Category: Acrylic Painting Tips

Looking for acrylic painting tips that skip the fluff? Studio Insights dives into real process, progress shots, minimal palette setups, and tools I actually use in the studio. If you’re exploring fast acrylic work, speed painting, or just want a peek behind the scenes — this is your space.

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Johnny Cash Speed Painting – Portrait Art

Johnny Cash painting – portrait of the Man in Black

Summary

Johnny Cash Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A vibrant tribute to one of country music’s most iconic voices.

Title: ‘Man in Black’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Description

I grew up hearing a lot of country music thanks to my parents. While my tastes are pretty broad these days, I still enjoy the old classics — and Johnny Cash has always stood out. Naturally, I wanted to create a piece that captured his presence.

Process

To kick things off, I sketched a quick line drawing using black ink. Then I moved to the background. Instead of matching the reference exactly, I made it more vibrant. I blended Primary Magenta and Yellow, then added some Cyan and Ivory Black for the deeper tones. The result is a background that pops just enough to frame the subject without overpowering him.

Next came the face and hair. I always build up the darker values first, then layer in the mid-tones. For those, I used a mix of Magenta and Yellow with a bit of Cyan. The deeper shadows got more Magenta and Cyan, while the highlights were built up using Titanium White.

That’s it for this johnny cash speed painting. It was a quick, expressive piece with just enough structure to feel finished — especially once the masking tape comes off and that clean border appears.

This piece is part of my music portrait series, which includes other legendary figures in hip hop, pop, and soul. If you like this kind of expressive painting style, there’s more to explore.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Mixed Media on Paper (ink & acrylic paint)
  • Size: 24x32cm / 9×12 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Want to own this Johnny Cash painting? Check availability below:

Subscribe below to get notified about new releases, and follow me on social (links in the footer) for more process videos and portraits like this one.

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Walkman Speed Painting – Retro Tech Art

walkman portable cassette player painting

Summary

Walkman Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A nostalgic tribute to the Carrera PX-12 portable cassette player — one of the true symbols of old-school cool.

Title: ‘Music on the Move’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Description

I’ve got good memories of my Walkman(s). The idea that you’d listen to the same tape for days — or even weeks — feels wild now, but also kind of special. And the batteries! You always had to carry spares. I even remember borrowing one from my uncle that looked like a full-on car stereo. You had to wear it on your back like a backpack. Cool… but definitely not practical.

Process

For this walkman speed painting, I decided to work on paper instead of canvas. It took some getting used to. The paper started to wrinkle once I added paint, which made the process a bit trickier. Luckily, it flattened out again as it dried — but it still affected how I painted.

Since I was worried that too many layers would mess with the paper, I skipped the underpainting. I chose a bold yellow background (with a bit of magenta mixed in) and started painting directly by hand. The proportions were a bit off compared to my reference, but I left them that way. Fixing things on paper felt riskier than on canvas, and I kind of liked the result as it was.

From there, I blocked in the big shapes, then added shadows, highlights, and a few final details. It’s a simple but nostalgic piece — part of my love letter to retro tech and music gear.

This walkman speed painting is part of my music and pop culture art series. If you grew up with cassette tapes, you’ll probably get the vibe.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on paper
  • Size: 24x30cm / 9×11 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Want to own this Walkman painting? Check availability below:

Subscribe below to stay in the loop for future retro art drops. And follow me on social (footer links) to see new speed painting videos as they’re released.

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De Phenix Zaandam – Historic Warehouse Painting

de phenix rice warehouse peeling company

Painting Summary – De Phenix Zaandam

De Phenix Zaandam by artist Bart Carels is a quiet tribute to a piece of Dutch industrial history. This former rice peeling warehouse from 1913 still stands along the Zaan River in The Netherlands, surrounded by stories of a working-class past and old-world architecture.

