10 Quick And Easy Color Tips For Oil Painting

[@legendarynoob1477]

I started painting in early 2022. I never thought I would be so passionate about it and I'd learned about it so much. Now I'm getting requests of family and friends to paint for them. I'm doing it for free now but hoping to get better and the word gets out. You have been a major guide and mentor since I started my journey. Your video's keep me in check to be a better painter and keep me going back to fundamentals when I'm struggling. Thank you Chris, I appreciate what you do. Bless you and your work 🙏

[@tianna1116]

I could’ve written this comment myself (except I started earlier by a couple years) and I relate to everything you said. Especially about struggling and having to go back to basics. Who knew making decent art was so tough!

[@lifestylemagick]

Thank you for these valuable tipps. I am not painting on canvas but on miniatures and I just switched to oils and I love it. And you are helping me!

[@catherineflahr6160]

I have found that the older I get, the more stagnant my talent gets! I'm very sad about that. I look back at some of my drawings and paintings I did as a teenager and I'm amazed at how darn good I was! Lately, (now in my early 70's) I want that talent back. I have been following many artist from around the world; great professional artists but I just realized YOU have given me more effective, worthwhile painting tips than any other! I now have a much better understanding of colour mixing with warm, cool, distant, foreground, on and on! Thanks so much for all your 'free' valuable tips, and lessons. Cathie from Canada!

[@elsiegreer826]

Wow! Love how you pack so much info in! Most people, myself included, do not have hours to watch paint coaching. We are fortunate if we find time to do some actual painting. Your tips are super great and straightforward enough to help everyone. Thanks for being so generous to share

[@momokazi3215]

I can't believe how much o just learnt in 14 minutes. Thankyou for taking the time to teach us all new tips and tricks. Much appreciated.

[@amarijnn]

I never painted in my life because I thought I’d just be bad at it. After watching many of your videos I made my first two oil paintings today (lemons and tomatoes) and I felt so proud!! Showing it to people and them being actually impressed just showcases how good your videos are haha ❤

[@hope4sumthinghappy]

You are my paint coach!! Thank you for all the practical tips and advice - I’ve learned a lot from you and now I just got my first commission! Also, I’ve been teaching piano for 10+ years and from one teacher to another, it’s been a pleasure watching you develop as an instructor. We learn a lot from our students!

[@kathywhalley7238]

I love your videos and almost never miss any. It beats me how you keep coming up with amazingly simple tips and information. I Go to painting group 3 times a week, but your videos are where I learn the most. A very BIG THANK YOU from Kathy in Brussels, Belgium.

[@billjenkins5422]

Actually about to start a helmet type painting. I hope it will pop by establishing the desaturated colors. Video of the year. Priceless knowledge. Protect this man at all costs

[@halliejean]

This video is a 14 minute masterclass! Thank you for all that you share!

[@christinejones7522]

Hello from Cyprus. Thank you for such exact and clear instruction. Your delivery and content is so valuable and very much appreciated. ❤

[@nunyabusiness164]

Your videos have been really helpful for me as an art student - I love my professors but a lot of them aren't specialized in figurative painting in their own art practice. Really specific advice like this helps me get the basics right.

[@patricklynch1962]

I'm going to go use that ultramarine blue/yellow ochre tip right now. Thanks!

[@mimeem]

Sooo much valuable information here! I will watch this one several times so it sinks in👏

[@paintcoach]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@fnas2010]

Thank you very much Chris.. you always pack a ton of info into every video, I could never only watch it once to learn everything. I’ve improved by leaps and bounds ever since I started following you, and I find painting a lot more enjoyable. I cannot thank you enough.

[@francescobonacorsi5778]

Grande Maestro grazie per i suoi video sono utilissimi grazie 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kathleenhutter4412]

Really helpful tips Chris! I teach oil painting locally and your videos are really helpful to assist my students to understand the concepts that I'm working to teach them. Your visual aids are super helpful. I also love your honest candor and willingness to share that you make mistakes too! And you follow up with how to correct them. Thanks so much! And yes, I'm on your mailing list 🙂. Cheers!

[@nathanielovaughn2145]

I get more and more out of each successive tutorial you post. Slow your roll, bro; I am starting to get paralyzed from information overload! Lol, actually, DON'T slow your roll. I am seriously learning more in a single vid than many other channels provide in a year. Many thanks and blessings to you Chris.

