Embrace UGLY

Ugly Hi Everybody! Today, we’re going to explore portraits that are far from perfect. And that’s the point. I have noticed that when people aren’t trained in art, they often feel frustrated by what they perceive as "ugliness" in their work. But when I look at these works, I don’t see them as all that different from the portraits of masters like Bacon, Modigliani, or even Picasso. The key difference here is intention. Many artists start by creating beauty in the classic sense, And as they develop their voice, they realise that beauty alone doesn’t serve their deeper intentions. It’s not that they couldn’t create technically beautiful work—they could. But they chose to move beyond traditional beauty to express something deeper: personal expression, communication, and above all a sense of self.For them, these things are more important than beauty. In fact, the pursuit of beauty can sometimes hold you back.I’m not suggesting you to stop improving your skills—Far from that, whether you do it professionally or as a hobby, you should always continue to grow as an artist Now, let’s start our exercise today. But instead of mimicking reality, let’s focus on capturing the essence of what we see. We’re not aiming for likeness; we are aiming for expression. I insist: Instead of focusing solely on creating beauty, focus on creating expression. Don’t wait until you think you’re "ready" to start creating, because no artist ever feels fully ready. Every artist is always learning and evolving. The key is to keep on going. Now, let’s move on to the painting process. For this, we will need: paper, pencil, eraser, sharpener, paint, something to mix the paint, brushes, water, and a cloth. At this point, we don’t need to refer to the photos anymore. We have already captured the essence. The focus here is just on adding colour and dimension to the drawings. Do not concern about making it "beautiful" in the conventional sense. If it turns out beautiful, great. But the goal is expression, not beauty. Think of it like a movie. Some movies are difficult to watch, aren’t they? They are dark and sad— but they resonate deeply because they evoke something powerful in us. Art doesn’t have to be easy on the eye. It has to be meaningful and impactful. Art doesn’t have to be beautiful:It has to make you feel something I am aware that we live in a time where many crave beauty and escape, and that’s understandable. But sometimes, what we need is something less superficial than beauty. What we need is something that we can relate to, or something that challenges us, Or something that makes us feel or think deeper. We need a starter, a push, a shake, we need ignition. I’ve seen many comments from people who feel like these exercises are too hard for them. Some even feel so discouraged that they give up easy, thinking there’s no hope for improvement. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do what I’m doing. I’m just offering a starting point, a foundation from which you can grow. Another thing to have in mind is that no work of art is loved by everyone. Not even the most technically "perfect" piece will appeal to everybody. Your goal isn’t to make something that everyone will like— it’s to make something that speaks, that speaks your voice. Your work is meant to communicate something personal. Not every message will be easy to digest, and that’s okay. So, don’t wait until you think you’re ready. You’ll never feel fully ready. The key is to practice, to experiment, and keep going. And as you do, you’ll find that at times your work will be uncomfortable or imperfect, But still it will have character and meaning. I want you to think about this: How many of you are striving for beauty, only to find that what you are already creating is beyond beauty: is meaningful? All you need is intention. What you create has value as long as it has intention, expression, and the power to evoke feelings. So don’t give up on your work just because it doesn’t meet conventional standards or even your own expectations of beauty. I hope this exercise has inspired you and helped you break free from whatever is holding you back. As always, keep on practicing, and thank you for joining us. 00:00 Intro 00:07 On beauty 01:27 Basics of Expression in art 02:44 Material needed 02:56 Girls in a red top 05:39 Man in a blue shirt 06:21 Woman in a red room 06:59 Ginger bearded man with glasses 08:25 Girl in a sleeveless black top 09:38 Man with glasses looking back 10:38 Results 10:56 Outro