one of my favorite paintings was one a good friend painted for me years ago. it began with a certain intention...that just wasn't working for her anymore...so after many frustrated days, she did what you did & painted right over it. it actually was the first of a new phase of her work that had much more sophistication & amazing depth, partly due to the peeking through of the original. all these years later (20+) I still occasionally see something new in it...so i am all for it...paint over some of mine, paint over one of a friend that handed me one he hated & no longer wanted to see. he was very impressed & excited to see what it became... signed both our names to it.
I resonate completely with many of the paint over experiences expressed in the comments below. I have some completed pieces that have several layers of ‘old paintings’ beneath them. The painting will tell you when it’s finished or needs to be reborn. Keep up the artistic passion everyone !
One of my favorite things to do is paint over an existing painting. I actually enjoy it more than starting on a blank canvas. But like you said, it’s important to let some history peek through.
Yes! I also like painting over old paintings. I can see my evolution as an artist! I enjoy watching your time lapse and I paint with both hands too as I’m dancing. Fun stuff!
Yes, I do that all the time. It normally works out much better! I think if I'm not finished and don't know where to go with it, paint over it. I can often finish the new one quickly. Love your work and welcome to Almonte. We live in Ottawas west end and go to Almonte regularly. You couldn't have picked a better spot. Congratulations !
I’ve struggled with the “paint over” issue too. I’m not an abstract artist, more realism and Impressionism, but I recently looked at a bunch of canvases that I haven’t finished ( because they weren’t what I’d hoped they’d be). I felt guilty that I’d wasted time and materials, so I turned them to the wall behind my rack. Your video couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m going to go back and look at what parts of them I like, and try my hand at incorporating some abstract ideas. I’m really inspired...thank you Lori.
Amazing!!!!! I love this!...I feel sometimes painting over what we don't like and hid away, that we are taking our power back. I'm sure for you as it is for me, a lot of negative self talk happens when our art doesn't turn out as we hoped it would. A paint over reminds ourselves that we are in control and can simply just keep on painting.
I definitely paint over. Often multiple times. Plus I use a lot of texture so as that builds up, it often creates some fascinating effects in the final piece. Love your videos, Lori! Thanks for sharing... 💕
Love your boldness, Lori. I often paint over old canvases......sometimes it's to try new and different techniques or color combos. sometimes it's just that I don't like what I'm seeing or not seeing in the old work. It's all still experimental for me (although I've sold a few pieces). I love the process and love watching you create.
That's great to hear Gerri, i think it's an important process to practise (the covering up of the old to add some new layers). I'm 8 years in and I to feel like things are still an experiment, so haha get use to that feeling. I think in abstract work we should always be trying new things and pushing ourselves to evolve.
I must say, this was amazing to watch. I liked the painting just as it was before you started on the old light colored painting. I thought you were ruining it as you continued to add color. I was wrong. I began to love the outcome, even though at times I practically shouted at you saying, "please don't cover that spot". But then you do cover it. I'm so glad you express what you are thinking as you go. It's turning out better than the original.
Haha soooo many people have the reaction when they watch this video. I’m still not finished this painting. I look at it everyday wondering if today will be the day I finish it 😂
I have acquired several partial done canvases from outside of a trash bin. I painted over them completely and now they live as completed works. I don't have as many paintings that i am unhappy with yet...but I have 3 or4 I have left incomplete to come back to later on. For whatever reason I wasn't feeling it at some point, so they will get a second chance down the road. On large canvases, I think it is better to paint over work that doesn't sit well with the one painting it. Today we can take dozens of photos ,so we can always revisit those ideas in the future. Also, I agree about music selection and rhythm. One great song on repeat sets the tone and pace for a good session. Great video and Thank you ! :)
I have painted over old pieces before. However, I tried to show what it was, before its transformation. I went through a pour paint phase, and some of the older ones sat around awhile. So, I left some of the pour exposed, but repainted and completely changed what they were, into something new and cool. Increased the value by 5x too. And SOLD! Loving your channel. Binging before I head down to my studio. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Ohhhh yesss I can totally envision that. The consistency of the pour would be so unique to the rest of the painting that it would certainly give a wow affect. So glad you are enjoying my newbie channel. 😊😂
If thats what your heart tells you to do, do it ! That’s what I do. I really like the process and the idea that you left some of the previuos work to show. Waiting to see how you finished it 👍🏻👏👏👏👏
I'm hoping to get it finished soon. I have a commission that I have to finish before I get to this piece. Exactly right...so important to listen to our heart, intuition.
I laughed when I watched you work.....I find music is very important for me and especially when I'm painting on larger canvases...I dance as well...LOL!!!....Thank you I'm so inspired!!!! Wishing you the best....
Lori, I love that you’re painting over a painting when you know it can be what needs to be (and it’s not already!)!! I love using both hands/arms, and find its so satisfying, to feel so much of a completed ⭕️ circle! When I’m not using both hands I need to hold something in the empty hand. I’ve been like this my whole life. Maybe it’s all about feeling the balance. Love this new start, and those earthy colors!! Can’t wait to see the finale!! 😊
SO GLAD I watched this video! thank you Lori!! Never thought i would but I am painting over old works and giving them a new life. They don't "disappear", they are just showing another layer and speaking in a different voice, one, that I probably wasn't ready to hear or understand in the past.
First of all, I enjoy watching you create, so thank you for sharing! I do the same thing and paint over some of my work which doesn’t “speak” to me anymore, or maybe never did. Having said that, I definitely have regretted doing that on occasion-but, you live and learn. Mostly though it helps me create something better over the top. And there’s that knowledge that only I know what’s underneath 😂
You give me the giggles I love it! The ones I recreate tend to be my favorite. Last night I replayed a song for an hour. Didn't much care for what I created. Still had fun and tonight round 2!!!
This has been on my mind, so I appreciate this video! I have a few that the more I look at, the more I think were just rushed or "completed" too soon. I feel like I now have permission to paint over them! LOL. I often leave paintings for long periods of time until they call me back. Thank you!
I paint over old work or unfinished work all the time. If I have several paintings in a so-so series and there's one I like, I'll save it, just as a reminder of where I used to be in my artist's journey. I've been painting for 20 years so my journey has had a lot of twists and turns (and dead-ends!). Still, I like saving a few markers of where I've been even though those older paintings may not wow me now. Starting with a fresh canvas is fine, but I love a paint-over since it already has layers of paint on it that often spur new ideas of what do next. I'm not good at visualizing a painting in my mind, but when I see paint on the canvas, it's much easier to visualize what the painting, or the next phase of it, might become.
Those are are all such wonderful part of your process. I sometimes will keep a painting for a few years myself but eventually I will list it for sale. I agree certainly having paint already on the canvas can act as a road map and provides inspiration and direction. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. :)
Just found you and loved this video. I am going to start painting over some older paintings (unfinished ones, that just didn't work out.) One thing I love about you is seeing paint on your clothes. So refreshing. I have clothes I use just for painting, because no matter how careful I am, I get covered in paint! Great video, thanks!