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

Starting painting again, actually soft pastel but you’ve made me more interested in oils… the idea that blows my mind is I have been simply matching the colors in my reference photo. I liken this to cooking- my husband thinks I’m nuts because I don’t measure when I make something, maybe the first time. It’s about a little of this and that, understanding what will get me to where I want to go. Time too. Timer goes off he wants to remove from oven. No. You have to know when things are done. Making your paint colors is the same. Learn how to mix and you can go anywhere

[@jacobdb5465]

I'm looking for a good video on best practices for your palette when painting. How often do you clean, and manage your paint. how you think about cleaning your brush, when a palette knife is useful. Basically a video more on how to best use your tools off the canvas. Does Paint Coach have a video like this or has anyone else come across good content for this?

[@jcarolblair5614]

Your videos are the best! So many great practical tips! After years of using acrylics, I have switched over to oils and I love them, but I would be lost without your tips!!! Thank you 🙏🏼!

[@Rajshrees_canvas]

Amazing lesson.....so much informative....you make it step by step that makes a great sense of learning....

[@clairegunn1698]

this has empowered me so much for my painting - thank you!

[@ArtByRopri]

WOW So Beautiful Landscape painting, Using Colours are Amazing 🌺💜💐

[@susanback9127]

So much to learn about colors. Thanks for this great video. 🇨🇦

[@paintcoach]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tommcauliffe3070]

Hi paint coach, would you consider doing a video on the topic of contrast; specifically foreground vs mid ground/background. Usually the focal point of interest is in the mid ground or background, and that’s where we want the most contrast (at the focal point), however in reality the foreground objects have more contrast due to their proximity. How do we have more contrast at our focal point, if it is in the distance, yet maintain a sense of aerial perspective?

[@laowaistudieschina7470]

Probably the best video you have done to date!

[@nitinh2499]

Very helpful Chris… thanks for being so generous with all your knowledge and sharing it with your audience. Much appreciated! 👍🏼

[@danielledowner7885]

Very helpful video, exactly what I needed at the level I'm currently at. Love the practical advice

[@afafyounaki608]

I like the way of your paint teaching,, thanks a lot 👍 🙏 💐

[@dbuck242]

You give the best painting tips ever

[@itsaisha37]

Your videos always offer such valuable insights. Thank you for sharing this. I am trying to get better at being conscious of my colour choices while painting and this really helped.

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

I find the red filter to check values to be super helpful!

[@RachelIsettsArt]

Love and appreciation from Sarasota county!

[@IODigA.Artist]

Awesome color tips! Especially the points around saturation. Chroma is something I'm really focusing on right now. Thanks for another awesome video

[@paintcoach]

Happy to help!

[@karenmkelly]

Great videos! Love your Tisch hat, too!

[@ArtFlowersBeeze8815]

Great tips! I am just starting to paint on very dark, almost black backgrounds. Going to try to use complimentary colour super dark background in an effort to pop my subject.

[@lorachristian7030]

Excellent!..Love your videos!

[@roostertheguy]

I feel conflicted about not using pure white, I agree to what you are saying but one of my most successful paintings is a snow landscape where I just got the bright light on a sunny day down. I used thick impasto pure titanium white for parts of the snow. Ive gotten more compliments on it than any other painting.

[@InAHollowTree]

I tend to like snow paintings that “pop” with the white, and I rather liked the beach painting he said was too bright. It’s a matter of different tastes, I guess.

[@raymondpaul123]

Fabulous information, Thank you so much.

[@carolynderricks3226]

Hi Chris, have you made a video on your plein air set up and equipment? I haven’t seen it if you did. Anyway I’ve been put off by how and what to bring to plein air but I’d really like to try oil painting outdoors. So far I’ve just done watercolors and some acrylic painting.

[@Morrneyo]

The color cadmium red is not legally allowed in South Korea. Is there an alternative color?

[@taketimetoseait396]

Shades of blues for different areas of the sky with clouds that compliment? Monet painting of the sky still looks different than other impressionist paintings.?

[@JTonyArts]

For a couple of years I didn't use white at all but replaced it with titanium buff. Sg the end if it needed brightening I could add a very little white to pop it. I also replaced black with Payne’s Gray for the same reason.

[@vera33133]

very helpful video!! i’m currently practicing value for portraits right now :)

[@Mikes10241]

Thanks Chris!

[@sidara]

Gosh…you are so helpful. Thank you🥰

[@themysteriousdomain8249]

That's how I work too. And ptinting the sources makes it more fun because its right there.

[@misspetite9285]

Thank you for sharing! This video is a gem ❤

[@earthempresstv]

great tips and reminders!

[@dennispfeil]

Great tips again Chris!

