Oil Painting Tutorial - How to Create Texture Using a Palette Knife

Learn my MOST Effective Oil Painting Techniques in Only 4 Minutes:
alex-tzavaras....
In this oil painting tutorial, realist painter Alex Tzavaras shows you how to create texture using a palette knife.

[@kate1761]

I honesty first started watching because I am a left- handed oil painter. The way we see things, approach subjects, and portray gesture are quite different...even the way we lay out our palette is usually opposite the rest of the painting world. It can be a bit of a struggle to learn a technique from a right- handed painter. Anyway, that is why I am here and I appreciate all of what you are sharing- thank you Alex! Simplify!!!!!

[@HalfWarrior]

Kate, I used to be left handed myself; I fully understand what you said here. I am no longer left handed; I had a stroke and now my left side is paralyzed!😡🤬

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Very sorry to hear that. Do you paint with your right hand now?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Kate, glad you liked it. Actually, the artist who taught me to paint was right handed but lost the use of his right arm in a motorcycle accident and had to teach himself to paint with his left hand.

[@mikeynyc6857]

The one videos I wait for. So much good information you need to watch multiple times .

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Mikey! Glad you like it.

[@moonthirteen13]

Beautiful shapes, form, lost and found edges in that tree. Your translations of reality into oil paint feel so right

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@nicholasnunn806]

Top quality, straight to the point , useful tutorial as always.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Nicholas!

[@festia3725]

Good to see that you're healthy. Thanks for bringing clarity and for sharing.

[@jordangroff8978]

I really like how you kept your painting very subtle with very low value contrasts. Almost has a "hazy" feel to it.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Jordan!

[@hhhjhffghbn]

Need more landscapes like this👍🏿👍🏿

[@moliere9677]

Beautiful painting and good tutorial as always. Thank you Alex!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Mo! Glad you like it.

[@toddswartartist6917]

Lots of good ideas about how to apply a variety of techniques. Beautiful painting

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Todd!

[@PLitvinov]

I thank you not only for painting technics, but also for your wonderful accent! Will help me to warm up the British part of my English)))

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@herrtio]

A wonderful tutorial, thank you!

[@JC-lk1mz]

This is a lot more than knife! 👋👋👋👍🏻

[@Tedzee8]

Man it's really good. It's painting on the subject + it's imprimat technique. Go on.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@bendunselman]

Really very informative and educational to hear you explain your process, actions and the reasons for doing so. And a very nice painting results!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad it was helpul.

[@martimajor4766]

Love your teaching. And your tee shirt. Greatful.

[@triconcert]

Brilliant! Exquisite!

[@iprocelee5056]

coming,coming,coming，like like like 😍😍😍

[@kubilay7172]

Wonderful demonstration, looks almost effortlessly rendered. Thank you Alex.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks!

[@melissasibbald4617]

A lovely painting with a demonstration done so fast that I would have to watch it again in slow-mo in order to see the method being taught.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Melissa. I've done some longer real time videos but because fewer people watch them until the end, the KZbin algorithm thinks people aren't as interested in them so it doesn't show them to as many people. Therefore my shorter videos have always gotten more views. I also feel that sometimes shorter is better because one can really get to the point. However, people have always asked me for longer demos, so all the videos on my Patreon channel are filmed in real time. And here is a real time master copy demo I did on here. in case you are interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKCmhJSEgKmshMk

[@melissasibbald4617]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Thanks! I'll go there now!

[@josepeka1189]

Very informative video. Clearly demonstrated and explained about the dos and donts. Jose from Australia

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Jose! Glad it was helpful.

[@karimi_3]

Very useful. Thank you for sharing 👍

[@reginaberkovich3070]

This is simply brilliant. Thank you.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Regina!

[@fionafeng3099]

Great demonstration! Thank you Alex.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Hi Fiona, Thanks very much! I love the painting you did of Derly recently. Was that from the Stone Street Art group?

[@fionafeng3099]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting That's so encouraging, thank you very much. That was from the portrait painting weekend with Andrew James. He's a great tutor, I learned a lot from him.

[@francesbartlett9564]

This was very helpful, will use my pallete knife more! Thank you!

[@aidamarkiw]

This is gorgeous!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Aida!

[@wesanderson7918]

Love how you shared your thoughts as the painting progressed. New subscriber.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you vey much!

[@robertmacmillan1501]

Outstanding👌

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Robert!

[@christinakentart]

I really appreciate your simple and clear explanations, it makes it very easy to learn from your process. Also, you captured the scene beautifully! You definitely gave me some ideas for how I can incorporate palette knife painting into my own work.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Christina. Go for it!

