PAINT TALK: 10 Lessons I Learned From 15 Years of Oil Painting

MY BRUSH SET
Painting Books I Like
Materials I like

Water Mixable Oils

Water mixable mediums

Filming

Hi, I am the son of two artists and began painting in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia before I could walk. I was a rare combination of artist and athlete so I moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to play football for USC. I left the team my sophomore year to focus on painting and filmmaking, applying the same focus and discipline from my football career to my art. I primarily work in oils, and spend most free days painting "en plein air" in my new home of Sarasota Florida.
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[---Dana----]

40 years ago, I put away my oil paints. Then a couple months ago, I saw one of your videos and then I watched several more. I got out my paint box the next morning and ordered some Gamisol (odorless now!), and now I'm painting again at age 70. I fear I don’t have time to learn everything, but I'm having a great deal of enjoyment. You are my favorite artist/instructor. You inspired me. Thank you so much.

[siofl]

A business video would be so helpful, the concept of getting into the arts as a career can be very overwhelming. Great paint talk!

[circusoftheseed]

I'd love to see some videos about the business side of painting!

[jessperna]

Through 4 years earning my BFA from The School of Visual Arts in NYC I never once saw a demonstration on how to paint from an art teacher. The majority of them never even brought in examples of their work and I had no idea what their skill level (if any) was. Some never got up from their seats. I was too young to know that school would be the biggest regret of my life. It was very expensive to learn very little. I was a waiter the first 5 years after graduation. Keep up the great work, I'm learning a HUGE amount from your channel! 100x better than art school!

[JackRainfield]

Yes, business videos is a great idea!

[chriscallen]

I’ve been painting for 10 years and I’m totally addicted to it ! I get irritated if I can’t paint LOL. My dream is to paint full time . When I’m at work, all I wanna do is go home and paint.

[schnukele]

Yes! High School art class ruined my love for art. Lazy, horrible "teacher" who taught not one thing. Made me give up and put my love for art on hold for over 35 years because I let her define me. I am enjoying the process now after picking up art 4 years ago.

[mariacorvette]

I had never painted in my life, during pandemic I started painting one being Mona Lisa. It came out awsome according to my family. Who knew wish I could share.

[fereshmahta]

I have many paintings. the first 3 years I just gave them away. because was not good enough to sell. now it is time to sell as people admire my paintings and since I discovered you the quality of my paintings get better.

[marymary]

When I first used oil paint I had such a strong sense of deja vu and I still do, weird but so cool. 👌💕

[ricardobuchner]

Hi Cris.
I follow you from a while and I watch your videos everyday, sometimes I re-watch them from time to time.
This video in particular touched me in so many points, like business skills for example.
I'm 52 now, and have a love/hate relationship with the art. I love painting, but hate that I can't live from it. Every time I'm painting there's a inner voice in my mind telling me I should do something profitable with my time, that this is an unachievable dream, but I'm addicted to painting. Even though I think it's too much work too little time.
This took my whole life. I draw and paint since I'm 12yo (oil I started later in 2018, but had some tries at 13-14yo... By that time I didn't know about odorless solvents, I always were a self-taught artist, and I thought very hard to sustain that odor).
I'm really looking forward your business course you will launch in July!
Right now, I want to work as an artist, like a side hustle to turn my daily routine of my full time job more bearable.
Bye! :)

[scrltrt]

Hi i just turned 18, 3 years ago when i started painting. I'm going to take an art course in college and I just wanna tell youu that your vids help me a lot!

[motlba]

It is true, in many workshops in which I have gone to paint the teacher does not usually paint in front of the students. Thanks for so many tips.

[rebeccanewberry]

Wow, yet another great video. I can't tell you how much I've learned from you. I would really really love to see talks about the business aspect of your art. I was watching another YouTuber (her medium is watercolors though) go over what her day to day tasks look like as a full time artist. She's very successful and makes a lot of money, however her days aren't filled with making a lot of art. They are filled with running her business and managing her social medias. I was so disappointed because I feel like I'm closer to the obsession with painting idea that you mentioned. So I'd love if you could show a way where we could paint a LOT, constantly improve, and still find a way to earn some income. Thanks again!

[danielgwillym]

I've not started any sort of painting yet, but I've been loving all the vids here. Keep up the great work and inspiring people.

[robmartin]

I know what you mean by instructor demonstrating…I had a person facilitating( notice I didn’t say teaching) a night class at the art college near me who told me when I asked how to paint some trees she stated “ I’m not here to teach you to paint I’m to show how to paint “ ie slides of painting from trips to famous museums, I walked straight to the registrar office got my money back.

[malvikaawasthi]

Teaching No. 7 was like you are reading mybrain and giving words to what I am going through.

[kaiballington]

My painting instructor at my university would do a five minute walk-around, say a couple of sentences to each of us, then head to the bar to go drinking. He would come back 3 hours later, intoxicated, most of the class gone. This class cost about $1000 in today’s money. I got very little from him. Never once did he do a demo or even talk to us about techniques. I am learning more off YT from a variety of great artists like Chris than I ever did at that school. It’s a shame because that instructor was a very skilled painter.

[impish]

Chris, this was so helpful. You are able to be so relatable to budding artist's and able to demystify oil paint. Thanks again for a great post..!!

[soulkalastudio]

As a beginner I started with small simple paintings because they are realistically achievable especially when you're starting out, the quick achievement of finishing your them boosts confidence & highlights step by step what you need to improve on so that it's not so overwhelming. Similarly, when you set life goals, achieving those goals happens when you tackle one step at a time not getting the big things done all at once, ofcos if you try to achieve the big deliverables too quickly, you will fail and then be under the illusion that you cannot achieve your goals, same concept with painting.

I also learned in reverse, then I'm learning now from the foundation & following a more traditional route with the fundamentals, they have value.

The starving artist trope is outdated, there's always opportunities to sell your art, you've just got to have the balls to go after it and be brave. But when you enjoy what you do, you attract the opportunities to you, when I do my art, I just do it because I enjoy it, people see it and they want to buy it, because it's my own expression of energy and feeling and colour.