[@SS-mh2ye]

Awesome video! Thanks

[@ginguu2490]

Thank you, this video was extremely insightful

[@melanies7305]

Brilliant video as always!

[@1sacoyle]

When I started painting with 'real' paints some 60 years ago, I took to painting like a duck to water! I found myself becoming very frustrated with mixing the colors I wanted. Blue & yellow didn't make the green I was trying to get and that was true for most mixes not knowing why this was happening. Finally I came across a book that explained color bias in artist paints. Ultra marine blue has a red bias and Cad. yellow med. has a red bias. Right there you have all 3 primaries with these 2 paints giving you a very de saturated green. Where as Cerulean blue (a green blue) and lemon yellow ( a green yellow) will give you a very pure green because there is no red in the mix.I have rarely found any instructor or books on painting that talk about paint 's bias.

[@InternetPirate7]

Straight to the point, thanks👍

[@ScottHebertArt]

Great info but do you even Tisch bro?

[@rebeccaking3514]

I was wondering if anyone else noticed the Tisch cap....

[@59jaguar]

Any videos on high contrast skin colors in shadows and light?

[@chriscallen6897]

That’s so true about not painting something pure white. When I paint a white car , there’s hardly any pure white on the paint job. Sometimes painting white objects are the most challenging.

[@thestaz8564]

great tips Paint Coach thanks !

[@Elaine-tk7nx]

Really interesting and useful content. Although some of it feels delivered at a rushed pace and terms like "de-saturated colour" would benefit from being explained in my view. Thanks for the useful tips.

[@lordofthe6string]

I went through art college, got great marks and graduated, and I genuinely think I was bad until recently when I started laying down the darkest darks first. I honestly think it's the most important thing here. At least for me.

[@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart]

Agreed... I always work dark to light... Color by Felix is the only youtube painter I've seen who works light to dark and teaches working light to dark, but it doesn't work for me.

[@daxx6687]

Zorn palette is magic :D

[@muhlenstedt]

Is ist a good idea to have a cool blue like Pthalo and a warmer like Ultra Marine ?

[@LightSyde1]

I would recommend not using alizarin crimson. It is prone to not being lightfast. Using permanent alizarin or quinacrine magenta is much better for longer lasting effects.

[@impish22]

always helpful.. thanks again

[@primemover7898]

very helpful, thank you

[@leticiascpaila]

Hello very usefull your tips. Thanks!""

[@hollitheexaltedempress6957]

Coach, I like that painting hanging on your wall that has a lot of people's faces in it. I want to create an almost like that. where can I get a chance to see that one up close?

[@0001sam1]

question, still confused with ala prima... do you still need to follow the fat over lean rule in ala prima? i soften the paint with a small amount of linseed oil, does this mean that i can no longer use pure paint since pure paint is leaner now love your work and how you help us

[@DannySabraArt]

Fat over lean doesn't apply to alla prima painting because since all the paint is wet it is all one paint film and will dry together. If you paint in layers, thats where you want to add more oil or medium as you go, and so you are correct, pure paint is leaner in that context than paint with medium added.

[@petercourt]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@michalisvalasoglou7019]

Don't you miss the greens and purples when using the Zorn palette for a portrait? Thanks for your videos Chris.

[@terrymatlen8193]

Hi Chris- new to your site here and learning a lot. I'm trying to purchase the easel clamp light you recommend but Amazon doesn't have them anymore. Is there another one you can recommend? Thanks!

[@Anoek66]

Super helpful!

[@felipenatural787]

Rookie question.. what is in that can?? Water?? Thanks

[@gkemmitz]

Very interesting…. what’s up with the Tisch cap? 😀

[@hermancroix9241]

Chris I heard that Crimson with time fades big. Is there any true on this statement?

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

Fantastic info!!

[@TobyHoffman-h5e]

can you please share what are the names of the primary color paints

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Chris where can I find that red film you mentioned to see black and white? How to use it?

[@HondoTrailside]

