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I'd heard many wonderful things about Richard's videos and his Alla Prima book, so I rented all the former and bought the latter. When the book arrived I absolutely hated it and felt a little queasy about having rented all his videos before viewing one. Not anymore, they're great. In this set Richard took a scene that I'd never consider painting and kept me riveted to the screen as he talked his way through the process. Colors, strokes, what he was trying to capture, why he made certain decisions on detail, and more. Then, after the painting was finished, he sat down in his studio, illustrated some points(on canvas) and discussed a few other topics including color and his color charts. This was very informative... I just wish it was a twenty disc set instead of two, because I want more.

Incredible!!! Want to go along with Mr. Schmid on one of his painting outing? One on one? This is like that. He shows his set-up, his paints. You see how he mixes, use of turpentine, etc. His brushes. You see how he builds up his painting. This alla prima style is almost watercolourist in style (to me anyway). Very informative, very enjoyable. (may a bit biased as Mr. Schmid is one of my favorite artists). Gayland Crutchfield

These two videos are outstanding. If you have any questions about Plein Air painting, Richard will answer them. He is painting in changing conditions, i.e. changing light, snow, all around weather changes. First he shows you how he sets up, paints, and finishes. Then he answers general questions that people have. He then takes you into his studio and just gives general painting tips. He answers questions about painting edges, what colors to use (color charts), and many more. The videos are a little different not taking into account the different seasons so I would highly recommend renting both of these videos on painting landscapes.

Richard Schmid is one of my favorite artist and I found these two DVD's to be Excellent. I really appreciate having this service. I like renting DVD's and having several days to watch them.

I definitely will continue to rent from you! Keep the new DVD's on Art and art technique coming.

Thanks gene wiggins

This video is shot in below freezing temperatures. Richard is somewhat humorous as he describes his layers of long underwear, clothing, and gloves and hand warmers. He is a warm likeable character. He paints in a loose style, and talks about how to deal with changing light and temperature, and in this case snow! He uses a wide palette (many colors) and has his own unique setup. It was an interesting video, not fantastic, but interesting.

This video is amazing. Schmid explains everything in detail, such as edges, color, values, composition, while dealing with snow/clouds/sunlight in the same day. One thing Schmid is known for is his ingenious method of applying paint, and he explains this. He will show you how to reduce/transform a complex visual element into its painted counterpart - the basic essence of painting. I have seen Schmid's other DVD's (June and the captain's portrait) and they each offer so much that they should all be watched (several times). Yes, there's that much info packed in each DVD.

Enjoyed this DVD. Richard Schmid makes it look very easy. Loved watching him paint outside in the snow.

Very good! What an inspiration. Love the fact he's out on location and not in a studio. Highly recommended.

They are both excellent videos. It was good to see his technique and I learned quite a bit from it. Well done and very instructional.

Wonderful DVD, very instructional - both the November and the June of Richard Schmidt are great. Highly recommended. The production values are excellent.

After years of seeing and reading about Schmid's paintings only in book form this DVD brought his philosophy and techniques to life very effectively.To see how he creates those amazing paintings was an eye opener for me. I understood in a clearer way not only how but most importantly why he does things to achieve his unique statements. However if you are a beginner and looking for some formulae in terms of composition or color mixing this is probably not the video to chose. Still, if you like his paintings I heartily recommend it, if nothing else it will motivate and enthuse you to get in the game. Possibly the love, enthusiasm and even wonder for painting that still possesses Richard Schmid during a fifty year plus career will rub off on you.

Personable and easy going video. I enjoy his style of paint application.

This was a terrific opportunity to actually see someone who has mastered great skill in action. A rare and wonderful thing even if you are not a painter, its fascinating to watch him do his magic with paint.

Part I was excellent--I recommend it highly! Lots of useful tips and a real sense of the artist's personna. Part II felt more contrived--four people sitting stiffly on chairs in a field in freezing weather to ask the painter some not-very-enlightening questions. Some of Part II was valuable, however: particularly Schmid's rationale for making changes to his first day's painting and several of the points he made when starting a new sketch.

Richard is a delightful gentleman to watch and listen to, and certainly does provide a good practical example of how to survive the weather that plein air painters can encounter. I think the main benefit from this video are the practical tips he offers in dealing with rapidly changing light conditions, and the somewhat basic, but still helpful, tips in setting up a palette.

The video was truly awesome just as we knew it would be. Richard is a wonderful instructor as well as the most outstanding oil painter in America. It was a joy to watch. Edie and Finis Collins

This is a great video I highly recommend it. It does not go over the basics of his pallete though and anyone interested in the way he works should buy his book Alla Pima to learn the more basic aspects of his technique. This video is more advanced I think.

Great video. Richard Schmid has a nice easy going way of teaching the art of painting.

