Painting Details and Values & more - Ep.2 Oil Painting Q&A with Mark Carder

If you have a question for me, post it in the comments below. I'll answer as many as I can on next Thursday's episode. Here are links to each question answered in this video:
00:12 - a quick lesson on details in paintings
03:32 - Who are your favourite artists?
07:07 - Please share your ideas about color blindness and painting.
08:23 - What is the best approach to "wean" oneself from color checking?
09:31 - Can Alizarin Crimson be mixed with Cadmium Red Deep and Permanent Rose paint?
10:06 - Is drawing a talent or something that can be learned?
11:20 - What other forms of art have you experimented with and which was your favourite?
11:56 - How do you adhere to the fat-over-lean rule with Geneva paint?
13:18 - In warm climates how do you keep paint from drying too fast during the summer? And how do you keep glare off the color checker?
15:43 - How did you work your way up to painting the president?
16:07 - Why are your landscapes painted more loosely than your portraits?
17:43 - What are the most important tips for artists beginning their career?
20:00 - What happened to all the peacocks that were constantly interrupting you during the filming of the original Carder Method video series?
20:42 - Why do you sell Geneva paint in jars as opposed to tubes?
21:37 - Have you ever tried acrylic paints and why do you prefer oils over acrylics? Does painting in acrylics also improve your skill in oils, or is there a big difference which keeps you limited?

[@1974gladiateur]

I think Mark is an artist with a good heart. sharing all his knowledge is something amazing for all of us.

[@keylupveintisiete7552]

He is really amazing

[@lisengel2498]

I am very greatfull and happy for all the wonderfull free videos and his excellent teaching. I think I have learned a lot from these videos and I use it in my own way working abstract and visionary. I also find the paint excellent quality but it became very expensive with a lot of extra tax it would be very nice if there was a European possibility for buying these High quality paints, - and by the way I I dont like the plastic tubes - its very difficult for me to get the last paint out of the very hard plastic tube = 🙏❤️

[@janey2562]

He makes sense to me. Outside of his being an artist, I think he is a good man.

[@khatijahrahmat1461]

Hi Mark, I just want to thank you - I feel almost obliged to thank you regularly - for all your generosity. I watch your videos regularly, sometimes even repeatedly between painting. So helpful and encouraging. God bless!

[@taritamily]

I feel exactly the same!

[@marcellmagyari]

I didn't expect Rothko to show up in this video, but I'm very happy. He is the reason I started to experiment with painting.

[@martianmagician6215]

I find I am spending countless evenings watching and learning from these superb videos. Spent years muddling through my art sometimes successfully sometimes not. This wonderful gentleman makes everything so clear and logical. Thank you Mark.

[@gtao22]

I thank you for your service to academic realist art with an open mind you are sharing with the art community far and wide more than you know. You are so needed!

[@taramickeymickeranno8725]

Thank you so much for these videos and your website. Your sharing of your knowledge and information is greatly appreciated and super helpful.Thank you!!

[@schatzieme2]

Thank you Mark for sharing your expertise with us, I enjoy listening to your videos and get a lot out of your advise. I am so grateful that you make your teaching available with out charge. I have learned so much from you! God Bless you.

[@Richard-ky9lf]

Hi Mark. Thank-you for sharing as freely as you always have. I have enjoyed watching your work for some time and it is exciting to see the evolution of your teaching influence. Your new KZbin tutorials are great. Please continue to show new ways to teach, you are always spot on.

[@gzlfodi6396]

Hi mark im from Iran, and during covid time your page was my teacher… I’ve learned a lot. You’re teaching art genuinely. Thnx

[@kamlikachandlafineart]

Thank you for such a fantastic, honest and informative episode. Loved the discussion about your favorite artists. The video has been put together very well. Crisp and impactful. Thanks to team Geneva. Looking forward to next week already!

