As a beginner, this is one of the best videos I've watched about many basic but important things. You're a great teacher. I look forward to your videos each Tuesday.
A credit card to spread gesso! Now why didn't I think of that? I'm 70 years old and learning to oil paint with RU-vid videos. I have so much to learn, and you have helped me so very much. Also, I see you and appreciate your way of being in the world, a kind and gentle soul. Thank you. ❤
Thank you Ian. Here's a tip for those who don't want to use toxic thinner/cleaners in the studio while painting. Plus it saves money. I've been doing this for years now. Go get a gallon of cheap cooking corn oil, or something similar (I wouldn't cook with this oil, by the way). Pour that into a small container like you would normally use (like Ian has). Clean your brush in that. You'll be amazed at how oil cleans out the oil paint on your brush. Don't worry about the small amount of that oil left on your brush when painting. I also know famous painters who leave their brushes in such oil (in a shallow pan in a horizontal position), for weeks/months. Their brushes never dray out, and they don't have to clean their brushes every day. I do clean my brushes every day, but I don't have to if I leave them in the pan. And don't bother using some store bought soaps or cleaners for end of day cleaning. Just use Ivory bar soap and the palm of your hand.
I have been watching you since Covid started. I like your teaching style. I used your videos to start watercolor while "locked down". Now, I have an opportunity to take an oil painting class at my local university. I am very excited, thanks in part to you for the encouragement to try new things. This video gives a preview of supplies and studio setup that will be most helpful for any beginner. I will also share your medium knowledge with my professional artist in the family. He may learn something new from you as well. Thanks for sharing your talent and time.
I have purchased some of your composition videos -- Just want to give you an A+ for your teaching skills. Subject is presented in a clear, concise, understandable way. Thanks
Hey Ian , I just bought your book, after consuming such golden values from your free and original content, i am very excited to learn the techniques of mastering composition and applying it into my paintings,, thank you for the videos you make,
Ian...thank you for a organized presentation of your studio and materials used. It is very helpful that you make suggestions of products....I usually do acrylics..and wondering if the same issues can apply...
Wonderful stuff here, thank you. Oil of spike lavender is a fantastic medium for oils … non toxic with a side benefit of relaxation! Used by Victorian painters and pretty much forgotten nowadays … when I painted with it I found I painted with focus for longer too 😊
Just I am very appreciate with the art 🎨🎭 specially for the water colour latest trends in water colour painting 🖌️🎨 jenerally people are working on now.
Thank you, Ian. Enjoyed the tour. I finish my oil paintings with Dorland’s. I let the painting dry, then with a cloth, rub on a thin coat of wax, leave it on for half an hour, then buff. It gives a wonderful satin/ eggshell finish versus the shiny-ness of varnish. Also solves the glare problem for photographing work.
I feel like I've watched every art video on youtube. I self taught myself painting and I have to say Ian that this video is hands down one of the most useful and beneficial videos I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing this great resource!
Very helpful video, thank you! The credit card with the gesso was pretty brilliant! I've used brushes and foam rollers, but I'm going to try the credit card idea. Thanks mate!
Hi Ian. This is the first video I have seen from you. I'm stating the obvious, I realize, but I wanted to compliment you on how eloquent you are. I've sat through an awful lot of art videos where the presenter um-ed, er-ed and sputtered through most of it. It is a joy to discover an artist who communicates clearly and in a meaningful way. Thanks also for all these links. You really go the extra mile in every way.
so much priceless information learned only through your own personal growth. amazing, thank you so much, every one of your videos has helped me improve
Goodness. In this one video I have learned more than I have learned in expensive multi-day workshops. You are my new mentor. Thank you. I am confused how to see additional info that you often remark are available on th screen.
Thank you so much Ian. You make things so clear and I look forward to your videos and find them so helpful. You are a masterful teacher and so generous with all your time and expertise.
This video was extremely helpful to me. You had some suggestions for dealing with issues that I have had in the past and I will certainly make some changes in my studio when doing oil painting. Thank you.
Excellent; really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. Oh, for the luxury of a dedicated studio - at least I’ve got the end section of my garage. We live in small (and too expensive !)houses on the other side of the pond.
I just love watching different perspectives from different artists. I started oil painting thinking it would be a lot easier, e.g. almost like digital painting where you just move the brush on the canvas and it paints whatever color perfectly on top of what's already there. And many RU-vid artists almost make it look that easy! But of course they're dealing with the "reality" of oil paint in different ways. Some use slow-drying mediums and try not to layer their paint at all. Some use quick-drying mediums and just wait long enough for the paint to get tacky so they can paint on top of it. Some paint alla prima, no medium, and they just use principles like pushing/pulling, painting thickly, etc., to make it work. Some paint on linen, some paint on boards. All of these styles work because in each case the artist's choices are compatible with one another. Learning about how one choice affects another has honestly been a very fun/rewarding part of learning how to paint. I've been gravitating toward this alla prima, no medium style because it allows me to paint in one sitting, thus getting more practice in. I may experiment with other styles when I get better, but honestly I suspect I'll always stick with this one.
