My Students Make This Mistake Almost Always - Oil Painting Advice for Realism

In this video I explain what is the most common mistake my students make.

If you are interested in taking online or private classes from Mark Carder email:

For more about my art supply company and the paint that I use visit:

If you want to learn to paint in oil from my videos, start here:

How to draw/pencil:

How to mix and match colors:

How to apply paint to the canvas to achieve high realism:

FULL COURSE in text form:

[darthkek]

Very glad your paint brand is continuing.

[johncook]

Just fyi, I know you love the art supply business and it shows in the quality you produce (I want EVERYTHING), BUT, I think your YouTube content is every bit as valuable and differentiated if not more so. The demos, build instructions, mixing; I have rewatched your videos more than any other instructor. I'm so glad you are posting regularly again.

[redangrybird]

The naked eye deceives, colour checking doesn't.
I learnt it the hard way.
Thanks Mark, you are the best. 😎👍

[williambo]

Thanks Mark you for giving good tips on oil painting!

[sniperwipers]

Glad your paint making is back, just wish it was available in the UK.

[dr.truthteller]

Love this channel. Wish you would just do some long format of you painting. No need for a lot of talk but just painting. One of the best resources on YT right here!

[bombardboxing]

You paint the foreground vase first? Why not paint the background first? Then the shading wouldn't look so dark? Still color-checking, of course.

[bertranddelclaux]

Bonjour Mark. Vidéo très intéressante ! Merci ! Greetings from France !

[Triclaria]

Your YouTube videos are amazing! I've watched all of them, and I've rewatched numerous videos multiple times. Your tips and explanations are so helpful. And thank you for your easily understandable English. Thank you so much! With the very best wishes from Germany!

[peterfiser]

Feels good to see the unfinished piece and think 'that's spot on, the white just makes it look darker than it is' and then hearing you verify that.

[amandapeete]

So happy to hear about your paint line continuing!! I want to buy the full pallette pack once you restock. ❤

[anthonydimichele]

Great advice AND great paint! I will be showing a professor/friend the Geneva palette I use this weekend. I told him about it and he is looking to try limiting his colors and get into mixing more.

[Jeffreypearson]

I was taught it's not about the product but the process. Thanks for the informative video.

[davidportch]

great advice.. I have suffered with this... many thanks...

[riittaguse]

This is excellent advice, just what I needed to hear. Thanks

[kerryemery]

Wow. It is deceiving indeed. Thanks again for the reminders. My background is originally as a photographer And this is part of the illusion one must be aware of. It can also be used as a tool. Thanks Mark for starting up the series again.. I always enjoy new content and discussions. Your oration is excellent. I believe I'll finally have the time to now start up painting again - and look forward to your guidance. Keep up the excellent work! (question: do you do any water scenes or seascapes?)

[vincentmarotta]

What I notice some people do is they paint a very "basic" background in acrylic paint as a first layer on top of the gesso. They let it dry completely (a day or two), then go back and begin painting with oils on top using references and/or creativity. They could later go back over the same background with similar (or the same) colors to complete the painting.
Just be careful getting caught in a "color correction feedback loop" where the acrylic looks one way, which inspires the oils on the main object, which inspires the oils on the background, which re-inspires the oil on the main body, etc etc. The reference picture(s) is the driving force, and once a full layer of oil is down, make fine adjustments after the fact.

[BananaInDaHouse]

Wooohoooo restock of paint!! Im gonna by

[tomhighsmith]

We are not always aware of how we are being deceived by our eyes and brains. But it should be clear that you should always follow a good method or you won't get anywhere.

[natashafranko]

Is that why when you when watch artists begin a painting they often paint the whole canvas a different colour all over first and when they do the painting that colour is not anywhere to be seen . Instead of painting directly on white ? I have seen that happen often when watching people on yourube or TV's Britains Portrait artist of the year in the UK is that better than painting directly on to white . I have often wondered why they do that .