Getting back to basics, a subscriber asks artist/art teacher Dianne Mize why she holds her brush the way she does. It's all about the finished painting. www.diannemize.com
“Well let’s sling a brush.” Loved that!!! You are such an awesome teacher and seem like just a wonderful person. I bet you’d be fun to have a beer with!
Excellent! I didn't realize that I was holding my brush with a stiff, crooked wrist. I used to give horse back riding lessons, and I would always tell my riders to have soft wrists. Thank you
I don't know why painting teachers don't teach this. It is as important as the way a chef holds a knife or a violin player holds a bow. And yes, horse riding skills, too.
Just been re-watching Landscape Artist of the Year series and noticing the many different ways those artists hold their brushes. Was going to request this as a topic but then thought to first search your videos, and here it is! Most of the time I'm unaware of how I'm holding my brushes, but don't choke them in a pencil hold. I think the majority of the time I hold them the same way you do for blocking in - overhand, grasped mid-way or so on the handle. Never by the end tip. Some of this is personal, but I agree it's similar to grasping a golf club where there are basic principles at play. I know of one good artist who, inexplicably to me, learned to hold her brushes or pencils or whatever with a closed fist. She does some very good work that way (not too tight) but I don't know how she does it. It'd be very uncomfortable for me. Thanks for this video, as well as all your others.
Dianne I just love how you teach. I only started painting last year at the age of 67!. You help me so much with changing of my old patterns many that have nothing to with art. You are an inspiration to me. Thank you, Thank YOU 💕 PS happy to see the cat comes to enjoy your art too 😀
You are brilliant at teaching art. You explain it so well all of your tips are brilliant. No one ever explained the colour wheel or tones and values of colour so well to make it simple for the rest of us to understand.Thank you .
I realized I've been holding the brush wrong all along, that is why I feel my brush strokes looks boring. Thank you Diane for this great tips. I started to watch your videos just this month and I'm noticing my improvements.
I really appreciate your ability to teach! I like how you explain the main concept and how to work on the basic skills associated with it- thanks very much.
One thing I've discovered recently is that painters, drawers, be they watercolor, oil, acrylic, etc., they never get old! I'm so glad I started painting. I'm using watercolor and I love it. Do you ever paint in watercolor?
I have watched hundreds of painting videos in the past 3 months and you are the ONLY teacher I have seen demonstrate this valuable skill of shoulder - elbow - and then wrist action to move the brush expressively. I am going to begin the exercises you taught here, right away. Thank you so much for your precise style of teaching , Dianne ! Exactly what I needed at this time .
Thank you for explaining! :) I have observed the brush being hold far back when watching two artists I am following and it astounds me every time and wondered, how they are able to control the brush that way! With your explanations it seems, it's the other way round - easier to guide the brush and color! Thank you👍🏻I am curious and will try too😊
Great quick tip! Thank you Dianne. Painting is a formidable process. I finally think I have the process down pretty well but I continue to benefit from your quick tips. There is so much to learn! Love you!
Wow I always noticed how you held the brush but I had no idea why, lol. You make alot of sense and I am learning alot. I just thought the whole arm movement was for really large paintings. No wonder my arm hurts, lol. I am going to have to look at one of your videos on brushes too. I am so new to this that I have no ide why there are so many kinds of brushes and how to use them properly. There is alot to learn. But I do see that it makes a difference. Thank you so much.
Thank you your tutorials are priceless .I have learned all the things from you that I needed to start drawing and painting that I was missing . I now feel confident to make a proper start to my art Best wishes ,wishing you all you wish for yourself Lynda
Dianne, what a helpful lesson! I have been one of those close grippers. I can’t wait to try this new information. My painting has been too tight so it will be great to see if my painting can become more loose like I imagine. Thank you!
I watched this quicktip a year ago when I was more beginner, watching it again I realised that I have some brushholding improvement to do. Very useful and insightful quicktip. When painting on small format canvases, and painting sitting down behind a desk, I need to find the right posture/ distance from the painting to apply these principles in order to have loose stokes and maintain ergonomic posture while doing brushstrokes. Thank you very much Diane!
How we develop our muscle skills for holding our tools and giving them their best opportunity to perform for us means everything in any skill. My pleasure to share.
