Knowledge base

Can I sell the paintings I've completed? Shutterstock Licence Codes

Can I sell the paintings I’ve completed? If you’re selling a painting based on one of Michael’s lessons, you’ll need to state that it was created using a reference photo from MJS TV.You can include...

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 and demonstrating his technique from start to fin...

How to Achieve a Perfect Smooth Finish with the Series 7 & 10 Brushes

Creating a flawless, smooth finish in your paintings often comes down to using the right tools. Two of my favourites are the Series 7 and Series 10 brushes. These brushes are staples in my collect...

Safety of oil paints and mediums!

How safe are oil paints?  I get many questions asking me about the safety of painting with oils, some say they don’t use oil because they believe the fumes to be too strong, or they believe oil pai...

Painting Frost & Snow In Oil

I’ve always enjoyed painting winter scenes. There’s something magical about the contrast between delicate frost-covered twigs and the smooth, pillow-like snow resting on the ground. Leaves dusted w...

Painting Portraits: Capturing Character in Detail

  I’ve always had a passion for figurative work, especially portrait painting. Portraits can be some of the most challenging subjects, but also the most rewarding—there’s nothing quite like capturi...

Painting lifelike fur

I enjoy painting animals, most of the time they appear in my landscape paintings, rabbits, sheep, cattle etc a smaller element in a bigger scene, but I find a stand alone piece, can be striking as ...

Mastering the Comber Brush 🎨

One of my favourite tools in the studio is the Comber Brush—a wonderfully versatile brush that makes adding fine details quick and effortless. What Makes the Comber Brush Unique? The flat, serrated...

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

Getting the perfect V-shape mark when painting foliage can feel a little tricky. Many artists struggle with it at first, but with the right brush loading technique and a few small adjustments to yo...

How to Add Texture Using the Tree & Texture Brush

Creating depth and texture in realistic paintings doesn’t need to be difficult. Have you ever wondered how I achieve this effect in my work? One of my go-to tools is the Series 3 Tree & Texture...