Disclosure: Below is my full, hands-on review of the Learn and Master Painting course. If you decide to purchase the product through my link, I will be compensated for it.

Have you ever thought you’d like to learn how to create beautiful oil paintings, but you don’t know where to start? Or, have you considered taking painting lessons from a local instructor, only to find that the lessons don’t fit into your busy schedule? Well, you can still reach your goal of learning to paint, and learn in your own home, at your own schedule and pace, with the Learn & Master Painting course. It doesn’t matter what you are trying to learn…you just can’t do it with books alone. Sure, there are plenty of painting classes available, but they can be expensive, and you have to accommodate the course into your busy schedule. With the Learn & Master Painting DVD course, there is always an instructor available, and scheduling is never a problem.

There are so many benefits to having someone right there to teach you, and with the Learn & Master Painting course, you have the knowledge that you are learning from an award-winning artist. If you are looking for the best painting instructional DVD, the Learn & Master Painting program is exactly what you want. Developed and taught by by Master Artist Gayle Levee, the Learn & Master program offers you 20 instructional DVD’s, a thorough and information-filled lesson book and free online support. As an added bonus, you will also receive three music CD’s to keep you entertained while you are painting.

The Learn and Master Painting course covers both oil and acrylic painting techniques. I personally am really into oil painting these days which is why I initially bought this course. The acrylic stuff looks interesting as well, so I may give it a shot later too. If you are a beginner, Levee will show you how to set up a painting studio, what tools and materials you will need, and how to care for your tools. You’ll also learn how to setup your work palette and choose your color themes.

Gayle does a great job explaining all the fundamentals. You’ll discover how to expertly compose your paintings and how to draw in perspective. You’ll also see the techniques to make your paintings look more realistic and believable. All this is covered step by step in the videos. If you miss something, it’s also very easy to go back and replay it again. For more experienced painters, the Learn & Master Painting program is still a great course to have, as you will learn some advanced painting techniques. I haven’t reached this point yet, but I did watch the color theory lessons and I thought they were really good.

The online support you will receive is very helpful. Not only will you be getting great tips and advice from other students, but I’ve also seen Gayle online as well. If you are brave enough, this is your chance to chat with her directly! I’ve tried some other painting courses a couple of years back, but none of them are as comprehensive as the Learn and Master Painting course. If you decide to buy one of the “other courses”, or take classes, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars at the outset, or get locked into paying for each lesson as you go.

The Learn and Master Painting course will cost you less than $150, and you will have all of the lessons you need in one complete package, plus nearly unlimited support! If you are in any way unhappy with the course, you can return it within 60 days for a full refund with no questions asked. I’ve been using this course for a couple of months now, and I’m quite happy with it. I’ve been able to learn at my own pace, and I’m really seeing an improvement in my painting skills. All in all, I highly recommend the Learn and Master Painting course for anyone trying to learn to paint.

Visit Learn and Master Painting

There are all kinds of things that you need to know in order to produce a great painting, from actual painting techniques to getting prepared to paint. For instance, do you know what type of surface you need to paint on, or how to prepare it for painting? Here are some simple oil painting techniques and tips that you can implement that will help you create beautiful works of art in oils:

• For beginners, it is probably easiest just to by pre-made canvasses from art and craft supply stores. Most of these canvasses do not have thick enough whiting, so you will probably have to apply one or two more layers.
• If you do not have any blank canvas available, you can resurface an old painting so you can paint over it. Use a palette knife and sandpaper to scrape the ridges off the original. Then, apply a coat of white paint, only thick enough to cover the original painting.
• Get your paints ready on your palette. Decide which colors you need, then mix them with a medium such as linseed to thin them out, right on the palette.
• Have a variety of different sizes of flat, filbert and round brushes on hand, as well as a palette knife. You will need some watercolor brushes as well, for details. Also, make sure you have containers with paint thinner and oils.
• For beginners, the best type of medium is one that is premade, such as cobalt. Or, you can make your own by using linseed oil as a medium to add to your pigment. Be careful not to add too much, and beware of using it with white and blue pigments…it can cast a yellowish tinge.

Now, you’ve got your paints, medium, brushes, palette and canvas, and you’re ready to paint. Great! But, once your painting is completed, you need to know how to clean your brushes, palette knife, palette, and, quite possibly, yourself. Here are some additional tips for taking care of your gear:

Don’t throw away unused paint from your palette! You can preserve it by scraping it off with your palette knife, and placing it in water until you are ready to use it again.

Keep your brushes and palette knife clean! You can clean dried paint from your palette knife with paint remover, and clean oil paint from your brushes (and your hands) with kerosene.