Great explanation. Thank you so much Diane. Do you have tutorials for the finishing detail strokes after block in on still life such as round or rectangular objects please. If not, could you please create this tutorial?
I know you are right about this but how do I gain control of the brush? I come to painting from years of doing drawings only. I can only seem to accurately draw in the drawing posture. I watch artists sketch in thin paint and yes it is loose but placement of lines and shapes is just better with the drawing posture. Should I sketch in charcoal then switch to a brush for block in or is there a way to get better at “drawing” with a paintbrush? Practice?
If you will go to our channel page here - th-cam.com/channels/JErPSUwVOXzRYDC4kWejnw.html - then click on Community in the menu, you will find an index of all my Quick Tip videos. A number of them address working with the brush, and various topics regarding setting up for doing a painting. Some artists begin with a preliminary drawing in charcoal while others begin with a brush. I prefer beginning with a brush, but is is a technical issue and a personal choice.
thank you so much for these tips! i started painting because of quarantine, and i can't seem to go past by the 'cartoony' look when i try to do portraits. any advice? 😊
You are an amazing instructer Dianne!👍this will definitely help a lot!🙂 thank you so much for sharing your valuable experience with us! Can you help in how to make a midtone of any colour and when to apply it?.. thank you!..Can you explain what is a midtone & when to apply it?.. thank you.. take care and stay safe friend 💐
Dianne, when you have a minute could you please address the problem of tight caps, and how to get them off? Also what to do when the caps break and there ya are with a three quarter tube of expensive paint?
Hey if the cap is tight I usually dip it upside down in a bowl of mid warm to hot water... That usually loosens it up a bit... On the other hand ... If it breaks and you're left with no cap for your paint tube, use cling wrap and one of those small rubber bands to wrap around the opening of the tube... ☺️
Euglena has given you the right answer. I keep pliers in my paint kit. If the cap is not totally sealed to the tube, pliers will loosen it. Beyond that, holding it under hot water, then using pliers can work. If it breaks, cling wrap does work well to keep the paint fresh in the tube.
Hello Dianne, I have been subscribed for a while but have only watched a couple of episodes. I have not been well and not having a desk, Ihaven't started painting watercolors yet. I just came across this video from a TH-cam recommendation. It's a good thing because I never gave thought as to how I'll hold my brushes. I have severe spinal disease so standing to paint is not possible. I must be seated on VERY padded seating, and not be at a 90° angle. Happily, I finally have the master bedroom with the skylight in the centre of the ceiling set up as an art studio and bedroom. I can use an easel I suppose while sitting in a very padded comfortable chair. I just can't afford one right now and don't know: Is it necessary?? Adding to my question are these two: 1. Do you have a video or more on how to hold my watercolor brushes that I can watch? 2. Is painting on my desk ok on an elevated board lifted by putting a rolled towel underneath it, or is a tabletop easel recommended? Thank you Kindly, Maria
Maria, the principle for holding the brush is pretty much the same for watercolor as for oils. Just like holding the bow is similar for violin and cello players. You want to allow the brush to move with as much freedom as possible and to come from as much of your body as you can manage. Watercolor painters work successfully on all kinds of setups. Just arrange your board so that you have as much freedom to move. You should be fine.
Well, I started painting with acrylics in March. I have only practiced on 5"x7" canvas covered paperboard, so it's pretty small, and besides blocking in, I have small details to work on. Does this technique work for such small, precise work? Also, I have a bad dominant shoulder from one auto and one biking accident, so it hurts to move it. Perhaps it will actually be therapy for me to move it more, but it will certainly be uncomfortable and tiring! I will persevere, though! Love your videos, so much!!!
The important thing is to allow as much body movement as possible. A lot of painters have physical limitations, but manage to find a way around them while still doing excellent work. You can do that, too.
I can just imagine you coaching a major league baseball team! Out of curiosity, you have mentioned before you are very musical; did you compose / play the intro music?
No, Gael. Roger chose that music from a music database. It would have been cool if I had composed and played the intro music, but we didn't think of that back six years ago when we started doing these.
Hi, again, Dianne, I apologize for referring once more to last week's Quick Tip. I can't get any Gamblin product in my immediate area. Would Rembrandt's Vermilion be a satisfactory substitute for the Gamblin's Cadium Red Light you recommend for the basic palette? Thank you, again.
