Oil Painting for Beginners - 5 Things You Should Know
Are you looking to get into oil painting, but not quite sure where to start?
Don't worry, you've come to the right place. In this blog post, we'll be going over five essential tips and techniques that will help you get the most out of your oil painting experience. So grab your supplies and let's get started!
1. Safety First
Oil paints often come with a warning label because they contain potentially hazardous materials. Certain paints like cadmium and lead white have toxic substances but are generally not a hazard unless swallowed. As such, it’s important to take safety precautions when using them. To protect you and your artwork, make sure to always paint in a well-ventilated area; otherwise, the fumes can be toxic and cause dizziness, headaches, or even more serious problems. Taking these safety measures before starting a work of art is essential not only for you but also for the longevity of the painting itself - good ventilation prevents pigments from yellowing over time.
To glove or not to glove?
When it comes to oil painting, gloves are an optional accessory - but they definitely come in handy. While gloves provide an extra layer of protection from getting your hands dirty and any potential reactions to paint or solvents, you can also opt for a barrier cream to keep your skin safe. It's all about preference - some artists feel better with gloves on while others might find them restricting - so there's really no right or wrong answer as to which one to choose.
Wash your hands
While solvents can be great for getting oil paint out of brushes, they're not always so friendly to our health. A thorough wash with soap and water after handling solvents is absolutely essential; solvents can be highly toxic and irritate your skin if not removed properly. Not to mention that solvents can even cause chemical burns if left on too long. So remember to take the extra few minutes to ensure you don't suffer any nasty repercussions from solvents - all it takes is a good scrub! Washing your hands frequently throughout your painting session can help avoid unwanted paint on brushes and on your painting surface.
2. Get the Right Supplies
Once you have your safety gear taken care of, it's time to move on to gathering the right supplies for your oil painting project. This can include anything from canvas and brushes to paints and mediums. Solvents are commonly used to clean oil paint from brushes and to thin out the paint.
If you are solvent to clean your brushes, I suggest getting a stainless steel brush washer. There are many options to choose from as far as paint mixing surfaces go. Some popular options include paper palettes, glass palettes, and the more traditional wooden palette. You may also want to get a set of palette knives. Palette knives can be used to mix paint on your palette or to paint directly onto your canvas. It's important to do your research beforehand so that you know exactly what supplies are best suited for your project.
A great starting point and easy on the wallet option is all-in-one starter sets which usually contain everything you need all in one convenient package.
Supply list:
3. Know Your Rules
Thick over thin
When oil painting, layering thin to thick is key! First, create your thinnest paint layers and work up from there. This strategy will make sure you don't run into any drying issues - since most kinds of oil paints actually cure rather than evaporate like their water-based counterparts. By curing over time, thicker layers can take much longer to solidify properly so reserve the impastos for last!
Fat over lean
The 'fat over lean' rule is a fundamental principle of oil painting that many beginner artists should understand and adhere to. Put simply, it means paint with a high oil content goes on top of paint with a lower oil content when layering paint. This avoids wrinkles or faults developing in the layer below because the top layer will be more flexible. It's important to start with thin layers of oil so that all layers can bond properly, then increase the amount of fat in your paint from beneath as you build up more layers. While this technique can seem daunting at first, it’s actually quite an easy concept to understand and master, and once you get the hang of it you'll be creating beautiful artwork like a pro.
Slow drying over fast drying
Generally, oil paint in earth tones will dry more quickly than paint in hues like blue, red, yellow and anything that includes black or white in its recipe. Keeping track of drying times can affect how you progress through your oil painting masterpiece.
Following these rules will ensure that your paintings dry properly without cracking or flaking off.
Not only do these practices leave a more aesthetically appealing finish, but they also help avoid bubbling and cracking of the canvas or other surfaces. Once you get experienced with layered paintings, you'll find that different textures and colors can be achieved through such techniques, depending on what look you want in your masterpiece.
4. Limit Your Palette
When starting out with oil painting, it can be tempting to buy every color imaginable—but resist this urge! It’s better to start with just a few colors at first until you become more familiar with how they mix together and create different hues. I suggest getting a color wheel and brushing up on color theory to learn how to mix colors to create new ones. Try sticking with just three or four primary colors plus white initially so that you don’t overwhelm yourself or waste money on unnecessary supplies. Check out my color theory guide for beginners here.
5. Start Simple
Finally, don't put too much pressure on yourself when starting out with oil painting—start simple! Choose subjects that are easy for beginners such as still-life objects or landscapes. Even if your first few pieces don't turn out perfect, they can still be valuable learning opportunities. With enough practice and dedication, you'll soon see major improvements in your work.
Oil painting is an extremely rewarding activity but there are certain things beginners need to consider before diving into their projects headfirst - from safety precautions and materials needed down to selecting appropriate subjects for their first paintings - all these factors play equally important roles in ensuring success when learning how to master this art form. I hope these tips were helpful in providing a starting point for beginner painters out there who want to try their hand at this timeless craft. Happy painting!
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