Of 2 minds on that subject. My earlier work was very creative but done with low quality materials because I was only beginning. Now I am using higher quality goods so that may make we want to paint over it more to not waste canvases, I'm not sure. It is an interesting dialogue & I appreciate your newly discovered videos! Thank you Lori! None of the older stuff is selling & I am somewhat of an unknown artist. I feel like it affords me a larger body of work but I am nowhere near as confident showing it as I don't feel like the quality is as good. Thought about donating some to local hospitals etc
yep I'm still of two minds as well, especially of what you said about the larger body of work. That really is an important component to being an artist.
I’m just getting started and while I feel some trepidation when I start to cover over something that makes me cringe, once it’s done, I’m usually glad I did!
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist sometimes I will choose parts of a piece that I like or that highlight something I was trying to figure out and leave those exposed, other times it is a “ what the heck?!” And it just all gets covered☺️
It's very cathartic to paint over old pieces that have been sitting around. But also, sometimes the reason a piece isn't selling is the audience seeing it. I've sold pieces years after they were finished and hung in multiple galleries. It really is a matter of the right person falling in love with it. But also sometimes it's building a fan base who just want to own a piece of your artwork. Side note, idea I've used for creating a body/series of work, take a genre of music or album or something and use that as inspiration while you're creating.
Absolutely correct Mathew. I don't think we should paint over every piece that doesn't sell especially if you haven't a large collector base yet. You never know when your work is going to take off and then you maybe left with no body of work.
I find that after some time, if they have stayed with me for a while, I want to repaint, but always leave bits and pieces of the old shine through. I am so happy I found your channel, you address many things I have been wondering about or feel we share same views/feelings. You are an amazing artist. Namasté
Thank you for these videos! Yes, I paint over old paintings ALL the time. I even paint over paintings on paper sometimes and have had success with it. I make way more art than I sell, so after a while if a painting hasn't sold and I am not in love with it then I will paint over it. I have tons of art sitting around my studio so it just seems practical to paint over some of the paintings. I love how this painting that you're working on in this video is coming along. I'd love to see the finished piece.
I am forever painting over... Usually third time, I'm happy. I also use my left hand to save me from turning the canvas (smaller sized) -didn't realise I could paint ambidextrously 😁 I got my first few LARGE canvases. Excited to see what I can turn them into, the first time. 🤸
Great video! Nothing wrong with walking away and putting certain pieces away for a while, it can be weeks or even months. Showing a part of an older painting through a new one is pretty amazing at times.
Yes I paint over older pieces or just pieces I feel were not what I envisioned that happens alot. Although I haven't picked up a paint brush since my accident I don't know what I am afraid of but I organized and cleaned my art studio this past weekend and will start painting this week. Time to be fearless again.
I do paint over, and find I get some really interesting textures, as I tend to paint a bit thicker, so that comes through the new painting. It has become, actually, part of my technique.
I have one painting hanging in my house that didn't go well. I keep it on the wall as a reminder that my paintings (or anything else I do) will always be imperfect and one day, maybe 20 years down the track, I will do that painting again and compare them as a mechanism to view my progress as an artist. I used to paint over a lot more than I do these days. These days I am more likely to leave them and when I come back to them I can see what I don't like and fix it.
I’m coming to a point where I’m considering painting over some of my older works that haven’t sold. I think some have sat there for awhile so it’s time. Love your work Lori.💖
I've just over painted for the first time. I was nervous, but not for the underpainting, I was nervous for the top painting, would the old show through? I realized as I was about to put the brush on the canvas that any part of the old showing through was a benefit vs a deficit to my learning curve on abstract art. It was not a finished work, but every time I looked at it or saw it leaning against the wall, I knew it wanted to be something. If its finished, sealed, but its just being stored or unframed/hanging around. I consider it part of my learning experience, we mature as we develop deeper into our own journey with it. So, if we are ever changing in our maturity and growth, painting over our early efforts may open our artistic eye to a new perspective. I absolutely LOVE watching you paint and create! Thank you SO much for sharing the way you do, incredibly inspiring. and... dance.. dance... dance. ... I dance while I paint too!
I loved your comment!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share that. Yes 100% agree with everything you said. I often read comments that say to me "oh that's a new direction" when in reality its a revamp from something from my past. New experiences and growth with our artistic skills when reworking something old can lead to a whole new body of work!! hahaha there are so many of us now, the dancing artists. :):)
Lori! I JUST posted a funny story about how this weekend I painted over a canvas and JUST as I finished I got a notice it had sold in its former incarnation!! OY!! This is a great inspiring video thank you!
I have painted over older paintings that did not “speak” to me. I just start from where it was and go for it. I don’t usually put gesso over all of it as I like to leave some of the old work peek though. By the end it may all be covered but sometimes not. I do document my progress by taking photos after each session and I am always surprised about the twist and turns a painting takes. I enjoy watching your videos as it reminds of how I have been approaching painting and mark making layers. Love it!
This year is the first time I started painting over old work, it was a bit of a wrench at first then after about the 2nd or 3rd one I started to find it so freeing, I have 5 old pieces left to use out of 12 that I had picked. There are some I won't touch that have meaning for me or I'm really happy with, the work I've done since has really improved, coincidence maybe I'm not sure lol
Amazing!! I do believe painting over old canvases can be freeing for sure!!! It’s truly taking control of your artistic voice to the max! I 100% agree some pieces no matter what will never be painted over for what ever the reason. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence...I think there might be something to this. Hopefully others will share their thoughts on the subject 😊
Lori where are you? I really enjoy your longer videos. I love watching you paint and your art. I’ve learned a lot about selling art from you. So, thank you! I’m sure you’re very busy but I thought you should know that you are missed.
Thank you so much! It’s been really hard to make videos since I moved out to the farm. Business. Had been busy I’ve had to step back a bit from UA-cam.
Hey love your work! I have painted over pieces and have regretted it completely. I also paint very thing textured pieces and have thrown out the canvases too. I am currently struggling with my art style direction and have stopped painting for several month. I need to get back into it again! Thank you for helping to inspire me! Can you do a video more on your favourite compositions and how you achieve them with abstract art. Sending love from a fellow southern Ontario gal!
I have painted over a few that I couldn't finish because I thought, this is cheezy, my perspective was off, the head of the portrait looked like they had zika virus (too small, wrong proportion etc). And I usually regret it cause I think some inspiration was choked and I just needed to get past the ugly painting/I hate it phase. I am still learning, so luckily, I take photos of the process to check color values, so it was never lost. I could still do a digital version. I Love watching you work. Thank you for sharing!
Yikes. Unfortunately...before I discovered “layering”...i would gesso over some canvases 1-2 years later. And I have deep regret. Now I like to keep them...because for me... each holds a lesson learned...and is a milestone in my evolution. Now i’m very selective about unfinished paintings that I paint new layers over. Short answer...i’d rather start on virgin canvas. And I like to dig up an old work and hang in my space. I contemplate it with fresh eyes and appreciate where I “was” and where “i am/going”. Thanks so much. Enjoying your videos!
OMG I just feel like I got permission to go back! Thank you!!! I gave my kids some works and apologized for the bad work. Now I'm going to take it back and make it how I really want. I just can't even look at what I gave as I really feel 'it's not finished'.