I really liked this DVD. I felt like I was right there seeing the master work.

This DVD was a real treat for me. Its almost impossible to scedule time off to see someone of this caliber paint plein air. I hope you will get more demonstrations of plein air painting. My favorite plein air artisy is Charles Sovek I think he is the greatist living painter today.

I have rented 3 of his videos - motivated by the thought that since his book is so expensive he must be good or have something extraordinary to offer. Have to say, after watching each one, he is nothing special and has nothing special to offer. He might have been special when he was younger, but he has not ascended to the level of master. Much of what you will see is him painting without commenting on his palette choices, color choices or mental concepts of subject, but instead, how he thinks things should be. Personally, I want to learn how to paint better, I don't give a hoot for his philosophy of how things or art should be. His work appears sloppy and randomly scattered. He'll slop on a spot from his brush or palette knife and say "there, that's perfect" or "just what I wanted" and it's something anyone else would be embarrassed about and be tempted to scrape off. He waxes on about accurate drawing yet randomly scatters colors where ever he likes. He even decided to cut off the bottom part of the canvas to make the foreground look better. He ends up with a painting that has a few items you can recognize and fills the rest of the canvas with abstract junk colors in an attempt to simulate 'foreground'. Hey, junk is junk and your eye doesn't move around the canvas and come back to rest upon junk. Don't get any of his videos if you are looking for a 'model painter' to emulate. You would do better elsewhere.

I have rented 3 of his videos - motivated by the thought that since his book is so expensive he must be good or have something extraordinary to offer. Have to say, after watching each one, he is nothing special and has nothing special to offer. He might have been special when he was younger, but he has not ascended to the level of master by any means. Much of what you will see is him painting without commenting on his palette choices, color choices or mental concepts of subject and composition, but instead, you will be hearing how he thinks things should be. Personally, I want to learn how to paint better, I don't give a hoot for his philosophy of how things or art should be. His work appears, and is, sloppy and randomly scattered. He'll slop on a spot from his brush or palette knife and say "there, that's perfect" or "just what I wanted" and it's something anyone else would be embarrassed about and be tempted to scrape off. In one video, he actually does scrape it off in the studeo what he thought was 'perfect' on site. He waxes on about accurate drawing yet randomly scatters colors where ever he likes. He even decided to cut off the bottom part of the canvas to make the foreground look better. He ends up with a painting that has a few items you can recognize and fills the rest of the canvas with abstract junk colors in an attempt to simulate 'foreground'. Hey, junk is junk and your eye doesn't move around the canvas and come back to rest upon junk. Don't get any of his videos if you are looking for a 'model painter' to emulate. You would do better elsewhere.

Richard Schmid is a master. His painting video is a must for anyone wanting to understand landscape painting. I will be renting the other Schmid landscape DVDs.

I enjoyed Mr. Schmid's demo immensely, but better was the session in his studio following the demo, when he just teaches from his heart. He has spent his entire life making and living art, and his teaching shows that.

At the end of the video is a quote which I wrote down about the place in ourselves from which art comes. As a teacher of art, I have found that everyone has the ability to paint, and paint well. Everyone is "born with it". The key is teaching students to believe it. Mr Schmid has that key locked.

It was truly wonderful. We watched it several times...and could do so again. Richard explains things so well and gives freely of his knowledge. Thanks for a great video.

I really liked this DVD. It was just like being there. The birds singing was an added attraction. What a painter and so generous with his information!

Not as good as November, but still very good.

Richard Schmid is not only a master artist but also has a delightful sense of humor. His love for his craft shows through especially in the second part of the DVD where he gives a lesson on painting edges. His competence as an artist and his infectious delight in painting makes this video different in content simply because of his endearing character. I would recommend this video to anyone who is interested in oil painting. The content is more interesting than the DVD Painting the Landscape in November in which the second part of the video containing questions and answers by "students" sitting in the frosty cold of the Vermont landscape seemed unnatural and a bit contrived. I enjoyed the painting demos in both DVDs.

Excellent! Both the actual painting, part 1, and the discussion following this were very good and worthwhile for even a seasoned painter.

Great video!!!! I learned many things....What a wonderful artist and teacher. Thank you very much.

Great video...very much recommended for oil painters

Great video!Richard Schmid is a beautiful artist and great teacher. I recommend it for everyone, artist or not!!!

Undoubtedly Richard Schmid is a great painter. I even bought his very expensive book Alla Prima. It was great watching him painting, however I wished he had some more variety since landscapes are often much more than houses and barns surrounded by trees. J.Freire MD

I found this very useful. His "friends" on the video were somewhat staged.

Nevertheless it was interesting to observe how he "attacks" a landscape.

