Many people aspire to learn how to paint, but few know where to begin. Painting is relaxing and touches the creative side of our personalities. Plus, you'll have tangible expressions of your effort and imagination. It's important to find the right instruction, though, or you could spend hundreds of dollars in supplies and never use them.
From the onset, learning how to paint can seem like an overwhelming endeavor. But when you study with Gayle Levée she’ll walk you through step-by-step video instruction, taking you from any skill level—even if you’re a total novice—to painting with advanced techniques used by professional painters. You’ll learn how to make your paintings look realistic and believable. Gayle will teach you how to setup your studio, properly care for your materials, choose colors to best communicate your theme, and how to develop your compositions and draw objects in perspective. You’ll learn all the foundational painting skills you’ll need to become an accomplished artist.
By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to get the illusion of depth and distance in a painting and you’ll be amazed at how you are able to record your experiences and the world around you in your paintings. You’ll complete several paintings—together with Gayle—from start to finish and discover a whole new way to create!
Not a beginner? That’s ok. Just review the basics (you might be surprised what you don’t know) and jump into the more advanced training on perspective and color theory. Many classical and formal training programs don’t include the information you’ll learn here.
When not accompanied by detailed video instruction, printed materials alone can leave you frustrated and confused. Online instruction is difficult to follow. Private instruction is costly and inconvenient. Learn & Master Painting is the perfect solution to learn how to oil paint—you’ll be thrilled by what you can create! You'll learn to make art, think about art, and discuss art.
Because we know the idea of setting up an art studio can be somewhat intimidating and overwhelming, we're offering an optional painting supply starter kit. Let us help you get started learning to paint by sending you the paints, brushes, palette knife, and medium you'll use throughout the course. These products are the exact, high-quality supplies Gayle recommends you use when painting. You'll also receive a discount when you buy the supply kit and course together.
If you’ve been painting for a few years or more, chances are you've learned by picking things up here and there on your own. You may have taken a few lessons. You may have read a few books or watched a few videos. You may or may not have learned fundamental painting skills. You've enjoyed experimenting creating works of art, but now you're ready to expand your creativity and confidence in front of the easel. You know it’s time to explore art even further, but you're not sure how. Learn & Master Painting is your answer.
- Learn how to make your paintings look realistic and believable.
- Learn how to fill your art with light and color, choosing colors to communicate your theme.
- Learn how to set up your studio and how to care for your materials.
- Learn brushwork techniques to help your paintings come alive.
- Learn how artists have developed the composition of their paintings for centuries—and how you should develop your compositions too.
- Learn how to draw objects in perspective, and learn how to get the illusion of depth and distance in a painting.
- Learn the best times to use photographic reference.
- Study the techniques artists have used to make their paintings compelling to the viewer.
The biggest advantage to learning with Learn & Master Painting is everything you need to know to become an accomplished artist is laid out in one course ... step-by-step, start to finish. There's no need to search for training materials while trying to piece together your own art class.
Invest in yourself. Invest in your art. Imagine, in less than a year you can go from where you are now to an advanced artist, painting and exploring the world around you. All you need to provide is the materials and the practice time. Everything else you need is right here!
Learn & Master Painting covers the various aspects of learning to paint...there’s no way we could list everything, but here are some of things you will learn—and master!
Setting Up a Studio/Workspace
It is important that you know how to create an adequate workspace that is both comfortable and inspiring. You’ll learn how to chose the correct materials to use, how to tone a canvas, the correct way to organize your palette, mixing paint with medium and for how to achieve various consistencies, and the best way to approach cleaning up after a project.
It is essential that you master the proper way to achieve vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved strokes—with both hands—on your canvas before you can become the accomplished painter you’re destined to be. You’ll also learn what each part of the brush is and how to maximize the use of your various brush options by understanding what part of the brush is best for each technique and which brush is the best choice for different aspects of a painting. Once you can hold each brush properly, load the paint correctly, and achieve the various stroke techniques (like hard, soft, and lost edges) that are taught, you’ll be ready to move forward on your journey of becoming a master painter!