With an abstraction that becomes too busy or confusing I cover the parts I want to keep with rubber cement. After it cures I dry brush or dry roller the surface with a lighter pigment. Could also be darker. When that dries I rub off the rubber cement to reveal the underlying colors.
You must work on a smaller scale?? Rubber cement comes in such small quantities and I have only seen it used with watercolours. So that's pretty cool if you are using it with acrylics.
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist DAP Weldwood has it available in a gallon can for about $50. A large painting should use no more than $10 worth. Works great with acrylics. I never tried it with oil base paints.
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist Yes art supplies have gotten very expensive 😳 especially large pre-made canvasses. For large paintings I had to switch to using card stock, and what I use now, wood panel. I prefer wood panel since you can press very hard on it and scrape it.
@@jimhresco1728 Ugh know. I have only enjoyed wood when I'm working cold wax and oil....I haven't put in enough effort to transfer what I do on canvas to wood panel. Exactly !!! you can scrap, sand, and do whatever else you want with wood.
I have repainted over one wood panel 5 times....5. times. Finally, finally after 2 years I am happy with the work and its now in a gallery show. Never give up!
I certainly do paint over the abstract work I am doing now. I have sold a lot of subjective work over many years but have shelfs of those paintings which didn't sell then. I am not used to Acrylics though I have used them off and on. I am trying to learn to like them. I get sooo fed up with the results! I am still learning what I like in the way of abstract paintings. I suffer badly from migraines which doesn't help with design and colour choices. So far I have only managed to make perhaps 3 or 4 abstract paintings in acrylics. I was an oil and pastel painter which might explain. REally enjoyed this video of yours. Thank you.
This was very helpful and I love the new direction of this painting. I recently was asked to collaborate with a gallery and they wanted a painting I had painted over !! Eeek. I was so cranky with myself. I actually liked it a lot , when I was 1/2 way towards my vision for it. Why didn’t I stop right there??? Why? This is not the 1st time , I've loved something , but it hasn’t yet fulfilled in my mind where I thought it should be. “oh its great now but its gonna be better when I finish’, I think to myself ... and then , no , it isn’t . And I’m glad I’m writing this because I’m on the verge of making the same mistake again ... I really need to settle down ... hahahaha . Thanks again for your videos , I love them .
stepping away and just letting the painting sit helps me. Im glad you wrote in too. It really helps to have someone else to talk about these art topics with 😊
I do paint over paintings. A few times I have really, really regretted it. At least I have pictures of them. :) Thanks for sharing your talent and process.
Oh no!!! That’s not good when you regret it!!! I only regret when someone wanted to purchase the painting and it’s no longer the painting 😩 . Glad you enjoy it 😊
Hi Lori, I paint over older canvas, usually not even because they have sold but because they drive me nuts, they just didn't have that something, I don't flinch, if it is not making me happy i work it over. Ha I have painted over 50 years selling all through my life, I still paint and i also did countless murals and custom finishes with my hubby in our artistic interior business, stretch those arms, through out the day, bend your hands back in opposite direction, PULL your shoulders back standing straight , I have injured myself seriously in the past working too many hours on a surface in front of me, stretch your neck the opposite position every now and then, get a good LMT, once every few months get that massage deep tissue, or else, If you want more detail, I would love to exchange, we artists can really injure our bodies with repetitious motion. love your work gal!!!
I Hear you Diana and I couldn't agree more. Before I left my full time employer I was attending Physio appointment 3 times a week. I went through frozen shoulder and so many other things. She taught all the stretches that I need to do to combat what I was feel. So I am much better at taking care of myself now in terms of stretching etc etc. All things I never considered when I stated painting more and more. ❤️ I appreciate you looking out for me 🥰
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist Oh that is so awesome, it will save so much pain and heart ache later. I am very inspired from watching you, the talking in the background in my studio as I paint is a feeling of having a studio with a fellow artist again, i used to teach and also share with artists in other galleries and I miss it. so thankyou for your hard work. Blessings !!!!
I always paint over...i hate waste, and art supplies aren't cheap...one canvas i painted over 3 times! 😀 i like what you're doing with this painting...the colors are coming out nicely.
I absolutely do. Particularly if I have painted figurative work I let some of it peek through and then I add something more dramatic. I shared this on my instagram. To be honest though initially it was a terrifying thought, given the time we spend on our work...but no letting go is so much easier...
So great to hear that....I love that you also let some history of the previous canvas show though and yes it is terrifying when we do spend soooo much time on a piece only to cover it up. Thanks so much for sharing.
I use to apply gesso to start over as soon as the feeling of contempt arose when working on a piece. I now require myself to wait at least 24hrs before I restart a painting. Since doing that I find that some pieces just need to be reworked and others need a fresh start.
I’ve done it a handful of times. What I’ll do is scan or make a high res digital pic of it, then see if I can save it digitally. It’s not a big deal right now in my fine art career. It’s a slow burn which I’m trying to get more serious about now.
this is an interesting vid...i just brought a bunch of old 'beginner' paintings to my house from storage and am considering painting over them. my style has changed a lot since then! however, i'm also a little nervous about leaving older parts showing cos my head isn't 'there' any more, if that makes sense.
I completely understand. I used to paint over old works that didn't have zing or just wasn't what I wanted. Now I just use what I have as an underpainting and draw out some new secrets that didn't yet show themselves.
I'm totally okay with painting over a painting, but my problem is that most of my "finished" paintings have a coat of varnish over them. I've gessoed and painted over them but won't sell them because I don't know what will happen because of the varnish underneath. Any experience with that? I've since learned to not varnish until the very end. As I write this, I work with a lot of mixed media and really do need to seal it all in with medium... Is that different than actual varnish? Question of the day here lol! Thanks for all that you put out there, we all appreciate it! :)
sometimes i like to paint to very different music for a single painting as it can take me from a frenzied mood which is necessary for part of the work, but often the quieter, more serene can take me to a cool balanced part of my subconscious that works for a different part of the piece. until it doesn't.
One time in a painting class, I was repainting over a old painting I didn't think was any good, when everyone yelled stop! Leave it like that! The original painting was from a figure painting class at BBAA. We had a nude model on a sofa. I gave my painting a strong orange background. The proportions didn't come out right, details were off, etc. but what the heck, we're students practicing. Then a couple years later I'm in a still life class starting off with the project for the day. I have the old orange nude painting, and start smearing light blue-gray over it. Most of it's covered but the head and upper portion of the figure. With the face and one arm visible in a hole of the blue-gray fog, and I think part of the sofa was still uncovered, it looked intriguing to someone and everyone thought I should stop with it like that. I don't recall if I ever showed that painting anywhere or sold it. Probably finished painting it over and used it for something else a few years later, if I hadn't sold it. Interesting, the mundane acts that can get attention.
Just wondering how you do the narrative here? What type of cameras you use. I know it’s just you. Plus that’s a great idea to have your phone on a stand at eye level.
