# I tried copying a masterwork with Temu oil paints Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvMrXyRNL2M Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/hvMrXyRNL2M Generated: 2025-11-30T21:06:07.508+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The attempt to recreate a John Singer Sergeant portrait using only cheap supplies sourced from Temu yielded surprisingly usable results, with the artist concluding that the student-grade Marie paints, though oily, were functional, while the Master tier paints and Artify brushes performed comparably to professional, more expensive alternatives. **Key Points:** - The artist was fascinated by the connection between John Singer Sergeant's foundational training at the French Academy of Fine Arts and the strong realist painters in China influenced by Shu Behung, who studied at the same institution. - The inexpensive Marie 1919 student-grade paints exhibited noticeable oil separation, with one color described as 'very saucy' and another like 'pasta sauce,' causing blending issues when layering paint. - The Master tier Marie paints were much thicker, feeling 'very solid' and comparable in quality to the artist's expensive Gamblin paints, costing two or three times more. - The Artify brushes, tested across medium and high-tier sets, were highly rated, with the speaker noting that having no complaints about supplies means they are not distracting from the art itself. - The process of painting in Sergeant's spontaneous style—working from big masses and avoiding immediate detail—was challenging because constant refinement easily lost the initial strength of the brushwork. - The Temu linen canvas was deemed 'fine' but too smooth; the artist prefers more texture to capture thick paint, noting that cheap canvases are useful for practicing frequently. - The speaker strongly recommended the Master tier paints and the Artify brushes, noting that Temu offered a lightning deal on the liked products stacked with a $100 coupon bundle via the creator's code. **Context:** The video documents an experiment where the creator attempts to replicate the techniques of the famous 19th-century painter John Singer Sergeant using exclusively low-cost art supplies purchased from the online retailer Temu, including Marie brand oil paints and various brushes. The creator frames this challenge by noting the shared educational roots that influenced both Sergeant and influential modern Chinese realist painters like Shu Behung, suggesting that execution, not just expensive materials, defines mastery. ## Detailed Analysis The creator tested a range of Temu supplies to see if cheap materials could support a master-level study, specifically attempting a portrait in the style of John Singer Sergeant, focusing on blocking in large masses of light and shadow before adding detail, a technique Sergeant himself employed but often struggled with due to his spontaneous working method. The student-grade Marie 1919 paints proved problematic due to excessive oiliness, leading to paint layers that would smudge or pull up underlying paint rather than stacking stiffly, which is crucial for this layering technique. Conversely, the Master tier Marie paints were praised for being thick and comparable to professional brands costing significantly more. The Artify brushes were deemed excellent, providing good springiness and variety without shedding bristles, contrasting sharply with the cheap, short-handled Marie brushes that immediately bent upon removal. The linen canvas was adequate for practice but too smooth. Ultimately, the creator expressed satisfaction with the final Sergeant study, concluding that while the cheaper paints presented limitations in nuanced areas, the overall quality of the Master tier supplies and brushes made the endeavor highly successful and budget-friendly, especially when utilizing the provided discount code. ### Supply Review - Marie 1919 Paints: Student grade paints were very oily, causing smudging and hindering paint stacking - Master tier paints were much thicker, feeling like professional grade paint costing 2-3 times more. ### Brush Performance Analysis - Marie brushes were short-handled and immediately damaged, receiving low marks - Artify medium and high-tier brushes were excellent, featuring great variety and functionality, making them highly recommended. ### Canvas Assessment - Temu linen canvas is primed and cheap, suitable for frequent practice - It is too smooth; the artist prefers texture to hold thick paint, unlike expensive Belgian linen. ### Painting Technique - The study followed Sergeant's method of sculpting the head with big planes and masses first, leaving out features initially - This spontaneous approach requires immense restraint, as errors in proportion are easy to make when avoiding detail. ### Final Verdict & Recommendations - The student paints were usable but limited in pushing oil painting limits - The Master tier paints and Artify brushes were strong recommendations, with the Master tier feeling like professional quality without the high price tag.