Knowledge base

Painting effectively with the Dagger Brush

Painting long grasses, distant tree canopies and ripples in water is made easier by using the Dagger Brush, so named because of it’s sword like appearance and unique shape, with a fine tip and grad...

Using the Comber Brush

Creating quick fine lines very close together can easily be achieved by using the Comber brush, when worked swiftly, it gives the effect of lots of tiny strokes. The flat serrated edge allows beaut...

How to use the blender fan brush

  I use the blender fan brush in many of my paintings, to smudge and blend the paint together, creating a smooth and softened effect.  Often I use it on the sky areas of my paintings, the Cumulonim...

How to use the sketching diagram

*Watch my YouTube Video 'How to sketch out your subject prior to painting'  At the bottom of this article.   I always use the grid method for my sketches before I start painting as it helps to ensu...

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 technique when trying to achieve this look or wondere...

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 can be tricky! Have you ever wondered how I achie...

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 my paintings? The brush I would traditionally use ...

How to paint fine details using rigger brushes

Every artist knows it can be tricky to get those really fine lines when painting grass or thin tree branches.  The technique I use depends on the colour (of the block-in) I'm painting over. Althoug...

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...

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 oil detail layers to complete a painting depends on ...