FAQs

I provide a complete list of all the normal colours I use in my Online Art School. I normally use these same colours for every subject I paint and rarely…

What do you use white spirit for?

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…

What mediums do you use when oil painting?

I prefer Liquin original by Winsor & Newton because it helps the paint dry within 4-5 hours. My technique will work with any medium that is recommended for use with…

How do you use turpentine?

I use white spirit or mineral spirits rather than turpentine. However, turpentine will still work for my technique. I use white spirit to clean my brushes as well as to…

What tips do you have for setting up before I start oil painting?

I have made a YouTube video demonstrating how I set up my studio which should help you set yours up too. It covers all aspects including my easel, the board…

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…

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…

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.

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 do you take your reference photos?

I use several different cameras: Canon 70D, Canon G7X, Sony A6300 and Panasonic Lumix G80 and can be seen from time to time out and about in the area taking…

Where can I view your artwork?

Original paintings, prints and limited edition prints of my work can be found on my Online Art Shop. My work can also be found at various galleries across the UK…

How long does it take to paint a picture?

It generally takes around 10 – 16 hours to complete a painting, depending on the subject matter and the size of my panel.

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.…

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 address?

How do I change my name?

Select ‘About’ on the right-hand side bar under ‘My Profile’> click on ‘Edit’, type your name and save changes.

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.

How do I delete my bank details?

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?