The Captain's Portrait: An Afternoon Of Painting With Richard Schmid

Reviewer: Wyota G.

This video really is an afternoon with Richard Schmid. It was filmed on stage in front of a fair sized audience and so the portrait is more informal and much less refined... more of a portrait study. There are a fair number of close-ups of the canvas as he works so you will get a good feel for how he paints. There's little else though. Palette shots are lacking. He entertains the audience a lot instead of talking solely about the process and decisions he's making. The question and answer session at the end is not as technical as in his landscape videos. It seemed as though he avoided direct answers to technical questions or he dumbed his answers down for the non-artists is the audience... plenty of fluffy, inspirational, abstract, substanceless answers. It's a good video if your interest is Richard's personna or watching and learning a bit about how he paints a portrait. It's a bad video if you're looking for more shared insight and direct instruction.

Reviewer: Tracy F.

I really enjoyed this video. It shows how to capture a likeness from the live model and in a short period of time. He is shares a wealth of information throughout the video. At the end, he takes questions from the audience. I was able to take a great deal from this video. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see one artists approach to painting the portrait. This is not a step-by-step how to, nor should it be. We all have our own stlyes while taking "what information we need" from the talented people we have the opportunity to watch.

Reviewer: Bryan D.

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Richard Schmid is an incredibly talented artist. I appreciate you letting me rent the video though, as I can not afford to buy the DVD. Thank you! Bryan

Reviewer: Paula E.

What an inspiration!

I own the first landscape DVD and it is as excellent a demonstration as this portrait DVD.

I've been painting 40 years and still heard information I'd never heard before. Thank you and I'll be waiting for more from Richard Schmid

Reviewer: Paula E.

An excellent demo by one of the best. As an artist of 35 years, I still heard information I'd never heard or read before.

Reviewer: Maria M.

Pleasing and informative to watch. Recommended. Well produced. Schmid is talented and generous. Worth the rental!

Reviewer: UNKNOWN

This is an excellent tutitorial from a master painter. I enjoyed watching it and learned much.

Reviewer: Don C.

Richard Schmid is one of my favorite painters and this DVD was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The discussion and Q&S period was excellent.

Reviewer: Phillip C.

I enjoyed this video because Richard Schmid is a great teacher. The video is shot well so you have a perfect view of his demo.

Reviewer: marc l.

Wow - what a disappointing shock ! After reading all the glowing reviews I was confident that this would be a superlative example of art instruction ... I was terribly wrong

Who will love this video ? People who are fans of Schmid will want to see this. My wife would also love this video, but only because she enjoys watching people make art and has no interest in learning anything, not being an artist herself

As for me, having no sycophantic inclinations, I hold out no false hope in this review : this is a performance piece, a quick study painted before a large audience. His jokes nearly outweighed the scant instructional content ! at the end we are ''treated'' to a brief Q&A session wherein he fields the least mundane questions I've ever heard an artist asked. The audience seemed entertained, but I was not amused. Naturally the sophomoric ''If I wanted to complete this more I'd continue to refine it'' ... no kidding ? Is that what people do - continue to work on something to bring it to completion ??? *slow down* I'm trying to take notes here !

The camera alternates between model and canvas, primarily being trained on the canvas. The majority of the (very limited) time we are allowed to even glimpse the palette is when he is scraping the paint off ... what a shame ! This video misses no opportunity to disappoint in terms of art education, but his fans apparently find it a satisfying experience

And please don't think that I'm describing this as a standup routine : he slouches in his chair while painting - which is actually illustrative of the energy put into the creation of this ''educational experience''

Reviewer: sandy nelson m.

What a treat! thank you Richard Schmid for making this available for those of us who have always coveted one of your workshops but could never get off the waiting list and into the filled-up classes. This entire demo is an invaluable resource for portrait/figure painters......I went through it 4 times to absorb everything........on top of being a master of painting, Schmid is articulate and charming.

Reviewer: sandy nelson m.

Richard Schmid takes the viewer through a head study...deftly, proficiently and charmingly. He's a master painter and teacher, the testimony of which his audience of a hundred or more onlookers paid quite a bit for this presentation.

