Michael Chamberlain says that if Vincent Van Gogh were alive today, he would be a vlogger on YouTube. Van Gogh was a prolific letter writer to an audience of one - his brother Theo. However, as a vlogger on YouTube van Gogh’s message would likely reach hundreds of thousands of fans. As a 21st century California-based impressionist, Michael inspires an audience on YouTube of well over 160,000 subscribers. In his videos, he tries to show the mistakes he makes. He candidly admits that none of the paintings in his videos are gallery ready. Upon returning to his home studio, he tenaciously works out whatever problems they may have until they are ready to hang in a gallery.

You know that old adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Michael says it isn’t true! He says an old dog has more time and experiences that can make us better students of painting. The key to learning is coming to grips with the rate of failure. Failure is a necessary part of the process. When first starting out learning to paint it’s all too easy to believe in the myth of the genius. Michael admonishes that we can’t allow ourselves to buy into the illusion that professional artists turn out one great painting after another. Indeed, there are many failures in between the good ones.

Michael says that the difference between a good painter and a great painter is the ability to say “I’m going to figure this out and I’m going to be tenacious about solving these problems.” And that is exactly what he strives to do: Michael Chamberlain is tenaciously forging his own way.

Mentioned in this episode:

Michael Chamberlain: https://www.chamberlainpaintings.com/

Michael Chamberlain’s YouTube Channel (chamberlainpaintings): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClTZKdjGPqdf7aeo29vPMoQ

Emma Chamberlain YouTube Channel (Michael's daughter): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78cxCAcp7JfQPgKxYdyGrg

Gallery Representation:

STUDIO Gallery SF: https://www.studiogallerysf.com/mc16-gallery

Elliott Fouts Gallery: https://efgallery.com/artist-works.php?artistId=171219&artist=Michael%20Chamberlain&editionType=

Books:

Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color by Kevin Macpherson (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2xWCoao

Gruppe On Painting Direct Techniques In Oil by Emile A. Gruppe (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/34hYakF

Gruppe on Color: Using Expressive Color to Paint Nature by Emile A. Gruppe (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3aSEczC

Brushwork: A Guide to Expressive Brushwork for Oil Painting by Emile A. Gruppe (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2RhE9Wb

Art Supplies:

4F Pumice: https://amzn.to/2JIFd1p

RayMar Wet Painting Carriers - 16" x 20” Carrier (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2V2NXEG

About the Artful Painter:

The Artful Painter website: https://carlolson.tv

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