| Oil Paint has been used by many of the most | | | | the colors, so make sure you know if it's dry |
| famous painters. It is a great medium that | | | | or wet and what you are supposed to do with |
| isn't hard to use and has many exceptional | | | | it. |
| qualities. Before you begin painting, you | | | | |
| need to make sure you have all the supplies | | | | If you are doing more of an abstract colorful |
| including paint, brushes, terpentine or | | | | painting that doesn't require intricate |
| another oil paint solvent, canvas to paint | | | | detail, you can be less precise, although I |
| on, and anything else you might need. | | | | would still recommend starting with a wash. |
| | | | If you are doing a Pollack style drawing, |
| Begin by very lightly drawing out what you | | | | than, of course, this probably isn't |
| are going to paint. This is optional, but if | | | | necessary. What's great about abstract is |
| you are doing a realistic intricate painting, | | | | that you can do what you want and you don't |
| you will probably benefit from this first | | | | have to follow the laws of paints if they |
| task. Make sure it is very light with pencil | | | | don't suite you. |
| so that it doesn't show through the painting. | | | | |
| You don't have to be detailed, just get the | | | | For intricate paintings, I recommend waiting |
| general layout. If you want, you could even | | | | until it is completely dry or almost dry |
| do an intricate pencil drawing on another | | | | before starting the very intricate stuff. Of |
| paper first to get the feel for it. | | | | course, I suggest playing around with it. |
| | | | For example, I wait until a human face is |
| Next, you will do a light wash of the | | | | completely dry before I do the intricate |
| lightest colors in all the areas. Use white | | | | detail of the eyes, but not when I do the |
| paint only on the white spaces. Mix a little | | | | detail of the nose because I want to do more |
| paint with more terpentine or solvent to make | | | | blending with skin. |
| it a thin wash. If you use too much paint, | | | | |
| it will take forever to dry and you'll never | | | | The best way to learn how to paint is by |
| finish it. | | | | trying and practicing it on your own. There |
| | | | is no right or wrong way to paint; it is an |
| Follow with the next darkest layers and work | | | | art. Experiment and you will find yourself |
| your way through. Continue using thin | | | | with your own style before you know it! |
| layers, but not as thin as before because it | | | | |
| isn't a wash. You can become more and more | | | | Do you need more oil paint instruction? Go |
| intricate as you go through. What is great | | | | to for more information about oil painting, |
| about oil is that it doesn't dry quickly, so | | | | drawing, art supplies, and more. Start |
| you have time to work with it. Be careful, | | | | painting and develop your own artistic style |
| though, because you are more likely to mix | | | | today! |