Get OIL PAINT to do what you WANT it to do

My Foundations of Oil Painting course! - paint-coach.teachable.com/p/o...
Patreon - / paintcoach
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Painting Books I Like
The War of Art- amzn.to/308h9gN
Carlsons Guide to Landscape Painting - amzn.to/2ZBppWH
Composition of Outdoor Painting - amzn.to/3fFeQHM
Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color - amzn.to/39z7gum
Landscape Painting Inside & Out - amzn.to/3i7rpgy
Materials I like
proportional divider - amzn.to/3dkbfP8
Basic level oil paint - amzn.to/3jJPo6d
Higher quality oil paint - amzn.to/3iFREtD
Gamsol Paint thinner - amzn.to/3dyJzWf
Linseed Oil Medium - amzn.to/2o1HgGq
Canvas Pad - amzn.to/35fMFsW
Stretched Canvas - amzn.to/3dGCvqW
Easel - amzn.to/3jWAABK
Best Brushes Ever! www.rosemaryandco.com
Easel Light - amzn.to/3lrHuyI
I Pad holder - amzn.to/38M7vU4
Clamps - amzn.to/33cVCpO
Brush Dip - genevafineart.com/products/br...
Air Purifier - amzn.to/2UAT4wg
Apron - amzn.to/2xn1EGl
Water Mixable Oils
Cobra - amzn.to/3jLCmVM
Aqua Duo - amzn.to/3lu2OUm
Winsor and Newton - amzn.to/3lr8ZIE
Water mixable mediums
Gamsol gel - amzn.to/3jJ1Pza
Linseed oil - amzn.to/34DqBKx
Cobra medium - amzn.to/33Jpg5V
Filming
Camera - amzn.to/33G0xzg
lighting - amzn.to/2GNkb3s
Camera arm amzn.to/33IRbCG
Mic set up - amzn.to/34Gd2Kn
Hi, I am the son of two artists and began painting in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia before I could walk. I was a rare combination of artist and athlete so I moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to play football for USC. I left the team my sophomore year to focus on painting and filmmaking, applying the same focus and discipline from my football career to my art. I primarily work in oils, and spend most free days painting "en plein air" in my new home of Sarasota Florida.
DISCLAIMER: Links in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
www.chrisfornataro.com

[@Expressionistix]

It’s all in the pressure you use to apply paint. If you press into wet paint with a loaded brush it will mix into that wet paint but if you lightly glide your loaded brush on top of that wet paint there is enough resistance to pull the paint off your brush without disturbing the wet paint underneath. It’s a bit like cake decorating.

[@callmejackaroo4723]

I probably would not have finally made the switch to oils had I not stumbled across your tutorials. I couldn't find videos that made the distinctions make sense & how to approach them. Now I'm kind of like, why the hell would anyone use acrylics haha. Thanks my man.

[@triggerfish999]

Totally agree. And there are also soft pastels 😉

[@gautambarua8260]

Love your no nonsense style of teaching. You get down to the nuts and bolts immediately without the long talk and intros of many others. Great👍

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! I appreciate that you appreciate that

[@dogloverjb6873]

that pit bull painting in the background is amazing!

[@elesewest2498]

The dog in the crown is adorable!

[@HrKosmoshosen]

"Getting the paint off the brush" was a very helpful way to describe the process! It certainly has a different feel from watercolor. Thank you for your helpful content!

[@Jennafer4500]

I had this problem this morning. You are reading my mind! New oil painter here and I have been living and breathing your videos. Thank you :)

[@paintcoach]

That’s awesome! Keep painting!

[@paintwithruru5690]

I’m starting my oil paint journey because of your videos and other KZbin artists here!

[@paintcoach]

That's great!

[@meghanworkman6449]

Agreed! Chris, your videos are what have given me the push and the confidence to try oil painting. I'd dabbled in acrylic and just wasn't happy with the results but was convinced oil painting was too "hard" and "scary". I'm going to sign up for your course this week and get started - thank you so much for your clear and no-nonsense instructions!

[@annedeguernon8117]

You are just incredible. Just starting oil painting. I was at a loss to why I couldnt paint over paint. Now I understand the topic of first painting thin and putting gradually more paint on my brush. You are an amazingly good teacher. The first I watch who is that clear and to the point. Congrats!