[@margaretbutters6181]

so good thankyou just what I needed

[@zitaocarroll4925]

Wonderful tutorial

[@azimegultekin1408]

Thank's Alex 🙏🙏🙏👍✌

[@dixieturner7402]

Beautiful!

[@yematosan8837]

Always perfect and helpful.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@yematosan8837]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting you are true artist .

[@paintingsbyleo]

Brilliant advice, thank you. I'm going to apply it.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Leo! Glad it was helpful.

[@AJ-oc5eh]

learning a lot from you mate. thanks for sharing

[@bahumdinger8361]

Great painting and advice, thanks

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank!

[@MrChangoneitor]

This Is just amazing

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@patriciaotis1113]

Thank you💗

[@aserarts6070]

This is beyond talent and I just want to say that you're my inspiration in continuing my passion in art and I hope that my channel would be successful like yours

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks and good luck with it.

[@plantagenant]

Your tutorials are always well presented and full of good info even if I"m not that interested in portraiture!...but I really like this painting. More landscapes please!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! Tbh I haver more experience with portraiture and I have a lot to learn about landscape painting. It's such a vast subject, with so many different types of landscape, different lighting effects, times of day etc. My experience is still fairly limited. Tho it might be an idea to do a collaboration with another painter, who specialises more in Plein air?

[@kajwilstorp1483]

like this video what is most fun to paint portrait or landcape

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you. I always preferred painting portraits. I certainly spent much more time painting them in the past. But in more recent years I've become more interested in landscape painting. Mainly because I feel like I've got more to learn and I find it more of a challenge. I've also been trying to paint portraits outside, which is really challenging.

[@khaledhamdy79]

You are really an amazing artist with my best regards❤

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Khaled!

[@sandracarroll6233]

Very informative teaching, thanks.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Sandra!

[@mireillebeyrouthi7385]

great explanation, thank you

[@dawnmillett4875]

Thank you! Lovely painting.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Dawn!

[@beanstaIkjack]

I live next to woods but spend all my time painting indoors.. Thanks Alex

[@moonrocks295]

Thank you for posting.

[@kajwilstorp1483]

i like to learn from you im very impressed of your work

[@ayaneagano6059]

Texture is definitely difficult for me sometimes, this will be so helpful! I often make things WAY too smooth-looking, lol. It’s like, I can do an object individually, but in a scene with a lot of objects, getting the “look” (texture) right using initial abstract textures/shapes is difficult. Seeing your process and its explanation is very enlightening!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Ayané! Glad you've found this helpful.

[@markomonti]

really very beautiful, thank you very much

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Mark! Glad you liked it.

[@isabellefoubert785]

SUPER MERCI

[@LyubomirIko]

Excellent, I am so glad you go landscape again. You could actually use your fingers too - to add soft smudge effects, and even your finger print to left specific texture (something I saw a pupil of Rembrandt to have been incorporated - as a textile texture in a miniature) . Also I am pretty convinced that Monet was using fingers in some passages, but haven't done research.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Lyubomir! Yes, I also often use my fingers to soften edges.

[@youareamazingyesyou5880]

Lovely painting. I like doing paintings in one sitting like you just did. Im trying to move into oil painting now. I have palette knives and oil paints and ready to go. May i ask... at the start when u blocked in with a wash of greens... was that oil paint with a drop or 2 of thinner mixed in it or just plain paint alone? This is what I really need to know thanks, so that i can try this technique. And should i let that layer dry first before painting the images on top. .... or can i just go for it all in one go? thank you 🙂

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes I'm using solvent mixed in to the paint for the initial wash. Possibly rectified spirit of turpentine because I am outside (using turpentine indoors is bad for your lungs so I would recommend odourless mineral spirits, though these take longer to evaporate).It is possible to paint directly onto a wet ground, but I ideally you do want it to be quite dry before you start painting on it, or else all your colours will start slipping around when you paint on to it. Usually after wiping the ground back the ground with a paper towel, it will be dry enough to paint on. I also made another video on this subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHTZi6JjqZlmrLM

[@MattieBeekeeper]

Beginner question here, sorry: how did you use the grid on the canvas? Obviously there's no grid on your reference but it looks very helpful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

The reference image is for the benefit of the viewers but I'm working plein air from life, so there was no grid on what I was looking at. However, there are view finders with grids on them, so it is possible. Tho I wasn't using one. The lines you see me placing at the start are to help me with the composition. I'm dividing the canvas into quarters and thirds and placing some important diagonal lines in order to determine where best to place the tree on the canvas. They won't help me get the tree in proportion.

[@MattieBeekeeper]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting that's really interesting, thank you for the reply!