Title: ‘De Phenix’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Inspiration Behind the Painting

This painting of De Phenix Zaandam was a personal one. It was my brother’s birthday — and he’s always had a thing for old architecture and industrial design. We both grew up in Zaandam, so painting something tied to our roots made sense. The building has a presence: tall, minimal, and weathered by over a century of wind and river air.

Originally a rice peeling company, De Phenix is part of the industrial backbone that shaped the region. Many of these buildings have been repurposed or forgotten, but this one still stands proud along the Zaan. Painting it felt like capturing a piece of living history — one that locals walk or bike past without always noticing.

Painting Process – Capturing De Phenix Zaandam

I started by sketching the building’s outline in pencil. After that, I filled in the sky, then moved to the structure itself and the water. I layered in detail gradually — shadows on the facade, light on the river, texture in the bricks. Instead of exaggerating or modernizing it, I kept things quiet and honest, much like the building itself.

Painting Specifications

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24x30cm / 9×11 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White
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Misting Fan Speed Painting – The Making Of

misting water spray fan original painting

Misting Fan Speed Painting – The Making Of

Misting Fan Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A behind-the-scenes look at this colorful still life — playful, simple, and painted fast.

Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Painting Process

This misting fan was a gift from my mom — a small handheld gadget that sprays a refreshing mist when you press the fan and squeeze the trigger. It’s one of those everyday items that feels oddly satisfying to use… and just quirky enough to paint.

I planned to record the full misting fan speed painting as a progress video, but halfway through, the software crashed. No photos either. So instead of a time-lapse, here’s the breakdown of how it went:

I painted on paper this time, which changed things up. The surface wrinkled during the first few layers but flattened out when the paint dried. To avoid overworking it, I skipped the usual underpainting and went straight in with a bold yellow background, lightly mixed with magenta.

The proportions were a bit off compared to the reference, but I left them that way. Painting over mistakes on paper felt riskier than on canvas, and in the end, the slightly off balance gave it character. I blocked in the main shapes first, then added shadows, highlights, and a few final touches to bring the form to life.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on paper
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Interested in the Final Piece?

This misting fan speed painting became a small still life that’s now available as an original artwork. You can check availability below:

For more painting progress and speed studies, subscribe below or follow me on social (links in the footer). I post new work often — including the ones where the software doesn’t crash.

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Console Gamer Speed Painting – PS4 Still Life Art

Console Gamer Painting – Original Art by Bart Carels

Console Gamer Speed Painting – The Making Of

Console Gamer Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A fast, expressive first-person take on the PlayStation gaming experience, captured in bold color with a loose, sketch-like feel.

Title: ‘Console Gamer’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Painting Process

This console gamer speed painting presents a first-person view of a gamer mid-session — the PS4 controller and headset front and center. The figure is seated on a couch, though not directly visible, giving the viewer the feeling of stepping into someone else’s shoes. That sense of immersion is what inspired this perspective.

I began by covering the canvas in Vermillion to give the piece a warm, energetic base. Then I quickly sketched the composition using Primary Cyan. Although I often build in a detailed underpainting, this time I skipped it entirely. I wanted to paint fast and instinctively — like responding to the rhythm of a game.

Next, I blocked in the legs, headset, and controller. As I moved through the piece, I added contrast and minimal highlights to bring some structure, while deliberately avoiding over-polishing. The looser parts — especially the headset and shadows — were left untouched on purpose to keep things feeling raw and in motion.

What I like most about this one is its simplicity. There’s no clutter or background noise — just the gear and the posture. It captures the stillness of a break or loading screen moment, frozen mid-game. This painting became part of a broader series where I explore everyday tech objects and their relationship with personal space and downtime.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

The original Console Gamer painting is available here:

For more progress videos and experimental still lifes like this, subscribe below or follow me on social (links in the footer). New drops coming soon.

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Key Essentials Speed Painting – Everyday Carry in Acrylic

sunglasses key chain car key still life painting

Behind the Painting – Key Essentials

Key Essentials Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A quick, sunlit still life featuring sunglasses, a car key, and a keychain — painted in one sitting with leftover paint, limited time, and no pressure to overthink it. It’s a slice of everyday life, captured in bold colors and loose strokes.

