Painting with a spoon! Hi Art Family! Did you know the direction and shape of your brushstrokes creates a specific emotion unique to you as an artist? Let's talk about that today as I demonstrate for you how I am adding texture and specific emotions into this hot air balloon painting. The technique you see here is called Daubism
If you watched last week's video, we painted this hot air balloon in acrylics. Now it is time to add the texture on top.

Welcome to my studio it's Dena Tollefson and I am so glad you are here.
Let's talk now about how your personal brushstrokes and paint application methods will create specific emotions. First if you want to make your artwork give off a sense of calm, you will orient your brushstrokes in a balanced but also random way with no specific pattern. This gives an overall Zen feeling. Think of leaves on the ground.
Now let me show you how I can take the same color acrylic paint, the same brush, same artist and same brushwork but by orienting my strokes all in a strong diagonal, now my work has a sense of urgency or drive. Think of driving rain.
If I want to make my painting feel thoughtful or reflective, I will orient my brushstrokes and paint in a circular pattern. See how this feels different than the calm Zen and the urgent strokes? Think of a quiet drip of water on a calm sea.

There are so many emotions you can create just through your brushstrokes. You can apply these ideas in your own work. Your personal mark making will be unique to you.
Applying a mixture of Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White with the spoon up here at the top of the sky

Now Phthalo Blue Red Shade, Titanium White and a touch of Yellow Ochre for the middle of the sky. This thin little painting knife makes wonderful short marks or elegant long ones. Say hi to Scrunchy my little studio helper! Scrunchy my Yorkshire Terrier is inspecting everything for me

Now on my painting, you can see on the balloon itself I used a calm stroke, but in the air I am using an energetic stroke by angling all the brushwork and paint daubs in an expansive and energetic way. This emotion is conveyed solely through the paint application.


I'm using a variety of spoons and painting knives to apply the paint, but thinking carefully about paint placement. This neutral gray was mixed with Titanium White, Mars Black and a touch of Dioxazine Purple.

This painting was created for the Sky Is The Limit Art Challenge I am hosting here on YouTube. These challenges are a lot of fun and open to all artists. Be sure to subscribe to my channel if you would like to participate so you know when new group challenge opportunities are announced.

Are you a beginner artist who would like to market your artwork? Or have you been an artist for a long time and are ready to take the next step with your art career? I am here to help. I provide you art marketing and art career guidance for artists who would like to have gallery representation, if you need help with juried exhibits, or if you want to increase your social media reach. I help you get started in art licensing, where you license your artwork to create merch. In addition to helping you with art career coaching, I have videos for you about how to paint, painting tips and techniques, art supply unboxings, and fun and engaging Live streams.
My name is Dena Tollefson and I am a professional, full time artist from Iowa USA. I provide painting tutorials in watercolor, acrylic, and oil paint. I hope you will subscribe and come back again. Be sure to ring the subscription bell so you never miss new content for your art career development.I am known for deep, vibrant colors in my signature painting technique called Daubism.

Looking to find the art supplies I am using? Find my art supplies here https://www.amazon.com/shop/dena_tollefson

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My Equipment used in today's video:
Camera Nikon D850 and lens https://www.amazon.com/shop/dena_tollefson
Daylight LED Light https://www.amazon.com/shop/dena_tollefson

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Learn more at my website https://www.denatollefson.com

I am a Christian and my artwork is positive message, uplifting and healing. Collectors use my paintings for meditation, calming, and healing thought.




I am an American artist whose bold contemporary paintings focus on joyful use of color, texture and movement, creating a low relief effect in paint- a hybrid between low relief sculpture, mosaic, and traditional painting. Two of my paintings are in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's permanent collection. My originals and commissioned work are available exclusively through the fine art galleries across the US who represent my original and commissioned work. Find the list of galleries and licensed merchandise here https://www.denatollefson.com

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