MAKEUP BRUSH - Just wanted you to know that Helen Van Wyk a painter with more than 50 years experience suggested to use a makeup brush to use as a mop brush because it doesnt shed as much. I hope this helps. Love your work. -Thomas
I discovered your channel today and I'm absolutely blown away by your skills as an artist and as a teacher and instructor. Thank you, you've illuminated so much for me already.
@Lior Mazuz, if you use a fast drying mixing medium like Liquin (my preferred medium) it will help a lot. Normally each layer of paint for me is dry withine 12-24 hours depending on how thick I put the paint on the canvas.
I'm glad you emphasize on acrylics because that's how I started painting with, and know nothing of working with oils, except that they take a while to dry.
Lisa, Thanks for this video. We appreciate that you painted flowers this time. We like to see a variety of work from you. We appreciate your advise on using the air brush to keep the surface wet. Thanks again for all you do.
Nice job on this painting. I'm always very interested in seeing how other artists create their backgrounds. That's the part I'm not so good at and am always on the lookout for new methods and techniques.
I loved how you described the process, you are an amazing artist and the quality of your work is amazing, I am so happy to have found your video. Thank you for sharing.
This was extremely helpful Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing this with us - seriously, one of the best blending tutorials I've seen. Ever. Anywhere. And definitely interested in seeing the blending tutorial for the clouds in the Orca painting also. Thanks again Lisa - you're the best!
This was for me the best tutorial so far. Very good demonstration on when to use the brush, how to use it and what's needed for it to work correctly (misting). Lovely painting, but I loved seeing the brush strokes.
The problem with the bare minerals brushes (I have several for my makeup) is that the handle is too short. To keep the brush pressure light enough I really need a longer handle.
Lachri Fine Art What about a length of plastic pipe, over the handle, to the length you want? Improvise! I did it with a feather duster that was too short to reach a high ceiling. I used a plastic pipe, from my daughters princess tent that she out grew.
Great tutorial Lisa. I love acrylics and find that they easily blend beautifully (including when painting photorealism) with the right technique. I use soft cosmetic mop brushes for softening brush strokes. I have never had any hairs some off onto my paintings. It could be that when I reach the softening stage, the layer is so fine and thin that there is no drag on the brush. Additionally, I use a very faint touch. Avoid brushes that have a round barrel with sculpted edges. They drag and cause hairs to come off onto the paintings, and it takes longer to get that soft smooth blend.
I was just going to suggest makeup brushes XD I'm an aspiring makeup artist and a looooot of MUAs use paint brushes for makeup and was wondering if it works vice versa!
Just wanted to say Hi, I recently came across your channel and can't seem to stop watching your tutorials, I love to paint I'm always looking for ways to improve and I have learned lots from your channel, one if the tips you gave " slow down take your time" I think that made the biggest difference I'm always in a rush to see the final product lol! But anywho you are such an inspiration to me thank you!
You are my hero. I've been telling almost every customer at the local art store I work at to watch your videos and subscribe! Thanks again this really really helped me.
Regarding the mop brush shedding, I have an idea about using a food syringe, the ones used for infusing meat with salt water or seasoning. What I was thinking was, maybe fill one of those with a hard setting resin, like polyurethane, and carefully put the needle in from all sides into the area where the ferrule ends, and inject resin into several areas around the circumference until the base bristle area is soaked. Stand the brush, bristles pointing up, and leave the brush to dry for a few days. Once it hardens, it should cement the bristles in place. The only way then that any bristles would fall out, is if they just break off from bending over time. Another way would be to use the same method but instead use water thin cyanoacrylate glue that comes in little plastic bottles at hobby stores. It is used for gluing balsa wood model planes together. The bottles have a long thin applicator snout that would substitute for a syringe. This glue will bond skin instantly, so rubber gloves are a good idea.
Thank you so, so much for explaining in detail how you do the wet into wet technique. :) I have been hoping for a while that you would create a video explaining the technique. A video tutorial of how you did the Orcha clouds would be awesome!
SCAREDBANANA I love oils and colored pencil for that reason! With acrylics once you get the background and larger areas done you get to relax too...mostly haha.
Thanks so much for taking the time to produce all of these videos, Lisa. I always learn so much from them. You are as much a gifted teacher as you are an artist. You are truly blessed. Thank you for slowing this one down and explaining your strokes. That helped a lot. Please do more of that moving forward. Do you mix any water with your acrylics other than the mist?