I'm a big fan of the Zorn palette, but... It sorta doesn't exist for two reasons: 1) Basically none of the colors are still made. The worst is the black, because we do burn a lot of Ivory, we just don't make it into paint any more. And all the fancy dark paint names, now come down to one color, basically soot, that has zero blue in it. Of course, as you say you can paint with only primaries, but that doesn't help when choosing a color palette. Then they don't make a Zorn Crimson any more, was it fugitive, or toxic? They do make Yellow Ochre, and I worry less about it, but I am not convinced that of the many Ochre pigments we are all that close. And then there is the whole lead vs Titanium thing. 2) The other reason is that while Zorn palettes are all over the internet, I was in conversation with a very expert and senior paint tech at one of the biggest paint companies, whose paint is used by many famous artists. To my shock he had never heard of the Zorn palette. Most companies sell a limited primaries (often plus a creepy green) palette, but many people would be better off if they could get a Zorn palette in single pigment colors. But as with the car that runs on water "they won't let us have it". :) And all this kinda matters because the reason there is a Zorn palette (assuming there actually was, which some contest), is that it has built in color harmony that allows a student to use a reduced palette, without needing to have mastered color harmony principles that are actually quite advanced. Probably the most sophisticated advocate of an unrestricted primaries palette (creates basically all the colors) is Mark Carder. I can't think of any other teacher, or for that mater, paint company that has actually brought a sophisticated primaries palette to the table, as has Mark. He deals with the color harmony problem by starting with expert level photographs, that the palette then copies as best as paint can. The color harmony is in the photograph...

[@pesterlig]

Faux 'ivory' black, crimson, cad yellow hue, titanium-zinc white can still get you quickly into a skin-toned portrait exercise. I've recently learned so much using variations on the so-called Zorn Palette. Another fun thing is to take an old student attempt and paint over it with a richly saturated mid tone, rag it off so it's not too wet, then make a limited palette (dark, light, red, yellow) that is mostly across and to one side of the color wheel from the underpainting, then try to paint your own face with a mirror. You get some fun Fauvism happening

[@tobewiser1629]

Are you the artist or are you commenting on someone else's work? Can't seem to find one of your videos showing you painting! Great skill whoever the artist is.

[@allenvoss7977]

Excellent

[@JimMeeker]

Nice Hat Bro!!!

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

The Man with the Golden Helmet is now not considered to be a Rembrandt. 🙂

[@kyrie0033]

Try Zorn palette with indian red. It goes much much easier. At the end you can always add some cadmium red in some points... but keep it like an emergency exit. You will find that indian red gives even more natural dark shadows. The best for you :)

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

I hope to see a video with this!!

[@Sqwifeve]

Can I use a rag and wash it rather than one use paper towels? I'm trying to be more green.

[@jojojo8835]

Lol the British sky is usually more payne’s grey than ultramarine! Seriously tho, even on a clear day I think it depends on the quality of the sunlight and how much of what kind of atmosphere it passes through before it gets to us.

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

His point though is that the sky colour needs to be kept clean - that's true of a grey sky as much as it is of a blue. Looking out of the window right now, mind you - I see your point! Beautiful blue it ain't..... Look out for skies in the paintings of Sir Kyffin Williams - often grey, but never heavy or muddy.

[@evertvandenberghe]

Thanks a lot!

[@jimnicosia5934]

What are saturated colors?

[@kathyklarfeld2971]

ty

[@josemederos5021]

Excelent!

[@Jonquilness]

sweet!

[@francescobonacorsi5778]

Grazie di cuore

[@kdjourney51]

❤️❤️❤️

[@fralinsandfriends]

I've been painting scenes from the Bible in order to help the passage I'm talking about. I want the painting to help them visualize the event. The faces are middle-eastern, so I have been using yellow ochre. What colors would help the face of Jesus pop out of the painting around him? 😁😁👋👋💖💖

[@RobertF-]

The skin tone of some middle eastern people like the Jews in Israel 2,000 years ago has been described as "olive skin". Which means it has very subtle amounts of olive green in the tones. It has to be extremely subtle though to be realistic. The most striking way to show this would be to contrast it with a reddish sky in the background showing the sunrise or sunset. Also, I don't know if you ever paint Jesus during his crucifixion but one thing that people should realize is that the blood from the crown of thorns was there for a long time which means the blood would have dried, and it's important to realize that dried blood is a dark brown color, not red. I know this because I once cut my hand and wasn't able to wash the blood off for awhile. I was surprised when it turned a dark brown color. Brown is a dark red or a dark orange, when mixing color. The head wounds Jesus suffered would have lead to lots of blood bleeding out, the forehead and head really bleeds a lot from wounds. So his face would have been covered in dried brown blood. I'm just mentioning this because most people don't seem to realize that, and I literally have never seen an accurate painting of Jesus being crucified with his face covered in dried brown blood. God bless.

[@MickKemeling]

That "man met de gouden helm" is not a Rembrandt. Its most likely made by one of his students. Thanks for the video!

[@woahthere541]

Your paintings make me feel a lot better about mine lmao

[@anjieskaya]

TU:-)

[@omnesilere]

yeah but how to paint good?

[@pipemma1893]

Practice. Then practice some more.