You’ll learn the history of color theory and why it is helpful to know how the hue, value, and chorma of pigments can direct you in making the best color choices for your works of art. After learning how to create a hue circle of your own, you’ll have an easy reference to support you in all of your future color decisions.
In learning how to make complementary color charts, you will know how to lower the chroma of a hue and control a color’s value by adding it’s complement. Then you’ll be able to refer to these charts whenever you are trying to create or match a color—which will build your color-mixing memory so that eventually you want even need these charts to reference! It is vital for you to know how to use different colors together so that your painting shows exactly the mood you want and you represent your subject as accurately and realistically as possible.
Once you begin brainstorming and planning your paintings, you’ll need guidance on how best to arrange the elements in a painting to create symmetry and balance, otherwise known as your painting’s composition. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand a viewer’s reaction to the apparent weight of objects placed with the composition (applying static balance or dynamic balance). And you’ll know how to use color contrast for the focal point, pattern to lead the eye toward the focal point, rhythm to move the eye around the canvas, mass for balance, and line to get the eye started on its journey all over again!
It is key to understand perspective if you want to paint believable, 3-D objects. You will learn what a vanishing point is and how to create one in your painting. You will learn how to find and create a horizon line. And you will know the difference between one-point and two-point perspective, how to identify the different in works of art, and how to apply these concepts in your own pieces.
Many artists use photographic reference at some point during the painting process. You’ll come to recognize when to use photographic reference in paintings and how best to use photographic reference for certain elements in paintings.
You’ll learn different types of and uses for varnish. When your work of art is complete, you’ll want to make sure you know how to retouch something or make any final adjustments. And once you’re satisfied with your masterpiece, you’ll be able to use varnish to make the painting look evenly shiny and to protect its beauty after it is completely dry!
- 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
- and SO MUCH MORE!
In most painting classes and online lessons, you'll have to pick and choose the techniques and styles offered to you. Not with Learn & Master Painting. Here are a few of the techniques and styles you'll learn and master throughout the course.
An Italian phrase meaning "on the first"; the process of painting directly on the priming of the canvas with no underpainting
Characterized by the artist's concentration on the general impression emanated by a scene or object and the use of primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light.
The process of blending light tones, midtones, and dark tones to show the roundness of form
The depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation
The application of thick, heavy paint using the brush or palette knife
The process of painting a semi-transparent color over another color
The technique of applying fresh, wet paint into an already wet area of paint
Learn & Master Painting is much easier to follow if you use the same paints and colors as the instructor. Matching colors with different shades from different manufacturers can be quite difficult, especially for beginners. The following is a list of the exact paints and supplies Gayle uses in Learn & Master Painting. You can purchase them separately at your local art supply store, or as a complete "kit" here on our website for substantial savings.
So what happens if you begin the course, but then have a question? What if you get stuck on something? Who can you go to for help? How do you get input and feedback on your progress?
This is where Learn & Master Painting's free online support comes in. Once you purchase the course, you will be allowed to post questions and discuss your progress on our Student Support Discussion Board. Gayle Levée participates regularly, as do thousands of other students and teachers. You will quickly find that you are not learning alone, rather with a whole community of Learn & Master Painting students, all of whom love to help and encourage each other. There is also a Community Website where students often post clips and videos of their playing for feedback, offer each other encouragement and support, and freely discuss their successes, setbacks, and challenges. Students also blog about their progress, chat in our chat room, and even plan events. You can participate as much or as little as you'd like, but we're here to help.
You wouldn't normally get access to the full support site until you've purchased the course, but for a limited time, we're opening it up to be viewed by the public. For starters, check out the Student Support Discussion Board, and if you're really ambitious, feel free to browse around the Student Community Site as well. Please remember, though, that these sites are for Learn & Master Painting students. Please be respectful of our community and limit any postings to discussions of the course.
