There are all kinds of things that you need to know in order to produce a great painting, from actual painting techniques to getting prepared to paint. For instance, do you know what type of surface you need to paint on, or how to prepare it for painting? Here are some simple oil painting techniques and tips that you can implement that will help you create beautiful works of art in oils:
- For beginners, it is probably easiest just to by pre-made canvasses from art and craft supply stores. Most of these canvasses do not have thick enough whiting, so you will probably have to apply one or two more layers.
- If you do not have any blank canvas available, you can resurface an old painting so you can paint over it. Use a palette knife and sandpaper to scrape the ridges off the original. Then, apply a coat of white paint, only thick enough to cover the original painting.
- Get your paints ready on your palette. Decide which colors you need, then mix them with a medium such as linseed to thin them out, right on the palette.
- Have a variety of different sizes of flat, filbert and round brushes on hand, as well as a palette knife. You will need some watercolor brushes as well, for details. Also, make sure you have containers with paint thinner and oils.
- For beginners, the best type of medium is one that is premade, such as cobalt. Or, you can make your own by using linseed oil as a medium to add to your pigment. Be careful not to add too much, and beware of using it with white and blue pigments…it can cast a yellowish tinge.
Now, you’ve got your paints, medium, brushes, palette and canvas, and you’re ready to paint. Great! But, once your painting is completed, you need to know how to clean your brushes, palette knife, palette, and, quite possibly, yourself. Here are some additional tips for taking care of your gear:
Don’t throw away unused paint from your palette! You can preserve it by scraping it off with your palette knife, and placing it in water until you are ready to use it again.
Keep your brushes and palette knife clean! You can clean dried paint from your palette knife with paint remover, and clean oil paint from your brushes (and your hands) with kerosene.
I hope you enjoyed some of these oil painting tips and techniques that I have started using myself. Let me know what you think!