Love it!! Thanks again for another great video. Yes (bows head) I caught that spray bottle comment, oh and nice "shed" of the brush there at the begining. :) Now... Just to put this out there. I purchased my Dual Action airbrush at Harbor Freight. It comes with several great little items along with a pretty neat airbrush. The normal price on these is $24.95 but most days, like right now, they are on sale for $19.99 and if you sign up for their e-mails you can get a 20% off coupon that brings the cost down another $4 to $15.99 for the duel action. They do sell a set that has the little compressor and it runs $89.99. I chose not to do this option because they dont allow the 20% off on compressors. That being said. Save the money on the $89.99 set and watch for when they have the 3Gal. compressor on sale. Usually for about $30. The parts you will need to hook up the brush to the compressor run about $10 and less if you keep your 20% off coupon and use it again. Just go through the line twice I do it every time and they dont care :) With this whole setup your looking at about $55 AND you now have a 3gal compressor to use for other things like airing up tires and there are some other nice tools you can get for it :) I just LOVE working the system. Sorry Lisa... I still love your vids and tell my... ehem... your dog I said hello :)
Oh... and they do have a cheaper one that they sell for $9.99 and with the coupon you can get it for $7.99. Its single action plastic brush but would be GREAT for the water spraying. :)
Hi, great tutorial ; ) About the mop brush losing hair, i haven't tried that before but what about getting 2 component glue which hardens to a solid mass and apply it at the point where the hair comes out. Some of the glue kits should be thin enough to get into the hair. This could fixate the hair ... Could look a bit weird but well, it's just an idea^^ Test on a cheap brush beforehand
Good video - When I'm painting a sky I use white gesso and follow the techniques used by Jerry Yarnel which by the way he uses a mister bottle to keep his paint moving - great video ;))
(giggle) "I lost my brush" hehehe I love that :) You are very talented and love all your work ... and now I think I can adventure into acrylics (thanks to you, with awesome techniques) very excited to see how you do sky/cloud stuff hehehe big hugs
By the way a quick tip for fast drying and keeping the hairs in great condition on a mop brush. Place the handle in between your palms with the bristle facing up and with vigorous action rub your palms together this is like a spin cycle and plumps up the bristles beautifully, returning its shape and drying the brush.
Lachri Fine Art first attempt was mud pie, so started again. Have bad habit of pressing in. Second was better. Fluffy care bear clouds. Hehe. Will update you when I can produce a cherubic seat. ;)
Awesome video Lisa! Just a quick question, is there a reason as to why you would block in light colours first opposed to dark colours first (or vice versa) when you're doing a painting in acrylic, eg on the 2nd tulip you started with the darks, but on the 3rd you started with the light...just curious
If the area is too dark (like on the last tulip over the black), I need to add white first because the other colors are too translucent. For the second tulip, the background was already pretty light, but that tulip had a lot of darker areas I wanted to sketch in first, just to keep my lines. One way isn't right or wrong, it just depends on what actual colors and end results you're going for.
About the shedding moping brushes, I got Princeton Select oval mop 3/4'' (I hope it's the same as you mean), it doesn't shed AT ALL. Please let me know what you think, have you get to try it? Is it the same? Maybe I use it wrong? And thank you so much for your amazing videos!
Great tutorial, thank you. One question I noticed that the flower is drawn with pencil...however I thought you have mentioned that you use a white charcoal to outline the subject, which does not look like the case here. So is pencil ok to use?
Real techniques powder brush is a good one....... it's a makeup brush but whatever.. cheap and doesnt shed.. actually a lot of their brushes are nice for paint... they are synthetic but feel close to natural hair once washed.. wash first and ur good to go.. love ur work!
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I have started with acrylics following an online acrylic paintings for flowers (no art background or experience) and am having trouble with blending. My teacher recommends gloss medium to keep the paint wet longer but even that doesn't work very long. My question is about the airbrush: do you just use the pump or you still need the can of propel too? The problem is I live in Vietnam where I can't buy it and if I am to buy it next time I am overseas, the can might not be allowed on the flight back. Thank you!
i bought a ''make up'' brush (that girls use on their faces) from my local chemist. i found it was super soft and perfect for doing gold leaf lettering mainly, so i tried it with my acrylic paints and it worked a treat....and to be honest i cant remember even losing 1 hair out of it! ps- no i dont wear make up....haha!
With this technique it works best with a very long handled brush, it's easier to keep a loose hand that way and not apply too much pressure. I will have to keep my eyes open for a long handled blush brush to try :D Looking at my makeup brushes now I see one that *might* work...hrmmm.
Rosemary and co brushes are brilliant, I have lots of them and can't remember ever losing a single hair even in the soft mop brushes. They are based in the UK but she does ship to the US. You can choose for all brushes short or long handle as well. Thanks for this tutorial, I don't know if you have the atelier interactive paints in the US but would the spray mister you get for those work like an air brush for the water? I want to try this but with greens for an out of focus leafy background. An airbrush set up may need to find it's way onto my christmas list. Is the compressor very large and/or noisy?
Just had a look and I think this one might suit www.rosemaryandco.com/badger-softener-blender I am thinking of getting it for myself (I need no excuse for more brushes) Everytime I vow to sort out my art stuff I always solve the problem by getting more?? If I buy these brushes I can pack away those brushes right?
+Nicola Pemberton I know it's over a year ago since you posted this comment but, i just wanted to let you know that I tested out a spray bottle from the Atelier interactive range a couple of days ago and I was impressed by how fine and even the water mist is. I'll be using it my current project.