Our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
We want you to be delighted with Learn & Master Painting. If you are not, simply return the course within sixty days for a full refund of the purchase price. No questions asked.
The core of Learn & Master Painting is its video instruction on 20 fully-produced DVDs, each packed with lessons designed to guide you step-by-step on your road to painting mastery. You'll learn the foundational skills you missed in art school or in art lessons. You'll be amazed at what you didn't know and how it might be holding you back from becoming the artist you've always wanted to be. We've gone to great lengths to show all the facets of painting so you don't miss a thing.
In each of the lessons Gayle Levée teaches you the day's concepts in detail, with plenty of time to practice them together. At the end of each lesson is an assignment where you will incorporate all of the day's concepts into a work of art. By the end of the course you'll have a large collection of your own art.
The on-screen graphics make it easy to follow along, the 3-D graphics offer enhanced learning opportunities, and a detailed menu allows you to jump quickly to any topic or exercise you may want to go over again.
Here are a few screen shots to give you a sense for what these videos look like.
Professional Instruction
Finished Works of Art
3-D Graphics
Close Up of the Palette
Images of the Still Life
There's no need to struggle painting on your own or in expensive art studio lessons. With Learn & Master Painting, you'll receive step-by step instruction and multiple perspectives of each assignment—now you can learn in your own home.
"I've previously purchased your guitar, piano, and drums courses and have enjoyed each one immensely. (I finished the piano one earlier this week!) Your instructors are all brilliantly chosen, and they are each clearly passionate about their chosen instrument (or paintbrush!), which cannot but carry over into their teaching."
— Simon Schwab
London, England, UK
"Painting is always something I wanted to do. I was concerned, however, how I would fare with a DVD-based learning course because there is no interaction between the teacher and myself-or so I thought.
From the start, Learn & Master Painting has greatly impressed me. Gayle is marvelous and explains everything clearly and concisely. She breaks everything down so simply that I had no problem following her. I found that there is plenty of time for me to follow instructions without having to lag behind.
All through the series I've seen how it has been planned methodically and I really liked how it is broken down into stages and steps which I have to master before moving on to the next stage. I'm glad I spent so long getting to know how my studio should be laid out and how to create my palette and the different consistencies of paint first.
I especially enjoyed learning all of the Brushwork Techniques. The instructions were really clear and ample practice time was given during the session. I also liked the way I've been encouraged to experiment and find my own unique style of painting. This course has given me the fundamentals necessary to start, perfect, and complete my own painting.
I would definitely recommend this course to any of my friends interested in developing their creativity. Learn and Master Painting is a stress free, relaxing experience to be truly enjoyed by everyone who goes through the course, and it is competently run by an excellent instructor. I couldn't have asked for a better painting course to suit me and I've found the whole experience a truly enjoyable one!"
— Nechoma Schwab
London, England, UK
"Like the other courses from Legacy the thought, time, and effort put in to the content and delivery of Learn and Master Painting is of a very high standard. From the introduction through to the thought processes, reasoning, anecdotes, and practical implementation of the lessons is relaxed, friendly, confident, and extremely competent.
Gayle holds the learner's attention through her warm personable approach. Her enthusiasm doesn't get in the way of the job at hand, to deliver and get across clear concise steps, always emphasizing how we will put our own interpretation on the canvas.
Once the initial techniques were established, it was great to see that in these eight lessons we are already creating paintings to a good standard. This for me is how to start learning the art of painting. I'll certainly be investing time and effort in something I've always wanted to try, revitalizing what school classes discouraged...artistic creativity. Great package! Now where did I leave that Medium?"
— Alan Peden
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
"The format is excellent and remains consistent throughout the course. Gayle speaks slowly and clearly and is quite pleasant to listen to. Her style really grew on me as I progressed through the DVDs and I'm looking forward to continuing with her in any future programs.
