Studio Notes
Painting questions, answered plainly.
Short, direct answers to the questions painters ask most, written by Clinton Smith from his work at the easel and in the classroom.
How do you mix realistic skin tones in oil paint?
A portrait painter's plain answer to mixing skin tones in oil: value first, a few pigments, temperature shifts and low chroma.
What is the Zorn palette, and is it enough for portraits?
What the Zorn palette is, why it works for skin, where it falls short, and how to practice with it.
What is a grisaille, and why paint one first?
What a grisaille is, why classical painters used it as an underpainting, and how to paint one today.
Why should painters judge value before color?
Why value comes before color in classical training, how to see value, and simple exercises to train it.
Why doesn't oil paint mix like colors on a screen?
A plain explanation of additive versus subtractive color, the Kubelka-Munk model, and what it means for oil painters using software.
What is an atelier, and is atelier training worth it in 2026?
What an atelier is, how it differs from art school and online courses, and who atelier training suits today.
How long does it take to learn to paint a portrait?
An honest answer about the timeline for learning portrait painting and what speeds it up.
Sight-size or comparative measurement: which should beginners use?
The difference between sight-size and comparative measurement for drawing and painting portraits, with guidance for beginners.
How do soft and hard edges make a painted face feel alive?
How portrait painters use hard, soft and lost edges to create focus, depth and a sense of life.
Can AI or software replace painting by hand?
A painter and software builder's honest view on AI, digital tools and handmade oil painting.