How to Paint With the Lasso Tool

Summary

In this video, artist Forest shares tips on painting more efficiently using the lasso tool. He demonstrates his process, starting with ambient occlusion and soft brushes to establish values and form. Forest emphasizes the importance of not over-relying on crisp edges and maintaining a balance between clean and painterly aesthetics. He also discusses the use of an opaque brush for quick color application and the lasso tool for refining shapes and adjusting details, stressing the need for a strong foundation in art fundamentals.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist, Forest, emphasizes the use of the lasso tool for efficient painting, allowing for quick transitions to finished products.
• 🖌️ Forest discusses the importance of not being overly reliant on layers, suggesting that too much structure can hinder adaptability in illustrations.
• 🔆 He introduces the concept of ambient occlusion for establishing value relationships early in the painting process.
• 🍂 Forest prefers using brushes with soft and hard edges to create interesting shapes and imperfections, avoiding a sterile look.
• 📉 He mentions the therapeutic nature of 'brainless render assignments' after completing the major work of a sketch.
• 🌟 The artist highlights the significance of not overusing the lasso tool, as it can lead to an overly clean and uninviting piece.
• 🔄 Forest advocates for painting over previous work to maintain a natural and painterly feel, rather than a digital appearance.
• 💡 He demonstrates the lasso tool's utility for creating internal shapes and separating light from shadow, enhancing form clarity.
• ✍️ The script illustrates the lasso tool's flexibility for making adjustments and refinements throughout the painting process.
• 🎓 Forest concludes by stressing the importance of understanding fundamentals in art, suggesting resources for further learning.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about how to paint more efficiently and faster using the lasso tool in digital art.

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker in the video is an artist named Forest.

What does Forest usually get asked about in his streams?

Forest usually gets asked about how to paint faster or more efficiently.

Why does Forest prefer using the lasso tool for painting?

Forest prefers the lasso tool because it allows him to achieve a finished-looking product quicker than expected and helps with creating clear separations between light and shadow.

What does Forest suggest as an alternative to using layers excessively?

Forest suggests that being too structured with layers can make an illustration less adaptable, and a clean look can be achieved in other ways.

What technique does Forest use to start his painting process?

Forest starts his painting process by blocking in colors and using ambient occlusion to figure out the values in his painting.

What is ambient occlusion and why does Forest use it?

Ambient occlusion is a technique used to simulate how light interacts with a scene, enhancing the perception of depth and form. Forest uses it to determine the values in his paintings.

Why does Forest avoid using the lasso tool for everything?

Forest avoids using the lasso tool for everything because having overly crisp edges everywhere can make the artwork look sterile and lacking in natural imperfections.

What is one of the mistakes Forest made when he first started using the lasso tool?

One mistake Forest made was using the lasso tool everywhere to create overly crisp shapes, which resulted in a sterile look that lacked the organic feel he desired.

How does Forest use the lasso tool to create imperfections in his paintings?

Forest uses the lasso tool to make selections and then paints with a soft brush to create imperfections, avoiding a completely perfect and manufactured look.

What advice does Forest give about painting with a fully opaque brush?

Forest advises that painting with a fully opaque brush can save time and create brighter values, but it requires practice and understanding of color and light to avoid a flat or unnatural look.

How does Forest approach the end of his painting sessions?

Forest emphasizes the importance of not just relying on techniques like the lasso tool, but also understanding the fundamentals of art, which he suggests can be learned through his Gumroad resources or other recommended free resources.