But, most important, the information was clear and concise and much of the information was repeated in all the lessons. And I appreciated her attitude toward the students, giving them encouragement to be their own "artist." Perhaps what I was most impressed with were the close-up shots of Gayle applying and mixing the paint on the easel and then applying the paint on the canvas. In a classroom setting, it is not usually possible to have such a clear view of these activities, or to hit reverse to go back and listen or see again what was just discussed or demonstrated.
I would describe the course as a great way to learn oil painting with excellent instruction and allowing for your own pace."
— Patricia Railton
Hood River, OR
"Thank you for opening a new world to me through Learn & Master Painting. I had always thought that one was either an artist or not. I wanted to paint, but never thought it was possible because I don't feel that I have an artistic bone in my body. I now realize that I was missing the technique that would get me to the point where I could use my own artistic expression. I do not have any type of artistic background, but I have always wanted to paint. I am very analytical, total left brained. I never thought I could paint. But, Gayle provides easy step-by-step instructions. Wow, I can paint! I have to say that Gayle is very endearing. She seems very genuine and down to earth. I don't feel she's talking down to me and I feel like she really cares about my success. If I were to take an in-person art class, Gayle is the instructor I would want to have."
— Dan Dunivent
Tracy, CA
"Instructions are clear, precise, and relevant and the steps to a completed painting are small enough to remember. The ease of use, particularly using baby oil to clean brushes, and the wonderful effects created have made me want to do something I NEVER thought I would want to do-paint with oils."
— Doreen Davis
London, England, UK
"I've been trying to paint with oils off and on for sixty years. The first few lessons of this course told me exactly what I've been doing wrong. After all those years, I'm finally going to learn to paint. I've already recommended Learn & Master Painting to friends without seeing the rest of the DVDs."
— Elsie Bolack
Lake Placid, FL
"I think the selection of the instructor was a great one. She is obviously very talented and a good instructor as well. I really enjoyed the prelude in each DVD where we saw her doing a landscape in fast time. There was a lot of technique and ideas portrayed in that continuing segment.
I would highly recommend Learn & Master Painting and the whole LLS series to anyone who wants to do some real learning on their own. I plan/hope to even do the piano course as well as the painting and the guitar course and I look forward to seeing what other products LLS comes out with."
— Eric Lundquist
Norwalk, CT
"This is a course that will give you a foundation in oil painting. It shows you how to get started from setting up your painting area, buying supplies, working with the paints and how to make brush strokes. You will soon be painting still life, understanding composition, lighting, toning, and the use of colors."
— Steve Valdeck
Littleton, CO
"Gayle is a gem! As a complete beginner, I now feel I have the basics to achieve my goals as an artist. She is thorough and does an excellent job explaining the basics yet still reveals the secrets of achieving the skill of an advanced painter. I will be going through Learn & Master Painting more than once! There is so much here to learn and she is the perfect teacher."
— Melanie Cryar
Nashville, TN
"I didn't really have a favorite lesson. There was always some technique or secret to be learned from every lesson, whether it was how to arrange the paints on the palette or how to get the green apple color from mixing yellow and black. Each lesson was my favorite!
If you want to learn to oil paint this is the course for you. We've watched other artists' instructional courses on TV and most of them skip over the basics and jump right into difficult painting leaving the student lost and frustrated. But Gayle patiently and thoroughly takes you through every step from arranging your studio to caring for your equipment properly so that you can acquire a skill that you will enjoy for a lifetime."
— Martina Davis
Broken Arrow, OK
"Some things I really enjoyed about the course were actually finding out the parts of the brush, learning how to organize a palette, and learning how to use my arm and shoulder to make brushstrokes. (I've always done this, but never realized I did, which explains why I've always had the ability to paint, but never seemed to be able to draw… different motions completely!)
I also really enjoyed how Gayle painted the evergreen picture in lesson 5 working mostly with the negative space. This last statement also proves her point that you need to step back and look at the work from a distance, something my high school art teacher always used to stress."
— Rebecca George
Stanhope, NJ
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