FAQs

I use white spirit to clean my paint brushes, as well as to thin my paint for when I am applying the paint in the later layers of the painting.…

What is the difference between oil painting on panels and canvas?

The technique I have developed over the many years I have been painting can be done either on a smooth canvas or MDF smooth panel. When I paint on canvas…

What lighting should I use when oil painting?

I use 5000K white light bulbs which are considered a “natural light”. If you are unable to find suitable bulbs in your area www.1000Bulbs.com has Spiral CFL 5000K Full Spectrum…

What oil paint do you use?

I use Winsor and Newton Alkyd Fast Drying Oil Colours because they are very good quality and help my paint to dry faster. Any artist grade (not student grade) oil…

What paint brushes do you use to create different effects?

Over the years I have used some of my worn brushes to create different effects, but to help students I have created a specific group of brushes, so that when…

What advice do you have for oil painting on canvas?

I prefer a very smooth surface for the detailed paintings I do. When I have painted on canvas, I purchased the smoother weave canvas that was portrait quality. Either cotton…

What paint brushes do you use?

I have a collection of brushes from Rosemary and Co. I use a combination of both soft and stiff, flat and round, long and short brushes depending on the effect…

What advice do you have for oil painting on MDF?

I prefer to paint on very smooth surface panels. In the past, I cut any size I needed and prepared the panel myself. If you are interested in doing this…

Why do you use oil paint rather than acrylic?

I prefer the final appearance of oil paint because of its vibrancy, transparency and usability and I enjoy being able to blend and achieve the effects that I can. I…

How do you varnish your paintings?

I use a gloss picture varnish by Jackson’s. I prefer gloss varnish as I feel it brings out the details of the painting better. I always suggest using only artist…

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 the medium used for the block-in. If acrylics are used, then a…

How to make paint last longer on your brush

Depending on the circumstance I use a variety of mediums. At times it appears that I can paint quite a few strokes before needing to reload, while other times I…

How do you paint trees using oils?

In my Online Art School I have several tutorials which include how to paint a tree. These inlclude: ‘How to Paint a Landscape’ and ‘How to Paint a River’ which…

Should I wait for the paint to dry before adding another layer?

My technique is a wet on wet method so I do not wait for the paint to dry before I start adding my details on top. I thin my paint…

How do you prepare a canvas using Gesso?

I thin down my gesso just enough so that when I brush it on to the canvas it does not leave brush marks. I usually work on several at the…

What does fat over lean mean?

The fat over lean rule is where a painting has many different layers that are allowed to dry and others added on top with the layers being thicker. In that…

How do you prevent oil paint from beading-up

Your paint, medium or even varnish can sometimes form beads on an already-painted surface, although this doesn’t happen often. The solution is to rub the surface lightly with alcohol to…

What does wet on wet mean?

Wet-on-wet, or alla prima, means “first attempt” in Italian. It is the method I use most of the time in my technique. This means applying layers of wet paint to…

How do you scale your oil paintings when using a reference photo?

When I am painting a complex subject or just want to be sure all the elements of the painting are in the right spot on the canvas, I use a…

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 finish. Each tutorial teaches the techniques Michael uses and offers…

How long are tutorial videos available to view?

Once you become a member you can view the tutorials as many times as you like. They will always be available as long as you are a paying member. The…

I’m struggling with a tutorial, do you offer any help?

Yes, if you need any support with the oil painting tutorials you can contact our friendly customer support team via email: admin@onlineartschool.com

What size panel will I need for tutorials?

A large number of the panels I use are in a square format of 12″x12″ or 13″x13″, with a few in landscape formats. You are free to use any size…

Can I pause, forward or rewind the tutorials?

Yes, you can. Once you start watching a video click on the pause button or rewind/forward by moving the duration bar back and forwards.

Do the tutorials have subtitles?

No, unfortunately the tutorials do not have subtitles. However, if you have hearing difficulties and have purchased a yearly subscription, we will provide you with a written transcript of each…

Does Michael James Smith paint seascapes?

Michael does paint seascapes and in fact, there are two tutorials available in the Online Art School, ‘How to Paint a Seascape’ and ‘How to Paint a Wave’. They gives…

Can I adjust the speed of the tutorials?

Yes, you can change the speed of each tutorial by clicking on the cog icon next to the volume button in the footer of the video.

Where did you learn how to paint?

I am mostly self-taught but I have also learned a lot from my father, who is also an oil painter. I have been developing my own oil painting technique for…

Where do I find my username?

We send you a confirmation email with your username information. Normally your username consists of the first part of your email address.

Why was my payment declined when I tried to purchase a subscription?

We receive notifications about your payment and most of the time we can tell why your card has been declined. There could be a number of reasons such as typing…

How long does oil and acrylic paint take to dry?

Because I use Winsor and Newton Alkyd Fast Drying Oil Paint, Liquin and white spirit, while painting very thinly, I need only wait a week, however, regular oil paint using…

How do I check my orders?

How many hours do you paint per day?

I paint for around 7 to 8 hours each day.

How do I join the Online Art School?

You can join the Online Art School by clicking here. Simply choose what subscription plan suits you the most, monthly, 6-month or annual, and then pay in your local currency.…

I am having difficulties logging in, can you help?

Make sure you have internet connection. Please remember you can only be logged in on one device at the time. If you are logged in on a different device, log…

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The log in button is at the top right-hand corner on our homepage. Enter your username/email address and your password, and you will be able to access tutorials instantly.

I forgot my password, what do I do?

Click on ‘Lost your Password’ which can be found underneath the log in box

My tutorial video keeps stopping, what should I do?

There could be a few reasons why this is happening: Please try disabling Auto Lock (which can be found in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock) and see if…

Where can I make a complaint?

You can email us on admin@onlineartschool.com or you can fill out a form in our contact section.

Who do I contact for support in the Art School?

Our support team are here to help you and provide support . You can message them directly with any enquiries via the contact page or by emailing admin@onlineartschool.com

How do I change my payment method?

To change your payment method, log in > hover over ‘My Dashboard’> Payment methods > Add Payment Method. To delete your bank details, log in > hover over My Dashboard…

How do I delete a bookmark?

Start watching the tutorial you have already bookmarked> click on ‘Bookmarked’ button.

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To delete your bank details, log in > hover over My Dashboard > Payment methods > Delete.

How do I reset or change my password?

Log in > select ‘About’ on the side bar positioned on the right hand side (under My Profile) > Account > Change Password> Verify Password > Save

How do I resubscribe to the school after cancelling my subscription?

You simply Log in into your account, hover over ‘My Dashboard’ > select My Account > My Subscription > View > Re-subscribe.

Can I upgrade my subscription before my current subscription expires?

Yes you can, simply Log in > hover over My Dashboard> select My Account> My Subscription> View> Upgrade.

How do I bookmark my projects?