Easy to follow

step-by-step

This proven online course contains the exact same lessons honed by instructor Dori DeCamillis with her students in the Red Dot studio classroom since 2004. The course has led scores of total newbies with zero experience to be proficient oil painters.
Start today

Learn the Basics

Learn the ABCs of color, shading, and depth with a simple subject. You'll surprise yourself with how well you do.

Get to know your materials

Learn best practices for using supplies with ease and adeptness. Save yourself time and money with tips that eliminate waste and minimize bad habits.

Enjoy clear instruction

Be confident in your comprehension, with well-explained and broken down concepts.

You can do this

Starting an art class can be daunting. The way to a fear-free experience is laid out for you in this gentle, well-defined approach.

  • Builds from simple skills to instill confidence and accelerate learning

  • A well-established curriculum and email support make for an encouraging, comfortable experience

  • Tested on over 1500 students, the course cuts out the fluff and offers the most straight-forward path to proficiency in the basics

All the help you need

This self-guided course has an individual-help option so you choose how much assistance to take advantage of.

Get started now

Get started now

So many Red Dot students say they've always wanted to learn to paint. Now is your chance!

  • $57.00

    Course with instructor help via email

    Purchase

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Meet Your Instructor

    • Welcome to RDOL
  • 2

    About Oil Paint

    • Student Grade vs Artist Grade Paints
  • 3

    Let's Begin

    • Important Reminders Before You Start

    • How to Use The Course

    • Our Goal
  • 4

    Why it's hard to see

    • Our eyes can deceive us.

  • 5

    Introduction to Materials

    • Oil Painting Supplies
  • 6

    Beginning Exercise

    • Get Used to the Paint
  • 7

    Working With Color

    • Simple Color Theory

    • Colored Spheres

    • Always put out the full spectrum

    • Mixing Colors
  • 8

    Composition

    • Composing From a Live Subject
  • 9

    First Painting

    • The Underpainting

    • Second Coat on Fruit Painting

    • Polishing Coat
  • 10

    Second Painting

    • Landscape Preliminaries

    • Landscape Step by Step

    • Landscape Instructions
  • 11

    Specifics

    • How to paint water
  • 12

    Going Forward

    • Review

Hard to attend in person?

For those who can't or don't want the added commitment of classroom attendance, this home option gives you the same lessons with more freedom to work with your schedule.
Sign up now