In this post, I’m going to walk you step-by-step through my entire painting process: drawing the underpainting using broad straight lines, establishing major shadow shapes, organising value, controlling edges, and then refining the portrait with highlights. For this demonstration, I painted it digitally (Procreate) so you can clearly see each stage - but the workflow applies perfectly to oil painting too. Want to start your own underpainting today? Grab my free Raw Umber Unde

Discover the easiest underpainting method for beginners: the Raw Umber Wash. Learn how to build values, control paint, and create structure using just one colour - perfect for easing the transition from drawing to oil painting.

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “fat over lean” in oil painting but weren’t quite sure what it meant, you’re not alone. This classic rule is essential for keeping your paintings stable and crack-free over time - yet it’s often misunderstood. In this post, I break down exactly what “fat over lean” means, why it matters, and how to apply it step by step in your own work. Plus, a glimpse of how I’ll cover layering, mediums, and drying control in my upcoming oil painting course.

Wondering how to prepare your canvas for oil painting? In this post, I explain exactly what gesso is, why you need it, and how it protects your artwork from damage. You’ll also learn how traditional and modern methods differ - and how to prepare your own painting surfaces, step by step.

A step-by-step recreation of Veronese’s Dream of Saint Helena using Renaissance Venetian painting methods - from underpainting to glazing - exploring how Veronese achieved his luminous colour and depth.

Learn how to paint like the Venetian Renaissance masters. This guide covers the traditional Venetian oil painting method - composition sketches, underpainting, and glazing - to help you achieve that luminous, old-master glow in your own work.

In this post, I share my process step by step - what materials I used, what I learned, and why this centuries old exercise still feels so alive in the studio today.

If you’re thinking about starting oil painting, you’ve probably already had a look in an art shop or online supply list - and felt overwhelmed. The truth is you just need a few carefully chosen materials to get going confidently - and that’s what this post is here to help you with. SHOPPING LIST: TOOLS (these things you will only buy once) Easel Palette Brushes - here you'll find a pack that will give you most of the hog hair brushes covered in the video - perfect to get st

Discover how I’m recreating Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People using classical oil painting techniques, from raw umber underpainting to layered glazing. In this behind-the-scenes master copy session, I break down my palette, process, and colour decisions and share how you can learn these traditional methods in your own work.

Learn how to oil paint using the classical glazing technique, starting from a bistre underpainting and building luminous colour through transparent layers. This step-by-step guide breaks down the entire process and explains why glazing creates depth and glow that alla prima painting can’t match.

Step-by-step guide to painting a portrait in three sittings: charcoal sketch, blocked-in colours, and the finished oil painting. Perfect for beginner painters.