For those who want to learn to paint, I thought I would compare some of the current prices for oil painting instruction in painting classes or in DVD lessons. A local arts center where I have taken classes in the past charges $170.00 for 8 weeks of oil painting lessons. Then these are the materials required:

• Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
• Jar or coffee can
• Rag
• Paper towels
• 8-10 small canvas boards or canvas paper 9″x12″ (or slightly larger) for color studies/fast paintings
• 2 canvases, size range 20″x24″ to 30″x40″
• Brushes which should include one sable flat #0 or #1, series of 4-5 bristle flats or filberts 1/4  inch to 1 inch

PAINT PIGMENTS:
o titanium white
o yellow ochre
o cad. yellow light or medium
o cad. orange (optional)
o cad. red light
o cad. red medium
o cad. red deep
o alizarin crimson
o thalo red rose (optional)
o viridian green
o cerulean blue
o ultramarine blue
o dioxazine purple
o raw sienna
o raw umber
o ivory black

All in all, the cost of the materials really does add up! Most of these courses at the local school or art center will teach you to paint one or two paintings. They can’t teach you all the basics and color theory or perspective – there just isn’t enough time for that. And almost $200 will only get you 8 lessons. and the cost of materials could be as much as another $400-$500…It is not a cheap hobby – but I think it may be less expensive than playing golf The nice thing about painting  is there is no winning or losing – and you can “play” in any weather indoors or in nice weather you can go outside.

In comparing the price of  taking a local painting class, a DVD course I just found out about has 20 DVDs – that is quite a lot of video time – far more than the 8 lessons (or less)  in a local painting course. And it is taught by a professional painting teacher who will show and explain all aspects of painting, not just how to make one still life or one landscape. Here is a list of the topics on the DVD:

• Understanding Composition
• Understanding Perspective
• Setting up a still life
• Color Theory
• Controlling Color Intensity and Understanding Color Combinations
• Painting a gradation
• Using Photos for Reference
• Varnishing Your Paintings
• Using a Focal Point in your Painting
• The Technique of using a Brown Underpainting
• Creating color charts for: grayscale, value, and value relativity
• Color temperature
• Pathways through a painting
• Painting gestures in humans and animals
• How to plan an original painting
• How to get connected to an art community near you

And that isn’t all…this course will give you specific guidelines for materials, plus there is a printed workbook and there are 3 Music CDs to listen to while you work on your painting. And it only costs $249, but you may be able to get it for less (there are often specials for $149). This is an investment in your future and it will occupy hours of your time as you learn and master the art of oil painting.  In fact, the course is called Learn and Master Painting. (NOT just paint a picture, but really become more accomplished as a painter.)

There is lots of information on the course creator’s website – go watch all the videos that show you samples of parts of the course. I think you will agree with me that it is so comprehensive and a really exceptional painting lesson DVD course!

Learn and Master Painting Pricing Details (This page explains the costs).

A couple more things I want you to think about – you could take this course before you take local classes (so you won’t feel that you don’t know enough to “fit in” with the other painting students.  And, if you decide to buy Learn and Master Painting on DVDs and you don’t like the course or are unsatisfied, you can request a full refund…it’s really a win-win if you are thinking you want to learn to paint!