I definitely paint over a canvas when I am not happy with it. I am less than a year in painting abstracts, so I figure it's the learning curve, also it's great to repurpose and save a bit of money!
I'm about to paint over a large canvas that took me a long time to make. I'm pretty sure whatever I do next will be better than the current work. If I don't love a painting, it's in line to be painted over :)
been liking all your videos.....I would never paint over a piece that i loved or thought could make me money....so when i do paint over I'm admitting on a core level that i don't like it or I can make something way better. nothing wrong with that. The scenario of someone wanting to buy a piece i painted over sounds awful though. I'd be very wary of covering too many pieces that are/have been in the public eye. I don't have to worry about this yet but I am wondering for the future how i will be able to easily direct people to a calendar type present moment inventory so people know what is and isn't available. luckily for me I'm just starting to create a lot of content so the studio is not overflowing yet. I definitely have pieces I'm not happy with but until i get public opinion will leave them be...just cause i don't like it doesn't mean it won't sell..lol. i've been sick with covid so been deep diving into youtube more than usual....finding your videos and great advice has been a huge silver lining of being too sick to work but not sick enough to go down a daily youtube rabbit hole to accidentally find helpful info. the unhelpful other side has been endless South Park compilations... lol
I also do overpainting, and I enjoy it! I think and feel its mostly Full of Power of the old plus new und fresh energies wich are more powerful in the now .
Yeah!!! I love destroying and rebuilding. And a few months ago, one customer saw a piece I had destroyed asking to buy the destroyed piece… it no longer existed. But I finally did another one they loved so that ended up being ok. I am a destroy rebuild painter. I love doing this.
I never repaint. Personal opinion but every hour, blood, sweat and tears I'm not doing it. I love to see how my style has changed so it's a bit like a diary of that. Also I feel every painting is money in the bank.
I agree with you, I love seeing where I was compared to now. It's like golfing - you don't really play to beat someone else, you play to beat your own game :) And who knows, if you become famous one day, everyone will want WHATEVER you painted, because it's YOU who made it!
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist , I didn’t . I’m new into your channel . I love to be in touch with artists . Thank you so much . I’m going to take a look 👀 !
Yes, I repaint over old paintings that I don't like. I know that some people gesso their rejects and start fresh but, like you, I think that there's a lot to be gained by what's underneath, some of which can show through as the new painting is emerging. It does provide more depth and that's important to me.
The great illustrator and teacher Barron Story said that if you no longer like a piece, you should destroy it to free yourself from it, BUT you should save any part of the piece that you still like and use it for another future work. I paint or belt sand over old work all of the the time to make new work. Distressed surfaces are part of my ascetic anyway.
Yes I repaint with gesso any old painting I think needs a rebirth since I have a photo to remember it by and I feel fine doing that & many artists do same - supplies do cost money$.
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist thanks for reply -super commendable on your part- makes me believe you do what you say. I’m trying to decide if I want to sell again & do website etc. at 72 years?
I would not paint over an abstract for several years. A while ago I had to clear some old paintings from the loft. Several I thought were not particularly good, on seeing them again after 20 plus years, I realised they had qualities I had not recognised when I painted them.
I try crazy stuff on the first go around and then when I get a skill down I paint over the test subjects. It gives me great texture that is very unique to each piece. That said, there are about 5 paintings I have painted over and absolutely regret it. I think it's part of the process and it can be a bit painful at times, in the end discovery comes with sacrifice.
one of my favorite paintings was one a good friend painted for me years ago. it began with a certain intention...that just wasn't working for her anymore...so after many frustrated days, she did what you did & painted right over it. it actually was the first of a new phase of her work that had much more sophistication & amazing depth, partly due to the peeking through of the original. all these years later (20+) I still occasionally see something new in it...so i am all for it...paint over some of mine, paint over one of a friend that handed me one he hated & no longer wanted to see. he was very impressed & excited to see what it became... signed both our names to it.
I revisit my paintings and know immediately when it is time to paint over. It has always been a better result. 💯❣️
That’s so great!! I agree. Always a better result.
I resonate completely with many of the paint over experiences expressed in the comments below. I have some completed pieces that have several layers of ‘old paintings’ beneath them. The painting will tell you when it’s finished or needs to be reborn. Keep up the artistic passion everyone !
I 100% agree. 😊😊😊
One of my favorite things to do is paint over an existing painting. I actually enjoy it more than starting on a blank canvas. But like you said, it’s important to let some history peek through.
I enjoy it too 😊😊😊
LV your honest approach to your videos. You are lovely
It is fantastic to listen to you, and watch you with your dancing moves!🥳
Glad you enjoy it!🤣
Yes! I also like painting over old paintings. I can see my evolution as an artist! I enjoy watching your time lapse and I paint with both hands too as I’m dancing. Fun stuff!
Thank you so much 😀 and that's so great on your part too.
Yes, I do that all the time. It normally works out much better! I think if I'm not finished and don't know where to go with it, paint over it. I can often finish the new one quickly.
Love your work and welcome to Almonte. We live in Ottawas west end and go to Almonte regularly. You couldn't have picked a better spot. Congratulations !
Haven’t finished your video yet... have to say, I love, LOVE your old painting ❤️❤️❤️
I liked it but I didn't love it. lol
I’ve struggled with the “paint over” issue too. I’m not an abstract artist, more realism and Impressionism, but I recently looked at a bunch of canvases that I haven’t finished ( because they weren’t what I’d hoped they’d be). I felt guilty that I’d wasted time and materials, so I turned them to the wall behind my rack. Your video couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m going to go back and look at what parts of them I like, and try my hand at incorporating some abstract ideas. I’m really inspired...thank you Lori.
Amazing!!!!! I love this!...I feel sometimes painting over what we don't like and hid away, that we are taking our power back. I'm sure for you as it is for me, a lot of negative self talk happens when our art doesn't turn out as we hoped it would. A paint over reminds ourselves that we are in control and can simply just keep on painting.
It's never wasted time.
I definitely paint over. Often multiple times. Plus I use a lot of texture so as that builds up, it often creates some fascinating effects in the final piece. Love your videos, Lori! Thanks for sharing... 💕
That certainly would add some interesting texture that would lead to something Marvellous. My pleasure thanks for watching. 😊
Love your boldness, Lori. I often paint over old canvases......sometimes it's to try new and different techniques or color combos. sometimes it's just that I don't like what I'm seeing or not seeing in the old work. It's all still experimental for me (although I've sold a few pieces). I love the process and love watching you create.
That's great to hear Gerri, i think it's an important process to practise (the covering up of the old to add some new layers). I'm 8 years in and I to feel like things are still an experiment, so haha get use to that feeling. I think in abstract work we should always be trying new things and pushing ourselves to evolve.
I must say, this was amazing to watch. I liked the painting just as it was before you started on the old light colored painting. I thought you were ruining it as you continued to add color. I was wrong. I began to love the outcome, even though at times I practically shouted at you saying, "please don't cover that spot". But then you do cover it. I'm so glad you express what you are thinking as you go. It's turning out better than the original.