I hope you enjoyed some of these oil painting tips and techniques that I have started using myself. Let me know what you think! ]]> http://paintinginstruction.net/simple-oil-painting-techniques-for-beginners/feed 0 http://paintinginstruction.net/setting-up-your-painting-studio http://paintinginstruction.net/setting-up-your-painting-studio#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:07:41 +0000 Kinley McFadden http://paintinginstruction.net/?p=23

Sonam Dolma’s studio in bern

If you have decided that you want to take up painting as a hobby, or maybe even as a profession, the first thing you need to do is create a comfortable environment to paint in.

An unused room in your home is ideal place to set up your studio. But, more often than not, you will not have this option. Don’t worry. You still have plenty of other choices as well. One great place to work is a sun porch. You can turn your back (or front) porch into a small studio, and you will get the benefit of the daytime sun for great lighting. Or, you can set aside a corner in a quiet area of your home (or even your garage or basement).

One of the first things you need to think about when setting up a studio is lighting. If you are fortunate enough to have a space that has lots of windows, you will have a source of natural light. You also need a good form or artificial light, for fill-in light during the daytime, and obviously, to see when working at night.

If you are taking up oil painting, you need to make sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area. Also, until you are sure that you will have no allergic reactions to your paints, you should wear disposable latex gloves while painting.

Once you have selected the location for your paint studio, you need to start setting things up. There are plenty of things you will need, and the best advice is to try and get all of your supplies and equipment before you start setting up your studio. This way, you won’t be rushing out to the store for items you don’t have. You can do this in two shopping trips: one for furnishings, the other for supplies and materials.

You will need to furnish your studio. Besides needing a good easel, you will also need a stool for sitting. If you plan on painting portraits, you will want to have an additional stool for your subjects. You may want to have a desk or another surface to set up objects for still-life paintings.

Now you need to make a list of all the supplies and materials you will need. When you have decided what you want to purchase, take your list to the nearest art supply store and grab a cart! Here are some of the main items you will need to properly equip your studio:

• Paints
• Brushes
• Palette
• Palette Knife
• Mediums
• Canvasses
• Painting Boards
• Paper
• Pencils and Erasers
• Containers for brushes, water, paint thinner, etc.
• Storage for your tools and supplies
• Paint Thinner
• Water
• Spray Bottle
• Absorbent cloth for drying brushes

While you are shopping, you may come across other items that you “just have to have”. The items listed above are enough to get you started, but if you see something that you really want to try, by all means, go ahead and buy it. After all, you never know how something will work until you try it, and you may find that you have a product that you love working with.

Welcome to  Painting Instruction.  This site is for all aspiring artists who want to learn how to paint.  Whether you want to paint for fun, or want to become an expert artist, this site will contain articles on painting tips, techniques and other resources which I hope you’ll find useful.

So you’ve decided to learn how to put your artistic talents to use, and take some painting classes. Now what? Well, the first thing you have to do is figure out what type of class you want to take (acrylic, water color, oils), then you have to actually find a class. You certainly aren’t limited to just one medium, but if you are a beginner, you may want to start out learning one thing, and as you become more confident in your work, move on to other areas.

So, how does one go about finding good painting classes? You have a number of options. There are numerous painting classes online, some that you pay for, others are free. There are also hundreds of websites offering painting tips and techniques, with much of the information coming from experienced and talented artists. Along this same note is instructional DVD’s. As with online learning, you are able to take the classes in the comfort of your own home, at your leisure.

A really great DVD course for beginning painters is the Learn and Master Painting series. This set contains 20 DVD lessons, three music CD’s, a lesson book, and of course, plenty of support. So, even though you are studying by yourself, you will never be completely on your own. There is always someone available to help you with any questions you may have. This course was created by Gayle Levee, who has given lectures and master classes at a number of colleges, and has also won many awards for her work.

Another option available when it comes to painting classes is to contact local artists. Many artists offer group or private classes for a small fee, and you will have an experienced artist helping you every step of the way. Or, you can see if there are any beginner classes at community centers, libraries, community colleges or the YMCA.

If you are having difficulties locating painting classes, or even artists, locally, you still have options. If there is an art club in your area, this would be the ideal organization to contact for information about painting classes. Or, you may want to contact local high schools. Many schools have art programs, and offer evening classes for adults. Another place you may want to check out are local art galleries. Through these means, you are bound to find a great painting class.

Don’t forget the televised programs that offer painting instruction. There are a few really great shows, with artists who demonstrate loads of great techniques and tips. One such program is the Bob Ross Joy of Painting. Although Mr. Ross is now deceased, you can still find his program on many public broadcasting channels.

Once you have purchased a few supplies, and find the painting class that suits you best, you are ready to dive into the world of painting. You are sure to find that it is a fun and relaxing hobby, and if you are good enough, you may even be able to make some money at it someday!