Title: ‘Key Essentials’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

A Quick Still Life Born from Leftover Paint

This painting came together on a day where I didn’t have much time — but I did have some slightly dried-out paint on my palette that I didn’t want to waste. So I grabbed a small canvas, looked around for something simple to paint, and started working fast. That’s how this key essentials speed painting began.

It was sunny, which made me think of the typical things you carry when heading out: a pair of sunglasses, your car keys, and that keychain you’ve had for years but never replaced. These objects became the subject — familiar, functional, and quietly personal.

I started with a Vermillion background, added outlines and shadow shapes with Primary Cyan, and quickly filled in the rest. Because the paint was already starting to dry, I leaned into the rough texture and let the brushstrokes show. I wasn’t aiming for precision — just vibe.

The next day, I gave the background a refresh to create more contrast and help the items pop. I didn’t touch the objects themselves. Sometimes that unfinished energy is what keeps the piece interesting.

This one reminds me how often small, unplanned pieces turn out to be the most fun. No pressure. Just paint.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

For more quick studies and behind-the-scenes posts like this one, subscribe below or follow me on social (links in the footer).

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Snoop Dogg Painting -Time-Lapse Video

Original acrylic painting on canvas of Snoop Dogg by Bart Carels, capturing his iconic West Coast vibe

Snoop Dogg Speed Painting – The Making Of

Snoop Dogg Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A quick, expressive portrait capturing the vibe of one of hip hop’s most recognizable figures — sunglasses, braids, beads and all.

Title: ‘Snoop D.O. Double G’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Painting Process

I don’t do portraits often enough, even though I actually enjoy them. They’re tricky — easily the hardest subject to get right. It takes just one feature being slightly off to throw the whole thing. But they also force you to slow down and focus. That’s part of what drew me to this snoop dogg speed painting.

I’ve listened to Snoop since way back, and this close-up — braids, beads, and tinted glasses — had the bold shapes and contrast I like. I started with a bright blue background, slightly more saturated than the reference photo. I felt it would contrast nicely with the yellow beads in his hair.

Before hitting the acrylics, I made a detailed line drawing using a fineliner to get the proportions right. That part isn’t in the video — it takes time and I wanted the speed painting part to focus on color and layering.

Once the base sketch was done, I blocked in the skin tones, hair, and loose t-shirt outline. I used just a few tones for the face — enough to suggest form and light without overcomplicating it. The glasses were left mostly undetailed, with rough brushwork and minimal highlights.

To finish, I added a few shadows, some high-level highlights in the hair, beads, and necklace. From a distance, it pulls together nicely. For a quick portrait, I think it works.

Original Painting

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Mixed Media (Ink & Acrylic on canvas)
  • Size: 24×30 cm / 9×11 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Like these kinds of portraits? Follow me on social or subscribe below for more progress videos, music legends, and studio experiments in paint.

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Cucumber Water Painting – The Making of Funky Cucumber

glass of cucumber water painting - vegetable still life

Cucumber Water Speed Painting – The Making of Funky Cucumber

Cucumber Water Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. This quirky little still life features a cut cucumber and a glass of infused water — all painted in bold tones with lots of layering, texture, and contrast.

Title: ‘Funky Cucumber’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Painting Process

For this cucumber water speed painting, I wanted to switch things up. Normally, I begin with a Vermillion base layer, but this time I chose Magenta instead. I wasn’t sure what would happen, which made it more fun. I drew in the outlines, then jumped straight into color with a green mix I had prepared for the cucumber slice.

Rather than fully covering the base layer, I left some of the Magenta showing through on purpose — especially in the shadows. That gave the piece a more textured, layered feel. For the background, I used a semi-transparent purple-blue mix, again allowing the base to shine through in spots.