Haha soooo many people have the reaction when they watch this video. I’m still not finished this painting. I look at it everyday wondering if today will be the day I finish it 😂
So glad I got to see this. I am always happy when I finally surrender to painting over something that just doesn’t feel like what i wanted it to be.
Yes exactly. Love the word surrender in this context.
I have acquired several partial done canvases from outside of a trash bin. I painted over them completely and now they live as completed works. I don't have as many paintings that i am unhappy with yet...but I have 3 or4 I have left incomplete to come back to later on. For whatever reason I wasn't feeling it at some point, so they will get a second chance down the road.
On large canvases, I think it is better to paint over work that doesn't sit well with the one painting it. Today we can take dozens of photos ,so we can always revisit those ideas in the future.
Also, I agree about music selection and rhythm. One great song on repeat sets the tone and pace for a good session.
Great video and Thank you ! :)
I have painted over old pieces before. However, I tried to show what it was, before its transformation. I went through a pour paint phase, and some of the older ones sat around awhile. So, I left some of the pour exposed, but repainted and completely changed what they were, into something new and cool. Increased the value by 5x too. And SOLD! Loving your channel. Binging before I head down to my studio. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Ohhhh yesss I can totally envision that. The consistency of the pour would be so unique to the rest of the painting that it would certainly give a wow affect. So glad you are enjoying my newbie channel. 😊😂
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist its excellent! Your personality shines through, and you are very authentic and generous. :)
If thats what your heart tells you to do, do it ! That’s what I do. I really like the process and the idea that you left some of the previuos work to show. Waiting to see how you finished it 👍🏻👏👏👏👏
I'm hoping to get it finished soon. I have a commission that I have to finish before I get to this piece. Exactly right...so important to listen to our heart, intuition.
I laughed when I watched you work.....I find music is very important for me and especially when I'm painting on larger canvases...I dance as well...LOL!!!....Thank you I'm so inspired!!!! Wishing you the best....
hahahaha laugh to when I first watched myself paint lol. Yes music is key for me.
Lori, I love that you’re painting over a painting when you know it can be what needs to be (and it’s not already!)!! I love using both hands/arms, and find its so satisfying, to feel so much of a completed ⭕️ circle! When I’m not using both hands I need to hold something in the empty hand. I’ve been like this my whole life. Maybe it’s all about feeling the balance.
Love this new start, and those earthy colors!! Can’t wait to see the finale!! 😊
I bet it is about balance for sure!!! Yes that one just didn’t make the grade. Lol
SO GLAD I watched this video! thank you Lori!! Never thought i would but I am painting over old works and giving them a new life. They don't "disappear", they are just showing another layer and speaking in a different voice, one, that I probably wasn't ready to hear or understand in the past.
That’s awesome Natalie some of my best pieces are paint overs.
Cant even say how much I find myself in your videos and love watching! Thank you 🙏
Antje johnson (fine artist in London 🇬🇧)
Wow, thank you so much I appreciate that so much Antje😊
First of all, I enjoy watching you create, so thank you for sharing! I do the same thing and paint over some of my work which doesn’t “speak” to me anymore, or maybe never did. Having said that, I definitely have regretted doing that on occasion-but, you live and learn. Mostly though it helps me create something better over the top. And there’s that knowledge that only I know what’s underneath 😂
Thanks so much! It’s helped me create a better end result too. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Really love watching the layers build up with different sizes and shapes! I paint over old work but now I will leave a hint of its history showing. 🙏🏼
That’s so great. I hope you find that it will add a whole new depth to your painting. 😊
You give me the giggles I love it! The ones I recreate tend to be my favorite. Last night I replayed a song for an hour. Didn't much care for what I created. Still had fun and tonight round 2!!!
Haha thanks Natalie. Laughter right now is necessary. I have done the replay a song over and over to. I hope round two is successful for you.
I have done it! If I get stuck I'll leave it and come back to it to modify if I don't feel I can modify I'll repaint it. I love your work!
This has been on my mind, so I appreciate this video! I have a few that the more I look at, the more I think were just rushed or "completed" too soon. I feel like I now have permission to paint over them! LOL. I often leave paintings for long periods of time until they call me back. Thank you!
I love that!!! So glad thanks for sharing. You created it you decide when it’s finished 😊😊
I paint over old work or unfinished work all the time. If I have several paintings in a so-so series and there's one I like, I'll save it, just as a reminder of where I used to be in my artist's journey. I've been painting for 20 years so my journey has had a lot of twists and turns (and dead-ends!). Still, I like saving a few markers of where I've been even though those older paintings may not wow me now. Starting with a fresh canvas is fine, but I love a paint-over since it already has layers of paint on it that often spur new ideas of what do next. I'm not good at visualizing a painting in my mind, but when I see paint on the canvas, it's much easier to visualize what the painting, or the next phase of it, might become.
Those are are all such wonderful part of your process. I sometimes will keep a painting for a few years myself but eventually I will list it for sale.
I agree certainly having paint already on the canvas can act as a road map and provides inspiration and direction. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. :)
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist ❤️
Just found you and loved this video. I am going to start painting over some older paintings (unfinished ones, that just didn't work out.) One thing I love about you is seeing paint on your clothes. So refreshing. I have clothes I use just for painting, because no matter how careful I am, I get covered in paint! Great video, thanks!
hahah everything I own has paint on it. lol I gave up trying to keep things paint free last year. 😂😂😂
Of 2 minds on that subject. My earlier work was very creative but done with low quality materials because I was only beginning. Now I am using higher quality goods so that may make we want to paint over it more to not waste canvases, I'm not sure. It is an interesting dialogue & I appreciate your newly discovered videos! Thank you Lori! None of the older stuff is selling & I am somewhat of an unknown artist. I feel like it affords me a larger body of work but I am nowhere near as confident showing it as I don't feel like the quality is as good. Thought about donating some to local hospitals etc
yep I'm still of two minds as well, especially of what you said about the larger body of work. That really is an important component to being an artist.
I’m just getting started and while I feel some trepidation when I start to cover over something that makes me cringe, once it’s done, I’m usually glad I did!
I get the cringe feeling too just as I'm starting to cover up. I'm like what the heck am I doing !!! and then I'm really happy in the end that I did!
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist sometimes I will choose parts of a piece that I like or that highlight something I was trying to figure out and leave those exposed, other times it is a “ what the heck?!” And it just all gets covered☺️
I loved that painting!
😊😊😊 😳
It's very cathartic to paint over old pieces that have been sitting around. But also, sometimes the reason a piece isn't selling is the audience seeing it. I've sold pieces years after they were finished and hung in multiple galleries. It really is a matter of the right person falling in love with it. But also sometimes it's building a fan base who just want to own a piece of your artwork.
Side note, idea I've used for creating a body/series of work, take a genre of music or album or something and use that as inspiration while you're creating.
Absolutely correct Mathew. I don't think we should paint over every piece that doesn't sell especially if you haven't a large collector base yet. You never know when your work is going to take off and then you maybe left with no body of work.
