My 10 Best Oil Painting TIPS To Instantly Improve Your Paintings

[@Lacroix999]

In college for my painting class, we had to go out and find a long stick. When we came back, we were told to tape one end to the end of our paintbrush and then paint. We painted about 99% of our painting this way and were told to stop and fill in the smaller details with a smaller brush close up and only had about a minute to do so before going back to the sticked brush. This helped us to learn to stand back as well as be more careful about where to put the right values. We were also taught that if we have a hard time painting/drawing something, instead of avoiding it, then to paint only just that until we ‘master’ it. Hands were a good example of that. So instead of doing a painting of someone’s hands out of the way to avoid them, make sure they’re the center of the painting or paint a painting of only just hands. Painting/drawing what you see instead of painting/drawing what you THINK you see helps drastically here and it’s important to understand the difference between the two! Once you ‘master’ this new way of seeing, the better off you’ll be because then you can paint/draw anything!

[@zackerywalker880]

So interesting, particularly the last remark - I've been bingeing art videos (especially this channel!) and SEEING properly - developing a way of looking at the world directly instead of through a ''screen'' of thoughts - this notion keep coming up again and again! And the way you say that one can paint/draw anything if one simply learns to look and observe... It's fundamental! Thank you for sharing, that's such a clever tip to use a stick to extend the length of the brush! Happy painting :)

[@Lacroix999]

@@zackerywalker880 you’re welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@americanpsychonaut]

1. Drawing: Use center lines to help make an accurate drawing 2. Underpainting: block in and map the darkest darks and lightest lights 3. Blocking: Err on the darker side of the value because it's easier to build on 4. Step Back often from your Canvas about 6ft 5. Remove dark umber and black from palette if paintings aren't vibrant enough 6. Use natural daylight lighting or equivalent bulb 7. Phones are too small to use as reference 8. Keep your subject matter the same until you get a general understanding 9. Don't think of gray as a color but a "greyed down color" 10. Put more paint on your palette so that there's a good enough amount on the canvas

[@MariaRevArt]

Thanks. 🙂

[@Newlinjim]

Thank you. Now I can print it, tape it to the easel and beat it into my iffy memory!

[@user-qx6ky9zg7e]

U r a herooo xD

[@danielgwillym9339]

Thanks for this, I'm gonna add this to my notes!

[@neenakandwal6191]

Thank you Jake!

[@colombepetite]

I started watercolor painting a few years ago and just started oil painting. The concepts are reversed and it really challenges me (very therapeutic though), my biggest issue so far is “putting enough paint on my palette.” I am so frugal with my paints that it makes some things so much more difficult than it is. All of your tips will help me, but mostly that one. Thank you.

[@peanutthelion815]

I don't know if this will interest you, but I've started using Dorlans Wax Medium. It's very cheap and you can mix it with oils. I've loved using it - it gives me the ability to basically double the amount of paint I'm using, but it costs less than a tiny tube of paint. It's also really fun for textural effects. I feel like it helps my paint dry a little faster when I apply the paint thick, too. Plus, I use it to seal my gouache paintings when I'm done with them.

[@StacBurger-x6s]

I have to tell you that was one of the best tip videos I’ve seen, and thank you you were direct to the point and didn’t over talk anything it was refreshing and enjoyable to watch

[@brittanyisabellaart9105]

I loveeeee tip #8! I recently started doing that (was getting really frustrated with water that washes up on shore and trying to understand the translucence of it while still having form), and it actually really works to just keep going through the difficult moment. I realized I was seeing it with how my mind gives meaning to it rather than what I was actually seeing. I turned the painting upside down and just worked on what I saw, and it was a major break through! I finally got water washing up on shore to look like water washing up on shore!

[@emmelyxoxo3058]

Turning a paining upside dow is such a great idea never thought of it

[@skinnygirlBwatchinU]

drawing upside down is how i do many foreshortened objects and anything that looks looks wonky! it really forces your your brain to shut up and just draw it as it is.

[@LizGridleyArtist]

It's a lot easier to lighten your values than it is to darken it when wet❤️ 100% yes!!!

[@Walperion_Music]

Oh yes! Especially if titanium white got mixed in your darks - that's a mess to darken it when wet!

[@NozaOz]

I honestly thought he stumbled when he said this, as I always just (intuitively) thought that darker pigment was more dominant than lighter pigment?

