Knowledge base

How to create the perfect V when painting foliage, using the fan brush

Creating the perfect V shape when painting foliage on trees can be a little tricky, have you ever felt frustrated or struggled to get the right tec...

Painting realistic water

Water can be a difficult element to paint, finding the right technique to create true translucency, mirror like reflections and crystalline clarity...

How to add texture using the Tree & texture brush

Creating depth and texture when painting foliage in a realistic painting doesn't have to be difficult. Have you ever wondered how I create this in ...

How to paint fine grass details using rigger brushes

Every artist knows it can be tricky to get those really fine lines when painting grass or thin tree branches. Creating the density and vibrancy of ...

Frequently asked questions | Tutorials

How can I learn to paint like Michael James Smith? Michael shares a wealth of knowledge in step-by-step tutorials, covering many different subjects...

Frequently asked questions | Technique

How much time do you allow to pass between your blocking in layer and the following layers? The time required between the block-in layer and the oi...

Frequently Asked Questions | General

Where did you learn how to paint? I am mostly self-taught but I have also learned a lot from my father, who is also an oil painter. I have been dev...

Frequently Asked Questions | Equipment

What is the difference between oil painting on panels and canvas? The technique I have developed over the many years I have been painting can be do...

How to varnish an oil painting

How to varnish an oil painting After all the hard work and time that you’ve spent completing your oil painting, you’ll want to make sure that it’...

What is glazing in oil painting?

Glazing is a technique that I use a lot in my oil paintings. In fact, it is one of the techniques I use to make my oil paintings look more photorea...

Wet-on-wet oil painting method explained

The wet-on-wet oil painting technique is exactly how it sounds, painting directly on top of wet paint without allowing the lower layer to dry. For ...

How to start an oil painting by blocking in

I always start an oil painting by blocking in, and this is for two main reasons: It ensures that the white surface that I’m painting on to is comp...