Love this video. PLEASE MAKE MORE VIDEOS‼️‼️
❤️❤️🥰thank you
I find that after some time, if they have stayed with me for a while, I want to repaint, but always leave bits and pieces of the old shine through. I am so happy I found your channel, you address many things I have been wondering about or feel we share same views/feelings. You are an amazing artist. Namasté
Awww Evy-Ann that's so great I really appreciate that very much😊
“Every act of creation begins with an act of destruction” Pablo Picasso.
It absolutely does.
So cool! I went over one of my first paintings last night! I loved it!
Oh Gena that's so awesome!!!
Thank you for these videos! Yes, I paint over old paintings ALL the time. I even paint over paintings on paper sometimes and have had success with it. I make way more art than I sell, so after a while if a painting hasn't sold and I am not in love with it then I will paint over it. I have tons of art sitting around my studio so it just seems practical to paint over some of the paintings. I love how this painting that you're working on in this video is coming along. I'd love to see the finished piece.
You are so welcome! I actually haven't been able to finished this piece yet the large commission that I'm working on is taking up much of my time.
I am forever painting over... Usually third time, I'm happy.
I also use my left hand to save me from turning the canvas (smaller sized) -didn't realise I could paint ambidextrously 😁 I got my first few LARGE canvases. Excited to see what I can turn them into, the first time. 🤸
Great video! Nothing wrong with walking away and putting certain pieces away for a while, it can be weeks or even months. Showing a part of an older painting through a new one is pretty amazing at times.
So true! I walk away a lot..I always have a bunch in the works at one time. Some history in a paint over can really add a cool effect.
I do all the time! All artists paint over old ones)
Yes I paint over older pieces or just pieces I feel were not what I envisioned that happens alot. Although I haven't picked up a paint brush since my accident I don't know what I am afraid of but I organized and cleaned my art studio this past weekend and will start painting this week. Time to be fearless again.
well the organizing of studio is a good sign that your body is telling you to go back to the art. Take it one day at a time. 😊
I do paint over, and find I get some really interesting textures, as I tend to paint a bit thicker, so that comes through the new painting. It has become, actually, part of my technique.
I love that Joyce!!
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist Yeah, I paint some weird stuff! 😱
Thank you for your great videos. Just discovered your channel and am catching up.
Glad you like them! and glad you found my channel.
I have one painting hanging in my house that didn't go well. I keep it on the wall as a reminder that my paintings (or anything else I do) will always be imperfect and one day, maybe 20 years down the track, I will do that painting again and compare them as a mechanism to view my progress as an artist. I used to paint over a lot more than I do these days. These days I am more likely to leave them and when I come back to them I can see what I don't like and fix it.
That's a great idea!! very cool
I am always "afraid" to paint over but watching you doing it I will eventually try it!
haha nothing to be afraid of....😊😊😊. It's truly an exercise in letting go and trying to be free.
I’m coming to a point where I’m considering painting over some of my older works that haven’t sold. I think some have sat there for awhile so it’s time. Love your work Lori.💖
Well hopefully they will be killer new pieces.😊
I've just over painted for the first time. I was nervous, but not for the underpainting, I was nervous for the top painting, would the old show through? I realized as I was about to put the brush on the canvas that any part of the old showing through was a benefit vs a deficit to my learning curve on abstract art. It was not a finished work, but every time I looked at it or saw it leaning against the wall, I knew it wanted to be something.
If its finished, sealed, but its just being stored or unframed/hanging around. I consider it part of my learning experience, we mature as we develop deeper into our own journey with it. So, if we are ever changing in our maturity and growth, painting over our early efforts may open our artistic eye to a new perspective.
I absolutely LOVE watching you paint and create! Thank you SO much for sharing the way you do, incredibly inspiring.
and... dance.. dance... dance. ... I dance while I paint too!
I loved your comment!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share that. Yes 100% agree with everything you said. I often read comments that say to me "oh that's a new direction" when in reality its a revamp from something from my past. New experiences and growth with our artistic skills when reworking something old can lead to a whole new body of work!! hahaha there are so many of us now, the dancing artists. :):)
Lori! I JUST posted a funny story about how this weekend I painted over a canvas and JUST as I finished I got a notice it had sold in its former incarnation!! OY!! This is a great inspiring video thank you!
OUCH lol
A great idea !! Greetings from Stuttgart, Ute
Amazing!! And so glad you enjoyed
I have painted over older paintings that did not “speak” to me. I just start from where it was and go for it. I don’t usually put gesso over all of it as I like to leave some of the old work peek though. By the end it may all be covered but sometimes not. I do document my progress by taking photos after each session and I am always surprised about the twist and turns a painting takes. I enjoy watching your videos as it reminds of how I have been approaching painting and mark making layers. Love it!
That's so great!! Yes I don't do the Gesso thing either. The underneath painting peaking through is what makes a paint over so great!
This year is the first time I started painting over old work, it was a bit of a wrench at first then after about the 2nd or 3rd one I started to find it so freeing, I have 5 old pieces left to use out of 12 that I had picked. There are some I won't touch that have meaning for me or I'm really happy with, the work I've done since has really improved, coincidence maybe I'm not sure lol
Amazing!! I do believe painting over old canvases can be freeing for sure!!! It’s truly taking control of your artistic voice to the max! I 100% agree some pieces no matter what will never be painted over for what ever the reason.
I don’t know if it’s a coincidence...I think there might be something to this. Hopefully others will share their thoughts on the subject 😊
Lori where are you? I really enjoy your longer videos. I love watching you paint and your art. I’ve learned a lot about selling art from you. So, thank you! I’m sure you’re very busy but I thought you should know that you are missed.
Thank you so much! It’s been really hard to make videos since I moved out to the farm. Business. Had been busy I’ve had to step back a bit from UA-cam.
Hey love your work! I have painted over pieces and have regretted it completely. I also paint very thing textured pieces and have thrown out the canvases too.
I am currently struggling with my art style direction and have stopped painting for several month. I need to get back into it again! Thank you for helping to inspire me!
Can you do a video more on your favourite compositions and how you achieve them with abstract art.
Sending love from a fellow southern Ontario gal!
Awww thanks so much. Tutorials are going to come a bit later on, right now I'm swamped with trying to paint to fill gallery orders.
I take a photograph of the old painting. Then paint something new over it, sometimes leaving the old one getting through.
I have painted over a few that I couldn't finish because I thought, this is cheezy, my perspective was off, the head of the portrait looked like they had zika virus (too small, wrong proportion etc). And I usually regret it cause I think some inspiration was choked and I just needed to get past the ugly painting/I hate it phase. I am still learning, so luckily, I take photos of the process to check color values, so it was never lost. I could still do a digital version. I Love watching you work. Thank you for sharing!
sounds like you are on the right track 🥰🥰🥰
Yikes. Unfortunately...before I discovered “layering”...i would gesso over some canvases 1-2 years later. And I have deep regret. Now I like to keep them...because for me... each holds a lesson learned...and is a milestone in my evolution. Now i’m very selective about unfinished paintings that I paint new layers over. Short answer...i’d rather start on virgin canvas. And I like to dig up an old work and hang in my space. I contemplate it with fresh eyes and appreciate where I “was” and where “i am/going”. Thanks so much. Enjoying your videos!
