I so appreciate you talking about the process and that making art should be enjoyable. For me, at the end of the day, satifaction is way better than happiness! And satisfaction often comes from the process and learning. Thank you!
Wow, I love this piece, both the subject and background treatment. I've actually been pondering that a lot lately. Instead of getting stressed over a problem area in a painting and seeing it as an annoying obstacle, look at it as a challenge, or brain teaser, or finding a puzzle piece that makes the 'problem' area work. I really think it adds to the enjoyment factor of creating art. This is especially helpful for the perfectionist in us that sometimes blocks the joy of the twists and turns of the journey.
YOUR portrait was Delightful!!! and yes it should be fun even with solving the problems as you go of what you are doing with the colours and such. Thank you so much for the image in costume as I am working on some portraits of Men in a Brigade from the 1840's now
Yes, I totally agree with you. My watercolours became so much better once I started focusing on the process instead of the result. I still have a long way to go, but now I can judge better my weak spots and mistakes. Coming from opaque medium, I also think it helps building patience that is so much needed when using watercolours.
Your portraiture is magnificent, the details remarkable. What also touched me was your choice of music. Who is the artist? Is this found in YT's royalty-free music?
I joke about him a lot, but I did really enjoy David Choe's bit about taking an old sketchbook and ruining the paintings. It is very freeing to take some work you know you don't really care about and change it. I found myself making some bolder moves afterwards and I feel that took me up a notch. Particularly when it came to cutting larger sheets and attempting big projects.
THANK YOU STEVE!!! I needed to see and hear this. I am liking your graphite with watercolor and hope to embrace the process instead of fearing the result.
Wow! Fantastic portrait! And so S.M. background and colors. May I add those were brilliant analogies for the mindset of enjoying the process? I may have to join your lessons on the Loomis method. Appreciate you, Mr. Mitchell!
Beautiful portrait!❤ I also loved the analogy for studying and progressing through art 🏈 I have just started to enjoy the learning aspect of art . I would love it if you made a video on your process of working though the layers for a piece, it is something I have always struggled with and can't seem to find any good answers. 🤔 💭 Looking forward to those Loomis head lessons! 👀
I totally get your point! I love the portrait. You changed his glasses! It would have been nice to hear about the process of the portrait, too. Like skin tones, paint colors, choice of background, etc
Another winner!!! I returned to my art creating in 2016 after a long hiatus an you were the first watercolor video I viewed and voila, I have remained!! You have a methodical, relaxing and humorous approach to watercolor and you've been so helpful to me. Thank you. Q: given your background is architecture, how did you learn to draw the human figure/face?!?! I read a lot of art books and know that PRACTICE is precious, though sometimes it seems like very little progress is being made.... Thanks for your channel!!!!
Wow I love how you do portraits! So much details, great variety of textures with the hair & clothes, with beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing this wonderful portrait with us!
Loved watching you paint this portrait….it’s wonderful. I learn so much watching/listening to you. Approaching watercolor painting as a ‘game’ is something I need to remember and to practice with that mentality. Thank you. I do have one question though. I have a huge set of Faber Castell watercolor pencils that I have had for 30+ years, and I have hardly used them. I noticed you did some sketching and details with watercolor pencils. When one uses both watercolor paints and watercolor pencils, is that considered mixed media? Or just two different forms of watercolor such as tubes and pans, so it’s not mixed media?? Might be a dumb question, but I am curious. Thanks for sharing all that you do.
It could be considered mixed. In reality it’s not though. It really only matters if you need to label it for a show entry and there are rules. Maybe not even then. Otherwise it’s watercolor in my opinion. A viewer might see some pencil strokes and wonder though.
Wow... what an amazing portrait! What do you think of using a light board? My sketching skills are not good at all. I practice a lot but they're still not progressing as quickly as I'd like. Lol
We couldn't agree more about the importance of loving the process. We've heard a lot of professionals talk shop over the years, and one of the best quotes came from an architect talking to a student. They were waiting in line to buy supplies, and the student said how much they hated making site models. The architect looked shocked, and said, "Oh, no! You have to love it! If you don't love the craft, you'll never make it!"
As many hours as an artist spends making things, always speculating on the outcome, if the doing weren't so rewarding, we wonder how many of us would have persisted? We think all of us engaged in creative pursuits start out loving the process, but at some point, it can be too easy to just focus on the product, or achieving career milestones.
So true and well said!
I agree people get so worried about what they are supposed to create and compare themselves to others. When I teach I tell theme”love YOUR ART” it is you, don’t try to be someone else!
Well said!
Love that you took the time to make this; this is exactly the mentality that has been keeping me going. Art is play. Creation is play. The zen I experience with art is the same thing I experienced as a kid building LEGO - complete presence in the moment, the world melted away.
Thanks Steve,😍😍 Sensational, Love the portrait! He looks so much like my sons too, it'll be great practice & the music is great!
