Hi everyone! Happy Monday!
I posted a new time-lapse painting over on my Youtube this morning. Click here to watch or just click play in the video below.! This is about a 3 minute time-lapse (fast painting) but if you’d like to see the slower version (with voice-over instruction), please visit my Patreon page. You can get there by clicking below.
Have you ever filmed yourself painting? Not only are the videos fun to watch, they can be great teaching tools for your study even if you never desire to share them publicly. Many times in the past, I notice decisions I’ve made that are either unnecessary or I’m pushing details rather left alone. Filming yourself is great training for learning when a painting is finished and when you’ve gone too far. It’s also great practice for any upcoming demos or classes you may be teaching as it gets you accustomed to painting all in one “shot.”
I use a variety of capturing methods for my filming. Mainly my big Nikon D810 and for videos needing less detail, my iPhone or iPad. There are a variety of editing features you can use on the devices themselves but for the Nikon files, I pull the files into iMovie. From there it’s fairly simple, though time-consuming, to edit. Don’t let this deter you though! Set up your phone using one of these clamps and turn the camera around to “selfie” mode. There is a “time-lapse” video feature in your camera and it automatically records it as “fast” so you don’t have to speed up the file. Make sure the lens is centered and focused on your paper and start recording!
This practice helps you see your painting come together which is excellent practice for your review. I love the “aha!” moments when I see myself adding just the right marks, other times I wish I could say “no! don’t do that!!” It’s all ebb and flow
These videos make me slow down even when I’m not recording. I make more purposeful marks and have definitely leaned my layers and choices.
On another note, and for presentation purposes, the videos makes me conscious of my clothing choices and my posture when I’m painting. This is helpful for preparing for demonstrations or classes as wearing minimal bright colors and patterns helps the focus remain on the work. Too much color or pattern is distracting on camera and the colors can reflect back into your painting, thereby casting color onto your paper/support. I like to choose colors of grays and muted blues and greens when I’m painting. Since I have an acting background, this is often how actors are trained to prepare for film/headshots and so it’s part of my blood!
I’ll be posting a new video every week over on Patreon so hop on over! These will usually be posted on Youtube as time-lapses or snippets of paintings.
xoxo
Bethany
Beautiful painting…so inspiring!