That's really great Kati!! So great to hear how other artist handle this. Thanks for sharing and for watching 😊
OMG I just feel like I got permission to go back! Thank you!!! I gave my kids some works and apologized for the bad work. Now I'm going to take it back and make it how I really want. I just can't even look at what I gave as I really feel 'it's not finished'.
Damn straight !!! ❤️❤️❤️ you are the artist you can do what ever you want to your canvases !!! 😊
🙋♀️ I’m so glad I listened to this video because I’ve painted over work and then went on a gilt trip, now the guilt has gone lol
🙏 from UK
You are so welcomed! No more guilt!!
With an abstraction that becomes too busy or confusing I cover the parts I want to keep with rubber cement. After it cures I dry brush or dry roller the surface with a lighter pigment. Could also be darker. When that dries I rub off the rubber cement to reveal the underlying colors.
You must work on a smaller scale?? Rubber cement comes in such small quantities and I have only seen it used with watercolours. So that's pretty cool if you are using it with acrylics.
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist DAP Weldwood has it available in a gallon can for about $50. A large painting should use no more than $10 worth.
Works great with acrylics. I never tried it with oil base paints.
@@jimhresco1728 wow Rubber cement in the gallons that's crazy!!! and so is the price. Good Tip.😊
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist Yes art supplies have gotten very expensive 😳 especially large pre-made canvasses. For large paintings I had to switch to using card stock, and what I use now, wood panel.
I prefer wood panel since you can press very hard on it and scrape it.
@@jimhresco1728 Ugh know. I have only enjoyed wood when I'm working cold wax and oil....I haven't put in enough effort to transfer what I do on canvas to wood panel. Exactly !!! you can scrap, sand, and do whatever else you want with wood.
I have repainted over one wood panel 5 times....5. times. Finally, finally after 2 years I am happy with the work and its now in a gallery show. Never give up!
Absolutely never give up!!!
I certainly do paint over the abstract work I am doing now. I have sold a lot of subjective work over many years but have shelfs of those paintings which didn't sell then. I am not used to Acrylics though I have used them off and on. I am trying to learn to like them. I get sooo fed up with the results! I am still learning what I like in the way of abstract paintings. I suffer badly from migraines which doesn't help with design and colour choices. So far I have only managed to make perhaps 3 or 4 abstract paintings in acrylics. I was an oil and pastel painter which might explain. REally enjoyed this video of yours. Thank you.
I can that Linda for sure. Acrylics would take some time to get use to after being an oil painter. I feel the same way about oil paints hahaha
This was very helpful and I love the new direction of this painting. I recently was asked to collaborate with a gallery and they wanted a painting I had painted over !! Eeek. I was so cranky with myself. I actually liked it a lot , when I was 1/2 way towards my vision for it. Why didn’t I stop right there??? Why? This is not the 1st time , I've loved something , but it hasn’t yet fulfilled in my mind where I thought it should be. “oh its great now but its gonna be better when I finish’, I think to myself ... and then , no , it isn’t . And I’m glad I’m writing this because I’m on the verge of making the same mistake again ... I really need to settle down ... hahahaha . Thanks again for your videos , I love them .
stepping away and just letting the painting sit helps me. Im glad you wrote in too. It really helps to have someone else to talk about these art topics with 😊
I do paint over paintings. A few times I have really, really regretted it. At least I have pictures of them. :)
Thanks for sharing your talent and process.
Oh no!!! That’s not good when you regret it!!! I only regret when someone wanted to purchase the painting and it’s no longer the painting 😩 . Glad you enjoy it 😊
Hi Lori, I paint over older canvas, usually not even because they have sold but because they drive me nuts, they just didn't have that something, I don't flinch, if it is not making me happy i work it over. Ha
I have painted over 50 years selling all through my life, I still paint and i also did countless murals and custom finishes with my hubby in our artistic interior business, stretch those arms, through out the day, bend your hands back in opposite direction, PULL your shoulders back standing straight , I have injured myself seriously in the past working too many hours on a surface in front of me, stretch your neck the opposite position every now and then, get a good LMT, once every few months get that massage deep tissue, or else, If you want more detail, I would love to exchange, we artists can really injure our bodies with repetitious motion. love your work gal!!!
I Hear you Diana and I couldn't agree more. Before I left my full time employer I was attending Physio appointment 3 times a week. I went through frozen shoulder and so many other things. She taught all the stretches that I need to do to combat what I was feel. So I am much better at taking care of myself now in terms of stretching etc etc. All things I never considered when I stated painting more and more. ❤️ I appreciate you looking out for me 🥰
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist Oh that is so awesome, it will save so much pain and heart ache later. I am very inspired from watching you, the talking in the background in my studio as I paint is a feeling of having a studio with a fellow artist again, i used to teach and also share with artists in other galleries and I miss it. so thankyou for your hard work. Blessings !!!!
I always paint over...i hate waste, and art supplies aren't cheap...one canvas i painted over 3 times! 😀 i like what you're doing with this painting...the colors are coming out nicely.
I agree I hate wasting too and thank you 😊
I will paint over something, I just did that recently and it is one of my best loved works to date.
So funny how that works....That seems to happen to a lot of us 😊
I absolutely do. Particularly if I have painted figurative work I let some of it peek through and then I add something more dramatic. I shared this on my instagram. To be honest though initially it was a terrifying thought, given the time we spend on our work...but no letting go is so much easier...
So great to hear that....I love that you also let some history of the previous canvas show though and yes it is terrifying when we do spend soooo much time on a piece only to cover it up. Thanks so much for sharing.
I use to apply gesso to start over as soon as the feeling of contempt arose when working on a piece. I now require myself to wait at least 24hrs before I restart a painting. Since doing that I find that some pieces just need to be reworked and others need a fresh start.
That's so great that you have taught yourself the art of stepping away. 😊 It's soooo important to learn that skill.
I’ve done it a handful of times. What I’ll do is scan or make a high res digital pic of it, then see if I can save it digitally. It’s not a big deal right now in my fine art career. It’s a slow burn which I’m trying to get more serious about now.
Oh that's cool
this is an interesting vid...i just brought a bunch of old 'beginner' paintings to my house from storage and am considering painting over them. my style has changed a lot since then! however, i'm also a little nervous about leaving older parts showing cos my head isn't 'there' any more, if that makes sense.
sometimes that's the cool part...creating something you never would have thought of 🥰
I painted over one, but luckily had photographed it. I realized later if was grest...so I hopefully can repaint it better!
Ahhhh that really too bad...😔
I completely understand. I used to paint over old works that didn't have zing or just wasn't what I wanted. Now I just use what I have as an underpainting and draw out some new secrets that didn't yet show themselves.
