Youtube’s Biggest Art Collab
As the name suggests, ‘Youtube’s Biggest Art Collab’ is the biggest collaborative art project between Youtubers. The project, that features a canvas that gets passed on from one Youtuber to another, somehow found its way to me…
This is my contribution in Youtube’s Biggest Art Collab :)
What Is ‘Youtube Biggest Art Collab’?
If you're unfamiliar with this amazing project, let me fill you in on the details. Here’s how it works:
The project starts with an artist painting a small section of a blank canvas. Once they have completed their part, they send the canvas to a new artist of their choice. This second artist then adds their own unique touch to the piece and sends the canvas to yet another artist. This process of adding to the canvas and passing it along continues until the entire canvas is filled.
Once finished, both the original artwork and prints will be sold, with 100% of the profits going to charity.
There Is A Twist
Every artist documents and shares their work on Youtube. But nowadays, if you're searching for the biggest art collaboration on Youtube, you might find things a bit confusing. That's because this project features not one, not two, but three paintings!
It all started with the first canvas of season 1, which was passed around from February 2021 to March 2022. The project, initiated by artist and Youtuber ‘Ten Hundred’, was highly successfull and paved the way for a second season.
Season 2, which is currently happening as I type this blog post, kicked off with an exciting twist. Instead of just one canvas, there are now two canvases circulating among artists. The first canvas follows the same protocol as the first season. However, the second canvas has an important new rule in place: it must be passed on to an art Youtuber with fewer subscribers than the current holder.
This new rule is both intended to spotlight lesser-known artists and to offer the viewers a chance to discover new and exciting art channels that are on the rise.
This is where I entered the scene :)
The painting that gets passed on from one Youtuber to another each with progressively fewer subscribers, found its way to me after Bill from the Youtube channel ‘Bill Making Stuff’ selected me as the next artist in the chain.
My Contribution
It's hard to describe the sudden pressure I felt after Bill announced me as the next artist to the audience. Six vibrant and colorful contributions already adorned the canvas, and now it was my turn, an artist who paints only in black and white… I felt like a guy bringing a salad to a BBQ lol :p
(If you’re curious about who added each element before me. The following playlist features each artist's Youtube video detailing their contribution: Youtube's Biggest Art Collab (S2 – Painting 2))
On top of that, with so many people watching this collaborative project unfold, this was a moment to showcase my art style to a new and big audience. Meaning, I also felt the need for my contribution to truly reflect who I am as an artist.
Admittedly, this was a daunting challenge, but it was definitely one I was eager to tackle.
The Idea
It's almost magical how inspiration can strike out of nowhere at the most unexpected moments. In this case, my lightbulb moment occurred while I was admiring some old masterpieces. An idea suddenly crystallized in my mind…
The concept was straightforward, yet it felt like a stroke of genius: why not enhance the canvas by adding a beautifully crafted frame?
Without a doubt, the design choice of a frame felt exceptionally well-matched and perfectly aligned with the needs of the project for a multitude of reasons:
First of all, my monochromatic tones wouldn't clash with the vibrant colors of the existing pieces. Instead, they would provide a striking contrast, highlighting the other contributions.
On top of that, the whimsical, curly elements typical of old-fashioned frames are a perfect way to display my intricate doodle work.
Also, to showcase my more technical painting abilities, I can even include some cool character designs within the frame.
And last but not least, in my opinion, the frame would enhance the overall piece immensely. It will encapsulate the various contributions and bring them together more, as well as introducing depth in the piece.
The Execution
During the sketching phase of the frame design, my primary objective was to create a sense of balance. Although the frame design isn’t in itself symmetrical, I aimed to give it a feeling of symmetry.
In all fairness, I experienced a tremendous wave of relief once the sketch was done. The hardest part was behind me since the painting process is definitely where I feel more at ease. It’s more of a smooth and effortless cruising on autopilot for me. Mistakes can happen, but they’re generally easy to fix, or at worst, covered up with a fresh coat of paint.
While I’d love to regale you with thrilling stories about the painting process, it’s typically a bit more mundane. It’s usually as uneventful as watching paint dry, which, ironically, is exactly what it involves :p
In the end, the final piece turned out exactly as I had envisioned, and I’m genuinely proud of the result.
Who’s Next?
According to my Youtube analytics, after posting my video about the art collab, the most-watched segment of the video was the big reveal of who’s up next. This highlights just how eager everyone is to see what next chapter is about to unfold! :)
Well, for the first time ever in the history of YouTube’s biggest art collaboration, we’re breaking through a language barrier, because I’ve decided to send the canvas to France in order to spotlight a French-speaking Youtube channel.
No need to worry about language differences. Subtitles will be provided ;)
I'm thrilled to introduce you to ‘Boune Art’. His engaging art videos on Youtube show immense potential, and I can’t wait to see the contribution he’ll bring to this collaboration.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on this journey, I can't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for this incredible opportunity.
Integrating my art with the existing pieces was both a daunting and exhilarating challenge. It drove me to create something entirely new and unique, which feels truly amazing. Despite the intense pressure, the final result is exactly what I aimed to bring to the table, and I’m genuinely proud of it.
I’m especially grateful to Bill for including me in this incredible project. Being part of Youtube’s biggest art collaboration has been an absolute blessing, and I’m excited to see where this adventure takes us all next.