Watched again! Excellent synthesis. Have used Gamblin mediums Galkyd - supposedly not as smelly as liquid. The chip brush is wonderful as it displays the texture and emotion behind the strokes , especially on a smooth ground. Always learning especially as the grounds determine the paint quality.
A* as usual! It is pleasing to see such a calm and well-organised studio. This reflects so many your paintings which have a calm and meditative quality to them - unnecessary clutter is eliminated in both cases! Having just completed a 48 hour refresher drawing course at West Dean College, Chichester, England, this was a good home coming. Following up the papers you mentioned I was amused to see such British place names use by American firms - no wonder I had not heard of them before. I had discovered they are available here but if some of your viewers are un the UK they may find Arboreta 'off white' pads made in the English Bristol a good alternative. We used these with pencil, conte crayon and all forms of charcoal and they take any amount of rubbing out and punishment. These may be easier to access here and not have import duties. I cannot find the Raymar panels on any UK site but the linen is available from several suppliers. I was fascinated by the Dorlands Medium - something new to try. I will enjoy a second viewing this evening. I loved the 'His' and 'Hers" stations!
Thanks so much Ian. I grew up in Toronto, and I'd say every town and street is named after somewhere in the UK. Except maybe Toronto itself. Algonquin for the meeting place or something like that. I've never heard of Arboreta. I'll have to look that up. The Claessens linen would be available and you could try it taped to a board and if you like it just glue the linen to the panels yourself. It isn't hard. You just use PVA glue. Or if you don't mind the wet dog smell rabbit skin glue. I'd recommend the PVA.
I enjoyed researching the Raymar boards - they looks to be very well specified and made to last for centuries. I was given some linen and made up four panels with PVA glue on hardboard which I have been using for some studies ahead of bigger paintings. For the en plain air course next week in the South Shropshire Hills at Acton Hall, I have ordered some Linen covered boards but I can make my own in future. I went on an icon painting course a few years ago where i learnt to gild, lay down gesso and use egg temporary paint. The tutor used gelatine as the binding agent for the gesso and bole surfaces in preference to the rabbit skin glue - this excited his dog so much it thought that the studio was full of the critters! These matters rarely get mentioned - as with another painter I know who stashed a couple of completed canvases in a hedge while he did a couple of watercolours. He returned to find the canvases bare - the bullocks in the field had licked all the paint off! Best wishes - I admire your practical as well as artistic skills!
Thank you Ian, I agree with Mark, "This is one of the best videos I've watched on basic but important things". Your teaching style in very straight forward without a lot of additional conversation explaining that can make what you are talking about confusing. I've been painting off and on since late 2016, in this video you anwsered some questions that I had. Thank you!
Thank you Mr. Roberts. I'm glad I found and subscribed to your channel a few months ago. As someone who is eager to transition into oils after many years of acrylics and gouache your channel provides tremendous value. Thanks for you effort, sharing your knowledge and insight into your process. I appreciate it a lot. Best from Germany.
I'm learning so much from you about light & shape! I hope you'll forgive my saying; but if you replaced the door blinds with a light bamboo, it would elevate the entire studio space by giving it structure & definition in the entry. Really worth it. Even I f you get them at Target:))
I really enjoy studio tours, thank you. I would have greatly benefited from basic information about mediums, drawing pencils, brushes and canvases when I first started painting in oils. Since I am self taught it has taken years to gather some of that info . I am still learning. I appreciate your videos.
Because of the smell, a few years ago I switched from turpinoid to Gamsol and from liquin to Walnut oil. They are both working well fo me. I liked your info on painting surfaces.
I found the part about the pencils and how to sharpen the very informative. I love how you draw, with all the parallel lines, it is beautiful! Thank you for the tour, I enjoyed it and learned a lot!
I forgot to tell you CONGRATULATIONS for your painting and teachings. However, the glory of it is not for you, but for the one who has given to you the talent, Jesus Christ. ❤️
I never took any professional classes and I paint as my hobby. I like to thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise free of charge. I feel more confident about how to begin to paint 🤙
This is great! I was astonished once when I heard an instructor telling me how to sharpen the pencil and preserve the lead (pigment), after buying so many sharpeners and ruining pencils. Thank you for your insight. I always appreciate the time professional masters take to share their experience and knowledge, you are one of them. Thanks again! BTW, I showed your chanel to many of my artist friends :)
A little late to the party here but I have been systematically going through all your videos. I used to paint oil on canvas and then moved into the digital world, still sticking to traditional methods but I will return to actual traditional medium at some point. In the meantime, your channel is proving to be an amazing teaching aid. Thank you so much for being such an inspiration and also for being so generous with your time and knowledge.
O thank you soon much! I do watercolor but am so into your composition teaching. Look so forward to seeing you every week. I was bad at composition in my early years so I went to sculpture. Then up close stuff. You have opened up things for me. Thank you so much.
I just found your channel and I must say you are a great artist as well as a great teacher. I learned a lot from the 3 videos I have watched so far. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your beautiful art.
I am so grateful that I found you! I am trying to get back to painting after many years and haven’t been able to find an instructor that I can connect to - either in person or online. Until now. Thank you for sharing SO MUCH knowledge. I’ve now structured my week to having a painting day each Tuesday. Grazie
