how to paint in oil

In this video I demonstrate how to paint in oil. No talent needed!

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 from life or a photograph:

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

FULL COURSE in text form:

[Scubadog_]

You know, it's very rare that you actually get someone laying down the very basics *and* the finalising advice in the span of a single lesson. Very well done!

[lucyroleff]

This was hands-down the most helpful and concise tutorial video on oil painting I have seen. Thank you so much for making this.

[stephentaylor]

I just want to say thanks.I watched this video 5 years ago and was inspired to resume painting again after 32 years of giving it up.

[AbleCarpetDyeing]

ignore the rude and wretched ingrates. the rest of us are thankful for your incredible generosity and hard work .bravo for doing the best you can. an inspiring example. God bless you Mark. my first time to make a comment .felt i had to!

[clarkaprosperi]

Mark taught me how to paint portraits and it was a miracle. I went to Austin and took his class and when I got back I painted my father so I would not forget all the rules "not too many but some you have to follow really well" The portrait I did look so beautiful that there were a fight on my family of who would have it. He paints like Sargent and he is probably;y the best oil teacher in AMERICA.

[graven]

Fantastic! I graduated with honors in painting and your videos have taught me more than my entire education. Thank you for your generosity!

[snoopy]

These are the most comprehensive videos on oil painting I've ever seen. I'm an architect and have taken fine art courses but your video instruction is superb and tops any formal instruction out there. I have to do one of your on-site workshops in the future. By watching your videos I think I'm ready to make a mid-life change. My drawing and painting skills have improved dramatically and ten-fold with your instruction!

[bytorjoe]

This one video changed perspective of "paint what you see" tremendously! I HAD to make a color checker and my realism paintings have improved exponentially! I can watch you paint for hours! You are truly a great teacher and a great artist.

Thank You! 
Joe

[carlosjulio]

You are an extraordinary art teacher. The way you think out loud and the way you approach all details, is an inspiration and a huge transmission of knowledge.
Thank you for helping us to be better painters.

[melonpan]

I love how you only put the ads at the front of the video and keep the main process ad-free for proper viewing. Thank you

[spraycan]

This is the video that reinspired me to return to art after giving it up for 32 years.I will be forever grateful to you Mark a heartfelt thanks!

[goilo]

Very instructional. So much better than watching a speed-painting. Well edited video, too with multi camera angles.

[DAVADMDAVAD]

If I lived nearby, I would clean your house, take out your garbage, cook, clean friggin toilets, just to be your student. You, sir, are inspiring. And I don't even like cleaning. ;)

[trancerp]

I studied engineering, then painting, then 3d animation, and have painted for more than 30 years. I have to say this is the best approach to direct-painting out there. The movie Tim's Vermeer, in essence, is a combination of your concepts with those of Philip Steadman and David Hockney. Some of the naysayers criticizing the "darker than black" comment have a poor understanding of the concept of luminance, reflectance, and what in photography is called "clipping". In other words, as Paul Centore illustrates in his research, a black object in the light may appear brighter than a white object in shadows. In this case, the black paint on your checker is reflecting more photons than the brighter-colored cup in the shadow. Hence, you can have things appear "darker than black". Your solution is to clip the shadows, which works perfectly well when the light is in front of the object and the scene's reflectance is similar to the value range between black and white. It gets trickier if the scene is a backlit, high-dynamic-range scene. Your direct approach means that you are applying no gamma correction to color and are using a linear approach to record reflectance. This will inevitably lead to clipping of shadows and specular reflections (which you address in the video about flesh tones). In contrast, a photographer can use exposure control, bracketing, and gamma controls to get around this issue and force a higher range between black and white to register details in the light and the shadow that would be clipped using your technique. This is one of the reasons why direct painting produces a more natural look than photographs, and why it is so easy to spot paintings made from photographs. Thank you for this video. I will definitely include it in the references of my graduate dissertation in arts and technology.

[DrawMixPaint]

There is a supply list on the drawmixpaint home page at the top. Thanks!

[MarsK]

Sir, I am a beginner painter (still using acrylic but want to move onto oils) and I have learned so much from your videos. This video is fantastic. It is nice to see from start to finish the process. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity in uploading this free lesson. If I was in Texas I'd take lessons with you. Greetings from Australia.

[sallybrady]

I am working my way through every one of your videos, and each one teaches me something new. The way you explain everything, from colour mixing, the process of making every decision and deciding when the painting has finished has given me the confidence to give oil painting a try. (As a bonus your voice is very calming, and thank you for not playing any music in the background.)

[mhsr]

Everything about this tutorial (and all the others in your series) is top notch. Understated. Not showy or flashy. Really well lit and filmed in real time, as it happens. Your efforts are much appreciated...

[sherryprattphotography]

I am starting a new journey! My dad was an oil painter. It’s been a dream of mine to see if I can be one too. I am so grateful for your generosity, excellent teaching and skill set! You are a genius!! Someday…I’d like to take your one on one course in Texas! I’m learning the basics from you starting now! Here I go!!! 🎉

[suzysam]

Learn more in your video then my 4 years in fine arts painting class!!!amazing info in observing colour defining within the light and shadows. I notice tint transitions which you where pointing out .AWESOME ART CLASS!