I am glad I found your web site, very good to be able to rent these DVD,s. Thank You Craig

What can you say about a highly instructive lesson from the dean of landscape (and otherwise) painters? Interesting, concise and altogether informative. I've been an admirer of Schmid's work since first viewing the real thing 20 years ago....his workshops, small in number, are mostly filled up before they are even announced...no wonder. I'd always hoped he would do a video eventually and provide those of us who never got to attend a workshop, a chance to see a master at work...this video delivers and he holds nothing back...thank you Richard! Keep 'em coming!

These videos are excellent. Schmid knows how to make things clear and concise; he's a good teacher. It's a real treat to get to watch this master painter in action, braving the weather changes and making a beautiful painting.

M. Davis

Richard Schmid not only executes a beautiful painting, but also articulates his thinking on the process of painting outdoors in a charming, relaxed and highly informative manner...........this is a must rent for anyone painting landscapes plein-aire!

A very useful video. I particularly liked the studio work and explanation.

This video was amazing. Richard Schmid is an excellent painter that can turn the most simple picture into a work of art. His use and explanation of color, perspective and value is very helpful in this video.

This is regarding the November DVD -- it is ok, nothing more. The instructor offers fairly basic tidbits of information. The painting is not inspired. The camera spends far too much time on Mr. Schmid's face rather than on the canvas or his palette.

Once again, Richard Schmid proves he is a master of landscape (among others) painting, tackling a subject plein-aire and creating a masterpiece. Literally any artist from novice to pro can learn a lot from watching Schmid go through the process. Thank goodness he created these video legacies for those who could never get on the list for his workshops as they are always a sell out. He is charming, articulate and adept at explanation of his thinking as well as executing a brilliant interpretation of what is in front of him. Bravo!

With 50 years of landscape painting behind him, Richard Schmid has a wealth of knowledge to share. In his lessons Mr. Schmid is teaching the way he creates paintings, in his style, rather than landscape painting as a whole. Fortunately, by watching these carefully put together DVD's, you'll learn plenty of painting tips that you could apply to your own style.

While Mr. Schmid takes his work very seriously, he also has an understated and humorous way of delivering information about technique. The DVD's are well shot, with good close-ups of the brushwork.

As a bonus, Mr. Schmid lists his paint colors and talks in detail about how he chooses his brushes and painting surface.

Excellent...so good i ordered another of his videos.

Very good educational video for someone who is serious about the techniques used by Schmid. I love Schmid's art and was interested to see how he achieved his "look".

This is an excellent DVD. If you've been afraid of using a palette knife this will end your fears. Schmid does incredible work and describes every minute detail so that you become familiar with the tool without using it yourself. I have been in a classroom where the teacher required the use of a palette knife and I think that's where I became afraid of it because the teacher apparently did know the proper way to use it. Richard Schmid does and creates overlay of overlay given amazing depth from this tool. Go for it!

I was delighted to locate your website and even more delighted when I found Richard Schmid among the offering. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning by looking over Richard's shoulder. I would have liked a bit more info regarding his color mixes especially in the studio. But overall, his techniques, brushstrokes and overall approach to painting kept me glued for the entire 135 minutes. I had to watch parts of this demo several times before it was time to return it. Thank you.

It was great seeing his video after reading his book. I enjoyed getting to meet him via the video. I'm not that fond of his painting style but really appreciate his wisdom.

I especially liked Mr. Schmid's casual but informative style of presentation.

His artwork was beautiful and interesting.

Loved the DVD. Was very useful.

The price of the rental may force a discontinuance.

[ SmartFlix note: we rent the series for $29. The DVDs retail for $225. We believe that the rental is quite a good deal. ]

All three (November, June, May) tapes were very good. The November should really be rented first; Mr. Schmid talks about his paints, brushes, knives, palette - i.e. his set-up. I learned a lot watching him paint and talk. All three lessons, November, June, May, were very instructive, very inspriring, they made my fingers itch. However, the third tape, May, had VERY DISTURBING (!!!) piano recital background music during the second half of the time. It came on after Mr. Schmid went to his studio to finish his painting. I had to read his lips in order to concentrate on what he was saying when the piano recital was on. It was like trying not to watch a juggler right next to his easel. Besides, THE SAME piano tape was played over again more than once! OUCH!

This is an excellent DVD set. Watching Richard's demos is like visiting your cool uncle or grandfather's farm and getting painting lessons with no bull. Although he makes it look easy, I think I'll apply some of the techniques and philosophy. I hope he films more. You gotta rent these.

An absolutely excellent dvd! Helpfull for any Plein Aire painter, regardless of the media used. Best for oil painters of course. I intend to see all of Richard Schmid's dvd's. I will check out his books too.

This was Richard Schmid at his best - teaching to a small crowd.