[@elsagonzalezzorn]

I love your videos, I have been painting all my life and still learning. My question is about the composition lines, is it a mixture between aurean section and thirds…?😅 I would so much appreciate a tutorial about composition! It’s only a suggestion from an eternal student. Thank you so much!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you, glad you like my videos. These lines are based on dynamic symmetry, though I am only using it very loosely to place the tree. I noticed that the bottom of the trunk and the right most branch form a diagonal line. I have actually just done a video on basic composition for setting up a still life over on my Patreon channel and will probably post a shorter version on KZbin some point soon. Really it's only an introduction as composition is a fairly vast subject, so it's basically just a few pointers to get people to start thinking a little more carefully about design before they start painting. I am not much of an expert on all the rules of composition.

[@elsagonzalezzorn]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Thank you so much for your kind answer! I will definitely check your videos and also the dynamic symmetry😘😘😘

[@AlinaHuynhArt]

gorgeous work :)

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Alina!

[@svenfigenschou7345]

Hi Alex. Thanks .). Question: You are outside, but you are painting from a photo? The greens look much brighter in reality, and the photo show more greys and darker greens. Why did you choose to do it this way? I find plain-air painting difficult because the colours can change so fast depending on how much and what kind of light there is at any given time..

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I'm painting from life. The reference photo is for the benefit of the viewer, so you can see what I'm painting as I was unable to get both canvas and scene in the same shot. The exposure, where balance and are all set to focus on the painting, so the trees behind my canvas are over exposed as there is more light falling on them than on the canvas. Have you ever taken a picture on your phone of a painting next to the subject? The same thing often happens and the subject looks much brighter. In reality none of the things in this video, the reference image, the way the video camera has recorded my painting or the trees in the background appear they way they would to the naked eye. Then there is trying to avoid glare when shooting. Filming paintings can be pretty difficult and I find filming painting outside even harder. Hopefully if you were to see my painting in the flesh it would look similar enough to the subject? Or at least have realistic colour relationships as you are extremely unlikely to ever see the painting next to the subject.

[@marymary5494]

👌💕

[@Vilidaite]

Absolutely love this. What paint brush and technique do you use for the small branches? How thin is your paint? I always struggle with those.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you! Glad you like it. I use a small soft haired brush for the small brunches. I find the trick is to not paint to many of them. To squint and then only paint a few of the more prominent ones. I tend not to paint incredibly thickly, but when using a palette knife like this the paint does build up quite a bit. However, when I say I don't paint thickly I still probably use a lot more paint than most beginners, as I'm always telling my students to use more paint. You need to load your brush, if you want the paint that's on you brush to be deposited onto the paint that's already on your canvas. If there isn't enough paint on your brush all your going to do is scrape off the paint that already on your canvas. I hope that explanation makes sense?

[@SyedaAisha476]

Everything is amazing but you saying "Here" is different cool 😎

[@photographedemode]

❤

[@kylesimpson05]

There is no right or wrong way to use a pallette knife. It's up to you, you make it work for you.

[@mikeynyc6857]

I recommend you buy a subscription to this mans patron page if you are seriously committed to learning. Surfing 20 different instructors a day will just confuse and hinder progress. This is real deal ,straight forward art teaching. **I am in no way affiliated or receiving compensation for saying this.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you for the endorsement Mikey! Much appreciated.

[@mikeynyc6857]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting You’re welcome.

[@35ABSTRACT]

Hey, great stuff, but if I may: use fast forward for long time lapses, use shorter slower/real-time clips for instruction and tutorials. Love the hat.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you. I find filming outdoors quite tricky. The battery on my camera will only allow me to shoot for around 2, so I had to keep switching the camera on and off at different points. This make editing a little more complicated. I will definitely need to get some spare batteries for my camera, in order to film outdoor paintings.

[@hhhjhffghbn]

Minnal murali

[@rezahosseinzadehnasser993]

This instruction could have been more useful if you put more normal speed of knife strucks. Hope next time. Thanks a lot.

[@yematosan8837]

Please make real time video on KZbin .

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I have a real time master copy video here on KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKCmhJSEgKmshMk Also, all the videos on my Patreon channel are in real time: www.patreon.com/simplifydrawingandpainting

[@jamesanonymous2343]

ARE ALL THESE KZbin ART BRITS UNABLE TO FIND REGULAR IMPLOYMENT ?????

[@ItsOnlyFil]

I was expecting to learn "how" to use a palette knife. That was what the title said. Havebn't learned anything. Sorry but I love your channel, this time I had to mention I wasted my time.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Giles. Apologies for not meeting your expectations, but you're not going to learn how to use a palette knife just by watching a video. You need to try mixing some colour with one and then sticking it on you canvas to see what happens, just like I am in this video.

[@ItsOnlyFil]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Understood. My apologies for being so stiff with titles. I agree there are no shortcuts in life. I'll stick around for sure. Thanks for the response :)