[@SimonaBuna]

I don't think I ever saw painting video lessons much simpler than yours. You are so down to earth on what and how you are explaining oil painting. I really enjoy your videos and I learned a lot from them!

[@Polecat54941]

I really miss oils since going Acrylic but looking forward to going back once my current works are finished :)

[@giovanafraenkel6627]

Coach, will there be a video of that pitbull with a crown? Looks incredible! I love your videos

[@jeffm3283]

Hey you're right, oil paint isn't the boss of me. Thanks coach

[@tbatrics]

Just wanted to tell you that your videos like this are already having a positive impact on my work. Thanks!

[@lauraflicker2850]

Thank you! I just finished the landscape study in your Fundamentals course and this answers my questions.

[@jonroads8281]

Great video, really good to see your brushwork so clearly and have it explained so well!

[@richmoab]

Your videos have helped me a LOT. I have a two part question: Do you ever wipe your brush or clean your brush during these demos; and/or do you use different brushes for darks and lights? I can't figure this out even after watching most of your videos, but I think you must be doing it, even if off-camera and not mentioned. Maybe it was explained in a video I haven't watched yet. Thank you very much for your work.

[@paintcoach]

I actually never wash my brushes ever lol when I paint I am constantly wiping my brush on a paper towel. That’s my main way of cleaning my brush

[@richmoab]

@@paintcoach Thank you! That is a huge help. I was pretty sure you had to be wiping/cleaning brushes off camera.

[@ralphstachler661]

Really enjoy your explanations. Been painting many years. Most of my knowledge came from school of hard knocks. Wish I could have had this many years ago !

[@lynnebryan9984]

Your videos are so very practical and helpful, thanks!

[@samjaneannie5831]

Love these videos! They’re so helpful for enhancing my skills

[@paintcoach]

Glad you like them and are getting better!

[@ivogranatasigns4267]

Amazing Pit Portrait

[@bigsole1972]

Love the tutes and tips! Thank you so much.

[@celiamuncaster2046]

Thank you Chris. So helpful. I am a seasoned watercolourist starting out in oils. Your videos will really help me move forward. Celia

[@mehwishgeorge8812]

Hi Chris! Great informative video!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@5chrooms]

So grateful for the informative vids man thanks 🙏🙏🙏

[@yataBEAR]

Super duper helpful!! Thank you so much!!!

[@sy2.083]

Ty very much! I am indeed struggling with getting the colors I want! Ty

[@dricus81]

Love your videos.

[@mariebrave2647]

Thanks I needed this

[@jonn7291]

Thanks Chris 🙂👍

[@jolakedra2998]

Brilliant! Thank you ❤️

[@lopezelba1]

Thank you. So helpful.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Oddly, these tips work for acrylics too. When I worked wet onto wet with acrylics, (5 minute rush!) this is how I did it!

[@aysek.b.3445]

This is very helpful

[@lauraorem1276]

This is very clear and helpful. Thanks!

[@paintcoach]

Perfect!

[@hannahtezza706]

Hi, I only wish that I could have seen your reference picture. It would have been good to have. Thank you for your tutorials, I really enjoy watching them and learning more about oil painting. Many Blessings, from Annette Queensland Australia.

[@judysweeney649]

Love your stuff.... very helpful when you explain your color mixtures. ( can you show us how to mix reds)? Barn red, fire engine red ? Thanks for everything

[@milesmack2197]

Do you have a favorite paper towel for wiping paint off your brushes? Loved this video so much - you’re just the best!

[@moonmagnolia7]

Viva, with no print, is the best paper towel to use. You can also use an old cotton t-shirt.

[@sakkirhussain7939]

thankyou so much.... :)

[@allenvoss7977]

Very helpful!!! Thank you ! how can I use a fast dry medium with the turpentine when blocking in? what is the best method for that ? And can you show a video on how to apply a fast dry medium and turpentine together to the paint when blocking it?

[@sandorkocso1798]

i'm a painfully slow learner. is this fat over lean?! and i loved when you took the knife to apply the highlights! really makes an impact. and the highlight on the trunk at the end. it's slowly clicking for me. thanks, coach!

[@TheVonSmallhausen]

Great video! I'm struggling with this since I started painting. When I apply paint on top of my painting it just blends instead of adding a new layer

[@oscaroscar2778]

This has helped me so much starting out. Is there any difference between gamsol and hardware store grade oms? I don’t use gamsol but if it is an improvement I can definitely switch.

