Good Brush Habits and How to Load Your Brush with Paint 

I'm an artist and in defence of this artist he is sharing techniques that work for him. If you're an artist naturally you teach yourself, you develop a style etc. I've had big commissions and nothing teaches you faster than a paid job. I think some of the people in the comments sort of attacking him are out of order. If you're an artist and you think you can't learn anything else you're way off base. Life is a learning experience every single day. This man is sharing his experience with others. Perhaps people who paint as a hobby or who are out of practice and those eager to learn are the ones this is aimed at. Not so called "artists" who are arrogant enough to put him down to build themselves up. Art is a way of life if you are a true artist. A lifestyle choice if you eat sleep and breath art and can make a living from it. This man does so he's entitled to share and I always say this. If you don't like it don't f***ing watch it.

I have no one to talk to about this, about art in general...you are amazing.Thanks for being a support and a teacher even from far away.

Mostly self taught oil painter here. It is people like you who make this endeavor so freakin' enjoyable. All these tips from an EXPERIENCED painter are a godsend, my man!

Well, 60 years of oil painting, 3 universities, 4 private teachers, and countless workshops later....I have learned more and come to understand brushwork better in the few minutes here than all those combined!....Thank you!

Mark's a great teacher. He's really straight forward and thorough.

Just starting into watercolors and watched lots of videos and no one has mentioned how important mixing the right color before you hit the canvas/paper. you presented it in a way that made it obvious (to me anyway) how important that is regardless of the medium. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Your teaching is better than many fine arts colleges. I am a new students to painting. After I feel comfortable using your methods in your courses, I have on my bucket list to learn directly from you. I'd better hurry 'cause age and time are not my friend lol.

I like how you teach you come across to the point and down to earth. Some teachers on here seem intimidating, or too lost in there own eccentricity to make sense.

I just ordered the Geneva Essential Palette in appreciation for the great lessons you provide online.

I have learned much more with your videos than in art university I’ve been for 3 years, thank you 😊

I love the thought -provoking narrative you provide. As a beginner I think my self awareness is heightened each time I watch one of your videos. Thanks for the thoughtful work and videos.

Thanks, Mark, your explanations of WHY ridges are not good, or WHY lighting is so important, or WHY paint fluidity is a big deal, ETC. ETC. are so appreciated. You are the genius mix of an artist and a scientist.

I have picked my paint brushes once again after 25 years. I watch vids on youtube to see what is the latest and the way you explain things just make me want to learn more. We all have our ways but the teaching is for all whether you use it or not. If it does not work for then ignor it. I hate it when people bush other people down. This guy has taken time to teach and yet some push him down. If you consider yourself better then good for you or show us your way.

I'm fairly new to oil painting and your videos are the best at explaining all the myriad details that make successful oil painting a straight forward process.

Funny I was there at the beginning of your journey and now I’m looking at the number of people are following you. Wow it is incredible, but it is well deserve. Congrats Mr. Carder.

Dear Mark, thank you for sharing your gift. This knowledge and sparks of your talent will always live in my heart.

Thank you for your videos! I watch them over and over again ! I never stop learning from them . Thank you!

I have a very bad habit of using the same brush throughout my painting, I change brushes if I need to paint details but I don't notice this bad habit when working. I don't use expensive brushes but I do ruin them quicker, I have no problems making muddy mixes, I usually get the colours mixed right to the colour I'm after as I go along, using a limited palette. I don't even wipe my brush out between colours, maybe srub them with rags. I just start with a darker palette then get lighter values then back a touch darker then more light again. I think I picked this habit through 25+ years as a graffiti artist where id use the same cap (nozzle) throughout my piece/work etc. I've basically learnt oil painting by my self but watching vids on youtube now to change my bad habits. Good video man.

That tip about using lots of brushes is very interesting. I will try that. Thank you for your videos :)

This is the best lesson you've given. Brilliant!

Why are so many art studios on YT dark and depressing looking? I love the knowledge you teach and I watch your videos several times because you have sooo much knowledge that I hear nowhere else, with years of wisdom that avoids so many potential mistakes, thank you very much.

thanks for sharing, these tips are so practical and totally explain all the problems I've run into in the past. Appreciate it!

This was the question I wanted answered. Thanks Mark.

