“Portrait of Margareta van Eyck” – Oil Painting

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In this Video Lesson you will discover old masters’ traditional oil painting techniques. Copying from the masterpieces is the best way for you to study and improve your understanding of the secrets of the old masters. You will see the whole step by step process of creating the copy of “Portrait of Margareta van Eyck” executed by the great Northern Renaissance artist Jan van Eyck. We explain you all stages of painting from brown under-painting and dead colour layer to final coloured layers painted in fine glazing techniques.
After exercise in copying such intricate artworks you will be able complete your own painting with more confidence and with higher skill level.
Video is based on copied painting by Natalie Richy.
60 minutes playing time.

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"Sophia’s Secrets"

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Created by Natalie Richy,
oil on canvas, 120 x 150 cm

This Bonus Video shows the creation of the figurative painting. The canvas is toned with a thin layer of oil imprimatura, and the two figure drawing is done in sanguine. The oil painting approach is one of simplification of form and colour. In contrast to the clarity with which Natalie describes faces, details of the dress and drapery are done in loose brushstrokes and are stylised impressionistically. The composition of the painting is located in fictive surroundings. The elegant blue colours in the painting suggest nostalgia, which ads imaginative and aesthetic significance. Natalie brought to this figurative picture a modern sensibility, impressionistic effects and painterly fluency.

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"Illusion of Dreams"

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Created by Natalie Richy,
oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cm

This Bonus Video demonstrates various oil painting techniques, such as ala prima, wet on dry, as well as transparent and semi-opaque glazing. The canvas is covered with the light-grey opaque imprimatura. The figurative composition drawing is made in sanguine. Oil painting starts with the middle-tones, followed by lights and shades. Faces and hands are painted in the ala prima technique. A soft squirrel brush helps to build up thicker layers of oil paint, especially in light areas. The thicker the wet paint is on the surface, the more delicate the touches of the brush become. Shades have thinner layer of paint. The background has some places left untouched and some covered with multiple layers of wet on dry oil paint, and then finished with transparent and semi-opaque glazing.

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"The Girl Who’s Dreaming Her Life Away"

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Created by Natalie Richy,
sanguine and oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cm

This Bonus Video demonstrates the process of making a figurative painting using mixed techniques – drawing with sanguine chalk in combination with painting in oils. This unusual approach gives an interesting effect with the warm colours of the natural sanguine chalk against the cold background in oil. The artwork begins with a sketch in charcoal on the canvas. The rest of the painting is continued in oil. The girl’s figure is done in sanguine. This sanguine drawing was secured with spray fixative and then oiled in with linseed oil to protect the drawing. The girl’s face is painted in one day using ala-prima technique to keep the freshness of colours and brushstrokes. The background is painted in numerous stages, starting with well-diluted imprimatura and followed by scumbling on the dried paint surface. The flexible approach to the composition of the painting opens up room for creativity and visual improvements.

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Self Portrait in Sanguine

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Created by Natalie Richy,
sanguine on canvas, 45 x 61 cm.

This Bonus Video demonstrates the creation of a portrait in sanguine. "Sanguine" is a French term for red chalk containing red iron oxide. It is a very popular medium for the softness and warmth it gives to a drawing. The support for the drawing is a canvas on stretchers primed with a light brown oil paint. A variety of strokes is used to control the appearance of the artwork. Shading is used for varying the tonal values on the canvas to represent the shade as well as the placement of the shadows. For best results the lines follow the contour curves of the face, thus producing an attractive effect. When drawing hair, the lines of the drawing follow the direction of the hair growth. A fixative is applied to preserve the finished artwork. This will hold sanguine particles more firmly to the canvas and prevent the drawing from smudging.

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"I have nothing to do today"

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Painted by Natalie Richy,
oil on canvas, 120 x 150 cm.

This Bonus Video demonstrates the process of oil painting, combining such techniques as direct painting, multi-layer and glazing. The finished artwork has an "unpolished" appearance, which shows the importance of every stroke made on the canvas.

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“Disciples” – Oil Painting

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This Video Lesson will show you the whole process of creating the big scale painting (59×47 inches) named “Disciples”, made in oil on canvas by Natalie Richy.