I'm glad you made this video I just came out of my art class and I had trouble blending acrylic with matte medium Do you have advice on how to blend acrylic with matte medium
MasterCHESTNUT The only time I use any medium is for glazing my final layers, but even then not often. I don't like painting with mediums at all, I use water :)
Hi Lisa , I'm new at painting, does constantly spraying water on the painting make it work exactly like oil, I really like the way oil paint works in that it stays wet and open for blending, but I prefer acrylics. Your paintings are great btw. Thanks.
While I was watching, you mentioned to mist with the airbrush but I'm fairly new with my airbrush and everyone tells me not to put water in it because it's gonna rust from the inside. Is that true?
For the graphite lines does it mix with your paint or do you put some sort of fixative at some point? & Yes you should totally do a video on the clouds from your other painting it would be great!
When I was on high school I used the mop brush in an oil painting, it looks so awesome but I never thought I could use it with acrylics, I will have to try it soon. A stupid question, maybe I wasn't paying enogh attention but, does that brush works with water colours? OH and just out of curiosity: can the mop brush soft the gesso surface (when it's still fresh of course)?.
If you follow Art Food Kitty (she focuses on watercolor), I thiiiink she used a mob brush in her newest video, but it was for depositing a large surface of paint.
coŋejo pestileƞte The mop brush can be used in watercolor, but its used totally different than how it is in acrylic or oil. You can't blend watercolor the same way because it soaks into the paper where the acrylic and oil sets on the surface of the canvas, which is why it is able to be blended out this way. You can use the mop brush for gesso, but it's a pain given how much of the hair will need to be picked out. Instead for gessoing a canvas I use a sponge brush, and then lightly sand the surface when it's dry.
Lachri Fine Art Great! thaŋks for aŋsweriŋg, just oŋe more questioŋ (the last oŋe today I promise) aŋd sorry if I'm botheriŋg a little bit but what other tools are best for applyiŋg gesso (other thaŋ the spoŋge brush)?
coŋejo pestileƞte You get unlimited questions for those erasers haha. I only use the sponge brush, but I knew another artist who swore by using a roller like you would use for painting walls.
Very good indeed. I actually like the clouds before you started with the mop. I saw in another person's tutorial that you should not use so much water but rather medium. What is your take on this?
A lot of people make this claim. I have two thoughts on this. Either they are simply misinformed, or they tried doing so with really cheap/low quality acrylics and or a bad canvas (the type of gesso used can make a difference in how the paint adheres to the surface). Some acrylics are so bad that you can't thin them out at all and still have them stick to the canvas. Once you put your varnish over the painting, nothing is coming off. I've even painted this way (with watering down my paint) on heavily used furniture. Once varnished, there was never an issue. I recently watched a youtube video where a woman was teaching never to use water in your acrylic paints. She happened to have the comments disabled on her video. I suspect it was because too many acrylic artists who knew what they were doing told her she was wrong. The mediums I hate because they completely change the consistency of your paints. There are very few instances where I would choose a mixing medium over water.
Lachri Fine Art Thank you Lisa. I do use Winsor and Newton's Galleria. Although it's their student grade, I like it a lot and get very good results. So one less thing to worry about.
Lachri Fine Art I think I watched the same video this evening, I did wonder why there were no comments as I scrolled down expecting lots of responses to that one as I have never heard of anyones acrylic painting lifting off (in the one I saw she talked about acrylics drying in a honeycomb structure)
Clouds seem to escape me. Back grounds in general honestly. But clouds are more difficult I find.. need one of them mop brushes I think. Going to study your tutorial a bit more. I have an airbrush and this the first I've ever heard of using a mist to keep the paints wet. I know about the mediums which I too dislike. I'll probably pick your brains some as I attempt a test run after I find me a good mop brush.
I realized, I messed up and had to rewrite. I love your work and explanations! I have drawn two parrots ( african gray and a gray timneh) on a branch and there is supposed to be a jungle in the background. But the leaves are so much that it's taking away from the birds. I'm wondering how to soften my acrylic after it's already been dried? Is that possible?
You could glaze over the leaves to tone them down. A glaze is a fair amount of water (not so much that it runs) with your paint to create a translucent tint to what is already there. Sometimes just toning them down by covering the detail is enough. Sometimes you just have to repaint over the area.
Hi, I've just started to work with oil and the fact it takes so much time for them to dray makes me so frustrated! Is there any solution for that? Thank's :)
I would like to see you do a airbrush painting step by step...doesn't have to be something very complex... thank you,,,,i enjoy your videos....thanks for you tips
What about an ultra fine mister? I just bought a delta ultrafine mister at the artstore it has good reviews online and was only 8 dollars idk if it will work I am hesitant to use it but don't want to spend 40 dollars on an airbrush I will just useto spray water
Sounds good I wanted to find something with the proper ionization because an airbrush is one thing you need a good compressor for ionization I think this would be fine
Oh I like your shorter haircut . I just got mine cut and they ruined it and I've been chopping on it myself... I thought since I can paint I could also cut hair.. Haha.. NOT!! I don't know what I'm going to do now. Sorry I'm rambling about my hair... Great tutorial!!!! :)
Thanks :D I've cut my own before after a bad cut. I had to have someone even the back out for me though, I did a terrible job there haha. I can color my hair just fine, it's the cutting that is an issue :P
I think the clouds tutorial would be really helpful, I'm always amazed at other artist doing it (because I can't really figure it out on my own) :) I heard from a friend (although I've never tried it myself) that if you put some strong liquid glue at the bottom of the brush hairs on top of the one the factory used they won't come out so easily, but they also said its really hard to get it in, so I would advice (if you are going to do it) not to do it on a super expensive brush :P
i hate coming across as a 'know it all' but i think the hairs are breaking due to them being so soft and fine, more than just falling out. i held a few loose hairs to my mop brush and they were about the same length as the rest from the tip of the brush to the ferrule edge. but it could be ,my brush is too cheap.
