Buzz
Would you like to create stunning and captivating oil paintings? Here are some essential basics to introduce you to the world of beautiful oil painting. Once you've mastered the fundamental techniques, the entire world becomes your canvas!
Steps
Start
Choose Your Paints. Before diving into oil painting techniques, it’s crucial to understand the different types of oil paints available. While there are many options on the market, don’t be tempted by cheap products. Using low-quality paints can make the process more difficult, less enjoyable, and frustrating. Spend a little more to get quality paints that require just one coat to achieve vibrant color and blending ability.
- The most basic oil paint set should include the following colors: cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, titanium white, and mars black. You can mix these colors to create any hue on the color wheel (for example, yellow and red create orange).
- You’ll quickly find that white paint runs out fast, so buy a large tube of white and smaller tubes for the other colors.
- Avoid purchasing student-grade paint sets as they are cheap but of poor quality. Additionally, steer clear of paint sets that come with brushes, as these tend to be of low quality as well.
Prepare the remaining materials. Beginners often make the mistake of not purchasing certain tools to save money. While this is understandable, there are several essential items you’ll need to make your oil painting experience both more enjoyable and easier.
- Choose a few high-quality brushes. You don’t need many, but having a variety of shapes and sizes, such as round or flat brushes, is important.
- Synthetic brushes are usually softer, while natural brushes tend to be firmer. Both types will be useful for different painting techniques.
- You’ll also need a palette knife for mixing paint, a mixing palette, an easel, and either stretched canvas or canvas fabric for painting, as well as some towels and a jar for cleaning brushes.
- Oil paints are thick right out of the tube, so you’ll need to thin them with white spirits or turpentine for the initial layers, and use mediums like linseed oil or poppy seed oil to thin them for subsequent layers. Apply the 'Thick on thin' rule (thicker layers over thinner layers) to prevent cracking or separation of the paint layers.
- Optional tools include an easel, apron, drop cloth, and a storage box for your supplies.
Set up your painting area. Since oil painting involves many supplies, you’ll need a spacious area. Place your easel or table away from noise and direct sunlight if possible. Lay down a cloth to protect the floor from paint spills.
- Oil paints tend to have a strong smell, so choose a well-ventilated area, opening windows or doors to let fresh air in.
- If you’re using an easel, adjust it to suit your seated or standing position and the angle you need. Make sure your easel is positioned in a way that you feel comfortable while painting, without causing strain.
- Wear old, dedicated clothes to protect your skin and prevent staining your nice clothes. Oil paints are difficult to clean, so be cautious to avoid spills.
- If you have long hair, tie it back in a ponytail or bun to prevent it from getting covered in paint. Remove any rings or bracelets you’re wearing.
Plan your painting concept
Create a rough sketch. Use a pencil to sketch the subject you want to paint. You can sketch directly on the canvas or on tracing paper and then transfer it to the canvas using carbon paper. As you sketch, be mindful of the composition and negative space.
- Composition refers to how the elements are arranged within the painting. It’s important to plan the placement of objects so that the viewer’s eyes are drawn across the entire painting, rather than focusing on one isolated point.
- Negative space refers to the area around the objects. When painting from real-life objects, you’ll often find it easier to paint the empty spaces around an object rather than focusing directly on the object itself. Consider how you’ll treat negative space as you start adding color to your painting to highlight the subject.
- Take note of overlapping shapes, as they can add depth to the composition. If your subject doesn’t have overlapping elements, consider rearranging them. This will make the painting feel more realistic.
Find a light source. To create a realistic painting, you need to accurately depict areas of light and shadow. Examine the subject and determine the angle of the light source, identifying the lit and shadowed regions.
- All light sources create shadows, but if the light is coming directly from above the object, the shadow will be difficult to see. Try moving the light or the object to make the shadows and highlights more apparent.
- Don’t worry about achieving extreme contrasts in shadows or highlights. In reality, these areas will have a more gradual range of tones. It’s okay if the light doesn’t create perfectly defined dark and light areas.
Consider your use of color. For beginners, mixing colors to match the actual color of an object can be challenging. This is because the brain provides an ideal color reference; for example, you might mix a bright blue to represent the sky, only to realize it’s more vivid than the actual color of the sky. The key is to set aside symbolic colors that your brain uses and focus on the actual hues you see. This will change the brightness of your paints.
- Paintings viewed at night will appear darker and richer compared to how they look in daylight, when they often seem brighter.
- Examine the color of objects in different lighting. On sunny days, objects often take on a yellowish tint. On cloudy days, the light is diffused through the clouds, making objects appear grayer. Additionally, colored lighting such as neon signs or colored bulbs can affect the appearance of an object’s color.
Observe the movement of the object. Are you painting a still object with little or no movement, or is your subject placed in a windy field with plenty of motion? Focusing on the movement of the subject is essential for planning your brushstrokes. Realistic paintings often convey motion or stillness through the brushstrokes themselves.
Create your artwork
Mixing colors. Oil paints take several days to dry, which is a downside but one you can easily work around. However, you can’t mix a paint color more than once, so it’s best to mix larger batches and save the excess for later sessions to maintain color consistency.
- Use the color wheel to help guide your mixing. The wheel shows primary, secondary, and tertiary colors and how they can be blended.
