Customer Reviews

The "How To" Oil Painting Series Volume 1 Getting Started

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although Mr. Larson is obviously a talented painter, it is clear that he is not a teacher. Most of the tape was involved with Mr. Larson's tedious effort to perfect his own painting without comments to the student explaining his actions. Also, the obsurd idea that one has to make a smaller painting in order to be able to relate colors to the larger canvas is unacceptable. The instructions as to what materials to get and ways to use them are limited. How to mix colors to create other colors was not touched on at all. The umber tonal background was interesting, only to be painted over without much utilization of it. A perfect example of a talented artist unable to explain that talent.

This is the most incredible piece of work I've ever seen for a teaching video!!! These guys reveal secrets that masters have been hiding for years!!! No rock is left unturned!!!
You watch every step of the process, it's like being in the room with a great artist and getting to watch them paint!!! So much information! They don't cut and leave you wondering how to get from step A to step B.
If you are as serious about painting as I am, you should buy these videos. I can't wait until they release the next ones.

This video was bought for me and I really enjoyed watching it and learning the basics of oil painting techniques. There is a good example of drawing on the canvas and underpainting as well as a bit on color. I thought it was a bit pricy so I bought myself volume II which is also good for the beginning of color use. Since I have bought volume III. I do, now having viewed volume I, think it is worth the price however. It is a two dvd set full of information geared tword sucessful painting with great tips learned from Mr. Larson's experiences. I've learned alot from Larry Larson's series and would recommend these dvds resoundingly. Five stars!

Here it is, from start to finish! What an inspiration! Mr. Larson doesn't assume anything about your previous knowledge of the medium, he answers the questions before you have asked them! (Which is a good thing, since this is a video!) Whatever you already know, this video is wonderful- Unlike the cooking-show-style videos where your veggies are already chopped, and the quiche appears magically golden brown, that is-a nose and eyeballs mysteriously appear- we see the painting from start to finish! Bravo!

I bought this as a gift for my father from amazon. Don't know if it is good for oil painter as I know nothing about it. However the quality of the DVD is very bad. The picture either jumps or stands still. Not just a few minutes. The entire DVD. basically it is un watchable. Thought it was my DVD player, tried various other players including my laptop. Nothing works. Don't know if we can return it as the DVD is opened.

I bought this recording awhile back when I was first learning oils. Now that I am a bit more advanced, I look back on this recording fondly because it gave me a good start. Its really too bad it is out of circulation.

There aren't many great beginning videos or books on oil painting, anywhere I have found to date. This is one of the best for helping a beginner start, and learning basic materials and application, without dumbing down and being too simplistic to the viewer.

My only complaint really about this recording, is his use of solvents. His choice of acetate and mineral spirits you buy at the hardware store is not OK for indoor painting. These are hazardous materials. There are healtheir alternatives. However, nothing is perfectly healthy.

And then, in the start of the painting where he feels he has to add linseed oil to the paint out of the tube, then proceeds to water it down with Naptha for a tint is definitely an odd choice. Never seen anyone else do this at that stage of a painting for tinting the canvas, adding the linseed oil. And now that I know more about oil painting, its really odd.

Most of the rest of the video is his own particular way of painting and nothing wrong with it that I know of. It's a method. There are many different approaches to oil painting and this one works and he does a good job.