aaah so that's what i did wrong with the mob brush(trying to actually blend with it). no wonder why all my mob brushes only survived for about 10 seconds. and yes please to the cloud tutorial.
Hi there lachri. I used to restore furniture and used to use a French polishing brush which is essentially a mop brush. The ones I used were from a company called handover in the U.K. They NEVER shed any hairs. Here is a link. I hope this helps. www.handover.co.uk/Brushes-Mop_and_Wash_Brushes/c2_56/index.html
How does the acrylic painting age when you use water with acrylics? Does it peel? Adding water would help my painting so much as I learn, but I'm afraid of diluting the paint and making it lower quality as a result..
+laliday Nope, it does not peel or crack or chip off like some people claim...As long as you're using a quality canvas, quality paint, and varnishing the end product.
I appreciate your response and your tutorials. I don't think I'm using quality canvas, but I'm just starting. I can always switch to better ones later. I'll practice using more water. It seems it could help me do a bit more of what I would like to do when it comes to painting. Thank so much!
MAKEUP BRUSH - Just wanted you to know that Helen Van Wyk a painter with more than 50 years experience suggested to use a makeup brush to use as a mop brush because it doesnt shed as much. I hope this helps. Love your work. -Thomas
I discovered your channel today and I'm absolutely blown away by your skills as an artist and as a teacher and instructor. Thank you, you've illuminated so much for me already.
I've had the shedding mop brush problem also. I took your advice and bought a set of four blush brushes for about $25. they work perfectly. Thank you.
@Lior Mazuz, if you use a fast drying mixing medium like Liquin (my preferred medium) it will help a lot. Normally each layer of paint for me is dry withine 12-24 hours depending on how thick I put the paint on the canvas.
I'm glad you emphasize on acrylics because that's how I started painting with, and know nothing of working with oils, except that they take a while to dry.
Lisa, Thanks for this video. We appreciate that you painted flowers this time. We like to see a variety of work from you. We appreciate your advise on using the air brush to keep the surface wet. Thanks again for all you do.
Nice job on this painting. I'm always very interested in seeing how other artists create their backgrounds. That's the part I'm not so good at and am always on the lookout for new methods and techniques.
Me too.
I loved how you described the process, you are an amazing artist and the quality of your work is amazing, I am so happy to have found your video. Thank you for sharing.
This was extremely helpful Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing this with us - seriously, one of the best blending tutorials I've seen. Ever. Anywhere.
And definitely interested in seeing the blending tutorial for the clouds in the Orca painting also.
Thanks again Lisa - you're the best!
Beautiful! as all your paintings are. Lisa a tutorial on clouds will be great and thank you for slowing some sections I found that very helpful
This was for me the best tutorial so far. Very good demonstration on when to use the brush, how to use it and what's needed for it to work correctly (misting). Lovely painting, but I loved seeing the brush strokes.
Ron Simons Glad you liked it :D
Try a Bare Minerals Contour Brush , get one at Ulta, they are great mop brushes and they never shed!
The problem with the bare minerals brushes (I have several for my makeup) is that the handle is too short. To keep the brush pressure light enough I really need a longer handle.
Lachri Fine Art
What about a length of plastic pipe, over the handle, to the length you want? Improvise! I did it with a feather duster that was too short to reach a high ceiling. I used a plastic pipe, from my daughters princess tent that she out grew.
Great tutorial Lisa. I love acrylics and find that they easily blend beautifully (including when painting photorealism) with the right technique. I use soft cosmetic mop brushes for softening brush strokes. I have never had any hairs some off onto my paintings. It could be that when I reach the softening stage, the layer is so fine and thin that there is no drag on the brush. Additionally, I use a very faint touch. Avoid brushes that have a round barrel with sculpted edges. They drag and cause hairs to come off onto the paintings, and it takes longer to get that soft smooth blend.
HAHA I'm backwards, I use paint brushes as makeup brushes :P I literally paint my face I guess :)
I was just going to suggest makeup brushes XD I'm an aspiring makeup artist and a looooot of MUAs use paint brushes for makeup and was wondering if it works vice versa!
Wow! I am blown away! I am a beginner and appreciate watching and getting advice. Thank you!