In the original reference image, the glass and cucumber were sitting on a wooden cutting board. I decided to replace it with an off-white surface instead. The contrast worked better against the background and felt more modern. Also, the desaturated tone gave the glass and water room to breathe visually.

It was a fast piece, but one that pushed me slightly out of my usual approach. The color choices were more experimental, and I had no real plan beyond working quickly and trusting the shapes. In the end, the funky palette, bold strokes, and unusual contrast made it one of my favorites from this series.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Subscribe below or follow me on social (links in the footer) if you like weird little still lifes like this. I post new painting videos often.

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Tabasco Gone Sideways (Tabasco Sauce Bottle) Painting -Time-Lapse Video

tabasco bottle still life painting

Tabasco Speed Painting – The Making of ‘Tabasco Gone Sideways’

Tabasco Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A bold little still life that flips the script — literally — by tilting a classic bottle of Tabasco hot sauce on its side. The result? A quirky, color-rich painting with strong contrast and a laid-back vibe.

Title: ‘Tabasco Gone Sideways’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Process & Approach

I’ve seen a lot of Tabasco paintings over the years, so I knew going into this that the subject wasn’t groundbreaking. To make it more fun (and more challenging), I placed the bottle on its side. This messed with the symmetry and forced me to really pay attention to proportions and angles. It made things trickier — but also more interesting.

The technique followed the same flow as some of my other recent still lifes. I started by sketching the outlines using a tone already close to the color of the sauce — a mix of Magenta, Yellow, and a touch of Cyan. I filled in the shadows first using that same blend, letting the darker areas define the form early on.

Next, I blocked in the green label, the background, and some depth for the sauce itself. I added just a few hints of text and highlights — no full label details. Because this was a speed painting, I kept the level of detail consistent throughout. Leaving out the small text gave it a cleaner, more graphic look.

Sometimes the best part of speed painting is not trying to get every little thing right. This piece felt loose, warm, and balanced once I stepped back from it. Plus, it was fun to take a common object and give it a literal twist.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Follow me on social or subscribe below if you enjoy seeing process videos like this. New paintings (and weird subjects) coming soon.

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Yesterday’s Dessert (Two McDonald’s Milkshakes) Painting -Time-Lapse Video

Milkshake speed painting by Bart Carels showing two McDonald's cups in teal background

Milkshake Speed Painting – The Making of ‘Yesterday’s Dessert’

Milkshake Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. This quirky still life captures two McDonald’s strawberry milkshakes, leftover from a random late-night snack run during Covid. Painted fast with leftover acrylics and no prep, it’s a loose, playful tribute to pop culture and poor dinner decisions.

Title: ‘Yesterday’s Dessert’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

‘Yesterday’s Dessert’ – Acrylic on canvas by Bart Carels (2020)

How I Created This Milkshake Speed Painting

This one came straight from real life — and real fast food. One night we went for a drive, didn’t feel like cooking, and ended up in the McDrive. Covid was still going strong, so everything was handed out on trays attached to long sticks. Kind of surreal, to be honest. After regretting my burger choice (the “Double Tasty” isn’t making the list again), I looked down at the milkshakes and thought, “Yeah, that’s a painting.”

Instead of prepping a new canvas, I used what I had from the day before. I grabbed the leftover paint and sketched the composition using Vermillion. That base color still shows through in spots, which actually works well with the yellow M logos on the cups.

To make the cups pop, I added a teal background. The contrast pulled everything forward and made the scene more playful. For the shadows, I used a mix of white, magenta, cyan, and primary yellow — adjusting as I went to keep things loose. The cardboard tray holding the cups got a few darker tones mixed in with magenta and blue for more depth.

This milkshake speed painting stayed rough on purpose. I didn’t want to overwork it. It was about capturing the moment — fast, imperfect, and kind of funny in hindsight. Definitely one of those “accidental favorite” pieces.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Want more snack-inspired still lifes and quick acrylic sketches? Subscribe below or follow me on social (footer links). New speed painting videos drop regularly.