Hi Mark, saw your video 3 days ago, and I'm hooked to your techniques, you are so honest. Blessings. Hope to meet you in person someday. Loved your wife's painting too! From India

Thank you I have moved from the bob ross technique to attempting realism and you are extremely helpful thank you and Geneva paints I love it

Thank you for teaching me this! I just started oils a month ago, so excited! I appreciate benefiting from your experience.

Thank you Mark for sharing your tips and artistic insights. I use your paints love them. ❤️❤️

I really like your videos. They are informational, to the point and really packed with some great habits to learn from. I really like your brush holder, and multiple brush for different colors.

Very useful instructions Marc thank you for sharing them

Really helpful Mark, thank you for another great piece of the puzzle.

I’m just at the crawling stage of development as an artist, so this was very helpful in going forward. Thank you for making the video.

And again an interesting tutorial! Thank you so much!! Greetings from the Netherlands.

Great, interesting information that was new for me. Your explanations and demonstrations were easy to understand. Thanks Mark!

I am loving your video's only discovered today and have just subscribed. I liked your video on why not to blend too early. So true. Classical, renaissance painters work is rarely blended so smooth you cant make out strokes. They are usually blocky, rigid and full of form and colour.

I can not express enough how thankful I am.

You have one of the best channel on oil painting

Superb way of organising the brushes.

I love your videos and just completed my first using your method. Thank you!

thank you for these lessons, very informational as a newfound lover of painting.

thank you for all of your videos, I am really grateful, great teacher and real pro tips, you are a blessing.

I do the same thing with my brushes. Actually, I use acrylics and don't like to always rinse a brush out just to put the same color back on later. I usually have a bunch in use at one time, each devoted to one type of color. I put them in a plastic bag as I work though, to keep them from drying out.

Excellent advice that I intend to use when painting! Thank you.

Hello. Just wanted to say thank you for your video! I'm new to painting so I appreciated your attention to detail in your presentation.

Great tips Mark! Thank you for sharing that!

So professional and informative !

Thank you Mark. Great advice.

Gosh that is great info - did not know about that - thankyou

Great as always, keep these coming. Love your paint!

Thanks Mark! A very helpful video, as usual.

Thank you and enjoy listening to your knowledge. Please continue

Absolutely amazing and informative video! Thank you!

Thank you Sir for the valuable education 🎨

your tips are gold!!!

Really great advice,thank you so much.

This was really helpful!! And the brushes for different values really makes sense! Thank you for sharing, Mark:)

Great advice sir and very useful for art classes. The video was fantastic Mark to learn about.

That was very helpful, great insights.

Excellent tutorial!

Nice! Very easy to understand, very relaxed.

Once again this was a very useful video. Thanks for sharing

Wow! Thank you for your wisdom!

Always informative 👏🏻👏🏻

Extremely helpful! Thank you.

Thanks for all the help pretty new to Oil Painting

Super helpful! Thank you so much for your videos!

Great suggestions, thank you!

Thanks a lot!, I’m always waiting for New videos. Regards from Chile

Thank you once again, very helpful,

THANK YOU for Sharing.

Very helpful as always.

Worthy tips. Thanks!

Easily my favorite youtuber. Thanks for the advice!

This is just amazing! I like your videos. They're so much helpful😀

Fantastic resource

Very informative thank you!

Thank you for the great advice

Very informative, thank you.

Thank you very much for your technique.

Amazing as usual , thanks

Thank you for sharing. Really appreciate it.

good info, the brushes were a big tip form me

Thanks Mark, very informative 👍

God bless you and your generations to come. U r awsome.

Thank u. That was really helpful. Good day.

Enjoyed this video.

Thank you for your good advice

This was super helpful, thank you!

Thank you very much for sharing!

Very helpful video!

your last comment on "sets" of dark to light colors is a great tip!

i am so grateful mark takes the time to make these wonderful videos he is the only professional artist/teacher that does so for free most artists on youtube charge for patreon service to get the full videos. thank you sir, you and your wife are very wonderful artists. does she make tutorials as well?

Thank you! Beautifully lit video.

Wonderful video thank you

Good advices ! Thanks a lot !

Thank you vẻry much Your video helps me alottt

You are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Cape Town

Yes! Rushing to the canvas guarantees frustration and muddy colors. A painter can't be reminded of that truth enough (especially me).

Very helpful video

This is good house-keeping to facilitate your painting. It is often the small things that trip us up.

I clean my brushes the next day, first with solvent. I like my brushes always clean. The second step is to wash with soap and water until all the oil residues are removed. I've never had any problems with this method. It's a good idea to have several brushes to take turns.