Wonderful demo! Thanks for slowing it down to show how you misted and blended the color:)
Just wanted to say Hi, I recently came across your channel and can't seem to stop watching your tutorials, I love to paint I'm always looking for ways to improve and I have learned lots from your channel, one if the tips you gave " slow down take your time" I think that made the biggest difference I'm always in a rush to see the final product lol! But anywho you are such an inspiration to me thank you!
Gleisi Gutierrez Thanks, that is awesome to hear :D
Yes, I would love to see a tutorial on the clouds! Very much enjoy all of your videos! Thanks so much!!
that's beautiful Lindsey...great colors and detail thank you for the gift of art...
I love your tutorial, and new techniques, I have been painting for a while but it is always nice to learn new things. I love,love your paintings.
You are my hero. I've been telling almost every customer at the local art store I work at to watch your videos and subscribe! Thanks again this really really helped me.
Regarding the mop brush shedding, I have an idea about using a food syringe, the ones used for infusing meat with salt water or seasoning. What I was thinking was, maybe fill one of those with a hard setting resin, like polyurethane, and carefully put the needle in from all sides into the area where the ferrule ends, and inject resin into several areas around the circumference until the base bristle area is soaked. Stand the brush, bristles pointing up, and leave the brush to dry for a few days. Once it hardens, it should cement the bristles in place. The only way then that any bristles would fall out, is if they just break off from bending over time. Another way would be to use the same method but instead use water thin cyanoacrylate glue that comes in little plastic bottles at hobby stores. It is used for gluing balsa wood model planes together. The bottles have a long thin applicator snout that would substitute for a syringe. This glue will bond skin instantly, so rubber gloves are a good idea.
Thank you so much for the explanation on the mop brush shedding. 😳 I thought it was just me ... so relieved ☺️
You gave me info no one had before about blending the colours as I go. Thanks.
Thank you so, so much for explaining in detail how you do the wet into wet technique. :) I have been hoping for a while that you would create a video explaining the technique. A video tutorial of how you did the Orcha clouds would be awesome!
Great tutorial, Lisa. I will share this with my art league. I would definitely like to see a tutorial on the Orca clouds. Thanks for all your videos.
Kathie Camara Thanks for sharing :D
I recently started painting with oil paints. It's really relaxing, you can just paint all day without worrying the paint drying.
SCAREDBANANA I love oils and colored pencil for that reason! With acrylics once you get the background and larger areas done you get to relax too...mostly haha.
Thanks so much for taking the time to produce all of these videos, Lisa. I always learn so much from them. You are as much a gifted teacher as you are an artist. You are truly blessed.
Thank you for slowing this one down and explaining your strokes. That helped a lot. Please do more of that moving forward.
Do you mix any water with your acrylics other than the mist?
+WhattaCat Yes, I mix water in with my paint as I work :)
Love it!! Thanks again for another great video. Yes (bows head) I caught that spray bottle comment, oh and nice "shed" of the brush there at the begining. :)
Now... Just to put this out there. I purchased my Dual Action airbrush at Harbor Freight. It comes with several great little items along with a pretty neat airbrush. The normal price on these is $24.95 but most days, like right now, they are on sale for $19.99 and if you sign up for their e-mails you can get a 20% off coupon that brings the cost down another $4 to $15.99 for the duel action. They do sell a set that has the little compressor and it runs $89.99. I chose not to do this option because they dont allow the 20% off on compressors. That being said. Save the money on the $89.99 set and watch for when they have the 3Gal. compressor on sale. Usually for about $30. The parts you will need to hook up the brush to the compressor run about $10 and less if you keep your 20% off coupon and use it again. Just go through the line twice I do it every time and they dont care :) With this whole setup your looking at about $55 AND you now have a 3gal compressor to use for other things like airing up tires and there are some other nice tools you can get for it :) I just LOVE working the system. Sorry Lisa... I still love your vids and tell my... ehem... your dog I said hello :)
Oh... and they do have a cheaper one that they sell for $9.99 and with the coupon you can get it for $7.99. Its single action plastic brush but would be GREAT for the water spraying. :)
I have just discovered you on you tube. I really enjoyed what I saw and just as much what I heard. You're an amazing violinist.
Thank you so very much. I was having trouble keeping my acrylics wet as long I would like . Thanks for a problem solved.
Hi, great tutorial ; )
About the mop brush losing hair, i haven't tried that before but what about getting 2 component glue which hardens to a solid mass and apply it at the point where the hair comes out. Some of the glue kits should be thin enough to get into the hair. This could fixate the hair ... Could look a bit weird but well, it's just an idea^^ Test on a cheap brush beforehand
I fricken LOVE THIS LADY!!!! I have learned more techniques with her videos than any other artist online!!🙌🏼💯🙏🏻✨🤗
I love your personality. Makes your videos entertaining
que bien expicado, se entiende todo lo que haces, adelante, y gracias.
Ooh yes, please do show us how you did the clouds in the orca piece. They looked amazing.
TheWolfNight420 Thanks :D
Good video - When I'm painting a sky I use white gesso and follow the techniques used by Jerry Yarnel which by the way he uses a mister bottle to keep his paint moving - great video ;))
I like the brush strokes!