PS. the football player analogy was so apropos! 😅🤣😂🤩🥰
Your subject looks so much like my brother, I'm going to use this technique for the portrait I've wanted to paint of him. Thanks so much for the pep talk as well.
Great video, as always my friend a wonderful teacher and thanks for sharing 👍
FANTASTIC, congratulations thank you very much for sharing 🎉
Way better than the photo Steve, amazing.
"Enjoy the colour, enjoy the brushes, enjoy ... " Fabulous advice!😁 Thank you, Steve.
Hi🧠..love how your pencil becomes part of the art without erasering 😎
You’re special to watch. Thank you 😊
Beautiful portrait, Steve! @The Mind of Watercolor
What video game genre(s) do you enjoy? I play too. ❤
What a great idea to think about regarding art. I agree with you that the process should be the importance.... Thank you!
You are an inspiration. Thank you for letting me learn from your art experience.
Stunning!
great job Steve!
Oh, Steve! Your portraits are just stunning!! Thank you so much! Going back to watch again!
Will watch this many times.
Gorgeous!
Love the philosophy. Enjoy the collecting of colors and exploring how they work together...or don't. 😅
Also just used your wise words as inspiration for the article for my newsletter this week. Thank you for the inspiration. :)
Wonderful!
Amazing. Great video. Thank you.
What a great video, I don't do portraits, but you video has really made me rethink my position on this. Thank you for this video.
Susan Harrison -Tustain taught me that the Journey is more exciting than the end result. Steve thanks for putting a smile on my face with your sense of humor while I lay here with an injured back. Nothing brightens my day better on days like this than to watch your RUclips channel and enjoy your talent. God bless you! You have blessed me this day!
Thanks so much for that insight, I needed that. I started to try watercolour a couple years ago or more (wow, time flies) and gave up, tried a few other art hobbies since but have come back to watercolour. I always give up thinking I have to be good, I have to be able gift it, it needs to hang on a wall, there has to be a purpose, I will never be a master…not enjoying the process, relaxing and just doing it for me.
Masterful!
I always love your paintings, but your discussion of the importance of bringing focus to the process was spot on!
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing your talents and experience. Your videos are very motivating.
Thank you Steve for doing this portrait. Very well done and impressive to me. Keep up the great work.❤
Excellent!! Thank you
Wow. Your work is simply amazing.
You are so right about enjoying the process. I lose myself in the process and when the painting is over it can be very anticlimactic. But that motivates me to start another painting.
Beautiful portrait!😊
I am swiping the message from your tee shirt.
yes thank you 0:17 ❤
I started doing intuitive paintings to reduce the self pressure for perfection that I’ll never achieve. It’s totally about the process and exploration, not the result.
Another brilliant effort... I love watching you introduce colors that i don't expect... just beautiful. Thank you for sharing your work!
You bet!
WOW, Steve! He is amazing! He looks more "real" that the photo reference. He truly looks like he stepped right out of time. I so appreciate you talking about the process and that making art should be enjoyable. For me, at the end of the day, satifaction is way better than happiness! And satisfaction often comes from the process and learning. Thank you!
I've been trying to learn how to create backgrounds to my paintings and I would like to learn more and how to choose the right color for it.
Wow, I love this piece, both the subject and background treatment.
I've actually been pondering that a lot lately. Instead of getting stressed over a problem area in a painting and seeing it as an annoying obstacle, look at it as a challenge, or brain teaser, or finding a puzzle piece that makes the 'problem' area work. I really think it adds to the enjoyment factor of creating art. This is especially helpful for the perfectionist in us that sometimes blocks the joy of the twists and turns of the journey.
I liked this a great deal.
YOUR portrait was Delightful!!! and yes it should be fun even with solving the problems as you go of what you are doing with the colours and such. Thank you so much for the image in costume as I am working on some portraits of Men in a Brigade from the 1840's now
Yes, I totally agree with you. My watercolours became so much better once I started focusing on the process instead of the result. I still have a long way to go, but now I can judge better my weak spots and mistakes. Coming from opaque medium, I also think it helps building patience that is so much needed when using watercolours.
Sound advice and such a gorgeous portrait. Lovely as always 😊. Thank you.
Thanks for your lesson today… to make painting a pleasurable activity, not a struggle 😊
Your portraiture is magnificent, the details remarkable. What also touched me was your choice of music. Who is the artist? Is this found in YT's royalty-free music?
I joke about him a lot, but I did really enjoy David Choe's bit about taking an old sketchbook and ruining the paintings. It is very freeing to take some work you know you don't really care about and change it. I found myself making some bolder moves afterwards and I feel that took me up a notch. Particularly when it came to cutting larger sheets and attempting big projects.
I'm a beginner in watercolor still, but since I let go of result expectations, now the pictures are finally coming together.