Reviewer: Jeffrey V.

Waist of time. I just have nothing to say. Probably this, I like the captain.

Reviewer: Brian J.

A big let down. I agree with Jeffrey, Marc and Wyota, no need to elaborate. I am a great admirer of Schmid. Began saving clippings in art magazines years ago and have bought several large prints. Attended his slide-lectures at the Butler Museum in Youngstown OH and in Bennington VT. I adore his paintings. But this video is a stage performance that highlights Schmids personality and abilities at the easel and not a "how-to paint" video. The guy is a master but his ego needs to be stroked here and his need to play to the paid audience rather than instruct any artist. He talks to the audience not you as a student viewer. You will be awed by this man's great talent, but you will learn very little about "how" to paint a portrait. Just as you can watch a great dancer perform, it doesn't mean you can venture onto the dance floor yourself. Watch, admire, and enjoy. Rent Silverman or Green if you want to learn.

Reviewer: Ben B.

I have taught art at the college level and maintained a studio for more than forty years. I think this is an EXCELLENT DVD and well worth the rental fee for artists who may have been away from portrait painting for awhile or for those who may simply be interested in seeing Mr. Schmid's work process. He is very generous in sharing his planning and thought as he does an outstanding portrait of an interesting model. Ben Baker, Clinton IL

Reviewer: Mark S.

Excellent video by a modern master. I am a Schmid fan so I may be a bit biased but I got a lot out of watching him paint. Not technical and not a "how to" dvd...there are others for that. A very bargain price to pay to witness Schmid's process. Highly recommended!

Reviewer: Diane H.

This DVD is beautifully shot and executed. Hollywood worthy. Richard is charming and very informative. He is a fine teacher and fun too. He imparts a world of information in a style that seems like he is sitting in your living room. Is that Bart Lindstrom sitting in the front row? The DVD is VERY well done and worth watching several times.

Reviewer: beatrice d.

was very good would recommend it .bea doone-merena

Reviewer: Tom D.

This demonstration not only imparts information, but is truly inspirational. Highly recommended.

Reviewer: Ann G.

Fabulous video, except that the quality of the DVD was severely compromised - most of the second half was not able to play because it was damaged. I did alert SmartFlix to this problem, so hopefully they will replace it with a new one.

Content very helpful for those looking to increase their knowledge of portrait painting.

Reviewer: alan k.

Like other reviewers who love his work but didn't like the video, I found it frustrating and even infuriating a times. The first part of the video follows his brushstrokes pretty well on the palette and the canvas. As it progresses however, there are far too many side views, and shots where the camera is way too far from the canvas to see what his brush is doing. Also, not much time is spent showing the paint being mixed on the palette. I would guess that about 30% of the film is useless for learning about his painting technique. If you like his work then rent the video but be prepared to be disappointed if you want to see every brushstroke on canvas.

Reviewer: Dannica W.

An absolutely charming man combined with an incredible talent for painting and teaching the rest of us!

Reviewer: Fred G.

I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Schmid's DVD. I learned alot from his discussion and demo.

Reviewer: Marilyn R.

Excellent DVD, not too long and with very little unnecessary chatter; Richard offers plenty of technical expertise and a beautiful discussion of his artistic philosophy at the end.

Reviewer: Rick C.

After reading some of the other reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. I think the negative reviews are looking for guidance to do everything including holding their brushes. With an open and unbiased outlook, I found the video to be extremely informative as well as entertaining. It is a rare privilege to be able to watch a talented painter executing his craft. I would recommend this to any artist interested in advancing their own craft.

Reviewer: Devorah V.

Fabulous, he is an excellent artist, instructor, articulate, able to maintain humor, has clean working habits, wonderful palette, loved his approach and style. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in portraiture.

Reviewer: Dorothea J.

I enjoy Richard Schmid very much. His humor along with the painting keeps you involved.

Reviewer: Raul D.

An excellent instructional DVD by a master portrait painter.

Reviewer: Jackie L.

An outstanding DVD. This is a master at work in all respects - talent on the canvas, and talent conducting himself in front of a large audience as though there were only two people there. Friendly, conversational, thoroughly delightful.