[@elsonharoldolima8148]

Mark, thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge. Before I met your tutorials I was quite lost. More than just teaching painting techniques by itself, your insights are so helpeful, they are leading me to another aprecciation of real art, because I believe without the contents in our head it's sort of difficult to reassess our ideias for a possible change in our painting! You are being able to reach people at a distance, like me right now writing from Brazil in São Paulo. Thanks!!

[@headingoutside]

Excellent! I especially loved the introduction re: detail. Thank you.

[@PikeTJ]

Some great comments on detail/value at the beginning. It's one of those things that I forget when nearing the end of a painting. Also, I think it's nice you plugged Schaefer at the end. I started with acrylics, and he was the first KZbinr I followed when I started painting. I've since moved on to oils, since I realized I was trying to paint like oil with acrylic. It has its place, but oil is just the way to go. No turning back. Thanks for all the videos and advice.

[@snoopy70119]

Man! such great videos. I can watch them over and over again. They are full of good advice. Thanks Mark!

[@Nickmassiedesigns]

I enjoy the painterly approach the most, but I think it's good that painting has evolved towards realism in the details. It provides the opportunity to offer a really cool experience with realistic surrealism pieces. There will always be a place for both though, because they each have their benefits. Your videos have been a great resource. I love every one I've seen even though I've only painted with acrylics.

[@n1coaa]

Great videos! Hope to see much more. I'm studying at an art college and these are great lessons apart from school.

[@ferenczieugen2984]

Hello from Romania Many thanks for the generosity of sharing your talent, skill and art. We have the opportunity to learn a lot thanks to your teaching. God bless you.

[@kathleenlairscey5934]

Thank you so very much for speaking so well interpreting of meaningful substance, I understand everything you are talking about. These things are hard to put words to.

[@daurham]

Those questions about acrylics and hear you talk about the confusion you’d have with painting a portrait in acrylics really made me feel good about my artistic acrylic abilities. I think the magic is in mixing taking it slow, chunks at a time of color, as it drys, add watered down layers of acrylic

[@kathyoldham3126]

Your oil painting Q&A is so helpful and informative. I really liked how you pointed out the importance of values vs detail in realism paintings. I am looking forward to learning more from you about this in particular. Thanks.

[@wallywest5804]

Thank you for your classes..your an excellent teacher and your instructions make no bones about it you cut right to the heart of the matter and address issues no matter how tedius or mundane it maybe...like value and color...and being accurate excellent tutolidge thank you.

[@slantsix6344]

Mark, I have been an illustrator and artist for close to 30 years and your videos are the best out there!

[@neilfrancis3937]

Thank you you are a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful teacher !

[@kayaeki]

Thank you Mark! I revisit these videos time to time, thank you for making these!

[@michelemenchaca-mogas2236]

I am so excited I have found you and your knowledge. I cannot wait to try to get in to get lessons! I have only been painting for a little over a year. Thank you!!

[@sudeeshkirankiran6161]

Thank you Mark....for helping us...God bless you...

[@melanietruth]

Strangely enough the Hopper of the girl looking out the window is my favorite as well. I was quite young, never heard of any painters at all and saw this as a postcard and bought it because it was beautiful. I thought at the time all the beautiful postcards were done by greeting card artists! So I wanted to be a greeting card artist when I grew up. I also thought Klimt's The Kiss was done by a greeting card artist as well. Maybe someday a painting of mine will be on a greeting card! :) And also - my first impression of Van Gogh was that he has sloppy, chunky brushwork, the Starry Night for example and one day saw a large print of it from across the room and it changed my life.

[@sduncanfoto]

yes suggestion through shape and value is such a great way to approach elements in painting

[@ashes.a5865]

You exactly know how most of the artist think in any situation .... never found that type of teacher keep up the good work

[@alexis5350]

SO helpful!!! Thank you very much for posting your tutorials on youtube!!

[@jultolentino7515]

Sir marc an unusual artist really shares his knowledge that open doors to others,GOD GIVEN TALENT & WISDOM.ALHAMDULILLA

[@misterbonzoid5623]

Just wonderful. Thank you.

[@djangolad]

Thanks man! When I need a reset to the basics I check out your vids!

