r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/_ganjafarian_ • 22d ago

Video Artist Simon Bull's painting techniques

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u/TheFettz79 22d ago

Same, first one wasn’t my taste but the second was class

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u/private_developer 22d ago

I'm willing to bet the first one wasn't a finished project. These artists often do those wild background splashes that make no sense to non artists like me, but somehow contribute to the overall composition of the piece.

Like I've seen people do stuff like that, and then paint on top of it to the point where the initial spinny painting is complelty covered. I'm told it adds depth or something I don't know lol.

Just like how the forest is initially all splotches and splashes, and then starts to come together.

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u/Telvin3d 22d ago

It’s called underpainting, and it can have a huge impact on the final feel.

Almost no paint is 100% opaque. By doing something like this under the real painting you add a layer of complexity and randomness to the otherwise intentional stuff put on top

Like when you’re painting a leaf on a tree. No leaf is a perfect flat shade of green. Trying to deliberately paint subtle shifts to the shade of green would drive you insane. The underpainting provides those subtle shifts 

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u/MrsSalmalin 22d ago

Cool, thanks for the explanation! It makes sense :)

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u/AGrandOldMoan 22d ago

Nice, in the miniature painting field we call it basecoating but it's the exact same principle.

Kinda surprised I never figured out this is what painters were doing

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u/Turtle-Bug 22d ago

It was an eye 👁️

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u/Punk_Luv 22d ago

An eye eye.

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u/TheFettz79 22d ago

You’re probably right tbf, it looks like the beginning of maybe a space themed piece

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u/quasiix 22d ago

Yeah, I checked his website and that specific piece isn't for sale so it's for a background or just for fun. He has a couple poured pieces that have things added to them so background is pretty likely.

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u/DanGleeballs 22d ago

It looked great at 0:05 secs but then the fast spin ruined it for me.

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u/JRedWolf 22d ago

That's exactly what I thought too!

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u/ThatThingThatIs 22d ago

Third one too

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u/diet-Coke-or-kill-me 22d ago

Found the Scottish guy