[@sarasoso7727]

let your great hair flow 😍😍

[@tomschellingmusic]

Hi Chris! Thanks for this, always super helpful. Quick question-do you use artist grade paints or student grades?

[@mogalcat3091]

He uses Gamblin

[@atelier_nona]

Thank you so much for this video, that was really helpful, as all of your content is! Do you happen to know anything about solvent free painting, though? If so, would it be possible to address this in a future video? I’m sure, lots of people would be interested in your opinion and knowledge on it. In my case, I am so far only using Gamblin Paint straight from the tube and I’m sometimes adding a little of their solvent free gel onto the brush, but the fat over lean rule confuses me a lot. As I understand it, adding that gel (which is a medium essentially, since it’s safflower oil) makes the paint fat. So I should save that for later layers. But... since I paint alla prima anyway... can I just use it moderately to help spread the paint easier? And if absolutely needed, I could glaze on top with mostly Gamblins solvent free gel and just a hint of color. Once the whole painting has dried, of course. Would such an approach be alright and still “fat over lean”? Thank you so much for making oil painting approachable and less scary!

[@SmillyDonut]

Hi. Oil painter here. If you are painting alla prima you can use the Solvent-Free Gel throughout the painting because all your layers of paint will dry as one. As for 'glazing' with the gel, always keep in mind that Gamblin advises that you never use more than 20% to 25% of the medium with the oil paint. In other words, be careful not to use too much of the medium at any point in time.

[@atelier_nona]

@@SmillyDonut thank you so much for your help! I’ll keep that in mind the next time I practice. I hoped the gel wouldn’t cause trouble when used alla prima, so it’s good to hear that it won’t.

[@SmillyDonut]

@@atelier_nona Glad to help. 😊

[@clownpocket]

Do a video on ventilation to manage paint thinner fumes.

[@gautambarua8260]

Just fit an exhaust fan😄😄

[@Scopsel]

I'm curious, do you ever paint with lead whites or other more toxic paints? I use lead white when I paint animal portraits because of its thickness, warmth and blending properties, but I am very nervous to use paint thinner with it because of the potential for splashing and creating particles. If you haven't encountered this issue, no worries!

[@msrmaganti]

😊

[@cheers2023]

I added a lot of paint to the point that I see cracks everywhere. I didn't use any medium, should I have?

[@isabella-zx2dc]

this helps immensely. my only outstanding issue with oils is mixing paint prior to painting (with a knife) vs. mixing with a brush. you've made content on both, but paint all your pieces in your videos while mixing on a brush. can you provide some info on this? both become incredibly frustrating after a while.

[@moonmagnolia7]

He has so much experience he knows how to mix colors on the fly to obtain the color he wants. I don’t so I prefer to mix most of my colors using a palette knife so I don’t wear out my brushes and so I can ensure I have enough of the color I want. One thing that has helped me learn color theory and mixing is to play with my paints. I create color charts and color wheels of different colors and temperatures just to see what they’ll do. Have fun.

[@ameerramchand5606]

Great video , one question , is it ok to use mineral oil as a medium in my sketches because linseed oil is hard to find and is expensive here

[@moonmagnolia7]

I would not think so. Mineral oil is drying. The point of linseed oil is to add “fat”. Cheapjoes.com sells it.

[@elisetilton8200]

Why didn't you use the linseed oil at all?

[@bettyjwhite9315]

thanks for this. so when you say the first layers are thinner but still not a wash, have you dipped in linseed oil to thin it? do you ever use the turpentine for the early stages (post wash) or is it always the oil?

[@paintcoach]

I start with thinner and then move to linseed oil and then straight paint but it’s not an exact science

[@moonmagnolia7]

Start with a little thinner in your paint, then use straight paint, then if necessary, you can add a little linseed or walnut oil to your paints. Think fat over lean, thick over thin.

[@heifs]

Great content! Why did you added linseed oil when painting the exterior part of the sky, to the left, instead of keep mixing more white and blue? I still don't know when to use linseed oil or if I should stay with pure Oil paint all the way Thanks!

[@gabrieliusgasparavicius]

I love you

[@powderriverfarrier]

Helpful? Heck no one provides useful, insightful content to enhance our skills like you do!

[@tproud]

If you are painting a commission and your paint is so thick on top layers, how long do you wait for the painting to be ready to ship?

