Added: 3 years ago
From: wilsonbickford
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  • When I paint on my highlights, I always pick up the darker base color back onto the brush - which then goes over the highlights I just put on. And this happens with every touch of the brush. What am I doing wrong?

  • @jordanwphoto Make sure to use a thicker ( undiluted with paint thinner ) paint for the base and use a slightly thinner consistency paint for the highlights. The thinner paint will stick (adhere) to the thicker layer and not lift up so much of the dark layer.

  • hmmm...you said you're publishing a book... can i purchase it online? cause im sort of interested to buy a copy....thanks! =)

  • @iLOVENATURE2011  Yes, you can purchase it at my website; wilsonbickford d o t com and I'll autograph it for you!

  • Indeed, this is just too awesome. My son really enjoyed your tips and techniques. This really helped him a lot.

  • bummer the Vid ended before the lesson. Thanks anyway...very helpful.

    I love learning new techniques, and especially color combos, and brushes and tools....

  • very helpful, thank you

  • I like that YOU LIKE my tutorials!

  • i like your tutorials!!

  • Use thicker paint in the beginning, but you'll need to thin it down a little to get the highlights to "stick".

  • Thanks so much! I've always had a problem with trees but this covered a lot!

  • The green you used in the beginning, is it straight from the tube or did you thin it down first?

  • happy trees :D

  • I think this is a great and useful video for me. I really like how you talked all the way through the creation, and that we got to see from start to finish. Thanks again for this greatly useful and educational video.

  • Love it. Great video. Thanks for sharing :) I spray paint, but like to merge techniques. This is extremely helpful.

  • Very useful  SIR.

  • Very useful SIR.

  • very helpful for beginer like me, thank you

  • very useful !!

  • can somebody answer me in what canvas is this?? is it cheaper than the usual canvas painters use??? -please i really need an answer.. =(

  • @applemvs It's a canvas panel, also known as canvas "board". I actually prefer them over traditional stretched canvas, but it's strictly a matter of personal preference.They're less costly and much easier to frame than traditional canvas. Like anything, you get what you pay for.There are really "cheap" varieties and better quality ones I recommend my "Signature" Wilson Bickford Canvas Panels, which are available now at Jerry's Artarama. They consist of an MDF (masonite) core and are archival.

  • That's never been my experience. A good quality bristle brush will last you a long time, if you clean it properly and take care of it.

  • @wilsonbickford hi wilson, one question pls. how to properly take care of the brushes? thank you.

  • @wingINTELLIGENCEmb Oil brushes are very easy to maintain. I just clean them thoroughly in Mineral Spirits, a.k.a. "paint thinner". I have a can with a screen/grid in the bottom which is designed to scrub the brush against to loosen the paint. I fill the can to a level about 1" above the grid with paint thinner. Then dry them thoroughly with paper towels.

  • @wilsonbickford thank you so much sir! i tried doing the tree but it doesn't work out on me. brush doesnt fit.. what kind of brush did u used for this one sir? thanks!

  • @wingINTELLIGENCEmb That was a 1" foliage brush. My Signature line of brushes is now available through Jerry's Artarama and I recommend my 1" Scenery Brush for this. My brush is "angled", which allows you to use only the corner of it, giving more control for rendering the delicate leaves.

  • hi sir wilson...

    is it true that bristle brushes are disposable ? because someone told me that bristle brushes are only good for first use only and thats why teir cheap....and after you use the their tip wont be like their original shape and that the bristle goes in every directions...i ask this because i am planning to invest on filberts bristle brushes that are somehow pricey...

    thanks

  • jsem moc rád že tuhle techniku používá každý a že se rozvíjí sám jí rád používám a hlavně kreslení a malování uklidňuje a rozvijí fantazii a představivost

  • thank u!!!!!!!!!!!

  • hi

    i'm a beginner and i have a few questions. what do u use for thinner?

    when u start a painting do u first a basic layer? if so how do u do that?

  • @marnix0steenbeek I use 100% odorless mineral spirits ( right from the local hardware store ) for cleaning and thinning. I use a white oil base medium on the canvas prior to starting, which allows me to blend colors right on the canvas. There are a few types currently available on the market ( such as Bob Ross Liquid White ), but my own version will be released and available world-wide in 2011. "Wilson Bickford's Fast-Flo White Medium" Check out my website for details.