[@itsshepherd5618]

@@NozaOzthink translucent | opague

[@Renata-rv7wp]

@@NozaOz 1) pigment (or chromatic) strength is an entirely different subject and i suggest you read up on it, and also read about opacity and transparency, it solves many painting issues; 2) you will never ever get pure dark colour (ex. black, burnt umber, ultramarine deep) once you mix even the slightest bit of white (or opaque light colour, refer to point one) in it

[@NozaOz]

This is really awesome man. You’re honest and you genuinely want people to be able to confidently paint. It’s just so great seeing this kind of attitude on KZbin, thank you man

[@trentriver]

Great tips. Another thing I have found very helpful is to take pictures as you go along because the camera picks up things that you miss even if you step back often - which i do.

[@heyitsritu]

I feel like I owe this guy so much. I can't put in words how much he has helped me. Tbh he single-handedly taught me oilpainting😭😭😭😭😭😭 thank you so much Chriss😭😭😭💜💜💜

[@Music-ts8io]

I'm listening and nodding and smiling. These are all things I've already figured out, or things I know I still do wrong and need to change - haha. More paint on my palette! I struggle trying to rehydrate little tiny blobs of old paint and I never get the colors right agan the next day when I remix. Maybe today will be different. Thank you!

[@amytaylor1702]

Wow, you’re such a gifted teacher! I feel lucky to have found your videos . Thank you for sharing I really appreciate it.

[@jakecavendish3470]

Another thing that can help, towards the end of painting, is to hold the painting in the mirror. Any errors in composition and proportion will leap out at you. I don't do abstracts so not sure if it would work for those but it works well for landscapes and really well for human and animal subjects

[@lorrainemclaughlin9185]

When I went to art school (many years ago!) I often used the mirror to get a different perspective on my painting. Amazing what the mirror revealed! Now retired, I'm trying to renew my interest in painting,

[@amylunden8246]

Tip nine about gray was eye opening. That’s a completely new way of thinking that immediately made sense to me. I’ll be using complements to produce gray instead of just mixing black and white from now on!

[@fdej51289]

Tip no 8 .keep at it until you understand why you are struggling. I am doing African bush landscapes with dusty landscapes I seem to put the dust on my Paper / canvas.working hard to get my green/Grey tones and heus right. I will take the challenge to get it right. Thanks for your tips. Pretoria S Africa

[@dhkoenig01]

Thanks for this video - I was struggling with my ballerina and you video was just what I needed to dig myself out of the hole I was stuck in!

[@Sentient.Sentinel]

You truly are the paint coach, man this motivates me (im still at fundamentals of drawing and paint acrylics but this just inspires me so much more each day) thankyou for this.

[@AaishaRehman]

New to oil painting. Your videos definitely help a lot 🤓

[@paintcoach]

Happy to help!

[@consciousthoughtwithkatie4051]

1st I'd say by painting a design draft, you are actually taking out your imagination and unique style. Yes, stepping back really helps. Thank you, it's nice to hear some different prospectives.

[@pyconsable]

thank you for easy to follow advice I read an article many years ago paint like a millionaire I have sold paintings and still learning your videos are very helpful;

[@lumenluv]

the tip about piecing the painting together as if you're using pieces of paper helped me a lot!

[@moonlightfilms5279]

It’s funny, my grandfather was oil painting instructor, and I was fortunate to have him work with me when I was around 5 years old. It’s been many years since I’ve had any formal instruction, and decided to watch some KZbin videos, it’s surprising all these tips that I was taught so long ago I now do just subconsciously when I paint.

[@claires9100]

1- These 10 are good tips. Especially, for me, the drawing grid idea is helpful. 2-Also, my Rosemary &Co brushes arrived last night. I am trying them out now as I listen to this Paint Talk! They feel sturdy!

[@paintcoach]

Wonderful!

[@freespiritwithnature4384]

Everyone I know loves those brushes. My turn to order them. Did you get them from Amazon?

[@RevRedmondFarrier]

I just finished a project that can help me with tip #7. I have a cheap tablet that I can easily send reference photos to. I flipped the upper clamp on my easel (not sure what it is called if it even has a name - the part that slides down and clamps down on top of the canvas to hold it) so that the tablet could fit on it and made a second clamp to slide down and hold the tablet in place. Now I can have whatever reference I am working from, whether photo or video, just inches above the canvas that I am painting.

