In this post I want to go over a couple of points that people seem confused about when it comes to my oil painting instructional products.

1) A gentleman from Australia told me that he can’t learn from me because he is in Australia and I am in the United States.

This is not right at all. I ship to just about every country that the United States post office will deliver to. I have shipped to well over 20 countries. That is one of the main benefits of the internet – you can learn from me wherever you are. You can communicate with me wherever you are.

I still think people think I am promoting a class I am going to teach in person. That’s not what my products are about at all. They are about learning in your own home, at your own pace, with the instruction you would like to receive from a top oil painting class. The problem is many of you can’t afford a top oil painting class, can’t get to the oil painting class when it meets, or just are not getting the lessons you so desperately want. As far as that last one…I refer to when class is more like an art class for a 3 year old rather than a true place where you learn a principle of oil painting for every class you attend.

2) Many people write to me and tell me what they want to learn from me. They tell me of their overwhelming desire to paint better. They tell me they want me to help them.

The answer – go buy The Insider Guide to the Secrets of Oil Painting.

I’m not sure if you don’t know I have a course for sale, or you are hoping I will teach you through email for free. But, I do have help for you, it’s my course so go get yourself a copy and download it immediately after you order.

3) What is the best way to start to learn how to oil paint?

Learn Your Supplies.

That’s always my advice. Learn what you have to work with. Your support (canvas, wood, paper, etc) to start with. There is a huge difference between the canvas you can buy in a hobby shop, rip off the plastic and start painting and a real good quality canvas.

SIDENOTE: Did you even know that your canvas, wood panel, etc was called the support? There is a very simple, yet huge lesson to learn if you truly understand that term. If you truly understand why they call it a support will improve your oil painting immediately.

What do you think is prepared better? Grandma’s homemade chicken soup that takes a day to make or the stuff in a can from campbells?

Also, you must learn about the paint itself. I suggest making some paint from scratch at least once, just so you can understand what it is that you are using. And before you roll your eyes and say “make paint? that’s so hard.”…No it’s not.

All you need is a jar of pigment, a palette knife and some oil. If you want to mix it more thoroughly you will need a muller and slab. But, many times I just use a palette knife and my palette.

How about your brushes? Do you know the differences in all the brushes you can use? How about mediums? Do you know what will happen if you add cold pressed linseed oil to your already mixed paint? How about if you add sun thickened oil? How about stand oil? How about damar varnish, how about venetian turpentine?

If you answered “no” this is one reason you aren’t painting the way you want to.

If you see an effect in a painting by Renoir, or Rembrandt and you want to duplicate that effect, it will be much easier if you understand your oil painting supplies.

When you have my home study course, start with the manual The Secrets Of Oil Painting Supplies Made-Easy. Read it over and over if you have to and you will have a thorough understanding of your supplies. Enough so that you will know how to use your supplies to help you, not hinder you.

It’s something you won’t find in oil painting classes. Many times you will just be told to bring a list of certain supplies to the class, but never given lessons as to what they are, how to use them or why you use them.

Related posts:

1. Overdoing an Oil Painting Instruction Formula
2. oil painting beyond the painters on tv
3. Are your oil painting lessons helping you