  • BOB ROSS COULD DO ALL OF THIS

    WITH 3 STROKES AND THE COLOR ORANGE

  • @RomanticCrusader For a "happy little tree"? And he learned it all from Bill Alexander, as did I.

  • did u paint the backround with oil paints? if u did what colors?

  • @Lovemypup513 Yes, I used white base medium and ultramarine blue for the sky.

  • what kind of paper have you used?

    And thanks, youve helped alot (:

  • @Kash1321 In this lesson, I used a canvas panel, not paper.

  • which colour u r used  and which canvas u r using

  • @amarjithayr I literally haven't watched this lesson since I filmed it, but I'm pretty sure I used Sap Green, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White for the foliage. This demo was painted on a canvas panel.

  • i couldn't do it at all , all i got is a green stain .i wish it was that easy

  • @MrJotunheim

    Sounds like you're not using enough paint.  Use a lot of paint and a light touch on the canvas. Make sure the bristles stay "open" and don't clump together.

  • @wilsonbickford  thanks for the advice , i will try my best but wet on wet is really hard.

  • @MrJotunheim  It just takes practice.

  • @wilsonbickford thanks a lot ,

  • Thanks 4 everything!!! I really like your job!!... it's kind of magic!!!... =)... I'll do every painting!! I'm happy!! thanks so much

  • thanks for replying back.... is that all you use? liquin? nothing else with the layers?

    thanksss againnnnnnn:)

  • @dishy200 Typically, I just use either LIQUIN, or the paint thinner in my cleaning bucket, if I require a really thin consistency paint. ( as in when I'm painting long, thin grass blades, or tree branches )

  • Great! Thanks mr. Bickford!

  • hi! that was fun to watch and really helped.... can you help with this---- about fat over lean.... did you use any mediums? or do u have to use any mediums while using oil paints? I want to use oil paints but its confusing me...:/ .... while painting and making layers do I have to wait for each layer to dry to make another layer ? or can it be semi wet like sticky wet? and if so how long will I need to wait for it to dry to make another layer? ..thnksss:)

  • @dishy200 When I DO use a medium, I prefer LIQUIN ( made by Winsor/Newton ) It dries thin paint layers overnight and thicker layers within a couple of days, so it drastically reduces the waiting / drying time between layers. Yes, you should really wait until a layer is dry, before applying the next.

  • You stole Harry Potters glasses!

  • @equitably

    Yup, ...when he wasn't loooking!

  • Hail from Brasil!

    Thanks for the lessons.

    Keep the good work, fighting the good fight!

  • I am going to get a one inch brush

  • @God0Mighty1 You can do a LOT with that brush, if you practice and learn to manipulate it. In the near future, my signature product line will be coming out, which will include an "angled" one inch "Scenery" Brush that I'm sure you'd like. Check my website periodically for updates.

  • Great ...really helpfull and simple !!!

  • you look like you don't use very much oil...is this better?

  • @Yellie876

    No, I don't use much medium at all. I just don't need it for this approach. I never use Linseed Oil, either. It takes forever to dry and will "yellow" over time. I prefer Liquin

    ( made by Winsor/Newton ) when I need a medium.

  • i'm doing a set of four tree paintings and was wondering whether i should use oil or acrylic paint, when watching this video i saw you used oil, but i am more leaning toward acrylic, but hope it doesn't dry too quickly... love the brush technique you used, looks fantastic

  • @roxisocs

    There's no doubt that Acrylics will dry much, much faster. If you have some experience with them, give it a shot. If you've never used Acrylics, I'd stick with the Oils. That would undoubtedly be easier for you, in that case.

  • Wilson ... great lesson.

  • @BionicTexan

    Thanks for watching!

    

  • wow ur good.

  • слил все с Боб Росса.

  • will you ever come to california?

  • @GUITAR1212112

    Anything is possible. I get offers and requests for places ALL over, even overseas, but I prefer to not live my life "out of a suitcase". But, I take certain offers here and there if it seems feasible. I've conducted workshops in CT, FL, VT and OR.

  • thank you again and again

  • THANK YOU!

  • ein wahrer Künstler.

