Stobart's Overview of Painting Methods

In this hour-long YouTube tutorial, veteran realist artist John Stobart (1929-2023) shares his basic painting tips.

 

He covers the following topics:

• Basic geometric forms.

• Linear perspective

• Stretching and priming a canvas

• Importance of skies

• Brushwork and aerial perspective 

 

You can paint almost any natural subject with Stobart's small set of primary colors: French ultramarine, Winsor red, cadmium yellow light, burnt sienna, permanent green light, and titanium white. 

In this video and other "Worldscape" videos on his YouTube channel, his manner is forthright, confident, and resolute: "One must keep soldiering on irrespective of the discomfort." 

Stobart is best known for his large paintings of maritime history, but he was also an inspiring leader in the revival of plein-air methods. He said: "My purpose is to trigger your enthusiasm, to make you realize that you never achieve anything unless you yourself are triggered, motivated, inspired, convinced about what you want to do."