Creating layers Part 1- Abstract painting with Lori Mirabelli

Hi everyone welcome back to my YouTube channel. In this video, I'm working on getting a few abstract paintings completed for an Art gallery order here in Toronto. I discuss a bit about my abstract painting process and the trials and tribulations that come with being a fine artist.

I'm working on all acrylic paintings on canvas with Golden and Liquitex paints. My tools are regular cheap paint brushes and a Messermeister Silicone Bowl scrapper. I have them in a few different sizes. They are great to push paint around the canvas and are really easy tools to clean up when you are finished painting.

Don't forget to like and subscribe below - I need all the encouragement I can get to keep making videos.

*All the artist's work is © and owned by the artist*

[OceanfrontPuertoArmuelles]

Thanks for your honesty and showing your process. I'm having a bout of imposter syndrome and just found your videos. Life sends you a teacher/message when you ask. Thanks again.

[Darkmatter]

I would hug you for disclosing the fact that you have self doubts from time to time. That is the best part of this great video for me.

[andrewwatts]

Very good paintings and interesting process 👍🏼

[juliesmith]

Thank you so much for sharing some of your process and the emotions you go through as the painting progresses - particularly through the ugly stage! You've reminded me that I am not alone in getting to a 'what the hell do I think I'm doing? stage!

[martinagibbs]

Thank you, I was just about to quit painting, that voice told me who was I kidding and painting is a painful process, it is hard. And when you said that bit about maybe that was your last painting, everything you said resonated with me. Your honesty is refreshing

[deborahwolff]

Thank you for sharing your process and thinking. Your canvas is a beautiful.piece! Love the layering. It makes the piece beautifully in depth

[dianecharest]

I love hearing you laugh at yourself dancing. It makes me literally lol.

[ltk]

Thank you for telling us to see your completed works on your website. I helps me to see the final to provide context for what I'm seeing as the process. I also appreciate the process video. That's the part that challenges me most...settling into the process...

[AllTheGoodThingsISee]

It helped me a lot to hear you talk about doubt creeping in, frustration, and losing your groove, and just working through it. Thank you so much for sharing so freely and so honestly - it was just what I needed to hear to ease up on myself for all the changes and sharp turns my process sometimes takes. I was feeling like I was wasting paint, but in watching you dramatically changing your paintings at times, I really see it’s all just part of the energy of discovering what each painting wants to be, and some just seem to want a lot of layers before the final painting emerges. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all these wonderful videos - I appreciate what you do SO much!

[diannelacourciere]

Great seeing you in action and how your feeling. You're an inspiration to me 😊❤

[nancycloonan]

Lori! So great to see and listen to your process!! I love your honesty about your paintings and artistic ups and downs. Your humor is great, and you really know yourself. This is awesome!! Thanks for these YouTube videos!! 💙

[ZebKhalidGallery]

I've watched this several times. Still loving it each time! Great Works!

[brenttyedyetrucker]

I so understand what you are saying. After I finish a painting and someone likes it I get surprised

[homemades]

Hi Lori. So glad to find your channel and watch this video. I’m on the brink of giving up as I constantly am thinking I’m not good enough. My art is rubbish and I don’t understand it. I start a painting and think it’s not good, so I put it in a bonfire. It’s going on pretty much in the middle of painting, that things just go absolutely wrong. When I’m kind to myself, I often just leave it and never look at it for months. Strangely though, it doesn’t look really that bad when I come back to it with fresh kind eyes. I guess you’re right. I don’t have to be so hard on myself. My husband keeps reminding me, the most important thing is for me to create, doesn’t matter it sells or not. The creating and creative process is the art itself. I’m so thankful for his encouragement and support, as much as I appreciate your honesty in creating this video. All the best to you. -E.J., Waikato, New Zealand.

[loributler]

Hi Lori!!! My name is Lori too!!!!😊Your paintings are amazing!!!! I've been an artist for 30 years but just recently found my place in abstract. I LOVE Thank you for sharing your talent with us!!!

[HyunKim-fwpc]

It's so encouraging to watch you paint and to remember your pointers. To keep painting fun and joyful, not to get discouraged. Thank you for sharing the vital lessons about the "process, " of layering and capturing value! I love watching how you do this and am learning so much from you. I'd be very much interested in joining you for an in-person painting retreat or workshop, even all the way from Washington DC!

[janinafisher]

I love watching your process and hearing you share the truth of your experience, the self doubt, about when things "go wrong." It's really refreshing to hear someone tell it like it is. In this video, when you were saying "here is where the self-doubt set in" was the exact moment when the blue you were adding to that painting just made it suddenly magical! It's what I absolutely love about abstract painting. No matter that I am a mere amateur, really new to abstracts, and my composition always seems to suck (I know - it takes practice to get there and get a feel for what works!), when I let go of expectation and let myself play, there are magical moments, aha's when something works, and I learn something new. It is really playful and fun and therapeutic.

[gemfisher-highvibe]

Thank you for your honesty, I want you to know how precious that is, and no matter what area someone is working in there's always someone that feels they are alone in how they're feeling and ready to give up and hearing someone say I suffer with this to and this is how I move through it is very special and very healing and I thank you for daring to be vulnerable because it's so important 💗

[deannfrey]

I love that you move and find your joy. ❤

[lou]

It gives me comfort knowing others go through the same struggles, it was only a few months ago I started working on multiple pieces and working large and small at the same time, I was working a painting to death lol I love your work Lori