I loved this art instruction. He is the best. He always has a smile, technique, little items to tell you along with humor. I have his other landscape and believe I got as much out of this one, totally different from the other.

Richard Schmid's landscape in November is outstanding. He's such a wealth of artistic insights, you cannot fail to learn from this piece. I am always astounded by his results, under some not so pleasant circumstances. This is a must for all oil painters!

The June Landscape Painting was really superb ! Richard demonstrated some excellent brushwork during the phase after the actual painting demo. This second phase was unbeatable. It's a must-see for anyone interested in his painting approach. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

All the Richard Schmid DVDs were a joy to watch, and each held new and different information, so I would highly recommend that you watch the entire set. Schmid is generous with his techniques and offers his advice in a warm and comfortable manner. I watched these DVDs more than once and still didn't pull out all everything available. Short of attending one of Schmid's workshops, these DVDs will help the landscape artist improve their own approach to the canvas.

The DVD must not have been professionally done. I had the volume turned up on my TV as loud as it would go and still had trouble hearing Schmid speaking. And by the way, I have good hearing. It was still educational as far as what I could absorb just watching. I was disappointed in the quality and hope that the next ones are better. Thanks. Doug M.

Schmid knows how to economize a scene that has much going on into a dramatic composition thats not too sentimental and saccharine. It's probably not a good video for a beginner to learn from but intermediate and advanced students of landscape painting would grasp much from watching him work and listening to the points about what he sees.

This is an excellent dvd. Richard Schmid is a real master and he shares his knowledge in a very understandable way. I would recommend for all artists.

I really enjoyed the Schmid demo. I would highly recommend it.

Excellent. His best of the first three. Demonstrates the multiple layering from which the subject evolves. Clearly shows how the landscape is interpreted, not copied. Good for those who are stymied by fear of not being able to represent the subject exactly. Loved it! Makes you believe in your own style!

Schmid is a master painter. Few painters can explain their thoughts well, but Schmid is the exception. He is a great teacher. One can see he really does keep his own counsel and believes in what he does. The novice, intermediate or even the advanced painter can gain from Schmid's teaching and demonstration. I am looking forward to seeing more from him. I gained much from watching this video . . .and took copious notes! Everything from brush choices to strokes to loading the brush to the knife to edges to color . . he explains it all very well.

This is a great combination of information, education, and gentle entertainment. I have painted all my life and taught painting in college for years, but there is so much to be learned about the basics from this wonderful painter. Whether you are a beginner or a professional painter, this is a marvelous video.

Excellent. The film makers captured every stroke in the development of the painting, and Mr. Schmid descibes in detail his methods and thought processes. This dvd conveys a lifetime of plenaire painting experience by an absolute master. Highest recommendation.

Richard Schmid is "the master" of our time. You can learn so much watching him paint. I highly recomend this dvd to any serious painter. Claudia Davis

I enjoyed this DVD. It was instructive and very interesting. Richard Schmid has a great way of describing his thought process. Good interaction with his audience.

I found the Richard Schmid video to be extremely informative and helpful, especially with how he applies the paint with the palette knife for certain parts of the painting. I learned a lot just by watching. It was very interesting to follow his brush choices, his points of beginning and how he ended with the furtherest point from the focal point. It was completely concerned with the technical aspects, not meant for entertainment, which is exactly what I wanted.

Richard Schmid is a technical genius. This video was incredibly insightful into his method of approaching a painting. You are able to hear his thoughts on color, temperature, edges, and continual enlightenment of his skillful brushwork. With years of experience to work with, he is truly incredible! I recommend anything by Richard Schmid.

Mr Schmid even lists the layers of clothing he wears to paint in the snow! This entire series is great.

Loved it! Richard Schmid is a true master at his craft, a fantastic video.

Terrific DVD. But could have done without the questions asked at the end. NancyF

I really enjoyed this video. Richard Schmid has a gift for explaining his thought process.

Richard Schmid is truly a master painter! Though weather was bad and the going difficult, he still came away with a nice painting. This video has wonderful insight into his thoughts as he picks his subject and how he composes it, as well as his painting method. He also has a lot of useful tips on plein air painting and how to stay warm and keep paint pliable while painting in the cold. Truly a wonderful video. As is anything by Richard Schmid.

I found this video about Landscape, November, to be very relaxing, easy-going and informative. He takes you from how he stays warm to his easel, setup, paints, etc. Then he talks about what he's thinking before he puts even one brush stroke on the canvas. Once he starts, for the most part, he takes you step by step through the whole painting. There are some video edits where he skips areas concerning cleaning his palette and maybe a little of the painting but you get about 95% of the actual painting on camera. There is a nice little 'recap' at the end with questions and thoughts by observers that helps you to 'finish' the painting. He has a nice painterly style and the painting comes alive. It's wonderful. I highly recommend it.

excellent on all counts. esp helpful for an experienced painter. Richard is articulate, witty, and passionate about what he does and it comes out nicely in this video. Good production values. I watched it and parts of it many times, even taking notes. In some ways this is better than attending a workshop.