- Pure colors are those that have not been mixed with white or black. You can blend primary colors to create secondary ones.
- To make lighter shades (tints), you add white to the color, which will make it brighter and pastel-like.
- To create darker colors (shades), you add black to any color.
- To create intermediate colors (tones), you add white to a darker color (any color mixed with black). Intermediate colors are commonly used as they represent the colors we encounter daily.
Start painting. You can choose any painting technique you prefer, such as completing individual sections of the painting or applying multiple layers across the whole canvas. However, when working with oil paints, you should follow the 'thin first, thick later' rule, meaning you start with a thin layer of paint and build up to thicker layers.
- Start by practicing on basic shapes. All objects can be broken down into simple forms like cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres. Paint these shapes in their real-world forms, such as a bowl of oranges or paint them flatly as shapes.
- To thin your paint, use a solvent (linseed oil or turpentine) mixed with the paint. Begin with small amounts and gradually increase to achieve the desired texture.
- It takes about three days for the first layer to dry before you can add a second layer, so be patient as the paint dries.
Experiment with different techniques. There are countless ways to perfect your painting, but learning all of them when you're just starting with oil painting can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on mastering a few techniques at a time.
- Try color blending. This process involves subtly mixing two or more colors together (like the colors during a sunset). To do this, layer the paint so that the colors sit next to each other on the canvas. Then, use a flat brush to blend the colors in the direction you want to create the blending effect.
- Create a glaze color. This involves using a mixture of 1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 turpentine, and 1/3 gloss medium to create a transparent layer. You can mix this with any color to create a translucent effect over dry paint.
- Use the dot technique to create small dots. Using a natural bristle brush (a dry brush works best), gently dot along the canvas in a vertical pattern. You can layer the dots to create a blurred effect.
- Use a palette knife to paint. This technique is ideal for landscapes, as it helps create movement on the canvas. Scoop some paint onto the edge of the palette knife and sweep it horizontally across the canvas to create thick layers of paint.
Complete your painting
Fix any mistakes. You have about 3 days (while the oil paint is still wet on the canvas) to correct any mistakes or completely wipe them away using a wet cloth. Before finalizing your painting, step back and examine the overall composition to see if anything needs to be changed.
Save leftover paint. If you have leftover paint on your palette, keep it for your next painting session. Scoop the paint into a small container or cover the palette with plastic wrap to keep it fresh for later use.
Clean your brushes. Oil paint can ruin your brushes if the paint dries on them, so it's crucial to clean them right after use. Use turpentine and an old cloth to remove as much paint as possible, then wash the brush with warm water and a bit of dish soap. You can gently sweep the brush over your palm to ensure all the paint is removed. Hang the brush with the bristles facing upward in a jar or cup to dry. Make sure the brush is in a well-ventilated area while it dries, such as on a shelf or table – avoid storing it in a drawer or cabinet.
Wait for drying. Oil paint can take up to three months or even longer to fully dry, especially if you've applied multiple thick layers. Place your painting in a safe area, free from any potential damage, and allow it to dry for the necessary time.
Apply a final gloss layer. Once the paint is fully dry, add a gloss layer to protect and enhance the colors of your painting. After the protective gloss layer has dried, your work is complete! Finally, display your creative masterpiece for everyone to admire!
Kelly Medford
Artist
Artist
Gloss layers have varying drying times. Kelly Medford, a plein air painter, explains: "When applying a gloss layer, it depends on how long the paint has been drying. Oil paint dries from the top down, so it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year for the paint to fully dry and for the gloss layer to be added. The gloss will prevent the paint from interacting with the air and drying further, so applying the gloss too early could damage your painting."
Tips
- Black ivory paint takes a long time to dry, so it's best to avoid using it as an undercoat.
- Avoid using linseed oil as a paint thinner if you're aiming for lighter colors, as it will cause the paint to yellow quickly.
- To remove paint from your hands, use baby oil or olive oil. Apply a small amount of baby oil to a cloth and wipe your hands clean. Do not wash your hands before removing the oil paint, as this method won't work effectively. Oil paint on your hands will come off easily when combined with another oil, and once the paint is gone, you can wash your hands with soap and water.
- To prevent your palette from drying out, you can soak it in water or place it in the freezer.
- Do not leave your palette in water for too long, as the paint may cause it to absorb excess oil.
- Wear latex gloves to avoid getting paint on your hands.
- When using fresh paint, be sure to clean your brush with warm water.
Warning
- Keep paint and solvents away from your eyes and sensitive skin. If either product comes into contact with your eyes, rinse immediately with clean water for at least two minutes. Ideally, use an eye wash station or eye cup. If neither is available, use a small glass or gently run warm water directly into your eyes. It is crucial to dilute the chemical with plenty of water to minimize damage to sensitive eye tissue.
- Thinner products can cause allergic reactions on sensitive skin. If affected, wash the area thoroughly with warm water and soap, then rinse well. If an allergic reaction occurs, consult a doctor and follow their advice.
- Paint thinners and oil solvents are highly flammable. If using these chemicals, store them in a certified solvent storage cabinet. Keep flammable materials, including mixed paints and rags used for cleaning, in a closed, secure location.
- Oil paints and solvents are often classified as hazardous materials in some areas. Be sure to dispose of them properly according to local guidelines and regulations.
