a little bit about myself (Mark Carder)

[repeat_defender]

I said out on a different video but i have to say it again, I am amazed at the amount of content you make available for free. I'm disabled and unemployed, which means I'm also bored out of my mind and quite depressed. I decided to try and make a real effort at art again after dabbling for basically my whole life, and your free YouTube videos have made a huge impact on me. I so appreciate everything you've done. I hope to slowly acquire a whole set of Geneva paint, it's gonna take a while on my budget but I'm very excited about it. I made my own color checker and proportion tool thanks to your videos too. Sincerely, thank you!

[nublex]

you've put the mic on your... glasses.


legend.

[philippecolin]

I love your pragmatic american approach to solving problems, a breath of fresh air among some real pompous and boring classes that only serve the teacher's ego rather than being generous to the viewer/listener. To me, you are the best... and no kidding I think I have exhausted all the available You Tube art video tutorials!!! Thank you so much Sir, you shall fare a long and successful way, I am certain of that.

[lbj]

Mine is just a comment, how AMAZING of you to offer your many years of experience and excellent teaching for free!!. 1000 thank yous!!

[danthompsonm]

I'm immensely grateful for the amount of free instruction you've provided on your website. I'm just beginning to use my Geneva Paint - learning to mix it - and it handles beautifully. No fumes in my studio! I never thought that would happen. Thanks for all the good work you're doing, Mr. Carder.

[stevecarmean]

Mark, I can't thank you enough for all of the knowledge you are sharing. I'm a new painter (less than one year) I began with acrylics and switched to oils after a few months. I'm getting some good instruction from a talented and experienced art teacher locally, but the classes are large and he is stretched a bit thin. Your input has really accelerated my understanding of oil painting wet on wet. After I use up my paint I will be trying your Geneva Paints for sure. Thank you, thank you!

[eyeballs]

Mark, you are incredibly well-informed yet humble, well-organized, well-spoken and generous. I've spent three hours watching a few of your videos and am really excited to start painting in oils. Before long, I look forward to ordering supplies from you. Thanks for giving so freely, I hope your generosity returns to you many, many times.

[ellieescobar]

I just recently found your videos in YouTube, and after almost six years of self painting teaching (of course with the lead of other good painters on line) I found in you exactly the style of painting I love to do. Unfortunately I have no room in my place to use oil painting (that I love) but only acrylic. Even though, I’ve been learning a lot from your valuable teachings. And this commentary is just to tell you THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VALUABLE TEACHINGS! Blessings for you and your family!

[Romeow]

Mark, I love your videos and your method. I am amazed at how you figured out all this stuff on your own by observation and desire to simplify. I am an engineer with over 100 patents and can appreciate your process of discovery. You inspire me and I will be trying your methods as I have been an amateur painter for years on and off between work and kids.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[anviban]

I gotta go to bed, but I have to say I looked at all the videos and they are absolutely magnificent! Your paintings are so unreal, that I almost go blind staring at their beauty. Your clarity and preciseness is so refreshing.

[taliaarte]

This guy is such an inspiration to me. Love his drive.

[happycamper]

Dear Mark - you are a fantastic person!!!! Thank you for lovely inspiration!! And kindness!!!

[FrankDeruyck]

Dear Mark I think your story is much alike many stories of (failed?) artists. I am a natural draughtsman myself. Just like you I always wanted to paint in oils. Luckily I was able to attend art school at the age of 30. One of the most important things they taught me there was: clean your brushes and don't mix the three main colours before you put them on the canvas. Like you said in another video, I was getting worse as I lost my natural talent in trying too much! Thanks to your videos I found myself again and paintings are getting better again. I can not say how happy you make me!

[schlippery]

Mark, you are a kindred spirit in many ways... Just a few days ago I discovered your videos and art classes and this video of your private life, and I was prompted to say hi...I have been blown away by your methodical, detailed, thorough discipline of oil painting... I have been using acrylics up until a week ago, and just felt it was a very limited medium for me, and I was casting around on Youtube (wonderful place lol) and came across you and your life's work!! I live in Hawaii now and have done on and off for 30 years, but was born and raised in South Africa where I decided (had the strong calling) to build a sailboat and explore the world.... you too seemed to have been restless and done a lot of travelling...I built my boat from the keel up and ended up sailing virtually around the world but loved Hawaii and ended up here. Very glad to have found your videos, as I now can get into painting with oils (of which I dabbled in twenty some years ago) and am finding all kinds of great answers to questions I have from your videos... I must say, I was shocked at how great your portraits look!! they are like photos but with a human touch that no photo or machine could ever duplicate...I wonder if, on your website you have an area where folks like me can send in some photos of our paintings and get a reaction from you, ...There may well be, I have not scratched the surface of all of your info and videos yet.. I couldn't help seeing a painting of a sailboat on the wall behind where you were doing a video and wondered if you have sailed too :) oh, and what are those 5 colours you showed on this video? Thank you also for sharing SO MUCH FREE information Mark, what a find!!

[georginacuriel]

Thank you, and thank you again for your insight on painting, your are at your best teaching, and truly appreciate your sharing it with us generously.

[Fireboat]

I'm sure you get a boat load of this, but you have found your calling and I am glad that I found your website. You have created a business you clearly love and a tool for us fumbling artist wannabes that is without peer. Thank you.

[progrockmind]

Thank you Mark for everything, I have been watching your channel for a couple of years now, silently and humbly. I never made a public comment, this is my firest (and Probably the last also), but you warmed up my heart, and I thank you for that. The world would be a much greater place if filled woth people like you.

[peterbeeren]

All off the above(and below) and no annoying "background music" You're the man.Certainly the only teacher I will follow to the end of my painting days...Thank you for what you do.

[richardsummers]

Just about the same haircut as when you were delivering papers. Very consistent. You sir, are a great inspiration to a great many people, and we all appreciate your contribution to our lives.

[malindamacey]

It is so comforting to meet a teacher who is easy to connect to. You are generous in your information and not at all intimidating, which is refreshing and wonderful!