This was by far my favorite landscape video with Schmid. The weather is cooperative and it is a typical situation a landscape painter would encounter during the summer months. He also has an extensive discussion in his studio about edges and color harmony. This one is well worth getting, as is anything with Schmid. I highly recommend his videos and especially his book. This was a video you can watch 1,000 times over and still walk away with new insights.

One of the best video's for artists. Will be ordering more of him in the future. Thanks,

Good information on this video. Enjoyed seeing him interchanging his use of a knife and brush.

It was quite enjoyable.....but all of Richard's instructional videos seem to be wonderful! I just wish he would continue putting out quality instruction videos for years to come!

I am convinced that Mr. Schmid is a very professional painter and teacher. I rate his demonstration as one of the best I have seen.

I liked the video very much. I thought it was very helpful to see how Richard applied his years of experience to make adjustments to the scene he was painting. I liked his honesty in showing the viewer how to add objects and make interesting changes in his plein-air and studio work to make a beautiful and painterly work of art. I wanted to learn Richard's technique in using a palette knife and learned a great deal more.

I learned a LOT. Richard Schmid is personable and warm. I felt like it was just us two painting the house. He shows each of his colors, how he lays them out, and his brushes. He explains what he is thinking when he puts the brush to canvas. The weather was constantly changing from snow to sunshine during the shoot, but he remained calm and told how to deal with it. (Paint the shadows when the sun comes out, and work on something more vauge when it goes away, like the trees.) Richard Schmid is so confident in his drawing, that he does not do a preliminary sketch. But he did want to move the house, so he just wiped it off and moved it. He showed how he uses the knife to get the thin lines. When I look at his paintings, I wonder how he gets the brush strokes. Now I know: he uses the side of the brush like sketching with a pencil. Sometimes when he painted, his hand was between the camera and the brush stroke, or the cameraman focused on the intensity of Richard Schmid's face while he painted, which was worthless to me, but overall, I got a lot out of it. I was amazed how how Richard Schmid could scribble in the background, and then put such a carefully executed house on top of it. Afterwards, he has question answer period, and he does a small demo about foregrounds.

Splendid! I always find that Mr. Schmid is interesting and a fine teacher. Claude Woody

Highly recommended: a very skilled and straight forward approach.

This video JUNE, is one of Schmid's better ones. Doing a smaller painting went quickly and and it was packed full of important information. It is important to learn the thought process involved in making a so-so scene into a painterly masterpiece. He explains why he chooses particular colors and alters certain things in a subject to create interest. The camera detail was extremely well done so the viewer could watch his various techniques in applying paint. I found Richard's detailed demonstrations on using the palette knife extremely helpful.

Kind of incredible to watch him paint. Not sure I improved my own technique, but very inspiring.

Love all the R.S. videos. An elder statesman with REAL knowledge, a sense of humour and warm humanities. Finally a great teacher that teaches you the actual application of brushes and knives. He stresses the basic knowledge foundation of color charts, values and edges, no pretense, just blunt honesty ....AND some golden nuggets on "technique": from when to apply a wash, dry brush, thick paint or lack of and some golden application secrets of "the knife"!

This is a wonderful set of DVDs. I recommend it wholeheartedly! Mike White

After viewing the May DVD I appreciate Richard's style even more. His combination of brush strokes and pallatte knife work is inspirational. The thing that I liked the most about is is that I was able to watch the entire painting process. Most art instruction videos show the artist beginning the technique, fade away and when they come back you see the finished piece. They skim over the most important parts. This is a real meat and potatoes painting demonstration. He doesn't waste a lot of time going over tools and materials (this is a brush and this is a tube of paint etc.)but gets right down to business. Well done!

I thought the video was very good. Richard always gives good information from start to finish and then has an informal talk discussing the finer points of painting. He seems to be open and honest about his technique and I like this very much. I do however have complaint. When I paid for four videos I assumed I would received all four at the same time, not strung-out over a month waiting for someone to send back the videos before my order can be completed. I am still waiting for the fourth one. It has been several days since I received your email notifying shipmemnt. It is not worth the dicount to have to wait this long. In the future how can I be sure the selected video is in stock before I order? Please advise, I have several friends (artist) who are interested in renting the videos but not with this lag time.

I enjoyed viewing the May Landscape painting DVD by Richard Schmid. He worked on the entire painting during the DVD instead of painting some of it and then finishing the details off camera then coming back and ta! da! the finished piece appears. I also liked the fact that he got right down to business painting rather than spending a lot of time going over absolute beginner information. It was nice to see a reputable artist showing how he uses photos as a reference in addition to his plein air work. He explains the pitfalls of working with photographs and helps you understand how they can be used effectively without being a slave to them. I like his style and am looking forward to viewing the June DVD.