[@tracymcdermott3461]

Thank you.I love this and am inspired to learn how to paint.

[@ramblingtiger3606]

really amazing information here. I believe values in a painting is the most important and difficult part. and you explain everything very well

[@anitakhan9182]

What a valuable lesson! Thank you.

[@lisengel2498]

Great examples on the importance of getting the values right and keep abstraction in the brushstrokes

[@donor09]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge

[@youbuddha1]

Love this stuff, this is my go to educational KZbin channel on oil painting

[@lindaberron1375]

Thanks for your generosity offering us your videos. And thanks also for speaking slow and with pretty clair pronunciation. Where do you offer your classes?

[@DrawMixPaint]

Linda Berron I used to hold workshops in Austin, Texas, but right now I'm 100% focused on making new KZbin tutorials for drawmixpaint.com and new art materials for genevafineart.com

[@lindaberron1375]

Ok, Thanks. I will see all of them.

[@curt1286]

Thanks, Mark you're awesome!

[@cathyhunnnicutt2349]

Just ordered my kjt w/ color checker.pro div. can't wait to get them. You are an excellent teacher.

[@debbiebarber2500]

Just found your site. Absolutely enjoy your work. I am looking forward to trying your ideas. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@clearebueno2697]

Thank you so much Mark

[@kategeary1623]

Ordered your paints! Really looking forward to using them.

[@MilliePat]

Thanks so much, received more help from your video that in my college art classes.

[@user-pv8gs6gw9d]

Such fantastic insight

[@estellementzingen1964]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@Dicen_Delirio]

Omg i just found you and you've already solved every question I had about oils and stuff :'D

[@lindsayjones341]

I have just found your site on the net and will, in future, be using the 5 colours you suggest. (rather than the many I have been using). I am have been painting for about 9 years and though a reasonable standard is attained I would like to improve further.I look forward to the next phase of my "journey". Lindsay.

[@lonemapper]

Great lessons!

[@MarkWhippy]

Wow I never thought you'd be a Mark Rothko fan his style is so different to yours. Thank you for sharing those artists they're all amazing - Jacks :p

[@lisengel2498]

I just ordered the Geneva Paint and Iam really looking forward to paint with it - and it was very easy to order even if I live in Denmark - my favorite artist is by the way van Gogh, Chagall and Rothko and the Danish artist Oluf Høst especially his very late patings Orion series

[@atlantic_love]

How did the Geneva paint work out for you?

[@bryanmartin9420]

Excellent work

[@jackal1776]

I get those feelings when I look at Russian artist Alexie Zaitsevs work. Just makes me feel good.

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautiful work nice job

[@izabelaciaston-paus5117]

Amazing videos. I'm really learning a lot :)

[@AAA-er7qm]

You do amazing job, sir. :)

[@marmarriott9238]

thank you for sharing this information, very selfless of you, many artists would never share a single thing unless they are being paid

[@sduncanfoto]

You've got some great info.

[@selfiopath1982]

About acrylics. I had no problem working with acrylics when I just started painting (a year ago), but oil paint is a whole different story. Had I started my art journey with oil, I would've probably given up on painting at all. Last night I painted an alla prima pumpkin still life in oil (for the first time in my life) only to realize how much I didn't understand about the genius of such artists like Repin. And this understanding only came through touching upon this sacral medium - an oil paint.

[@daletinafloyd8284]

FIRST, may I thank you for offering so much to all of the souls that treasure your information. I am one of them. I sure thank you. You have enriched my life and helped me significantly as a fledgling Artist with your teaching and free sharing of information. My struggle is that I do understand that we should block in and THEN apply detail, but concerning NOT blending at all - it always strikes me that the Old Masters painted primarily for presentation in huge homes and Museums... so their paintings were yards away on a 12 - 16 ft high wall for example... wouldn't that be a main reason they painted so loose, as compared to now when people are usually within 4 - 12 feet away?

