How to Start Oil Painting: Techniques for Beginners
Oil painting is a beautiful medium of art, but it can also be intimidating for beginners. Many techniques need to be mastered before you will feel confident in your abilities as an artist. This blog post introduces some basic techniques for oil paintings and provides five helpful tips on starting oil painting!
Gather Your Materials
One thing you will need to start oil painting is a set of paints. If this is your first time starting, we recommend buying an all-inclusive kit that contains everything in one package. If you already have some paints at home and would like to add oil paint into the mix, then that’s great! There are a few different oils you can use to create your paintings, and each style has its own set of pros and cons. For instance, you can use stand oil which comes in a tube-like container.
This type of paint is prolonged drying and gives works time to breathe, but it also takes longer to set. If you’re looking for something with faster results with more pigment than stand oil, then there are sunflower or walnut oils you can buy in jars. If you already have some paints at home and would like to add oil paint into the mix, then that’s great!
Set Up a Safe Work Space
One of the best ways to start oil painting is by setting up a safe workspace. The area should be clean, free from drafts and distractions. Steer clear of smoky areas because it will only cause fumes that are harmful to your health. First, you should cover the surface where you will be working with a thick cloth. A large piece of disposable plywood is ideal for this purpose because it can last longer and protect your work from any spills or accidents that might happen while painting.
It’s best to buy a plastic mat underneath so paint won’t seep through. You should also ensure that the paint is well-ventilated because it can be dangerous if not handled properly, especially for beginners. There are certain toxic fumes associated with oil painting and you don’t want to breathe them in when they aren’t going away fast enough from your workspace.
Outline Your Painting
One of the most critical steps to oil painting is planning your work. This means taking some time before you start and deciding what you want to paint and how much detail will be involved in the finished piece. Once this has been done, you can go ahead and begin working on a detailed outline or draft for your painting. This will be a rough sketch of the painting, showing where each element will go and what it should look like from different angles. Once you have done this, you can begin working on the actual piece itself.
If you’re not an artist, don’t worry. There are plenty of tutorials out there for beginners! The internet is full of fantastic resources to help you find your groove with oil painting and start creating beautiful pieces. So go ahead – give it a try! What’s the worst that could happen? You might just be surprised by how much fun it can be.…