Learning to paint like Van Gogh

Does anyone have any recommendations for learning to paint like Van Gogh? I haven't found any books that teach this style. I have a book with many of his paintings, but when I study them I'm not sure how he painted them. Particularly in regards to layering, such as did he let his layers dry or did he paint 'alla prima'? Did he use painting knives or just brushes? How can I get my paint to have the same texture as his? Etc.

I'm not an expert, but I've copied a few of his paintings, and looked at a few of his originals.

His style was so personal that you won't find much methodology associated with it. I am pretty sure he used a knife as well as a brush.

In general, I would say get yourself some chinese brushes and ink, and make a study of his drawings. From what I've seen of his paintings, his style was primarily intuitive, and he responded differently with paint depending on his mood, the weather, the colors and probably whatever supplies he had available.

But a good deal of his painting textures were derived from his drawings- so start with those.

On Mon, 22 Sep 2003 07:33:51 +0200, 'Michael'

sketchdude

He painted alla prima, mostly with brushes, possibly adding oil in some instances.. You can get the same texture by using thicker paint. If you can get to a place to view a real Van Gogh that will help you see what he was doing with the paint. Repros are misleading.

I live in Paris and have been to the Musée d'Orsay several times. I get up close to them and just stare at them for long periods of time. I look at every brush stroke. But it's hard for me to see how he lays the paint down like that. He has a very unique style and I haven't seen anybody teaching that style, nor have I seen books on it.

You're right but I doubt if he understands you. He wants the appearance not the essence.

close to them and just stare at them for long periods of time. I look at every brush stroke. But it's hard for me to see how he lays the paint down like that. He has a very unique style and I haven't seen anybody teaching that style, nor have I seen books on it.<

Years ago, I copied a couple of Van Goghs. From what I can tell, he painted with mostly round or filbert brushes. Very few flats. His color mixtures seldom involved more than three pigments - which explains how he kept his colors so clean, and his color changes so linear. There were no thalos - just cobalt, ultramarine, and viridian. He wrote to his brother Theo about how much he liked a color called malachite. This green pigment was made from copper and is not widely available today. (Old Hollands sell it for an arm and a leg.)

Van Gogh painted on a creamy white canvas. It was most assuredly oil primed. But I am unsure of the pigments - perhaps a mixture of mostly lead white with a tad of genuine Naples yellow?

Callen wrote about Van Gogh's techniques in Techniques of the Impressionists. But the section on Van Gogh is skimpy and not very helpful. If you can find an old paperback called Van Gogh in Perspective, Gauguin wrote about his observations on being Van Gogh's studiomate. I don't know how trustworthy was Gauguin's observations since he claimed to have influenced Van Gogh. I think it was the other way around.

Very interesting - well worth my reading time.

If you really are interested in copying his paintings, the best way to start is by finding either the real thing in a museum that allows you to copy 'in situ' - or - find a reproduction that shows enough detail that you can distinguish the brush strokes. Being able to see the surface texture of a Van Gogh painting is essential to correct copying, IMO...

I totally agree with you, but for the advanced stages. If I were to attempt it now I'd be laughed at big time. I think it's best to start with some drawings, then try some paintings at home using the largest reproductions possible. After that it should be attempted in person. I've never seen anyone copying a painting in the musée d'Orsay so I don't know if it's allowed. I've only seen it done a few times in the Louvre. I'll ask next time I'm there.

I also saw a good reproduction in a gallery. I was thinking about contacting the artist to see if they would be interested in giving a lesson. I'm going to write down the name of the artist the next time I'm there. It was a very good reproduction, worse case is I'd buy it (I think it was around $450) and take my time to work on copying it at home. Kind of expensive so it's a last resort. In the US there is a chain of art stores that sell reproductions, they're OK quality and I believe they cost around $100. Next time I go back to the US I think I'll pick up one.

Back in 1991 the Van Gogh Museum published a good book:

Cahier Vincent 3: A Closer Look: Technical and Art-Historical Studies on Works by Van Gogh and Gauguin

It's a bit technical, but does go into some good detail about the paints and canvases that Vincent used. If memory serves he sometimes used a wax resin in his oil paints which may have given a thicker texture.

In any event, the book is worth looking for.

Working with the drawings is a good idea