[@susanwong6471]

Funny you said “ have a cup of coffee” which is exactly what I am doing right now - as always, your channel provides a very practical advice, straight to the point and very motivating 🥰

[@nancymcevoy1998]

Love the comments about the colour grey. So helpful.

[@hadarbu1]

Great!! I used some of your advices while I was painting two weeks ago. It really worked and improved my skills. Thank you!!!!!

[@trystenbelanger5275]

A cool idea for if you only have a phone too copy off of. Do the mangaka technice where you create a smaller image in a corner of your page that matches the phone size. Then it should be as easy as taking your smaller version and doing the same strokes on a larger scale. It seems tough when I write it down, but it is actually really helpful for composition and control of what you are drawing out in the first place.

[@Okayletsg0]

my kit list for art school didn’t even have a black in it, so we never learned to rely on it, I think that’s helped me a lot :) thank you for the free advice on your channel!

[@yungchinghung3844]

I started a 30-portrait- study project with Zorn palette last month and I found all these tips are super helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@CompassTutoringServices]

I love these tips! All of the other tips require a lot of time, and these I can do immediately.

[@Xarfax321]

About the using different colour than burnt umber or black to darken shadows / white to highlight places.... A few weeks ago I heard of a thing that Van gogh and those fellas used to do: They would not use black and white, instead different shades of other colours. Not sure if that is true but I made a challenge for myself: To paint something and not use black or white. The result was pretty interesting! Not gonna say it saved my paintings or that it became masterpieces, but it was better!

[@Catbooks]

These are good tips. I've never used a grid on my canvases or reference photo, but it is an easy way to get a solid underpainting. I'll try it.

[@malvikaawasthi9776]

Excellent. Each tip is valuable. I hardly put any paint on my palette. I dont know what stops me. It troubles me still I continue to do ot. My next practice shall be to squeeze out more colour

[@cherih74]

Great video. One of my painting profs always chewed us out telling us to put more paint on the 🎨

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

6:49 While I'm here clearly for tips as a beginner with oil paint.. this is a mistake that I'm making but I can't stop now I'm already 3/4 of the way through the painting 😅 It's conveniently difficult to not use the phone when there's so many references at hand. That being said I couldn't agree more with your points.

[@depalpatel8735]

Lovely set of tips, well explained and interesting to watch. Thank you

[@riverriverchang5487]

Regarding indoor lighting, besides getting a daylight temperature light, also make sure it’s high cri.

[@donproctor3445]

#10 When I put a lot of paint on my brush and use it that way I get big globbyness spots and mud. I've only been painting since January 23 I went to a Bob Ross painting class for a week. I would love love love to be in front of an experienced teacher again to answer some frustrating questions. Now I have completed some nice paintings but it's like 1 step forward 3 steps back kind of thing. Also watching so many different people on KZbin probably doesn't help because you get mixed advice and then you get confused and frustrated at the easel when things dont work the same. Like I watch a couple people on YT who seem to paint wet on wet like they are painting over dried acrylic yet when I do it I get muddy results. Frustrating. To this day I cant paint the classic Bob Ross bushes where he puts half a tube of dark down and then magically paints highlights overtop. I get very very dull mud and use half a tube of paint trying to get it come off the brush.

[@peraguy3863]

I have an idea for a video. How about a long video about 20 to 30 mins explaining the techniques and ways for using certain oil painting brushes. Like making texture with the fan brush, blocking in with the big flat brushes etc. It would be a really interesting video.

[@paintcoach]

It would be a short video bc I use pretty much one brush in different sizes lol

[@mona2242]

Yes!

[@BestestFriend49]

@@paintcoach Then perhaps you might explain things like how you go about getting a bright to act like a fan, and so on.

[@LevitatorMusic]

We bought these awesome Feit multicolored LED bulbs from Lowes. Not only can you adjust them to any color, you can adjust the temperature too! So when we paint, we bump them up to that super white 5500K Word of caution, they work through your phone by hooking up to your WiFi, and if your router isn't set up right, it's kind of a pain to get them working

[@alexrader5822]

I must admit that I do love using mars black to darken my shadows, but I always add something to it, like cadmium orange (warmer shadow) or Prussian blue (cool shadow). Just my personal preference, but I totally get what he is saying, especially about the white!

[@patti4891]

number 9 is a real treasure!

[@hbz3553]

Tip 4 standing back from the painting is 100 % correct 👍also if painting a potrait switching it upside down also really helps in shading high and low points..