Thank you once again. I use acrylics however I want to try oil. How long does it take to dry your oil paintings. Do you have to work in layers ie thin to thick and then how long would a 10in x 14in take with drying time ?
Oil painting dry at various rates depending upon how thick the paint is and what colors are used. Actually, oil oxidizes rather than evaporates, so the surface will dry to touch while paint underneath will still be wet. For all the paint to completely oxidize can take as long as six months if the paint is thick.
This is not what I was after, i am painting a leg of a tree frog, the bottom part is blue, the top part is green and in between is a little yellow, I am struggling to blend these colours into each other using an up and down method for his leg.
I needed this. I want to thank you for being an excellent teacher.
You are so welcome!
You have two great gifts: you love to paint and you are an amazing teacher 💗
Thank you for sharing these gifts with us!
Thank you so much 😀 It's a pleasure to share these.
“Well let’s sling a brush.” Loved that!!! You are such an awesome teacher and seem like just a wonderful person. I bet you’d be fun to have a beer with!
😊. Wouldn't mind that at all...
Thanks, Dianne. This was very helpful. Will practice it!
Wonderful!
Excellent! I didn't realize that I was holding my brush with a stiff, crooked wrist. I used to give horse back riding lessons, and I would always tell my riders to have soft wrists. Thank you
I don't know why painting teachers don't teach this. It is as important as the way a chef holds a knife or a violin player holds a bow. And yes, horse riding skills, too.
Thanks, Dianne! I especially liked hearing about how you load the brush by kind of scooping it.
Glad to share, as always. Have fun scooping,😊
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction LOL!
Thanks Dianne.youve been such a blessing!
Thanks!
Just been re-watching Landscape Artist of the Year series and noticing the many different ways those artists hold their brushes. Was going to request this as a topic but then thought to first search your videos, and here it is!
Most of the time I'm unaware of how I'm holding my brushes, but don't choke them in a pencil hold. I think the majority of the time I hold them the same way you do for blocking in - overhand, grasped mid-way or so on the handle. Never by the end tip.
Some of this is personal, but I agree it's similar to grasping a golf club where there are basic principles at play.
I know of one good artist who, inexplicably to me, learned to hold her brushes or pencils or whatever with a closed fist. She does some very good work that way (not too tight) but I don't know how she does it. It'd be very uncomfortable for me.
Thanks for this video, as well as all your others.
You’re an art genius ❤️
I can’t wait to start practicing holding my brush correctly. Thank you very much😄
You’re welcome 😊 Have fun!
Very helpful and I appreciated the guest appearance of the cat
He manages to make a guest appearance more periodically.
Dianne I just love how you teach. I only started painting last year at the age of 67!. You help me so much with changing of my old patterns many that have nothing to with art. You are an inspiration to me.
Thank you, Thank YOU 💕 PS happy to see the cat comes to enjoy your art too 😀
I am delighted you are finding these Tips helpful. Charley the cat is, too!
You are brilliant at teaching art. You explain it so well all of your tips are brilliant. No one ever explained the colour wheel or tones and values of colour so well to make it simple for the rest of us to understand.Thank you .
My pleasure 😊 Thanks for watching.
I realized I've been holding the brush wrong all along, that is why I feel my brush strokes looks boring.
Thank you Diane for this great tips. I started to watch your videos just this month and I'm noticing my improvements.
Wonderful! I'm always delighted to learn that my teaching is helpful.
Excellent tip and advice, Dianne. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I really appreciate your ability to teach! I like how you explain the main concept and how to work on the basic skills associated with it- thanks very much.
It's my pleasure. Thanks!
Fantastic, as always. And loved seeing your sweet kitty show up for a couple of seconds!!!
Thank you! 😊
Omg this is so helpful!! Thank you so much!!
You're so welcome!
Thank you Dianne. Enjoy your tips and demos.
Thanks for watching!
Well that explains alot of my dissatisfaction with my brush strokes. thank you so much, Dianne!
Glad it was helpful!
absolutely love your videos! what a masterful teacher...so glad I found your channel. Thank you
Thank you so much! I, too, am glad you found us.
