The Painter in oil

Color and Values. - Study the color at the same time you do the value. Put on no touch of
paint as a value or a color alone. If you do, you will have to paint that spot twice, -once
for the value, and again for the color. You might as well paint for the two qualities in one
stroke. It takes more thought, but it gives you more command of your work. It doesn’t
load your canvas with useless paint, and it saves time in the long run.
Relations and Directness. - Study to give the true relations of things. Try to get the just
color quality. Give it at once. Don’t get it half way and trust to luck and a subsequent
painting to correct it. You will never learn to paint that way. Paint intensely while you
paint. Use all the energy you have. Paint with your whole strength for a half or a whole
hour, and then rest. You will accomplish more so than by painting all day in a languid,
half-hearted way.
Directness. - Directness comes from making up your mind just what tint of color
and value is needed, and just where it is to go, first, then putting it there with no coaxing.
Get the right color on your brush and plenty of it; then put the brush deliberately and
firmly down in the right place, and take it directly away, and look at the result without
touching it again till you have made up your mind that it needs something else, and what
it is that it needs. Then do that and stop.
Directness and justness of relation are the most important things in painting. They tell
for most, result in most, both to the picture and to the student. Whatever you do, work
for that. Try to have no vagueness in your mind as to what you will do or why you do it,
and the effect of it will show on your canvas.