(giggle) "I lost my brush" hehehe I love that :) You are very talented and love all your work ... and now I think I can adventure into acrylics (thanks to you, with awesome techniques) very excited to see how you do sky/cloud stuff hehehe big hugs
Samantha Janzen You will have to share your work when you try acrylics, I would love to see :D
:) I would love too...
By the way a quick tip for fast drying and keeping the hairs in great condition on a mop brush. Place the handle in between your palms with the bristle facing up and with vigorous action rub your palms together this is like a spin cycle and plumps up the bristles beautifully, returning its shape and drying the brush.
Bartholo Clumpdink Good tip :D I rub it in circles on a paper towel to get it really dry too :D
I bought two mop brushes from hobby craft on tues ready for this vid. Gonna try them out tomorrow.
Tim Trowerz Let me know how it goes! :D
Lachri Fine Art first attempt was mud pie, so started again. Have bad habit of pressing in. Second was better. Fluffy care bear clouds. Hehe. Will update you when I can produce a cherubic seat. ;)
So beautiful. Thanks for nice tutorial. Could you please post what colors you used it. Thank you
Thank you for the tips! Really useful. Do you think one of those nano facial spray misters would do the same as the airbrush?
Gosh I love your dog!! Great video, i hate mop brush hairs too ugh lol
HAHA Jesse says she loves you too...and demands a cookie. :P
Real Techniques by Sam and Nic it awesome.
Awesome video Lisa! Just a quick question, is there a reason as to why you would block in light colours first opposed to dark colours first (or vice versa) when you're doing a painting in acrylic, eg on the 2nd tulip you started with the darks, but on the 3rd you started with the light...just curious
If the area is too dark (like on the last tulip over the black), I need to add white first because the other colors are too translucent. For the second tulip, the background was already pretty light, but that tulip had a lot of darker areas I wanted to sketch in first, just to keep my lines. One way isn't right or wrong, it just depends on what actual colors and end results you're going for.
Some other sites I have seen recommend, soft make up brushes can be used as mop brushes.
About the shedding moping brushes, I got Princeton Select oval mop 3/4'' (I hope it's the same as you mean), it doesn't shed AT ALL. Please let me know what you think, have you get to try it? Is it the same? Maybe I use it wrong?
And thank you so much for your amazing videos!
Love the clouds and the beautiful tulips!! What colors of paint did you use? I don't see them listed. Thank you!
Great tutorial, thank you. One question I noticed that the flower is drawn with pencil...however I thought you have mentioned that you use a white charcoal to outline the subject, which does not look like the case here. So is pencil ok to use?
Real techniques powder brush is a good one....... it's a makeup brush but whatever.. cheap and doesnt shed.. actually a lot of their brushes are nice for paint... they are synthetic but feel close to natural hair once washed.. wash first and ur good to go.. love ur work!
It'd be really helpful to see the clouds tutorial c: this one was quite helpful
Yes, I would like to see the cloud demo.
Great tutorial thanks. And I am interested for the cloudstutorial.
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I have started with acrylics following an online acrylic paintings for flowers (no art background or experience) and am having trouble with blending. My teacher recommends gloss medium to keep the paint wet longer but even that doesn't work very long. My question is about the airbrush: do you just use the pump or you still need the can of propel too? The problem is I live in Vietnam where I can't buy it and if I am to buy it next time I am overseas, the can might not be allowed on the flight back. Thank you!
Lisa have you tried Rosemary &Co's mop brush? Exceptionally high qualit brushes. Not cheap though.
love your work
i bought a ''make up'' brush (that girls use on their faces) from my local chemist. i found it was super soft and perfect for doing gold leaf lettering mainly, so i tried it with my acrylic paints and it worked a treat....and to be honest i cant remember even losing 1 hair out of it!
ps- no i dont wear make up....haha!
With this technique it works best with a very long handled brush, it's easier to keep a loose hand that way and not apply too much pressure. I will have to keep my eyes open for a long handled blush brush to try :D Looking at my makeup brushes now I see one that *might* work...hrmmm.
Lachri Fine Art im sure a smart, cre8ive artist like yourself could fashion a longer handle! ;-) cheers lisa
Great tutorial! It helped a lot (: I was wondering, do you work with markers or ever have? Copics and promarkers for example.
I played with a friend's copics for about 4 minutes before I wanted my colored pencils back lol.
Rosemary and co brushes are brilliant, I have lots of them and can't remember ever losing a single hair even in the soft mop brushes. They are based in the UK but she does ship to the US. You can choose for all brushes short or long handle as well.
Thanks for this tutorial, I don't know if you have the atelier interactive paints in the US but would the spray mister you get for those work like an air brush for the water? I want to try this but with greens for an out of focus leafy background.
An airbrush set up may need to find it's way onto my christmas list. Is the compressor very large and/or noisy?
Just had a look and I think this one might suit www.rosemaryandco.com/badger-softener-blender
I am thinking of getting it for myself (I need no excuse for more brushes)
Everytime I vow to sort out my art stuff I always solve the problem by getting more?? If I buy these brushes I can pack away those brushes right?