Working from a photograph, Richard Schmid paints beautifully as only Richard Schmid can do--paint brush dancing across the canvas with some quite fancy brushwork. I was extremely happy with the video, but not the sound. I don't know if it was the editing or the DVD, but the sound was poor.

Every one of Richard Schmid's DVD's are wonderful! I've seen them all - including his new one, "White Pine". He is a modern master and a great art teacher. Make sure you watch all of Schmid's DVD's. I also recommend buying his wonderful books.

Richard Schmid is a contemporary master. Not only is this video education but it's indeed inspiring! He's an excellent teacher.

Quality, inovation, painting skills----all these you will learn and experience in the Number One artist of our time. If you have difficulty in creating color charts, drawing, color temperature, values, and edges---this is the video to learn and digest. I appreciate the skills and insights of Richard Schmid. Henry Salley

How do you lay in tone without line drawings----watch the Number ONe Artist of our time show you how to paint a great painting. Color Temperature, Tones, and layin tonal drawing is a delight to watch. And the foreground is worth the price of the video alone.

It is a great video.

Henry salley

Absolutely great Painter, you will learn alot from this guy no matter if you are new to painting or not.

Clearly the best Schmid video by far. The others are either too boring or just lack information that this one covers. If you want a video that shows almost all of how he paints, then this is the one for you. This video puts his others to shame, hands down!

The video is great. Never mind boasting. You will love it. And you will learn a lot.

Jeffrey V.

10 thumbs up! What more praise can I offer than has already been given to this icon of our modern times. He is a Master Painter without question and such a humble soul as well. Thoroughly enjoyed both the painting demo and the questions and answers - yes somewhat contrived but who cares - his information is precious and so insightful. This DVD is for intermediate to advanced painters. I am hoping that SmartFlix will be able to get some of his DVDs on painting flowers as well. Watch this and you'll be watching a master of the 21st Century at work! Carol L.

It doesn't get any better than watching a master at work.

I love Richard Schmid's art. I loved this DVD. It was very informative and very well done. I even learned a few tricks I'll be incorporating into my paintings.

I loved this video! I liked how he started from the beginning, talking about his handwarmers in his pockets and on his head! How to dress for painting in the cold. And he has such great little descriptions of things, such as what the brush is like, a baby's kiss, and how he takes care of his brushes. He just gives it all to the viewers. Then of course he does a great job of talking while painting, describing how he uses his palette knife and brushes. He is a very talented artist and instructor, what a rare combination.

Miraculous! What a master painter Mr Schmid is. Again in this DVD he does a fabulous demonstration of a landscape painting. The camera work is incredible..you can see absolutely everything so clearly from mixing paint on his palette to the brush strokes. Part 2 is where he educates us with his nonchalant, unassuming brilliant monologue. I learned so much from him in this series and this DVD is no exception, In fact, in the second section Part 2 of this DVD I learned so much more than the 'educational' question/answer section of the first DVD in this series! Next, I'd love to watch him in action when painting a nude figure. Well worth owning this DVD!

I'm sure Mr. Schmid is a wonderful painter -- it's just not my style...

Richard Schmids' DVD is great. I highly recommend it if you are serious about art. The people at SmartFlix are great to work with.

I've heard a lot of positive commentaries about Mr. Schmid, and I must say he is up to them! Watching "November" was a pure delight, and I can't wait to see "June"!!

Richard Schmid's "Painting the Landscape" Disk One (the only one I've received so far) is excellent in every respect. Richard is remarkable in his ability to explain what he's doing while he's doing it. He includes enough commentary to bring the viewer along and is comfortable with silences as the camera follows each thing he does. The video and audio are professionally recorded and seem virtually flawless. When I finished watching this video, I had gained "new eyes" and had an entirely new understanding of ways great painters use color, palette knife, and brush to create a visual experience that cameras can never equal.

This is a world class oil painter and the DVD is superb! Thank you.

I am a painter and one of the first books I ever had was Schmid's figure painting book. I always wondered how he drew those figures so well in contour and I still suspect he traced them as they are too perfect--I'd love to see him paint one of those! It was interesting to see him work up this composition and play with the tree. Rocks done with a palette knife seemed a little cheesy to me and I couldn't tell what the finished painting really looked like from the video. It's always great to see someone who has done something for so long do it in front of you. I love that he uses a cane as a maulstick to steady his hand and plastic wrapping tape to mask off his working area on the canvas--very low tech. I think you need to know quite a bit about painting to get much from this DVD--maybe read his book "Alla Prima" first.

