Learn with Michael
Painting guides, techniques and practical advice.
A growing collection of free painting guidance from Michael James Smith. Explore the methods behind realistic painting, build confidence with the fundamentals and find useful MJS TV resources.
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Getting Started
Straightforward guidance for setting up, beginning a painting and building a sound working process.
Beginners Guide to Start an Oil Painting
5 Essential Items for Getting Started with Oil Painting If you’re new to oil painting or thinking about joining MJS TV, it can be difficult to know exactly what equipment you need to get started. There is…
Read guideHow to start an oil painting by blocking in
I always start an oil painting by blocking in, and this is for two main reasons: It ensures that the white surface that I’m painting on to is completely covered It makes it a lot easier to colour match to…
Read guideHow to Set Up a Studio
How to set up a studio If you’ve ever wondered how my studio is set up for oil painting and filming of my painting lessons, you’re in luck! Because here, I’m going to show you just how I’ve done it. I’ve…
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Painting Techniques
Core oil-painting methods, from wet-on-wet work and glazing to the practical decisions that shape each layer.
Oil Painting Technique FAQs
Oil Painting Technique FAQs How long should I leave the block-in before adding detail? That depends on the material used for the block-in. Acrylic can often be ready very quickly once fully dry, while…
Read guideWhat is glazing in oil painting?
Glazing is a technique that I use a lot in my oil paintings. In fact, it is one of the techniques I use to make my oil paintings look more photorealistic. For example, I use glazes when painting shallow…
Read guideWet-on-wet oil painting method explained
The wet-on-wet oil painting technique is exactly how it sounds: painting directly on top of wet paint without allowing the lower layer to dry. For this reason, the wet-on-wet method is also referred to as…
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Subjects & Effects
Focused guides for painting water, fur, portraits, frost, snow and other demanding visual effects.
How to Paint Realistic Water
Water is one of the most captivating yet challenging elements to paint. Achieving true translucency, mirror-like reflections, and crystalline clarity can feel daunting—but with the right techniques, it’s…
Read guidePainting Frost & Snow In Oil
I’ve always enjoyed painting winter scenes. There’s something magical about the contrast between delicate frost-covered twigs and the smooth, pillow-like snow resting on the ground. Leaves dusted with…
Read guidePainting Portraits: Capturing Character in Detail
I’ve always had a passion for figurative work, especially portrait painting . Portraits can be some of the most challenging subjects, but also the most rewarding—there’s nothing quite like capturing the…
Read guidePainting lifelike fur
I enjoy painting animals. Most of the time they appear in my landscape paintings—rabbits, sheep, cattle and so on—as a smaller element in a bigger scene, but I find a standalone piece can be striking as…
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Finishing & Care
Advice for the final stages of a painting, including varnishing and protecting finished work.
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MJS TV Resources
Useful guidance for MJS TV members, including lesson resources, translations, FAQs and licensing information.
Translated Tutorial Library
We are in the process of subtitling and translating all of the lessons on MJS Tv in to multiple languages. Several have already been subtitled and translated including our free lesson. Some of these…
Read guideHow to use the sketching diagram
How to Sketch Out Your Subject Before Painting 🎨 Before I begin a painting, I always take time to sketch out my subject. My go-to method is the grid technique —a simple but powerful way to make sure all…
Read guideCan I sell the paintings I've completed? Shutterstock Licence Codes
Can I sell the paintings I’ve completed? If you’re selling a painting based on one of Michael’s lessons, you’ll need to state that it was created using a reference photo from MJS TV. You can include a note…
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