I'm totally okay with painting over a painting, but my problem is that most of my "finished" paintings have a coat of varnish over them. I've gessoed and painted over them but won't sell them because I don't know what will happen because of the varnish underneath. Any experience with that? I've since learned to not varnish until the very end. As I write this, I work with a lot of mixed media and really do need to seal it all in with medium... Is that different than actual varnish? Question of the day here lol! Thanks for all that you put out there, we all appreciate it! :)
I usually don’t varnish a painting unless it’s sold. But I have over painted over a varnished piece too
You gotta let go of what you like... to make room for what you love ❤😉 ive just found you Lori...yay
Yepp so true and welcome!!! Glad you found me.
sometimes i like to paint to very different music for a single painting as it can take me from a frenzied mood which is necessary for part of the work, but often the quieter, more serene can take me to a cool balanced part of my subconscious that works for a different part of the piece. until it doesn't.
Wonderful✨😍
Thanks 🤗
One time in a painting class, I was repainting over a old painting I didn't think was any good, when everyone yelled stop! Leave it like that!
The original painting was from a figure painting class at BBAA. We had a nude model on a sofa. I gave my painting a strong orange background. The proportions didn't come out right, details were off, etc. but what the heck, we're students practicing. Then a couple years later I'm in a still life class starting off with the project for the day. I have the old orange nude painting, and start smearing light blue-gray over it. Most of it's covered but the head and upper portion of the figure. With the face and one arm visible in a hole of the blue-gray fog, and I think part of the sofa was still uncovered, it looked intriguing to someone and everyone thought I should stop with it like that.
I don't recall if I ever showed that painting anywhere or sold it. Probably finished painting it over and used it for something else a few years later, if I hadn't sold it. Interesting, the mundane acts that can get attention.
Hahaha that's so awesome... I'm sure that was quite a striking painting.
Yes I do paint on an old work .. it’s a lovely outcome of your old painting redone ... a bit of Color .... to freshen
Anuradha thank you so much sharing 😊😊
I do it a lot, and most of the time it’s better then the first painting that I initially completed.
yeppp funny how that works
Just wondering how you do the narrative here? What type of cameras you use. I know it’s just you. Plus that’s a great idea to have your phone on a stand at eye level.
Thanks Stacy. I use Imovie and a yeti. M50 Canon
I’m going to be doing this for the first time in a few weeks.
Oh cool 😊😊😊 enjoy
I definitely paint over a canvas when I am not happy with it. I am less than a year in painting abstracts, so I figure it's the learning curve, also it's great to repurpose and save a bit of money!
Everything you said ❤️❤️❤️
I'm about to paint over a large canvas that took me a long time to make. I'm pretty sure whatever I do next will be better than the current work. If I don't love a painting, it's in line to be painted over :)
yep meeee too...good luck with the paint over!
I do it all of the time...I hate to throw away canvases. Also, most of them work out very well in the end.
That’s great to hear. Yep same for me too
been liking all your videos.....I would never paint over a piece that i loved or thought could make me money....so when i do paint over I'm admitting on a core level that i don't like it or I can make something way better. nothing wrong with that. The scenario of someone wanting to buy a piece i painted over sounds awful though. I'd be very wary of covering too many pieces that are/have been in the public eye. I don't have to worry about this yet but I am wondering for the future how i will be able to easily direct people to a calendar type present moment inventory so people know what is and isn't available. luckily for me I'm just starting to create a lot of content so the studio is not overflowing yet. I definitely have pieces I'm not happy with but until i get public opinion will leave them be...just cause i don't like it doesn't mean it won't sell..lol. i've been sick with covid so been deep diving into youtube more than usual....finding your videos and great advice has been a huge silver lining of being too sick to work but not sick enough to go down a daily youtube rabbit hole to accidentally find helpful info. the unhelpful other side has been endless South Park compilations... lol
one more very quick comment...or question, i guess. how do you know when you are done? this could be the topic for an upcoming posting?
I also do overpainting, and I enjoy it! I think and feel its mostly Full of Power of the old plus new und fresh energies wich are more powerful in the now .
Yeppp nicely put. Powerful is a good word
Funny, but it seems old paintings underneath actually contribute to a new depth. The over colors seem to draw a boost from beneath????!!
I’m painting over two old paintings now. I like it better than a fresh canvas.
Yeah!!! I love destroying and rebuilding. And a few months ago, one customer saw a piece I had destroyed asking to buy the destroyed piece… it no longer existed. But I finally did another one they loved so that ended up being ok. I am a destroy rebuild painter. I love doing this.
haha I had that happen too. I try not to paint over too many anymore but they are sure fun to do!
I think you should share your playlists on a video!
Lol maybe one day 😊
Hey Lori is it possible to paint over an old acrylic painting that has been varnished?
I don't like to paint over varnished ones. The paint doesn't feel right on the canvas for me.
I never repaint. Personal opinion but every hour, blood, sweat and tears I'm not doing it. I love to see how my style has changed so it's a bit like a diary of that. Also I feel every painting is money in the bank.
I agree with you, I love seeing where I was compared to now. It's like golfing - you don't really play to beat someone else, you play to beat your own game :) And who knows, if you become famous one day, everyone will want WHATEVER you painted, because it's YOU who made it!
Is any special type of crayons that you use in your paintings? If so , can you draw over acrylic and be permanent ? Thank you 🙏🏼 For your art !
have you checked out my video on what art supplied I use? that might help answer the question.
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist , I didn’t . I’m new into your channel . I love to be in touch with artists . Thank you so much . I’m going to take a look 👀 !
ah ok ok ...well let me know if you have any questions after you watch my art supply video and I'll do my best to answer.
Yes, I repaint over old paintings that I don't like. I know that some people gesso their rejects and start fresh but, like you, I think that there's a lot to be gained by what's underneath, some of which can show through as the new painting is emerging. It does provide more depth and that's important to me.
That's so great to hear Mary. 100% adds depth and complexity to artworks. :)
The great illustrator and teacher Barron Story said that if you no longer like a piece, you should destroy it to free yourself from it, BUT you should save any part of the piece that you still like and use it for another future work. I paint or belt sand over old work all of the the time to make new work. Distressed surfaces are part of my ascetic anyway.
Oh I love that William....thanks for sharing 🥰
Yes I repaint with gesso any old painting I think needs a rebirth since I have a photo to remember it by and I feel fine doing that & many artists do same - supplies do cost money$.
Yep makes total sense Jeanie 😊
@@lorimirabelliabstractartist thanks for reply -super commendable on your part- makes me believe you do what you say. I’m trying to decide if I want to sell again & do website etc. at 72 years?
Sorry that some of message was crossed out- total error & don’t know how I did it- my mistake 😊
I would not paint over an abstract for several years.
A while ago I had to clear some old paintings from the loft. Several I thought were not particularly good, on seeing them again after 20 plus years, I realised they had qualities I had not recognised when I painted them.
Very good point Mark I appreciate you sharing that.
I try crazy stuff on the first go around and then when I get a skill down I paint over the test subjects. It gives me great texture that is very unique to each piece. That said, there are about 5 paintings I have painted over and absolutely regret it. I think it's part of the process and it can be a bit painful at times, in the end discovery comes with sacrifice.
I love what you shared!!! it's sooooo on point. Thanks so much! :)
Are these acrylics or oils?.... Can't wait to see the completed work😍
Thank you so much. These are all acrylics. :)
I have found personally that it is easier to let go and paint over a canvas if I take a photograph of the old painting.
Interesting!!!