  • The one question I had on this tip was the dabbing of the brush in the paint. Do you use the flared out side that is away from you as your pulling it towards you in the paint? It looks like you flip it around. Also have you tried the regular Home Improvement store brushes by chance like the Minwax brushes made for Oil and Stain? They seem to be exactly like the Bob Ross, Alexander style brushes.

  • @SBPStudio

    To be honest, I use either corner of the brush, depending on how small a space I'm working on. I tend to use the bigger flared out corner on a bigger tree/canvas size and the tighter corner for smaller paintings. Either way, the key is to keep the brush "open" and don't let it clump. And yes, some of those hardware brushes will work pretty well, too. But, get ones with "exploded" bristle tips.

  • I really enjoyed Wilsons tips on doing the Birch trees! Fantastic. My tree's look better than ever.

  • @SBPStudio

    Cool! Glad to hear that!

  • Very nice!

  • Nice tree!,,,good teaching!...need more from you Mr. Bickford!.

    My trees and grass still get muddy..but practice is needed---

  • thankyou

  • Do you let the background dry first?

  • @INSAINNIKKI

    No.

  • yays

  • Thanks! Awesome video, this one really helped me!

  • this would of been really good practice if my school have good brushes. oh well better start practicing at home then

  • kewl! btw i lovin the video of the waterfall =)

  • Wow, makes a tree painting look so easy, I'm guessing this will work equally well with acrylic paints too?

  • Yes, the technique will work with Acrylics.

  • Can you paint the trunk and branches FIRST? And then do the foliage?

  • Yes, but doing it that way doesn't make the trunk and branches appear to be in the "middle" of the tree. All of the foliage will look like it's on the front of the tree.

  • great videos.

  • Merci pour les explications claires et précises ! avec vous la peinture a l'air facile !Vous transmettez le message à vos élèves avec une grande générosité !

    Vous êtes un très bon professeur !

  • wow.. it is very nice. but i'm lazy.. BTW thanks !!

  • thank you :)

  • Very useful!!!!

  • ANOTHER GREAT LESSON THANK U MR WILSON

  • You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

  • whats the name of that guy that looked like a lion? came out on pbs i think, used to draw different stuff?

  • Do you mean Bob Ross?

  • BOB ROSS!!! yeah lol thanks man. I remember watching him paint when i was little. Im trying to get into oil painting so i want to watch artists do their thing

  • Thanks for the great tips, I will certainly be taking these techniques into account when I do my own paintings, I am still learning, hopefully some day I will make paintings as magnificent as yours:)

  • The only thing to improve one's skills is practice. There is no "magic formula" or short-cut, but if you're earnest and willing to devote time to your passion, you WILL see growth and better results. Best of luck with it !!!

  • beatiful and well done i loved this vid and thanks for posting it ,i think it will help alot

  • You're welcome. I hope you find it useful.

  • Thanks for the awesome lesson on trees! I used your waterfall lesson last year, and now I'm pretty good at it. You're a great teacher!! :D

  • Thank you for watching my channel. Anyone can learn to paint if they're willing to work at it a little.

  • Really? Great video btw.

  • thanks alot for this video.You have made leaf trees so easy .i will surely try this one.

    Aisha

  • It's not difficult. It just takes a little practice.

  • u teach wonderfully...n tht makes u a better artist thn d rest!! u make it seem easy n sumthn evry1 cn learn.

  • Thank you!

  • very pretty! i love this!

  • Thanks for watching!

  • Great lesson! I really wish I could try this medium, but oil paints and supplies are so expensive.

  • Yes, it takes a little investment to get started, but if you shop on-line at places such as dickblick d o t c o m or jerrysartarama d o t c o m, you will find much better prices.

  • Very Good clips sir ! I enjoyed watching them all !Mike Chambers

  • Thanks for watching! I have a bunch more at jerrysartarama d o t com Click on the FREE ART LESSONS heading and choose Category -Artists/ Wilson Bickford

  • can you paint a leaf lesson?

  • Maybe for a future post. ?

  • Beautiful! 5/5

  • Thanks!

  • I presume you wash all your brushes when you are through, right?

    Are there brushes you DON'T clean and reuse?

    How often are you replacing brushes?

    What are some of the rules of cleaning brushes?