[@ralfw7135]

I became an WBA (wanna be artist) when I retired. I have found your videos to be the most helpful resource that I have found anywhere in learning about the nuts and bolts of painting. I a question on color mixing. I find myself getting lost going through your process of mixing a color. Could you explain the technique of mixing a yellow or other highly saturated color. It would be most helpful. Please keep up with your videos. Thanks.

[@williamschlenger1518]

My favorites are Sargent, Rembrandt,Hals.all the impressionist, Vermeer, Vasquez.😃

[@ronmcknight5300]

great advice thank you so so much Ron McKnight Ireland .

[@mariecrowe8843]

I’m fixated by Tom Thomson atm thanks for sharing your fav artists

[@radhakrishnanoman460]

Great tips... thanks

[@dandanart]

Good thinking in here.

[@roseannecampagna6056]

So helpful… thanks

[@cheers2023]

People who are color blind should paint what they see anyway. It is about value. I'd love to see the work of someone who embraces their color blindness.

[@patriciabrickell4005]

Thanks so much.

[@johnclark972]

Mark, You mentioned offering several items in the future. Might I suggest that you make the following available first? 1. Color checker 2. Artist painting table 3. Photograph holder I would like very much to purchase these from you since it is not practical for me to make them myself or hire a "handy man/carpenter" to make them. I look forward to purchasing your easel and paints in the future. John Clark

[@DrawMixPaint]

John Clark Thanks John, I am not sure what order I will be releasing new products, but all those are things are on the list :)

[@TheWaveydee]

The secret is not in the detail or or is it then? A great collection of paintings you have here with clear demonstration of less is best as far as the eye goes for detail, and less is more as far as value goes. I too like clouds in the sky....Thanks for this video.

[@roghky]

very very thank you~!!!

[@robbiej2070]

Thanks again

[@UltraAwesomeEmily]

I have recently begun research for my next still life setup. I am most inspired by 17th century Dutch artists such as Heda and Kalf, so I have been studying their compositions. I find that the most difficult part of the entire painting process, for me, is composing a still life. I have watched your video on setting up a still life many times and it has been very helpful. Could you go more into detail about some elements that make a strong composition?

[@helenatorres1963]

Values are importante but my eyes also care about detail, actualy i love detail!

[@JimKingston]

Thank you.

[@hlmurrell1]

I love your horse portrait and am interested in painting horses. Will you be offering a video or workshop teaching us how to paint horses?

[@maldoori238]

I really appreciated the information you shared. Please can you advise what brushes do you use?

[@gracemarie9996]

You have an awsome voice, a really nice demeanor about you also. I enjoy your videos very much, right now I am trying to set up a studio for oil painting, will be ordering some of your stuff. I was curious about your brushes, make, sizes, fiber, etc. I believe I heard you say in one of your videos that you udually keep fourteen brushes going while working on a painting, I haven't watch all of our videos yet, perhaps you elaborate about this in one of them, but I basically want to know what to buy, what type, what sizes, and how many of each when you have your fourteen brushes set up. Thanks.

[@sylvianblue]

The first 3 minutes have more info in than most videos on art!

[@dandanart]

9:33 consider also that these crimsons and lakes are organic and cadmiums are mineral. btw they can be mixed when using paint to create in different manners than those spoken of here.

[@leeteyler1516]

Note of interest here. Artist Michael James Smith paints a lot of Acrylic first then oil on top.

[@Lauragld]

I have a medium question....I have heard that walnut oil is nice for mixing into paint and also for using instead of mineral spirits for cleaning. I have read that using the walnut oil from the grocery store is fine for cleaning brushes but the artist refined walnut oil is to be used for pallet work. Any thoughts? Thanks so much for all your videos...learn so much from you. Laura

[@soopahtawkko]

Hey Mark! Quick question about the Geneva oil paints in regards to the fat over lean rule; Do your Geneva paints contain more oil, less oil, or about the same as standard tubed paint? I plan to do an underpainting for a family portrait I'll be working on to help map out the values, and was wondering if I should use Geneva paints and wait for them to dry or the much quicker drying standard tubed paints for the underpainting and the Geneva paints on top. Any advice you can give me on this method is greatly appreciated! On a side note, your portrait painting DVD was immensely helpful in beginning portraiture!

