I just created a short slideshow of some of my watercolor paintings. I also created a community where we can network and share information about painting lessons, art supplies and other resources with others – plus anyone can make their own photo album and then it can be shared. That is how I added this slidewhow. Ning made it so easy for me to add this to this page, I can’t wait to make another one!

So, if you want to join a new community about painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, any kind!) come and join me at Painting Lessons at Ning. Add your artwork too!

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!

Learn to Paint with Video DVD Lessons

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Now you can learn oil painting! Whether you are interested for yourself or are considering giving painting lessons as a birthday or holiday gift, Legacy Learning Systems, an award-winning company,  has been in the business of helping people achieve their creative dreams for a long time. Their lastest video course – Learn and Master Painting has just been released and I am so please to say - finally, a painting lesson course on DVD for anyone and everyone!  This is a serious training program of very good painting instruction - but don’t worry, it’s not rocket science – it’s art, and art is fun! The folks at Legacy Learning are just seriously wanting you to learn how to paint!

These are even better than TV oil painting lessons. What I love about painting lessons on DVDs is the ability to pause and rewind and watch on your TV or on a computer. Of course, there are other painting courses on DVD, but they are often painting workshops for more advanced students. For beginners who want to learn to paint in oils or acrylics, there are not many DVD courses that start with the basics. And even those with some experience will find much to learn from this course.

I know from personal experience (after taking many painting classes from the time I was a teenager and later in college) that having a good teacher makes all the difference. I also know that private or group lessons are costly! There is no better value for what you’ll be taught with the Learn and Master Painting DVDs. You’ll be studying with the artist  Gayle Levée, who will teach and inspire you with easy to follow step-by-step lessons.

They really have thought of everything – you will be able to start painting right away with this exceptional course because it includes an optional starter kit of art supplies. These supplies include oil paints and painting medium, brushes and a palette knife – all quality materials recommended by serious painters.  If you buy the art supply kit with the course, you’ll get it at a discount.

This isn’t just “technical training” – it will cover the basics for beginners, but for those who are not beginners, there is much that this will help you with. You may need a refresher course or just something to get you inspired so you will paint more often – this in-depth course will do that, too. Here are some of the topics that will be covered:

• Color Theory
• Controlling Color Intensity and Understanding Color Combinations
• Understanding Composition
• Understanding Perspective
• Using Photographic Reference
• Varnishing Your Paintings
• Painting a gradation
• Setting up a still life
• Methods for locating and placing a focal point on your canvas
• The brown underpainting
• Creating a grayscale, value charts, 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
• More, more and more!

The set of 20 DVDs with everything you need learn have hours and hours of lessons which are taught in detail and in a fashion that is easy to understand. But you’ll also recieve a lesson book with more visuals and information about each of the projects you will be learning while watching the DVDs.

To help you calm down and focus on your artwork, there are 3 music CDs. You can create a playlist with the choices of classical, orchestral or modern music on these disks.

As with all the Learn and Master courses, there is a community online that you can get connect with others students and even get support directly from your teacher Gayle!

One more thing I want to remind you about. If you are not fully satisfied with this course (for any reason), simply return it within sixty days for a full refund. That is truly an offer that is hard to refuse!

Here is a page I put together with details about the pricing for the lessons and the painting supplies kit.

What are you still doing here? You need to go here to see this video about Learn and Master Painting!

Interested in the Homeschool Edition? The entire course PLUS a 56 page teacher’s guide is included for teachers to have a lesson plan to guide the students through the course. (Contains 20 DVDs, 3 Music CDs, 100+ Page Lesson Book, 56 Page Teacher’s Guide and unlimited access to Student Support Site.) See Learn and Master Painting Homeschool Course.

If you want to read more, I wrote a post to compare the benefits of oil painting DVDs vs. online tutorials.