  • I clean ALL of my Oil brushes in 100% Mineral Spirits ( a.k.a. "Paint Thinner )

    Replacement of brushes depends on how frequently they're used. Some of my brushes last a few months, others may last a couple of years. The only "rule" to proper brush care is to make sure you wash all of the paint out of them, dry them thoroughly and store them so that they aren't laying on their bristles. ( lay them flat or upright, "handles-down" in a container. )

  • Wow. thank you so much.

  • If you don't mind:

    do you always follow the "fat over leen" when oil painting?

    Could you do a glazes tutorial your style?

  • When I'm painting in stages ( letting layers dry in between ), Yes, I always follow the fat over lean rule. But, for wet-on-wet ( as shown here ) you don't need to worry about that as you are putting everything down in one solitary cohesive layer. And yes, maybe in the future I'll do a lesson on glazing.

  • Achieving everything in a single layer needs a lot of precision and still somethings just require different layers.

    Thank you for your for your lessons and your reply. I appreciate it.

  • Absolutely. Working working "wet-on-wet" can only yield a certain amount of detail. If you want more refinement, you have to work in stages, letting things dry in between. But, you're right about the "single layer and precision", it's ALL in the "touch". That comes from practice and experience.

  • hey, umm, question, can one use a hair dryer like with watercolors to help drying process? or will that crack or mess the oil paintings?

  • Actually, a hair dryer won't have any effect on Oils as it does Watercolors or Acrylics, because they are water-based and they dry by evaporation. Oils "cure" by oxidation, which is a different process.

    To speed the drying of Oils, you can add a specific medium for that purpose. There are many available on the market. Read the label to see it's specific characteristics and useage.

  • Mr. Bickford, can you do a video on making thicker trees or maybe pine trees? thanks

  • Hi,

    Actually, I have a lesson posted on YouTube for "fir" trees, so check that out. Also, I have many more ( 17 ) lessons

    ( including more trees ) posted at jerrysartarama d o t com

  • this is really nice, i never thought i'd learn so much in 7 minutes.

  • You're welcome. Please check out my other Free Art Lessons at jerrysartarama d o t com

  • Thank you for your free lessons sir. You are a very good teacher.

  • You're welcome. Please check out my blog, too! wilsonbickford d o t blogspot d o t com

  • Thank you so much for all of your instructional videos. They are by far the best resource i have come across and also very user friendly. i love your techniques and paintings and inspired me to paint more and practice. I was also wondering if you knew of where to search on how to glaze or get that shine on your finished product. thanks once again!!

  • Thanks for the compliments! Have you also checked out all my Free Art Lessons at jerrysartarama d o t com ? I have 17 new ones posted there. Check 'em out!

    I assume you're talking about a "final varnish" for the shine on the finished product? There are several on the market, but the most common one is Damar Varnish. Directions will be listed right on the jar. Make sure you get one compatible with Oils and your painting should be allowed to dry for at least 6 months before varnishing it.

  • Thank you so much! This was extremely helpful. I will definitely check out the rest of your videos.

  • i hope to become a great artist like you

  • Your work will definitely improve if you practice. The more you paint, the better you'll get.

    Also, check out my Free Lessons at  jerrysartarama d o t com

  • Not every artist is a good teacher, you can really teach, great teacher, that was very helpful, thank s for sharing.

  • Thank you for the compliment! I've been teaching painting for a long time and have had a few thousand students over the years. It's just a matter of explaining everything thoroughly without making it confusing.

  • cool work!

    loving it! i can learn it so easily!!

    gr8 teacher

  • Thank you. Painting is just a matter of knowing some techniques and practicing them.

    Please check out my NEW Free Art Lessons at w w w . jerrysartarama d o t com

    I know you'll enjoy them!

  • Super !!!! --- very cool

  • Thanks!!

  • w w w  . obsidiancustomvideo d o t com

  • What is the music at the end?

  • It is titled, "CAPTIVA" and is original music composed by Cindy Bowen, operator of Obsidian Custom Video.

  • Where can I find it youtube doesnt like give it

  • I am a digital artist and I have not painted much with a real brush but your techniques helped me out tremendously when painting digitally. Thanks s lot!, I can't wait to see more videos!

  • I'll have more posted within a couple of weeks!