[@GiveMeAlittleSmirk]

Hi Mark, I am enjoying your shows. What is your opinion about working with a dirty brush, in other words, not fully cleaning your brush while moving around the painting?

[@susandonahue6413]

Hi Mark. I love the Q & A. I'm using Geneva paints for the first time. The paints are great. It seems I don't need as much paint in the mixing. A little seems to go a long way, which is great and the butteriness and even consistency is wonderful. My question is about using Geneva paints plein air. Is this possible? Recently I've begun to paint plein air as well as doing studio work, but I'm wondering if you have any tips about taking Geneva paints outdoors. Thanks. Susan

[@alancayton5103]

I start out with two colors and white. I rough in the composition working up the values and paying little attention to the colors or details. I get very enthusiastic during the beginning. The next day as I start to think I must make a painting out of this good beginning, I start to get bogged down in decisions about color and details and it becomes a struggle to push through. Do you have any advice on how to carry the excitement and energy of the beginning of a painting into the next steps?

[@robertwhistlerfineart7015]

Hi Mark, Because of the Fat over Lean rule, for those of us who have time commitments and need to work in layers using your new paints ( I ordered your full set ) would it be a good idea to add a few drops of mineral spirits to the first session, straight from the jar for middle sessions and a few drops of linseed oil to the last sessions. Thanks, Bob Whistler.

[@TheWillowview]

Black. I find it easier to mix up a big batch of black (60/40 as you instruct) in a jar, as I would the other basic colors. Then adding it to my pallet as needed. As far as the Carder Method goes, does this make me a 'black sheep'?

[@elizabethb7438]

please show brush sizes for different areas of the picture. EX faces, large areas not the same brushes. I have difficult with fine lines and small areas. You demonstrations are great.

[@rcarle]

Hey Mark, when you talk about having a dark cloth hanging behind you in your studio, do you mean in front of you, as in, behind your easel, or do you mean there is a dark backdrop actually behind your back?

[@lisengel2498]

Thank you for all your very fine videos. I really learn a lot from you. Unfortunately I cannot always understand the names of the artists you mention. Would it be possible to wrie the names somewhere? It would be a great help and I would like to find out more about the artists you like.

[@adrianbaker1408]

The Mauve is incredibly Dutch. The light is typical for Holland, has to do with all the water and the low setting of the land.

[@clarapablo]

thanks for your videos mark, if I can ask you, is it better to use lead oil ground than just regular acrylic gesso for ground on wood panels, and is lead oil ground better than titanium oil ground for brush handling and leveling?

[@DrawMixPaint]

+Paul Torres There are many brands of paint, and many types of additives etc that are availible. In general, lead ground is far superior to titanium ground all other things being equal. Titanium by itself forms weak paint films, but almost all paint manufacturers use additives along with the titanium to make the paint stronger. Lead white, or flake white forms a stronger paint film by itself than any other pigment, titanium forms almost the weakest of any pigment. Acrylic gessos make very durable foundations and they can be very good, but there are many types and many brands. I am researching this and can not give you a recommendation at this time. On my supply list at www.drawmixpaint.com/supplylist/ you will find my current recomendation for staining canvas. I purchase canvas that already has a ground, which I then apply my stain to. I also have a canvas recommendation as well on the supply list.

[@clarapablo]

+Draw Mix Paint thanks for the tips Mark, much appreciated

[@mylesjordan9970]

The Abbott Thayer flower petals are limned, seemingly, with great detail. How would you select a color or value for something like that, which functions in a way that doesn’t really exist in his studio model?

[@sketchartist1964]

Were the paintings you presented at the beginning painted alla prima, or were they painted in layers? When I look at pictures in my local museums, it's always hard for me to tell how thick the paint layer is. I often get the impression that the old masters more often than not, painted in several layers.

[@MarkWhippy]

What happened to episode 1? I was looking for that specifically