I love the purple and green theme here, that's also such an interesting reference photo, beautiful painting 😊
THANK YOU STEVE!!! I needed to see and hear this. I am liking your graphite with watercolor and hope to embrace the process instead of fearing the result.
The portrait turned out so beautiful!! Loved the concept, amazing work!
beautiful
Your portrait turned out beautifully! I loved watching the whole process
You draw really well. I wish you would do more of the tight drafting like this on camera more often.
Amazing. Thank you for showing us your incredible talent!
Great advice. Thank you!
I love your process, its also so calming for me to watch your art take shape. What an awesome portrait it is ! Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous Portrait painting as always Steve!! Thanks so much for all you share!!
Oh wowie!!!! I love your stunning portrait. Thanks so much.
I draw portraits every day, but find it a challenge using watercolor, especially finding the right skin tones.
I listed my skin colors if that helps.
What a beautiful portrait 🤩 thank you for sharing the process with us 🙏🏻🤗💖💖
This is a marvelous video. The portrait and your techniques are very beautiful. The talk is appreciated advise too!
Got even more out of this one watching this 2nd time.
Wow! Fantastic portrait! And so S.M. background and colors. May I add those were brilliant analogies for the mindset of enjoying the process? I may have to join your lessons on the Loomis method. Appreciate you, Mr. Mitchell!
World’s okayest boomer 😂
Your shirts always make me grin
@@mechadebzilla How true! I love Stephens’s shirts 😄.
I am obsessed with art. It is a have to do on my have to do list. 😊
Spectacular!!!!!!!
Beautiful portrait!❤ I also loved the analogy for studying and progressing through art 🏈 I have just started to enjoy the learning aspect of art . I would love it if you made a video on your process of working though the layers for a piece, it is something I have always struggled with and can't seem to find any good answers. 🤔 💭 Looking forward to those Loomis head lessons! 👀
Looks way better than the referance. Glad you changed the glasses.
👏👏👏👏 Magnifico !!!
Beautiful portrait!
Looks great! Watching this and your other videos I think lately ever more often: Wouldn't it be great if Steve would do a Tolkien calendar?
I would buy some!
Great video! And I ❤ your tshirt:)
I totally get your point! I love the portrait. You changed his glasses! It would have been nice to hear about the process of the portrait, too. Like skin tones, paint colors, choice of background, etc
For skin, pretty much the all the colors I listed played some part except for the blue.
Excellent 👌👌👌👌👌
Another winner!!! I returned to my art creating in 2016 after a long hiatus an you were the first watercolor video I viewed and voila, I have remained!! You have a methodical, relaxing and humorous approach to watercolor and you've been so helpful to me. Thank you. Q: given your background is architecture, how did you learn to draw the human figure/face?!?! I read a lot of art books and know that PRACTICE is precious, though sometimes it seems like very little progress is being made.... Thanks for your channel!!!!
Wow I love how you do portraits! So much details, great variety of textures with the hair & clothes, with beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing this wonderful portrait with us!
Loved watching you paint this portrait….it’s wonderful. I learn so much watching/listening to you. Approaching watercolor painting as a ‘game’ is something I need to remember and to practice with that mentality. Thank you. I do have one question though. I have a huge set of Faber Castell watercolor pencils that I have had for 30+ years, and I have hardly used them. I noticed you did some sketching and details with watercolor pencils. When one uses both watercolor paints and watercolor pencils, is that considered mixed media? Or just two different forms of watercolor such as tubes and pans, so it’s not mixed media?? Might be a dumb question, but I am curious. Thanks for sharing all that you do.
It could be considered mixed. In reality it’s not though. It really only matters if you need to label it for a show entry and there are rules. Maybe not even then. Otherwise it’s watercolor in my opinion. A viewer might see some pencil strokes and wonder though.
Thank you for sharing, I am enjoying you painting his beard any tips for a novice artist?
Look for the larger value shapes.
amazing!
Wow... what an amazing portrait! What do you think of using a light board? My sketching skills are not good at all. I practice a lot but they're still not progressing as quickly as I'd like. Lol
It's fine. You can learn a lot by tracing.
Which colours/pigments did you use for the skin tones?
I listed them in the description. 😊
painting is like playing Dead by Daylight
Hi Steve, I’d love to know what colours you used for the skin tones. Love everything about this portrait. And that t-shirt 🤣🤣🤣
For skin, pretty much the all the colors I listed played some part except for the blue.
🙏🌊🔱🫧🫧🫧
Thanks so much Steve. Did you paint the skin wet in wet?
In part. I wet small sections and added some color wet in wet. Much was painted with wet on dry layers, blending out edges
@@mindofwatercolor Thanks Steve. That’s helpful to know.
What is limiest? You mentioned you’ll do a study or a class for your Patreon
I’m curious
The Loomis Method.
First?