Speedpaints

Speedpaints are short videos or live streams in which an artist creates a painting or illustration in a condensed format that compresses hours or days of work into several minutes. They often emphasize the process and decision-making behind the work rather than presenting a piece produced in real time. Speedpaints can depict traditional media such as acrylic, watercolor, or ink, as well as digital media created with programs like Photoshop, Procreate, or Clip Studio Paint. The term and format became popular with online art communities and tutorials, particularly on video platforms in the 2000s and 2010s, where artists record their sessions and edit the footage into time-lapse or real-time presentations.

Typical structure includes a rough composition or blocking pass, followed by color blocking, value and light refinement, and detailing. Audio commentary or captions may explain choices about color, lighting, and brushwork. While the published video is brief, the actual painting session can range from one to several hours, or more, depending on the artwork.

Uses and reception: Speedpaints serve educational purposes by revealing techniques and workflows, and they function as entertainment and marketing for artists. Critics note that time-lapse editing can obscure the true effort and the non-linear aspects of a real studio session, and some videos rely on pre-made assets or stock textures. Nevertheless, they remain a popular format for sharing process-oriented art and for inspiring beginners.

See also: Timelapse, process video, digital painting.