Nicola Pemberton OOH thanks! I will check it out. I know Jason Morgan - Wildlife Art uses their brushes :D
I don't know if you have seen any but Will Kemp Art School (they are on youtube) also uses them.
+Nicola Pemberton I know it's over a year ago since you posted this comment but, i just wanted to let you know that I tested out a spray bottle from the Atelier interactive range a couple of days ago and I was impressed by how fine and even the water mist is. I'll be using it my current project.
Yes, please do the cloud tutorial! :)
another awesome video Lisa :)
Wow u are just a huge insparation for me I love your art so much :3
And yes!! Orca clouds!!
I'm glad you made this video
I just came out of my art class and I had trouble blending acrylic with matte medium
Do you have advice on how to blend acrylic with matte medium
MasterCHESTNUT The only time I use any medium is for glazing my final layers, but even then not often. I don't like painting with mediums at all, I use water :)
Very helpful, thank you
you could try to use some makeup bruises that are shaped the same I find when I do my makeup the bristles don't fall out to often.
Hey Lisa I'm very late to this video but i'm using daler-rowney graduate mop brushes and I haven't have them shed yet.
OMG! This just blew my mind! I think I may need to break out my paints again
:D
Hi Lisa , I'm new at painting, does constantly spraying water on the painting make it work exactly like oil, I really like the way oil paint works in that it stays wet and open for blending, but I prefer acrylics. Your paintings are great btw. Thanks.
Josephine A It's not exactly like oil because it will still be thinner, but you can get an oil painting look this way.
Thank you for your response, more power to you and your channel 😀
While I was watching, you mentioned to mist with the airbrush but I'm fairly new with my airbrush and everyone tells me not to put water in it because it's gonna rust from the inside. Is that true?
For the graphite lines does it mix with your paint or do you put some sort of fixative at some point? & Yes you should totally do a video on the clouds from your other painting it would be great!
Enrique Green I don't put a fixative, I want to work the lines out of the painting completely so I let them mix into the paint. :)
Your art works are amazing :)
When I was on high school I used the mop brush in an oil painting, it looks so awesome but I never thought I could use it with acrylics, I will have to try it soon. A stupid question, maybe I wasn't paying enogh attention but, does that brush works with water colours? OH and just out of curiosity: can the mop brush soft the gesso surface (when it's still fresh of course)?.
If you follow Art Food Kitty (she focuses on watercolor), I thiiiink she used a mob brush in her newest video, but it was for depositing a large surface of paint.
Amy He I'll check it up, and want Lisa's advice too, thanks.
coŋejo pestileƞte The mop brush can be used in watercolor, but its used totally different than how it is in acrylic or oil. You can't blend watercolor the same way because it soaks into the paper where the acrylic and oil sets on the surface of the canvas, which is why it is able to be blended out this way. You can use the mop brush for gesso, but it's a pain given how much of the hair will need to be picked out. Instead for gessoing a canvas I use a sponge brush, and then lightly sand the surface when it's dry.
Lachri Fine Art Great! thaŋks for aŋsweriŋg, just oŋe more questioŋ (the last oŋe today I promise) aŋd sorry if I'm botheriŋg a little bit but what other tools are best for applyiŋg gesso (other thaŋ the spoŋge brush)?
coŋejo pestileƞte You get unlimited questions for those erasers haha. I only use the sponge brush, but I knew another artist who swore by using a roller like you would use for painting walls.
Very good indeed. I actually like the clouds before you started with the mop.
I saw in another person's tutorial that you should not use so much water but rather medium. What is your take on this?
A lot of people make this claim. I have two thoughts on this. Either they are simply misinformed, or they tried doing so with really cheap/low quality acrylics and or a bad canvas (the type of gesso used can make a difference in how the paint adheres to the surface). Some acrylics are so bad that you can't thin them out at all and still have them stick to the canvas. Once you put your varnish over the painting, nothing is coming off. I've even painted this way (with watering down my paint) on heavily used furniture. Once varnished, there was never an issue. I recently watched a youtube video where a woman was teaching never to use water in your acrylic paints. She happened to have the comments disabled on her video. I suspect it was because too many acrylic artists who knew what they were doing told her she was wrong. The mediums I hate because they completely change the consistency of your paints. There are very few instances where I would choose a mixing medium over water.
Lachri Fine Art Thank you Lisa. I do use Winsor and Newton's Galleria. Although it's their student grade, I like it a lot and get very good results. So one less thing to worry about.
Lachri Fine Art I think I watched the same video this evening, I did wonder why there were no comments as I scrolled down expecting lots of responses to that one as I have never heard of anyones acrylic painting lifting off (in the one I saw she talked about acrylics drying in a honeycomb structure)
Clouds seem to escape me. Back grounds in general honestly. But clouds are more difficult I find.. need one of them mop brushes I think. Going to study your tutorial a bit more. I have an airbrush and this the first I've ever heard of using a mist to keep the paints wet. I know about the mediums which I too dislike. I'll probably pick your brains some as I attempt a test run after I find me a good mop brush.
