Questions & Answers: Learning to Paint with Mike Svob
Nov 10, 2020By Jed Dorsey
In this session Mike Svob joins us from Whiterock, BC. In 2001 I saw my very first acrylic paintings in a gallery in Whistler, BC. I fell in love instantly. Mike was one of the talented artists and ended up being my first instructor in acrylics. I was so honored this fall when he agreed to join us at Acrylic University for this session. Mike is a wealth of wisdom, stories, and experiences in the world of art. It was so great to reconnect with him after many years. He continues to inspire me.
Acrylic University members asked some questions of Mike. Below are the time stamps and the questions so specific topics can be found easily.
30:35 - Judy Webber - I’m wondering how you decide whether to tone your canvas and what colour to tone your canvas with and is there a favourite colour you used most often? And what is your go to brush, if there is one?
42:09 - Joyce Frantz - What canvas do you use for pictures to sell?
44:18 - Sharon Strizel - I would like to know how you think about color that is not realistic. For example, your beautiful orange and blue polar bear. How can I break out of a more realistic mindset toward using more interesting colors?
49:00 - Dennis Redmond - Some of your colors just seem to light up. Is that just a thin wash of color that you don’t paint over it again?
51:44 - Rachel DeRagon - How is the business of art changing during this COVID era?
1:08:00 - Dayle - I love how Jed and Mike can take a photo and "see" the light, shades and composition and create colorful, beautiful paintings. I am really struggling to learn how to transpose what I see outside or in a photo to create the painting I want. How did you learn to "see" what needs to be painted? I am also amazed watching how Jed paints many layers. What is the secret to all these layers? I hope my questions make sense. I am really looking forward to this Q&A. 
1:10:05 - Nancy Dopler - I accidentally got acrylic paint on top of a varnished painting. I assume I can paint over it again, but perhaps not. If I am able to that, does it have to be sanded lightly first so the paint will stick? The varnish is Liquitex Satin brush on.
1:14:28 - Jeanne Hudson - How would I achieve those long, soft and blended edges in acrylics that some oil painters work into their paintings?
1:17:30 - Aome St. Laurence - How do artists travel with their paints? I live in Mexico. I'm needing to find out how people travel with their paint in tubes?
1:21:00 - Trish Jodoin - Do you still use the glass palette for mixing? If so why do you prefer it to a wet palette and how do you keep the paint from drying out?
1:23:27 - Cathy Hocking - Is there any percentage (?) of a painting that someone can copy and call their own & be able to sell it? Like 50-50, 10%, 15% or do they have to put the original artists name & their own?
1:29:03 - Joyce Frantz - Do you always have a focal point?
1:32:05 - Tanya Comerford - How do you choose what color(s) to use to create shadows?
1:34:00 - Nancy Wardle - There are a few black paints to choose from. You use Mars. Would you please explain why you prefer using that vs perhaps ivory or bone? Thank you!
1:39:10 - Cathy Hocking - Do you make prints, giclees or anything similar of your paintings?
1:46:52 - Rachel DeRagon - What is Mr. Svob’s go-to color palette?
"Winter is Coming" - Mike Svob
To see more of Mike's work go to: https://www.mikesvob.com/