In this video you will discover:
- How to paint in both ala-prima and multi-layered oil painting techniques.
- How to paint in limited colour sets and be highly picturesque.
- How to use impressive loose strokes effectively to show your virtuosity.
You will be able not only to create technically good artworks, but also to capture the mood and atmosphere of your subjects.
60 minutes playing time

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“Parthenon” –
Sanguine Drawing

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This Video Lesson presents the drawing with sanguine. It demonstrates how to capture effects of light and shadow on a drawing of antique bas-relief sculpture. How to use sanguine and white chalk on toned paper. This exercise of sanguine drawing will improve your drawing experience and skills of depicting 3-demensional objects on flat surface of toned paper.
35 minutes playing time.

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“21st Century Portrait” –
Oil Painting

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This video is for the artists with sophisticated taste in fine art and love to conceptual meanings in it. It is based on big scale artwork named “21 Century Portrait” painted by Natalie Richy.

The figure is done in realistic, but free manner. The sticking note is painted as realistic as possible to create the optical illusion using art technique called Trompe-l’œil. By watching this video you will take advantage of learning two kinds of painting styles: hyper realistic and free picturesque styles, reminding 19 centuries approach. You will learn how to make each stroke of the paint artistically valuable and become a virtuoso in your art creation.
50 minutes playing time.

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“Portrait in Flemish Style” –
Drawing

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This Video Lesson will give you clear presentation and knowledge of academic drawing process, including explanation about materials: paper and pencils; and technical approaches: what kind of strokes and hatching you can apply for the best and efficient results. This portrait drawing video is presented in easy to follow step-by-step parts, effortless to understand and encouraging to attempt.
80 minutes playing time.

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“Pleasure Seeker” –
Oil Painting

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In this Video Lesson you will find out how you can master your oil painting skills and be able to create a portrait with a character on a higher creative level of Masters.
- You will also get useful information on a composition of portraits.
- Learn combination of the painting techniques: wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry.
- How to use colours more effectively to create picturesque effect.
- How to use scumbling techniques and how it is differs from glazing technique.
Video is based on painting “Pleasure Seeker” by Natalie Richy.
45 minutes playing time.

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“Two Drawings” –
Graphite on Paper

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This Video Lesson presents an example of making two drawings in which you will learn how to draw relying on unique lose strokes only. You will be able to create your drawings fast, freshly, impressive, emotionally fulfilled and reminding the etching effect. Such technique is great for both preparatory sketches and finished artworks.
Video is based on two drawings made by Natalie Richy.
40 minutes playing time.

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“Awaiting the Moon” –
Oil Painting

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The Video Lesson “How to Paint a Girl Portrait” demonstrates complete process of Classical Oil Painting Technique used by Old Masters.

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“Portrait of Sophia” –
Oil Painting

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This Video Lesson provides an excellent example of two day session portrait painting in oils. First day is dedicated to the sitter’s head portrait in wet-on-wet technique and the second to the rest part of the painting including hands. You will find out the best and efficient way of painting wet-on-wet starting from constructing the forms with a brush and finishing with impressive final brushstrokes. This video will show you the answers about wet-on-wet technique and how to use your sense of tone in oil painting.
Video is based on oil painting “Portrait of Sophia” by Natalie Richy.
42 minutes playing time.

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“Self-Portrait Study” –
Oil Painting

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In this Video Lesson you will master the process of portrait creation in one session. This lesson will help you to understand the power of tonal painting, will show you how to use nuance of colours and keep painting style fresh and vibrant.
30 minutes playing time.

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“The Artist” –
Oil Painting

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The Video Lesson “How to Paint a Portrait in Oil” demonstrates the oil painting technique in the style of an 18th century Paris salon, explained in specific, sequential steps. From the positioning of the figure to the details of the background, this easy-to-follow process will give you the discipline and focus that the difficult art of portraiture demands.

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“Self Portrait in the Top Hat” –
Oil Painting

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The video Lesson of oil painting presents a step-by-step tutorial how to create an impressionistic painting starting from brush sketching and finishing with fine subtle glazing. On this example you will see how to use limited brown-grey gamut with black accents and combine detailed nuances with simple colour masses.
40 minutes playing time.

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