Thank You for showing and explaining I have learned so much from you . You are a great teacher.
My pleasure, and thanks.
Excellent as always! Thank you. I’ll be practicing this this week!
Have fun!
Thanks for sharing these precious tips, Dianne. Super helpful and inspiring ! 😊
You are so welcome!
And again, like always, very enlightening. Thank you very much Dianne.
Always a pleasure. 😊
Thank you! This was incredibly helpful. I subscribed because I'm learning more methodology stuff to improve my skills.
Welcome aboard!
One thing I've discovered recently is that painters, drawers, be they watercolor, oil, acrylic, etc., they never get old! I'm so glad I started painting. I'm using watercolor and I love it. Do you ever paint in watercolor?
Oh yes. Watercolor is as dear to me as oils.
Excellent Dianne! Each stroke must be thoroughly thought out ! Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
I have watched hundreds of painting videos in the past 3 months and you are the ONLY teacher I have seen demonstrate this valuable skill of shoulder - elbow - and then wrist action to move the brush expressively. I am going to begin the exercises you taught here, right away. Thank you so much for your precise style of teaching , Dianne ! Exactly what I needed at this time .
That's good news. Sharing these is a pleasure.
Thank you for explaining! :) I have observed the brush being hold far back when watching two artists I am following and it astounds me every time and wondered, how they are able to control the brush that way! With your explanations it seems, it's the other way round - easier to guide the brush and color! Thank you👍🏻I am curious and will try too😊
You have to find what works for you.
loads of very helpful information, thank you
My pleasure.
Always such good teaching! Thanks Dianne.
You are so welcome!
Thank you very much for your excellent guides. I have seen too many instructions but I have never been instructed the way you do🎉
You're very welcome! Have fun with these techniques.
Great quick tip! Thank you Dianne. Painting is a formidable process. I finally think I have the process down pretty well but I continue to benefit from your quick tips. There is so much to learn! Love you!
You are so welcome! Enjoy the journey.
This is EXACTLY just what I needed! Thank you so much!
🤗⚘️♥️✨️
Have fun with it!
That was a super video!!! Thank you!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Thank you so very much for your tips. It's really helps me.
Happy to help! Thanks for watching.
Dianne thank you for your excellent instruction. How to hold your brush is sometimes overlooked, as well as the direction of brushwork.
My pleasure, Renee. It dismays me that so many instructors overlook this very important skill.
Wow I always noticed how you held the brush but I had no idea why, lol. You make alot of sense and I am learning alot. I just thought the whole arm movement was for really large paintings. No wonder my arm hurts, lol. I am going to have to look at one of your videos on brushes too. I am so new to this that I have no ide why there are so many kinds of brushes and how to use them properly. There is alot to learn. But I do see that it makes a difference. Thank you so much.
You are so welcome.
What an excellent and informative tip! Number 278? Looks like I have 277 videos I'll have to look out for.
Yep, and more coming. Better get busy 😊
Thank you so much for that tip. I have been looking for this for a long time, it will be so helpfull.
So glad!
Thank you! I'm going to practice these 2 methods you shared! I definitely need to break out of the pencil-holding habit. 😬
Practice is the key most painters are unwilling to take seriously. Enjoy the exercises.
Woow this was awesome .Love all your videos. Thanks a lot.
Mam can you please let me know what exactly is a conceptual painting and how to get started with it please. Thanks
Thanks!
Will be mindful when holding my brush. Thank-you for your tips.
My pleasure.
Thank you your tutorials are priceless .I have learned all the things from you that I needed to start drawing and painting that I was missing .
I now feel confident to make a proper start to my art
Best wishes ,wishing you all you wish for yourself
Lynda
Wonderful, Lynda. I am delighted to hear that.
A Big Thank you Dear Dianne....you are marvelous Teacher & Person.....Thank you for Being totaly Yourself.
All the respect & Good luck
Keep up m'aam
It's a pleasure to do this, Ani. Thanks for subscribing!
Dianne, what a helpful lesson! I have been one of those close grippers. I can’t wait to try this new information. My painting has been too tight so it will be great to see if my painting can become more loose like I imagine. Thank you!
My pleasure. Glad it was helpful!
I needed this so bad!!! I could hug you!
