Acrylic Painting Tutorial - Starry Night by Van Gogh

Summary

In this tutorial, the artist takes us through the process of creating a Van Gogh-inspired painting, using 'Starry Night' as a reference. She shares her creative process, from preparing materials and sketching to painting iconic elements like the swirls in the sky, the tree, and the houses. The artist encourages a relaxed approach, focusing on enjoying the process and embracing mistakes. The video offers helpful tips on color mixing and brush techniques, with a fun and supportive tone, while inviting viewers to add their personal touches and details to the artwork. It's a step-by-step, approachable guide for both beginners and seasoned painters.

Takeaways

• 😀 The artist is inspired by their childhood admiration for Van Gogh and aims to create a painting reminiscent of his style.
• 🎨 The materials used include a watercolor sketchbook, various brushes, paper towel, water, mixing surface, and a reference photo of 'Starry Night'.
• 🖌️ The artist works with a variety of colors such as white, cyan, quinacridone crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow medium, and burnt sienna to capture the essence of Van Gogh's colors.
• 🌟 Burnt sienna is used as an undercolor for the painting, with a thin wash applied to set a foundation for the layers above.
• 🖼️ The artist sketches out basic shapes of key elements like the moon, hills, shrubs, houses, and the iconic swirling sky before painting.
• 🌌 The sky is painted using various shades of blue, creating dynamic brushstrokes to replicate Van Gogh’s swirled, impressionistic texture.
• ⏳ The process emphasizes taking time and not rushing, encouraging a relaxed, enjoyable painting experience without stressing over exact replication.
• 💡 Mistakes are part of the process, and since acrylics dry quickly, corrections are easy and provide flexibility for adjustments.
• 🌲 The iconic wavy tree in the foreground is added with dark green, blue, and black shades, creating texture and depth in the painting.
• 🏠 The village elements are simplified with quick outlines for buildings and careful detailing of the steeple to ensure visual balance and focus on the landscape.
• 🎉 The tutorial encourages personal interpretation, suggesting that after completing the foundational layers, artists should add their own details to personalize their work.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the tutorial in this video?

The tutorial aims to guide viewers through creating a painting inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night,' specifically focusing on replicating its signature swirls and textures using watercolor and acrylic paints.

What materials are needed for this painting tutorial?

The materials include a watercolor sketchbook, an array of brushes (flat and detailed), a paper towel, water, mixing surface, reference photo of 'Starry Night,' and paints including white, cyan, quinacridone crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow medium, burnt sienna, and other optional colors like a brighter blue.

Why is burnt sienna used in the process?

Burnt sienna is used as an underlayer color to provide a warm base for the painting, allowing for a layered effect. This color helps with the overall texture and composition, even though it seems unusual initially.

What is the significance of the swirls in the painting?

The swirls in 'Starry Night' represent dynamic, fluid motion. The artist in the tutorial mimics this technique by using a tapping motion with the brush to create a similar swirling effect, reflecting Van Gogh's iconic impressionistic style.

How does the creator handle mistakes during the painting process?

The artist encourages a relaxed attitude toward mistakes, stating that acrylic paints dry quickly, allowing for easy correction. If something goes wrong, it can be covered up or adjusted, emphasizing the freedom of the creative process.

Why does the artist use different shades of blue in the painting?

The artist uses a range of blue shades, including ultramarine, lighter blues, and a mixture with cyan, to achieve varying depths in the sky, with darker blues for the background and lighter shades for stars and moon highlights.

How does the artist achieve texture in the painting?

The artist uses a variety of brush techniques, such as tapping and flicking motions with different brush sizes, to create texture. Additionally, mixing different colors (like adding white to the blue) enhances the texture and depth, particularly in the swirls and landscape elements.

What role does white paint play in the tutorial?

White paint is essential for creating lighter areas in the painting, especially for the stars, moon, and lighter parts of the sky. The artist uses white to balance darker colors and achieve the glowing effect seen in 'Starry Night.'

How does the artist deal with the geometric shapes in the foreground?

The artist briefly outlines the geometric shapes, such as the houses and hills, to establish the structure. These shapes are then gradually worked over with color and texture to transform them into more organic forms.

What is the significance of the tree in the painting?

The large, wavy tree in the foreground adds contrast and interest to the composition. The artist carefully adds details to the tree, using dark green and black tones to create a bold, expressive look that mirrors the swirling elements in the background.