[@carleyanneart8068]

These are all such amazing tips! You’re so good at what you do! Thank you 🙏

[@susanback9127]

Thanks Chris. Learned so much from this lesson.🇨🇦

[@purelovepaintings5075]

hey chris, great video, great tips! i really enjoy your channel. your teaching style is clear and makes me want to paint more. your paintings are amazing. the nick cage montage is epic.

[@lechwiatr749]

Thank you Chris. Great content in a pill. That Cage gap in the back is looming at all of us now 😉

[@paintcoach]

I know I need to finish it lol

[@starforged]

My biggest challenge is difference of color. Like a near rock, far rock, and a very far away rock should not be the same color but I know they are the same color. With atmosphere mixes. The whole picture ends up being the same color. I always have to fight painting what I see and not what I know. Thank you very much for your great video.

[@theodoradanielacapat298]

Wow! to grow up with artists - I am the only one in my family that pursue art. My parents had no idea what art is haha! It is a very good video. Something I teach students as well. The part I like the most is how you put your colors down. Gonna really use that. Thank you!

[@toddswartartist6917]

I love to tip #9 'get gray out of your mind'. I wish I had learned that one a long time ago!

[@artriot4758]

I miss your hair. Thanks for the vids. Very generous of you.

[@Rich-pj9wv]

I dont put enough paint on my palette, not because I cant afford it but because I am a bit tight. I admit it.

[@AmandaMG6]

Ironic name then 😉

[@bobjamaica9045]

Same I don’t but it’s not that big of an issue for me... You can always put more paint on the palette but how you gonna put it back into the tube? I don’t paint often so I can’t leave them there just covered up for the next day as I might not be doing another one for 2 weeks or so...

[@baertbellemans7500]

Mix all the leftover paint. It'll become a neutral, grayish, colour that you can use for underpainting or monochrome studies. I use a plastic wrap to keep the paint from drying out.

[@jamesfinnigan5357]

Yep, I'm the same. Don't like wasting and throwing away paint mixtures when they eventually harden if not used on the painting- which happens in time even for the 'grey' leftover mixes.

[@vflytrap7158]

The cost of oil paint is astronomical. It’s hard not to be tight with the products

[@ShePaints]

You nailed a couple of my “d’oh” facepalm mistakes - thank you so much!

[@celinebeaumont1008]

Your tips are so great and useful that I decide to write and resume Them and put them in my studio. You are so motivating. Thanks so much to teach us in a so simple way! 😊 P.S. I'm a french Canadian and I am not bilingual. But I find your English to be very clear. Thanks a lot. 🎨😉👌

[@dcarbs2979]

More paint on the palette really works. I found out the hard way in acrylics. Too little paint and it just dries, or even goes on practically dry. That makes it hard to spread and blend. It also means you end up running out of your colour and having difficulty matching it up again to finish an area.

[@annette1884]

Binge watching your videos and feeling inspiredddd

[@immrsoggy2500]

I would love to paint more often but my parents always say something like after we move which im totally fine with that but man when I look at the paint it can be expensive.. Thanks so much for making such good and insperational videos I am truley inspired

[@virginiarparker9503]

You kept my attention. Thank you for your time.

[@Poniella81]

Great tips, am just starting ☺️

[@tanyatanu1]

I’m here to thank you for all the tips!!! This is very helpful and directional. You are awesome! 🔥

[@timluns]

This guy is good... (No Great!) Glad I Found This Channel! A Wealth Of Knowledge.

[@justluci8578]

Could you please make a video that explains what tiling is? Ive seen demos for tiling but cant seem to find any verbal explanation about the technique or the thought process behind it when laying down strokes.... thank you for all the info you share each week!

[@GalleryBry]

Tiling is like paint by number-you paint clean color in a section of your painting and let it be and limit blending on the canvas. The use for this is to minimize muddy color and to get cleaner colors. It’s helpful if you struggle with painting thick over thin. Was that helpful? I can discuss it more.

[@justluci8578]

@@GalleryBry ohhh yes... I was stuck on making it more complicated than it is wondering if the 'tiles' represented plane changes or something and was really confused by the demos I've seen so it's less a technique thats used to describe form (such as brush stroke direction) and more a technique that keeps the colors clean?

[@GalleryBry]

@@justluci8578 I mostly think of it as a way to keep clean color. Form is typically rendered using contour lines brushstroke direction, values, and warm and cool color.

