Top 7 oil painting TIPS for beginners
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| Photo: Mymodernmet.com |
Oil painting techniques can feel overwhelming when you're first learning to paint. Although there's a learning curve with all different types of paint, oils can be particularly unforgiving in nature. We've already seen how artists can improve their work with general, practical painting techniques, but in this article we're going to look specifically at oil painting techniques.
These tips could transform your process and breathe new life into your oil paintings. Start by watching the video below, which walks you through 10 fundamental oil painting techniques you need to know to get started painting with confidence.
While you're here, you might also want to explore our guide to canvas painting for beginners, or our roundup of how to draw tutorials, according to Creativebloq.
1. Take time to get to know your materials
Once you’ve secured your safety precautions, you can begin to slowly find out which materials and tools you like best. Typically, an artist just starting to work in oil paint will want to gather a selection of brushes, rags, a palette, surfaces to paint on (commonly called supports), a primer, turpentine, a medium, and a few tubes of paint.
2. Hold the paintbrush correctly
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| Photo: Mymodernmet.com |
Hold your brush at the end for maximum control There are many different grips on the paintbrush that an artist can use while painting. However, there is one 'go-to' method that every artist should know: to get the most fluidity and sensitivity with your strokes, hold the brush handle as far back as you can.
This might feel uncomfortable at first, but it offers the greatest degree of control because it allows you to paint with your whole arm rather than just your wrist.
3. Paint thick over thin
This is a similar principle to the fat over lean rule, in that it is based on the drying time of oil paint. Thick oil paint dries slower than thin.
So in theory, your first layers should be very thin, almost glazes of paint. Then as you build up your painting you be adding increasing amount of substance and oil.
4. Try painting with a limited palette
More colors does not mean a more sophisticated painting. If anything, it is often the opposite. In your next painting, try limited your palette to the bare essentials of blue, yellow, red (the primaries) and white. By mixing the three primary colors you get a natural black. Add some white to that and you have gray. The three primary colors can then be used to mix what-ever color you need.
Using a limited palette will help focus your painting and create harmony. The more colors, the more difficult it becomes to balance your painting and control the chaos, shared by Drawpaintacademy.
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| Photo: Jackson'sArtsupplies.com |
5. Understand paint order
Paint thick over thin, fat over lean, and slow-drying over fast-drying. That means using thinner paint and less oil in the first layers, saving thicker paint and higher oil content for later layers. This will help ensure that earlier layers dry first and will help to keep your painting from cracking. Start with an underpainting of paint and turpentine, then move to a painting medium of a combination of turpentine and linseed oil in a ratio of 2:1. Linseed oil can yellow with age (which is more apparent on light colors) but dries faster than other oils.
6. Clean your brush
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| Photo: Youtube.com |
It's important to clean your brush between colors and with soap and water when finished painting. Oil painting can get messy. Have paper towels and rags handy to wipe excess paint and turpentine off your brushes. Have two containers available while painting—one for turpentine for cleaning your brush between colors and one for medium to mix with your paint.
7. Keep it tidy
Oil paints and mediums are toxic if ingested or absorbed into the skin. Keep them put away and out of reach of pets and small children. Dispose of paints, mediums, rags, paper towels, and disposable paper palettes or paper plates (also good to use as palettes) properly. You should wet or soak rags and paper in water before discarding them since they are flammable, can heat up when drying out, and sometimes spontaneously combust, according to Thesprucecrafts.
| But maybe the most important factor that keeps you stay in art is enthusiasm. If you love art and have already had some experience in watercolour, acrylic, graphite, oil or others then you should absolutely have a go at using pastel pencils. Even if you are an absolute beginner, Pastel Pencils are the perfect medium to get your hands on and start learning today. It’s proven that art can reduce stress, reduce anxiety and improve self esteem. If you’re already getting these benefits and the sense of accomplishment of producing your own artwork then give yourself a try, colinbradleyart stated. |
*If you find the abovementioned information effective (oil painting), don't hesitate to share it via social networks, thanks from Knowinsider.
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