😊
Extremely helpful . Thank you
You're welcome!
A baton? LOL! More like a magic wand 💗 - Thanks for another great video!
:) Thanks! Yep, we are, after all, orchestrating our painting process!
❤thank you greetings from The Netherlands
My pleasure.
I wish I had had a grounding in these techniques when I first started oil painting - excellent!
You can do it now! And thanks for being a Studio Insider member.
Thank you so much, you inspire me more Everytime I watch your tutorials.blessings
You are so welcome. Thanks for watching.
I watched this quicktip a year ago when I was more beginner, watching it again I realised that I have some brushholding improvement to do. Very useful and insightful quicktip. When painting on small format canvases, and painting sitting down behind a desk, I need to find the right posture/ distance from the painting to apply these principles in order to have loose stokes and maintain ergonomic posture while doing brushstrokes. Thank you very much Diane!
How we develop our muscle skills for holding our tools and giving them their best opportunity to perform for us means everything in any skill. My pleasure to share.
Great explanation. Thank you so much Diane. Do you have tutorials for the finishing detail strokes after block in on still life such as round or rectangular objects please. If not, could you please create this tutorial?
We have a tip about finishing coming out in March. Stay tuned.
Excellent teaching! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Dianne, Thank you a lot for your time.
Maybe you can do some more Quick Tipps concerning "Abstract Painting"; for me an elusive area.
I've already done that. Check out Quick Tips 261, 240 and 166 for a start.
Thanks Dianne.
My pleasure.
So helpful!! Thank you for this ❤️
Our pleasure.
Great explanation ❤ thank you very much❤
You're welcome 😊
Very useful ❤
Great.
Good to see!
Thanks!
I know you are right about this but how do I gain control of the brush? I come to painting from years of doing drawings only. I can only seem to accurately draw in the drawing posture. I watch artists sketch in thin paint and yes it is loose but placement of lines and shapes is just better with the drawing posture. Should I sketch in charcoal then switch to a brush for block in or is there a way to get better at “drawing” with a paintbrush? Practice?
If you will go to our channel page here - th-cam.com/channels/JErPSUwVOXzRYDC4kWejnw.html - then click on Community in the menu, you will find an index of all my Quick Tip videos. A number of them address working with the brush, and various topics regarding setting up for doing a painting.
Some artists begin with a preliminary drawing in charcoal while others begin with a brush. I prefer beginning with a brush, but is is a technical issue and a personal choice.
You are a genius 🧡🌿💕
Wow! Thanks.
thank you so much for these tips! i started painting because of quarantine, and i can't seem to go past by the 'cartoony' look when i try to do portraits. any advice? 😊
Go to Cesar Santos on TH-cam, watch him work and listen to what he is saying.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Is your recommendation for Santos's video's mostly/stickly for portraits?
You are an amazing instructer Dianne!👍this will definitely help a lot!🙂 thank you so much for sharing your valuable experience with us! Can you help in how to make a midtone of any colour and when to apply it?.. thank you!..Can you explain what is a midtone & when to apply it?.. thank you.. take care and stay safe friend 💐
Thanks! Enjoy!
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you mam for sharing your great painting tips!🙂.. take care and stay safe 💐
Dianne, when you have a minute could you please address the problem of tight caps, and how to get them off? Also what to do when the caps break and there ya are with a three quarter tube of expensive paint?
Hey if the cap is tight I usually dip it upside down in a bowl of mid warm to hot water... That usually loosens it up a bit... On the other hand ... If it breaks and you're left with no cap for your paint tube, use cling wrap and one of those small rubber bands to wrap around the opening of the tube... ☺️
Euglena has given you the right answer. I keep pliers in my paint kit. If the cap is not totally sealed to the tube, pliers will loosen it. Beyond that, holding it under hot water, then using pliers can work. If it breaks, cling wrap does work well to keep the paint fresh in the tube.
@@roshasandesh5334 Thank you. I have been trying wax to seal the top, which kinda helps but there are hic-cups to it.
You can purchase caps at the art supply store... Someone told me that online so I haven't actually bought any on my own. Blick probably carries them.
