One of the most frequently asked questions from beginners in oil painting is: How do I start? Getting started in oil painting is relatively easy. There are some basic supplies that you will need and some basic guidelines to follow. This article will discuss how beginners can get started with oil painting. However, this article will not teach you how to become a good painter. In fact, nobody can make you a good painter. You can only be taught certain things and it is up to you to take what you have learned and apply it.
Many beginners who are new to the medium of oil painting generally have the same questions. So let’s tackle those questions now so you can start your painting journey right away.
oil painting supplies
The first thing you’ll need to do is buy some supplies. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on expensive oil painting supplies. Start with the basics as you are just a beginner at this point. The goal at this point is to get used to working with your support, brushes, paints, and other materials. Therefore, expensive supplies will be wasted during this stage.
supports
You will need a support to paint. There are several different media that can handle oil paint, but for now, start with canvas. Many beginners often ask if a canvas needs any special coating or primer for oil painting. The short answer is yes, but you shouldn’t worry about that either. Any local art supply store or online art supply store will have canvases that are already primed and ready to go.
oil paint
Next, you’re going to need paint. You don’t need an expensive brand of paint. That would again be a waste for beginners. There are less expensive, good quality paints on the market that will work wonderfully for your painting needs. Here are some oil paint brands to try: WINSOR & NEWTON Winton Oil Colours, GRUMBACHER Academy Oils, and DALER-ROWNEY Georgian Oil Colours.
For those of you who may be concerned about the potential dangers associated with oil paints, have no fear. Introducing Water Mixable Oil Paints! These paintings are fantastic. They can be diluted with water instead of using dangerous solvents like turpentine. Here are two brands to try if you’re interested: GRUMBACHER Max Water Miscible Oil Colors and WINSOR & NEWTON Artisan Water Miscible Oil Colors.
Oil paint brushes
Having good quality brushes is important. While a good quality brush won’t make you a better painter, a cheap brush will only end up frustrating you. When you use cheap brushes you will see why. Cheap brushes tend to drop hairs that get stuck in the oil paint, which is extremely annoying. Good quality brushes should have stiff bristles and snap back into place when you run your fingers over them. They must be well made and resistant.
You don’t need so many brushes for oil painting. Personally, I only use two types of brushes for oil painting: flat and various sized hazelnuts. I have a few rounds and a fan brush on hand, but I hardly ever use them. I would also recommend that you use hog hair brushes instead of the softer synthetic hair brushes. In my opinion, synthetic brushes are too flimsy to handle oil painting medium.
Cleaning your brushes is important, so don’t be careless in this area, especially if you’re working with high-quality brushes. Many artists recommend turpentine for cleaning brushes, but I just can’t bring myself to use this material. I use a much safer brush cleaning product called “The Masters” Brush Cleaner and Preserver.
I clean my brushes right after a painting session with this product and it works wonderfully. It can take some time to really clean the brushes, but it’s worth the effort. If the brush cleaner doesn’t remove all the paint, I use a little odorless mineral spirits. I find it a much better alternative to turpentine.
oil painting mediums
What about the media? Do you need to mix the oil paint with something or can you use it straight from the tube? This is another common question among beginners. The answer? You don’t need mediums to paint. They are not a requirement, but I find them quite useful.
Most of the oil paints I have worked with are simply too stiff for my particular style of painting. The mediums will help thin the oil paint and make the paint flow better, which means you’ll use less paint. Using less paint means you’ll save money.
There are many different types of mediums that are used for different reasons, such as speeding up paint drying time, improving gloss, etc. Don’t worry too much about mediums at this point.
I like to start my painting using diluted acrylic paint. First I tone my entire canvas with a neutral color. I then draw in my composition using different values of the same color. I let this initial drawing dry overnight. I then apply the oil paint using the lean-on-fat oil paint method.
Turning on
This is a very important part of oil painting. Without proper lighting, you won’t be able to accurately see your colors. The best type of lighting is natural sunlight, so if you have the opportunity to paint in a well-lit room or outside, that would be ideal. Of course, not everyone is blessed with this kind of situation, so it’s best to use lighting that mimics natural sunlight.
This type of lighting is known as “full spectrum lighting.” There are several different full spectrum lighting products available. Just do a Google search for “full spectrum lighting” and you’ll find several websites on the subject.
Safety
Oil painting for beginners can be dangerous if you are not careful, so it is important to take the necessary precautions. Make sure you work in an area that has good ventilation and airflow. Wear disposable latex gloves while painting. Carefully read all manufacturer’s warning labels.
some final words
When you sit down to begin your first painting, remember that you are just a beginner. Your main goal right now is to have fun and get used to working with your oil painting materials. Don’t judge your own work too much. If you do, you will only end up frustrated. Your first, second, third, or even tenth painting may not turn out the way you wanted. This is completely normal, so don’t be discouraged. Oil painting is a difficult medium to master. Perseverance is needed, so hang in there. I wish you the best! God bless you.