Very Good I have had Richard's book for years and like it as well, enjoyed the video as much. Would definitely recommend it.

Given that Richard Shcmid is a superb painter and a warm and very human person you would expect a good video. However this is a superb video, he goes through absolutely everything he does, uses, from brushes to canvas and all the way through the painting. I am a longtime and serious painter and I gained a new perspective on several aspects of a painting.

Very nice. It's hard to tell what the painting finally looks like from the DVD. I guess you should read his book before renting this video as you will have some idea what he's doing. I am a painter and the first book I read on painting was his book on the figure. I still think he projected those images and traced them as they are too well drawn. He does draw the tree in this DVD so...no cheating here anyway. I like the fact that he uses a cane as a maulstick and plastic shipping tape to mask off his painting area. Man after my own heart there--cheap I mean.

I own Richard Schmid's books, and now I have seen one of his landscape videos which I enjoyed very much. What I like most of all is his fortitude in going out in all types of weather to capture what pleases him as far as landscapes are concerned. One learns much from his comments and of course by watching him actually paint, his freedom of movement with the brush and palette knife, etc. I have one other of his on backorder, and cannot wait to see how he handles the next landscape knowing that it isn't winter, but the heat may bring some bearing on the way he paints in warmer weather. If you like Richard Schmid, you will enjoy this video...Brrrrrrrr..

The DVD came as advertised, very well packaged, with good instructions on handling the return.

The content of the DVD was very good. I much admire Mr.Schmid's work and his comments on oil painting are revealing and helpful. I could have done with a bit less of the back and forth chit chat with the guests at the plein air session. He is interesting and speaks well, but that wasn't the reason for renting the Dvd. I was interested in his teaching of his methods and practices.

I would enthusiastically recommend this DVD.

Terrific! I highly recommend Richard Schmid's DVD collection!

I about choked with laughing at the things Steve said about Schmid's paintings. I thought Schmid was delightful myself. Yeah, his paintings are different. He doesn't put you to sleep as his witty comments are entertaining and useful. I went to a museum in Philly where a wall was nothing but graffiti and was shocked. The museum lady said it was art that you have to get use to. I think Steve might come to like these down the road. You change all the time.

This video is great. Richard Schmid is a modern master. I watched the video several times and got more info with each viewing. Two thumbs up.

Richard is a delightful person, who is very relaxed in front of the camera while working, and his paintings are exquisite. He talks fluidly about his process, the filming is excellent, with close ups of the palette, the photo reference, and the painting itself. Just watching Richard work is worth the time to view this DVD.

That being said, a beginning painter may not find the kind of basic "how to" information here that he/she is looking for. I'd definitely rank this as targeted at more experienced artists. If you want to see a true master painter create a work from beginning to end, then this is a wonderful opportunity. If you are looking for basic, step by step instruction, then this may not be your best bet.

With all that taken into account, I still rank this 5 stars because the work is so fabulous and the artist himself, charming and witty.

I like the series very much, but have only received 3 out of 4 discs in the set. I am very anxious to see the last installment please. Thanks, Catherine

For somebody like myself, who paints very differently, this dvd was fascinating. The technical quality of the DVD was excellent and one could follow his technique stroke by stroke. His end result, of course, justified his approach.

The most rewarding couple hours I have spent in a long time. Excellent tips clearly explained.

I was thrilled to be able to watch this video and see Richard Schmid in action. The video is very informative, and he takes the time to explain what he's doing and why he's doing it. He explains his palette, brushes, and technique very well.

Very good video. It is especially helpful in showing the brush work. And all in all Richard Schmid is a good teacher as well as a great painter. Dominique

The three Richard Schmid DVDs are superb! Beautiful and very informative. He is not only a great painter,but also a master teacher!

., Richard Schmid is a great teacher and artist!

It was excellent. Really excellent! I was amazed to see someone actually paint with giant snow flakes falling down....and he had to put a hand warmer into his hat to keep his head warm.

I call that real dedication. I hope you all get a chance to see it. Very informative.

Much impressed with Smartflix's efficency. Keep up the good work.

Schmid's video was excellent. I have been painting for 30 years and his approach to landscape painting and his integrity as an artist was inspiring.

In this DVD a master painter shows a wide variety of techniques using brush, knife, and occasionally finger. It is a delight to watch and the quality of the video is superb. Didactic remarks are made within the context of what he is painting. The particular virtue and difficulties of plein air painting is noted. I would rate this DVD "excellent."

Excellent video; very informative. Learned a lot from it.

This review is for Paints the landscape "MAY". The problem is the camera person filming the video. Very bad. Never once pulled back to show Richard painting and the scene he was painting at the same time. Most of the time the camera was very close in shooting close ups of painting strokes. Would have been better to at least see the full painting most of the time while he was painting. You would have still been able to see the strokes. Disappointed in the plein air part of the video.