[@TownHouseFilms]

Really thoughtful and helpful. Thanks.

[@enewman411]

Solid advice for painters, thanks!

[@olliessurfgear]

...I’m using my phone as a reference 👀 freehand airbrush is my medium but I’m looking to mimic an oil painting look, solely with airbrush, along my art journey. Would love to develop this & push it into something that others would see as my style... it’s difficult as painting with spray produces just that - no textures just different tones and focal values with each stroke. But I’m up for it... Keep up the good work 👍 really enjoy your videos.

[@marthacanady9441]

Chris, I can’t believe Nick Cage hasn’t contacted you to buy that fabulous painting of his many faces. It’s wonderful.

[@wiyinli6371]

Thank you so much for sharing your practical tips, I really enjoy watching your channel

[@alexa5080]

Are you able to do a video on how to paint really dark shadows in a portrait/ figurative painting? I’m learning how to paint figures and one of the reference photos I have is mostly a very dark shadow it’s almost black, I want to take on the challenge but I’m not sure where to even start, how do I make skin tones so dark with out making them muddy or get lost, if you could do that it would be so much help, thank you, love your videos!!

[@OurGentleJourneys]

Again, so many great tips! Thank you.

[@paintcoach]

Glad you like them!

[@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?

[@nightynightshade]

I wish you were my art teacher when I was in school dude. I really do. 🥲

[@susanwong6471]

Can you do a tutorial about how the approach to paint flowers like Henri-Fantin-Latour ?

[@katherynsutton9624]

Super good tips….thank you!

[@shifyrao3351]

Thank you for the great tips!

[@thebluebayou7432]

Going to try these tanks!

[@a234633]

Dame I use my phone all the time I don't have a computer or a camera but I do see what he is say hopefully I can go to the library thanks for the video today was my first day painting in oil funny I felt after maybe I should just go back to gouache but NO I will figure this out thanks again for your info

[@markh7523]

Some real Gold tips here, thanks

[@oversipelio983]

your content is gold, thanks

[@billpholde4816]

All of it, excellent advice. Thanks!!!

[@jehovahuponyou]

BEST TIP; PAINT WHEN YOU ARE AWAKE AND OPEN BOTH EYES - WORKS FOR ME - LMAO!!!!!!!

[@asdfggqwe]

I've figured out for myself how to use more paint and don't have to throw away that much: I paint 2 or even 3 copies at once. Another plus of working this way is that one of those will be better than the others

[@toni9141]

and less fear of messing up!! i like this

[@65damdamdam]

Good tips. Could I add tip number 11. Keep your painting perpendicular to you. To avoid distortion.

[@melanieopperman6688]

Thanks paint coach, I've been watching your channel for quite some time, and have bought a set of water mixable oil paint to give oil painting a go. Thanks for the helpful advice and for demystifying oil painting.

[@katherynsutton9624]

Awesome oil painting tips…..thank you!

[@alexis5350]

Wonderful tips and advice...thank you so much.

[@kluckey19691]

Great tips and advice! Ty!

[@sp9138]

Thanks again coach

[@MiuArtStudioUK]

This is very helpful, tip no.8 is really my problem :P thank you :)

[@saragiard]

Thank you! Very effective advices.

[@chrisfromaus9394]

Thanks, good tips.

[@Mariejeon26]

Glad I found your channel!

[@henriquejanuario881]

great tips! Thanks for sharing this class!

[@kingkoiroi]

Bro thank you again man! This helps out so much!

[@bhavyadon]

Nice tips. These do help me!

[@paintcoach]

Glad you like them!

[@bhavyadon]

@@paintcoach thanks for these tips

[@eileenjohnston6835]

Thanks again! Good reminders!

[@priscillaportenier3962]

Really, really good! 👍😀

[@teresadalessio1]

I always draw before painting and I thought I was an amateur cop out and had no idea that that's the right* way to do it. I even went to the art store to ask how to hide the pencil marks under the paint cuz I thought you're not supposed to do that and I can't believe it's the actual right way to do it *For lack of a better term

[@SvalaArt]

I am guilty of a good 50% of these "mistakes" xD thank you for opening my eyes!

[@williambennett6866]

Good advice. Thank you

[@leticiascpaila]

Hello, which brushes from rosemary should I get for realism, I Knoe you mencioné this before. Yogur videos are very usefull. Thanks, from Argentina