Cheating When Oil Painting - what is allowed and what is not - Oil Painting Advice

In this video I discuss what is considered "cheating" when oil painting.

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FULL COURSE in text form:

[foghollow]

One of the reasons I subscribe and watch your videos is because you have integrity. It shows in all your videos.

[andreachapman]

I used to slave over my huge canvasses squaring up and at times if I got my composition, wrong required extensive reworking, however, I now have a projector and I am liberated. I get my drawing done and can start on what I really want to do Paint

[alfagerup]

Hi Mark.
Thank's a LOT for the good honest explanation !
Nice to listen to an honest person.
It just makes you a better, and more credible, artist in my ears.
Best regards
Alf - Denmark.

[louielouie]

I can't say enough about your teaching when I ran into your videos 4 years ago I felt so grateful for the amount of information you shared so I ordered your paints, purchased an easel, made a color checker, and set out to prove you right, my fiance and friends thought I had been painting for years when say seen the results, unfortunately my hips deteriorated
And I became unemployed lost my business. I had previously started and just couldn't stand or sit for long, and it demoralized me, and I stopped painting. I'm going in for my second hip replacement and look forward to the new purple paint. You have been a great inspiration, and I hope to have the pleasure to meet you someday
Sincerely 🎨 🖌

[marywebb]

Not telling everything when you're teaching is like giving someone a recipe and leaving out something important. 😊

[danieldavisart]

I used to be more of a purist, but using a projector can save so much time and as a watercolorist any way to reduce the number of unwanted lines is great. It is important to do some study sketches prior to using a projected image, otherwise you can lose track of what you're tracing. I think it is best to use photos taken by yourself, that's half the fun for me.

[RogerGuisinger]

Bob Ross used to say when you buy your first tube of paint it comes with an artistic license to do whatever you want with it.

[TheNortheastAl]

Sharing and honesty are why I always come back to your videos. You are the best teacher on YouTube.

[peterjones]

This is why you are endeared to us mere mortals, I feel your generosity.

[PaulRansonArt]

Hi Mark - I was luck enough to have had excellent teachers who didn't hold back anything. Its a standard I've upheld since I started teaching some 20+ years ago. I've also taught my students to use what ever makes the process enjoyable. Because art should be fun and not such a chore that they get disheartened and give up. Nothings cheating as long as there is a creative element to the work. Thank you for your wonderful videos - Paul 😃😃😎😎

[jegr]

There's no such thing as cheating, anybody can paint whatever they want however they want.

[haywardgaude]

This is an important message for artists. This is a deep truth of art - use whatever it takes to create your art. Thanks - great video!

[zachampsonartist]

I love these types of discussions, so often its new or dogmatic artists that have that "cheater" mentality, problem is that if you take it all the way, its cheating if you don't go dig the minerals out of the ground and mix them to make your own oil paints.

[deroux]

I paint from my mind. For me I find that the purest form of art making.

[lindaroose]

Thank you so much, I am mostly self taught and in my 70's. I prefer oil but at my age I don't get to travel etc so using pictures is a must for me. If I know photographer I will give them credit saying they inspired me if not that that I was inspired by a photo I found. You just opened a whole new world for me.😊

[VickiWells-lgub]

I so appreciate your transparency. You are my go to guy for all my painting needs as well as who I send my students to for further clarifications on techniques. Thank you so very much for your years of wonderful products and instruction.

[christinegalysh]

I am a beginning artist, and have you to thank for helping me understand color mixing. Thank you so much. You are an amazing teacher and artist! All the best.

[MindfulAttraction.]

I definitely recommend his course. went to Austin, learn straight from home and his method works

[JudyJarrettHoffman]

Thank you for sharing your art & honesty

[miguelmunoz]

I love your honesty in this video. The way you explain everything in your videos, with serenity and clarity, have motivated me to paint again. My problem is that I need to be in the right mood to paint, in order enjoy and be happy with the proccess. I have always been autodidact and reluctant to learn from others. A couple of years ago I felt I was blocked and insecure, and then I found some of your videos and by listening to your speech, full of clarity, the ideas began making sense. For me it is crucial to have a number of basic but powerful ideas to reactivate myself and recover the right inspiring mood. Therefore, every time I feel blocked I come back to your videos to recover my motivation. Many many thanks. I appreciate enormously all your advices. Best regards from Holland and Spain