One of the best instructional dvds I have ever seen!

This was an excellent DVD. Mr. Schmid is very giving of his knowledge...a true teacher.

Thought it was amazing! Loved it! Needed too much time,however, given my current health circumstances, to take it all in in a timely fashion. Many thanks. Doris Riess

This DVD had Richard Schmid showing the use of a video monitor in developing a painting. The video is a bit long-winded, but very informative with respect to the actual laying on of paint. The use of palette knife, Q-tips, and even old brushes in contributing to the quality of paint are discussed and demonstrated. Of course, the artist letting the viewer in on his processes of judgment with respect to color and composition is always a treat.

Schmid paints beautifully poetic paintings. He is a very accomplished artist. I Enjoy watching him paint. If you think you know enough to criticize him for not teaching you what you thought he should get out and enroll in school and do the homework. Perhaps you will gain the experience to respect him for doing so well at what you have only dreamed of doing. If you are looking for an education in painting you will not find it in a DVD. That is unrealistic. There is far too much to learn. These DVDs offer a chance to observe an accomplished artist while they paint. They are entertaining and can be inspiring. They are not going to teach you that much so do not critique them on that level. Schmid has one of the most enjoyable personalities. A DVD is not going to teach you how to paint. If you really want to learn, buy his books and go to school. Chances are people would complain that a DVD which focused on teaching was dull, dry or boring. They would complain that something was omitted expecting everything to be covered in 60-180 minutes. These artists put in the time and effort to get where they are.

Excellent instructional video, learned a lot. He truly is the master!

I did really like "November." After 28 years of graphic design, the downturn in the economy has given me an opportunity to get back to painting. I'd been working way too hard at learning to paint form again and was doing it from a rigid point of view and suddenly, after watching Richard Schmid's relatively short demonstration, my brain seemed to shift. I was literally able to incorporate all that I'd learned from the other great videos I'd rented and the books I'd pored over, and started painting in the freer way I'd been longing for. His lush handling of the brush and knife, color decisions, the seemingly casual way he lays down juicy paint (in the right value) really resonated. I did a small still-life yesterday and the process of working was pure joy from start to finish. I actually still like the painting today and was so excited to start a second. No more torture and agony at the easel for me! Painting should be fun, right? One note: He and all of the painters I've admired in videos use white lead coated canvas too dear for me right now, but I've started coating gessoed canvas with Titanium Oil Primer and the surface makes the first layer of paint flow easily and glow! I've learned so much from these great videos.

Schmid really takes the mystery out of his technique. Very instructive and valid.

I watched it 5 times and took notes. The main demonstration was great, but the one he does during the question and answer segment is as valuable.

This is the first instructional DVD I've had a chance to see on plein air oil painting. I thought it was excellent in that it certainly showed multiple challenges of the plein air artist concerning the weather, the lighting, choices of inclusions/exclusions, style, etc.

Richard Schmid is a good teacher--covers the question completely and his answer/demonstrations were helpful. Stylistically, I was challenged, since I tend to be a more detailed painter, but I learned that sometimes less is better to achieve the correct atmospheric perspective.

Overall, I would recommend this DVD to other beginning oil artists.

Richard is the consummate artist and generous with his knowledge. His teaching style, as always, is clear and concise.

I was very impressed with this video. The presentation is professional,yet relaxed. The concepts are clearly explained.

If you are interested in painting landscapes in a lose painterly way Richard Schmid is your man. I have his book, which is a classic, but I had never attended one of his workshops. Well here is your chance. He is delightful. Free and easy, explaining everything as he moves along in a warm and easy manner. The master at work and you are looking over his shoulder. I learned more in a couple of hours that all the books on my shelf. You are there while he explains every stroke. I watched it four times. In addition, the video production is excellent ( I spent the last fifty years in the film industry) This video is areal joy. I may go up to Vermont for a workshop with him.

I thought it was very good. Richard is a delightful guide and gives some good tips, such as using a walking stick to steady his hand. He took a rather dull subject on an awful day (snowing) and made a bright colorful painting out of it. A good demonstration of plein air painting.

Excellent painting video. Schmid is a generous, experienced teacher and shared a lot of information he's gained over the years. I may not paint exactly like him, but he understands color temperature and composition and knows his tools. I recommend this to any serious artist.

As usual, the Richard Schmid DVD was informative and helpful. The painting session was a little short but the discussion and instruction, after the painting was finished, was very helpful. His use of the palette knife to produce varied edges was the best part of the whole DVD.

Probably one of the best artists out there. Really learned a lot.

Schmid June, I highly recommended it and I recommend it along with his book.

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Richard Schmid Painting the Landscape

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