[@paintcoach]

I wait until it’s touch dry and then put retouch varnish on it

[@tproud]

@@paintcoach Can you then roll it up and ship it that way? Or do you have to ship it framed? Thank you.

[@moonmagnolia7]

Depending on the paint and thickness of paint used, it can takes 6-12 months to completely dry. Varnishes should be added after the paint is completely dry.

[@tproud]

@@moonmagnolia7 I know that but does he always wait 6 to 12 months to ship the painting to a customer?...

[@hamisisalmah8764]

Thanks for the pointers am al the way in kenya and iam currently struggling with this muddy effect of oil paint thank you so much in sha Allah please do a video of how to paint on rough textured such us sacks

[@moonmagnolia7]

I would recommend putting 2-3 layers of acrylic gesso or acrylic paint on the textured sacks first to clog up the holes and give the oil paint something to adhere to.

[@hamisisalmah8764]

@@moonmagnolia7 idont think we have acrylic gesso in kenya we just read about it in art school can 3 courts of undercoat surfice? Moon magnolia. ?

[@hamisisalmah8764]

@@moonmagnolia7 thanks

[@changemymind06]

@@hamisisalmah8764 do you mean an undercoat of acrylic paint? If so it might be a little too slippery to paint on with oils but some love that texture.. but if you lightly scuff or sand the undercoat it should be rough enough for oil paint to hold on to. Good luck!

[@amandap2903]

How does your paint thinner stay so clean?? My turned dark green after my second dip. Then turned all of the paints dark green!

[@paintcoach]

Don’t think of the thinner as a way to clean your brush. That’s what the paper towels are for. The thinner is there to loosen up the paint on your brush so you can wipe it off with the paper towel

[@amandap2903]

@@paintcoach so wipe dip wipe?

[@chaitybiswas9546]

🌺🌺🥰🙏🇧🇩Thank you!

[@lemontree405]

Is pure paint thicker than paint with linseed oil? Thank you :)

[@paintcoach]

Yep

[@lemontree405]

thank you, I learn so much from your Videos and I am starting your course today :)

[@elizabethhunt5536]

Many thanks Chris. Still like to know why you sometimes use Alizarin Crimson as your primary red and sometimes Cadmium Red - could you explain?

[@paintcoach]

There’s not much to it. Both work

[@elizabethhunt5536]

@@paintcoach Ok thanks. Thought there might be some vital secret!

[@moonmagnolia7]

Alizarin crimson is a bluish red, so it’s a cool red. Cadmium red is an orange red, so it’s a warm red. When you mix these two reds with any other color, say for example lemon yellow, the resulting colors will be different. So it just depends on what color you want. An enlightening exercise is to create a color chart. Put a warm and cool red, yellow, and blue across the top and side and then mix those colors together where the columns and rows intersect. You could also create two color wheels, one using warm primary colors and one using cool primary colors. The resulting colors are different.

[@honeygirlsapiary]

I am wondering if you hear the following brought up by other people: I am finding that I like paints from a couple companies and I like linseed oil and solvent from different companies. The issue is a little ocd thought that wants to get everything from the same company. I guess this is something more a counselor should address? 🤣🤣 As in...paints and mediums are just as interchangeable from company to company same as brushes and canvases and everything else...right?

[@moonmagnolia7]

I would think paint manufacturers create their mediums to work best with their paints. For example Sennelier uses safflower oil in their paints instead of linseed oil so they also sell safflower oil to mix with their oil paints. I don’t know if they sell a thinner or not so I just bought a generic one recommended by a more experienced artist friend. I also prefer to have everything from the same brand (yes it is a little ocd), but due to different instructors requiring different brands for specific colors, I’ve ended up with different brands. The upside to that is I can see how different brands behave. The downside is they don’t all match. The bottom line is you can do what you want.

[@RT-wl6tq]

Yo! Paint Coach, may I make a suggestion...can you start doing facial features such as ears since that tree had the shape..lol...maybe make a portrait course with some practice lessons...one person im desperately trying to paint is Telly Suvalas aka Kojak...our STEELERS were robbed by the rigged NFL

[@paintcoach]

I’m actually thinking my next course will only be on portraits and go really in depth. I’m still sad about the Steelers

[@MontOneBrno]

I would like to know what the people who disliked the video have to say about it.