This happened to me so many times that I now save the caps from the empty paint tubes
Hello Dianne,
I have been subscribed for a while but have only watched a couple of episodes. I have not been well and not having a desk, Ihaven't started painting watercolors yet.
I just came across this video from a TH-cam recommendation. It's a good thing because I never gave thought as to how I'll hold my brushes.
I have severe spinal disease so standing to paint is not possible. I must be seated on VERY padded seating, and not be at a 90° angle.
Happily, I finally have the master bedroom with the skylight in the centre of the ceiling set up as an art studio and bedroom.
I can use an easel I suppose while sitting in a very padded comfortable chair. I just can't afford one right now and don't know: Is it necessary??
Adding to my question are these two:
1. Do you have a video or more on how to hold my watercolor brushes that I can watch?
2. Is painting on my desk ok on an elevated board lifted by putting a rolled towel underneath it, or is a tabletop easel recommended?
Thank you Kindly,
Maria
Maria, the principle for holding the brush is pretty much the same for watercolor as for oils. Just like holding the bow is similar for violin and cello players. You want to allow the brush to move with as much freedom as possible and to come from as much of your body as you can manage.
Watercolor painters work successfully on all kinds of setups. Just arrange your board so that you have as much freedom to move. You should be fine.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you so VERY much for clearing the issue up for me. 😁
Great instruction as always.
Quick question😉: does the paint on your palette stay moist all the way to the bottom of wells?
Thanks again.
See Quick Tip 115 for that answer.
Well, I started painting with acrylics in March. I have only practiced on 5"x7" canvas covered paperboard, so it's pretty small, and besides blocking in, I have small details to work on. Does this technique work for such small, precise work?
Also, I have a bad dominant shoulder from one auto and one biking accident, so it hurts to move it. Perhaps it will actually be therapy for me to move it more, but it will certainly be uncomfortable and tiring! I will persevere, though!
Love your videos, so much!!!
The important thing is to allow as much body movement as possible. A lot of painters have physical limitations, but manage to find a way around them while still doing excellent work. You can do that, too.
I can just imagine you coaching a major league baseball team! Out of curiosity, you have mentioned before you are very musical; did you compose / play the intro music?
No, Gael. Roger chose that music from a music database. It would have been cool if I had composed and played the intro music, but we didn't think of that back six years ago when we started doing these.
❤ yes
Bingo!
Was wondering if you could demonstrate tiling oil paint on canvas? It seems to be quite difficult to do it right
Kanchana, I confess I'm not familiar with tiling oil paint. Could you explain a bit more, please.
Hi, again, Dianne,
I apologize for referring once more to last week's Quick Tip. I can't get any Gamblin product in my immediate area. Would Rembrandt's Vermilion be a satisfactory substitute for the Gamblin's Cadium Red Light you recommend for the basic palette? Thank you, again.
Chaya, I Rembrandt's Vermillion will work fine.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Great! Thanks so much.
Thank you once again. I use acrylics however I want to try oil.
How long does it take to dry your
oil paintings. Do you have to work in layers ie thin to thick and then
how long would a 10in x 14in take with drying time ?
Oil painting dry at various rates depending upon how thick the paint is and what colors are used. Actually, oil oxidizes rather than evaporates, so the surface will dry to touch while paint underneath will still be wet. For all the paint to completely oxidize can take as long as six months if the paint is thick.
Thank you 😀
My pleasure.
If you keep this up you are placing me in danger of becoming a real ARTIST.
And I will be thrilled!
Could you please show us how to blend oil colours from bottom to top and top to bottom using two colours I usually get stuck with this technique.
I believe that Quick Tip 117 will answer your need here. Find it at th-cam.com/video/VZYdI0XcSNs/w-d-xo.html
This is not what I was after, i am painting a leg of a tree frog, the bottom part is blue, the top part is green and in between is a little yellow, I am struggling to blend these colours into each other using an up and down method for his leg.
What if we have shacking hands?
I wish I had a solution for that.
you can try breathing exercises and drink a nice hot cuppa tea! good luck
Go with it Lucy, if you can't overcome it, make it your technique and style of painting : )
Is it Ok to sit to paint?
Of course. Richard Schmid sat while painting, and so do a lot of master painters.
Have been trying to hold the brush properly. Need more practice
Just give it freedom of movement and you will be fine.