You wont believe the difference when you use the airbrush, you may even start to like painting clouds :P
Did I see you using a hair dryer? AND, when you get to the tulips are you still using the air brush to mist?
Can u suggest any special techniques on drawing wet look ( rainy season) with polychromos or any tutorial please . :)
Thanks for the great video! Question : why do you use the basics line and not the professional series?
PinkVelvet Bird They work better for the techniques that I use than the heavy bodied paints. The quality is not lower, it is just different :)
Lachri Fine Art so do you like the soft body line
Good job 👍 love it
Have you tried using a makeup brush instead of a mop? Mine rarely sheds onto my painting
Great video!!!
Thanks so much.Love your hair.
I realized, I messed up and had to rewrite. I love your work and explanations!
I have drawn two parrots ( african gray and a gray timneh) on a branch and there is supposed to be a jungle in the background. But the leaves are so much that it's taking away from the birds. I'm wondering how to soften my acrylic after it's already been dried? Is that possible?
You could glaze over the leaves to tone them down. A glaze is a fair amount of water (not so much that it runs) with your paint to create a translucent tint to what is already there. Sometimes just toning them down by covering the detail is enough. Sometimes you just have to repaint over the area.
Hi, I've just started to work with oil and the fact it takes so much time for them to dray makes me so frustrated! Is there any solution for that? Thank's :)
throwing the brush on the floor is a unique technique, ill clean the floor first though !
I would like to see you do a airbrush painting step by step...doesn't have to be something very complex... thank you,,,,i enjoy your videos....thanks for you tips
Gerardo Quijada I need to do more, but for now I've got this one Intro to airbrushing and how to airbrush flames - Lachri
What about an ultra fine mister? I just bought a delta ultrafine mister at the artstore it has good reviews online and was only 8 dollars idk if it will work I am hesitant to use it but don't want to spend 40 dollars on an airbrush I will just useto spray water
Sounds good I wanted to find something with the proper ionization because an airbrush is one thing you need a good compressor for ionization I think this would be fine
Sephora. They have mop brushes that won’t shed. The makeup store. A little expensive tho. But your search would be over lol. 🖖🏽
Were the clouds in the orca painting blended wet into wet? I would like to see a tutorial of how you did those clouds.
They were. I went back in and added a few details after they dried but most of it was done wet into wet :)
Oh I like your shorter haircut . I just got mine cut and they ruined it and I've been chopping on it myself... I thought since I can paint I could also cut hair.. Haha.. NOT!! I don't know what I'm going to do now. Sorry I'm rambling about my hair... Great tutorial!!!! :)
Thanks :D I've cut my own before after a bad cut. I had to have someone even the back out for me though, I did a terrible job there haha. I can color my hair just fine, it's the cutting that is an issue :P
hi i just discovered you on youtube and your painting are amazing do do painting by number
I lost my mop brush a little while ago, some of those big fluffy make-up brushes work as an okay substitute.
I think the clouds tutorial would be really helpful, I'm always amazed at other artist doing it (because I can't really figure it out on my own) :) I heard from a friend (although I've never tried it myself) that if you put some strong liquid glue at the bottom of the brush hairs on top of the one the factory used they won't come out so easily, but they also said its really hard to get it in, so I would advice (if you are going to do it) not to do it on a super expensive brush :P
haha, I don't think that would work on this type of brush. :P
i hate coming across as a 'know it all' but i think the hairs are breaking due to them being so soft and fine, more than just falling out. i held a few loose hairs to my mop brush and they were about the same length as the rest from the tip of the brush to the ferrule edge. but it could be ,my brush is too cheap.
well at least now we know how to fix it when it happens ;)
Thank you xoxo
"Two hairs and some air," as Bob would say❤😂
aaah so that's what i did wrong with the mob brush(trying to actually blend with it). no wonder why all my mob brushes only survived for about 10 seconds. and yes please to the cloud tutorial.
your videos are great,thank you very much :)
+lakshan jayasinghe :D
Hi there lachri. I used to restore furniture and used to use a French polishing brush which is essentially a mop brush. The ones I used were from a company called handover in the U.K. They NEVER shed any hairs. Here is a link. I hope this helps. www.handover.co.uk/Brushes-Mop_and_Wash_Brushes/c2_56/index.html
Bartholo Clumpdink Oh thanks! I'm checking it out now! Have you tried their squirrel hair mop brushes? Those look more like what I am looking for.
I'm working on a purple sunflower. I CANT GET IT RIGHT!! I'm so frustrated. Can you please do one on video? The light the shadow ... Uugggh!!!!
How does the acrylic painting age when you use water with acrylics? Does it peel? Adding water would help my painting so much as I learn, but I'm afraid of diluting the paint and making it lower quality as a result..
+laliday Nope, it does not peel or crack or chip off like some people claim...As long as you're using a quality canvas, quality paint, and varnishing the end product.
I appreciate your response and your tutorials. I don't think I'm using quality canvas, but I'm just starting. I can always switch to better ones later. I'll practice using more water. It seems it could help me do a bit more of what I would like to do when it comes to painting. Thank so much!