  • Awesome! Thanks for posting this

    You do me desire to learn..I draw as hobby Without learning.

    all the best.

  • Yay! The book is almost out :D

  • Yes, it's due for release on April 9th. However, you can also order it right now at amazon . c o m

  • I just saw painting a tree. Awesome! Thanks for posting this. I will soon be painting stuff using your instructions.

  • Please be sure to check out my other painting lessons, too. I'll have some new clips posted in the near future.

  • thank you for that kind of techniques, it will help those beginners like us..could you please post some videos on how to paint flowers? thank you..those basic techniques..more power to you!!!

  • i only ask this of you because i have tried to find ANY example of bill's painting series other than the 30 or so choices you have to chose from at the alexanderart home page... i mean can this be...can there only be this little bit of documentation of one the greatest painters of our time? it seems a tragedy if so... i know he was on pbs for awhile, so i guess im just hoping you have a little inside knowledge about this considering your crudentials...please help if you can...thanks...

  • From what I have come to understand, there have been some ownership/copyright issues regarding Bill's old shows. I cannot elaborate further as I don't know the details. However, I do know that Alexander Art is now re-releasing some of his more popular episodes, so I would check back with them periodically for updates.

    Bill was a wonderful person and inspired ( and continues to inspire ) countless numbers of aspiring artists to pick up a brush and give it a try. Anyone can learn, if they desire.

  • well thank you for your time and information...what a shame this type of "business" has to occur regarding ownership/copyright issues...the same thing happened with kurt cobains music when he died ,and the public has missed out on some great music because of it... i will keep trying the alexanderart page...your videos are very helpful...i have watched them all now, and i am the better for it...thanks again, take care

  • I will be posting some new clips next month, so stay tuned.

  • i see you are a bill alexander art instructor...well i am a BIG fan of his paintings...however he was a generation right before me...i am mostly exposed to bob ross...bob was a great painter in his own right, however bill alexander was just more raw and didnt have as much of a "pleasantville" type style like bob did...the point of this was not to judge anybody, but to see if you know of where besides the alexanderart home page, that i can find some of his dvds of when he used to paint on pbs?...

  • could you put a video on how to paint mountains, i have a bit of trouble on how to paint them

  • I will be posting more videos very soon. While I already have some planned subject ideas, I'll consider your request.

    Be aware that there are several "mountain" lessons already posted on youtube. Have you found them?

  • This helps me greatly. Thank you!

  • You're welcome!

  • awesome videos. very helpful!

  • i want tobe a painter

  • Im from Portugal and im your "fan" !! you teach so much good! i guess that i will buy a dvd. you have helped me a lot. thank you professor. and good work

  • Hey, it's nice to know that I have a "fan" in Portugal. I'm glad my lessons were helpful to you. I'm also confident that you'd enjoy my Dvd's and would learn much from them.

    Thanks,

    Wilson Bickford

  • Believe me, I've seen a lot of "lollipop" trees in my classes over the years. lol

    Glad you enjoyed the lesson.

  • "Lollipop" you are funny. I really enjoyed the video, thank you!

  • I really can't thank you enough sir, i haven't seen such an easy demo for trees painting, but her's me prob, i'm trying to paint a forest in the night, and i don't like to just put the black and will do the job, i also need to know how to make the near trees at night.

  • I think the best thing to do is to visit my website and click on the "Art Classes" page. Look for "MOONLIT PALMS", "MOONLIT CAMP" and "SHOOTING STAR". These are all night-time scenes and should give you an idea of how to portray that particular mood.

    Wilson Bickford

  • Just visited it, thanks a bunch.

  • BEST TEACHER ON THE PLANET!

  • Thanks for the compliment! Be sure to check out my website and blog, too!

    Wilson Bickford

  • Wilson,

    First of all, what a nice guy you are! Also, such clear and ez to understand instructions in demo. The audio isn't too low or muffled like some.

    Dude, you're awesome and I'm grateful. lol

    Happy holi-days!

  • You sir, are right.

  • Thanks for the kind words. Having been an instructor for nearly 20 years now, I know where most students make their "mistakes", so I can help them avoid those pitfalls.

    Please check out my website too, as there's a lot more info posted on there.

    Wilson Bickford

  • I mean I wipe out the dark paint when I go over it with a lighter color