That's a beautiful analogy, watching the world inhale. My favorite spot in this respect is the top of a Vlieland dune, just under the lighthouse, overlooking the Wadden Sea and the North Sea. I once watched a thunderstorm develop in the west, almost hitting the island and disappearing in the east. A peak moment.

@@PaintingSkies1 That sounds wonderful. My peak moment was watching the nights condensation lifting off of the mountain tops, just as the sun was rising. I was literally watching a weather system develop.

@@mark-dietz Amazing...

My pleasure, thanks!

My pleasure, Franceska!

Dankjewel, Folkert!

Thanks, Mike! I do use reference photo's, but I don't copy them. They're mostly relevant in the beginning of the painting process.

I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed the video, thanks!

Dank je, Ingo!

That's great to hear, Steve, thanks!

My pleasure, Mark, thanks!

Thanks, Alex!

Ah, that's great, thanks John!

Thanks, Eram, I will!

Thank you so much, Julieta!

Thanks...

Thank you, Nabila, my pleasure!

Thanks, Steve!

Thank you so much, Tracey!

Thanks, Paul!

I’ve been painting with my hands for decades now. Back in the sixties and seventies (when I was a student at the Academy) using your fingers was more or less standard practice. Since then health and safety regulations have become more strict and in my palette there’s only one color left (Transparent White) with an environmental hazard warning sign on the tube. I’m not saying there’s no risk at all, I’m not a scientist. Everyone should make their own choice. If you don’t feel comfortable using your hands, then don’t. I’ve been doing it for so long now that I’ll probably keep doing it til the day I lay down my brushes...

Thanks, Mike. The secret is to put in the hours!

First things first. Thanks!

I love a good cat video

Yes, it'll work on canvas, though not as well as on a smooth panel. It's harder to get the seamless gradients I'm after. Removing the paint with a cloth (to reveal lighter parts) is much harder on canvas. The paint gets stuck in the texture. But I would certainly try, if I was you!

Thank you, John!

Obrigado, Sandra!

Thanks, Robert!

I'm working on a large commission at the moment with a huge dark cloud. I'm slowly building up the contrast in the cloud with transparent layers. I use the stipple brush for each layer, resulting in a fine grained texture you'd never get with a regular brush. Thanks for the tip. Will check them out. My tip: if you have this urge to pick up painting again, just do it.

Well, you might be asking to much of yourself. I have been struggling myself for quite a few years, before I had the feeling I was on to something. If you keep putting in the hours (and avoid perfectionism) you will get better. If you want to find out more about my painting technique: www.paintingskies.com/video.

I work on 300 grs. Arches oil paper of 56x76 cm. I cut it at the size I want. They come in loose sheets, not a pad.

@@PaintingSkies1 interesting. Do you gesso it before painting?

@@StevenMarkPaintings I do, just to be certain, but the manufacturer claims you don't have to. It's sold as oil paper after all.

@@PaintingSkies1 thanks' for the info. Bty .. I saw in one of your other videos how you go about tapping the paper to your workboard, very cool little trick👍

@@StevenMarkPaintings Yes, it is, isn't it? Learned it from my frame maker. She uses it to mount works on paper in a travel passe partout. I thought: This can also work to tape paper to my work board. And it does :)

I have been working on canvas for years. I switched to panel, because I wanted a smooth surface to paint on. When painting on canvas, you'll always have to deal with the canvas texture.

I agree I always used nothing but canvas before.

Thank you, Anthony! Yes, I have a Patreon account: www.patreon.com/paintingskies.

Yes, in this case I primed the paper with a blue acrylic. That's not always my approach. Sometimes I prime it with Gesso (a Royal Talens primer). The MDF panels I work on are primed by a small Dutch company, who (understandably) won't share their recipe.

@@PaintingSkies1 Thanks! i never used acrylic for primer i use gesso sometimes or canvans already prepeared that i find in shops i start at 18 y o with oil on a thick paper and still have that first painting , i copied the same the following year on convans, & i still have that one too i love Tales and sometimes Van Gogh line of colors

That's great, that you still have work from that age. I don't know where my work went, but it's all gone... @@pauljack7170

@@PaintingSkies1 Hi well i painted for my pleasure some were given as a gift or were sold and i STILL REGRET 😱 my main job has been jewellery i am very attracted by bright colors , always left painting for retirement actually i am retaired and still do some jewellery and re-start painting 😂

Thanks, Howie!