Learn to Paint with Oils - A Beginners Guide

So you are beginning your journey into the wonderful world of oil painting? It can be a confusing process for beginners if you do not have someone to help guide you through the first steps. This article will provide you with all the necessary information that you need to get started.

OIL PAINTING SUPPLIES

The first thing you are going to need are your supplies. This first step may seem simple, but many beginners are lost when they first step foot into an art supply store. There are so many different materials to choose from and if you are not familiar with what you need, you may spend too much on supplies you don't need or wind up not buying enough.

Paints

If you ask five different artists about the colors they have on their palette, you will more than likely get five different answers. The truth of the matter is, there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to the colors on your palette, it really is a matter of preference. You will definitely develop those preferences over time. In the mean time, I can share with you the colors that I often use:

Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red Light
Cadmium Yellow Light
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Umber
Raw Umber
Cadmium Orange
Burnt Sienna
Thalo Blue
Cerulean Blue
Thalo Green
Thalo Yellow Green
Ivory Black
Titanium White

TIP: Whatever paint you decide to buy, try to stay away from paints that have the word "hue" on the label. These paints may be more economical, but they are of very low quality when compared to the real color. Hue paints are artificial pigments and they do not behave the same as the real pigment.

Palette

If you are not already familiar with a palette, it is basically the surface that you will use to lay out and mix your colors on. There are a variety of different palettes available. Everything from wood to glass are possible surfaces to use. My favorite surface to use as a palette is wood, but the surface is porous, so it will need to be sealed before you can use it. It is quite easy. All you need to do is coat the surface of the palette with mineral or linseed oil and wipe the excess off. It is then ready for your oil paints.

Brushes

Just like paints, an artists brush selection may differ from person to person. I personally use flats and filberts of varying sizes, but you may develop a preference for other shapes and sizes. My brush selection consists of #2, #5, and #10 Filberts, #2, #5, and #10 Flats - - all hog hair brushes. Hog hair brushes are strong, flexible and are great for use with oils.

Supports

There are a variety of painting surfaces, or "supports", that you can use to paint on. Stretched canvas, canvas panels, canvas paper and even wood are all possibilities. I use canvas panels and paper for studies or practice and stretched canvas for my finished paintings. Again, this is just my preference and you are free to explore on your own.

Other Supplies

Some other supplies you will need are rags for wiping and cleaning, a palette knife for mixing your paints, a medium for thinning your paint and an easel.

Caring For Brushes

Learning how to properly care for your brushes is one of the most important aspects of oil painting. One popular approach is to use solvents like turpentine, but for some of us, this is not an attractive option as solvents can be dangerous to your health. I personally use mineral oil followed by a brush cleaner. I first wipe the brush as clean as possible with a rag. I then swish the brush around in mineral oil until most of the paint is removed. I then wash the brush with a product called MASTERS Brush Cleaner and Preserver.

TIP: Always clean your brushes immediately after you have finished a painting session and never leave your brushes soaking in anything! It will destroy them.

ORGANIZING YOUR STUDIO

I know not everyone has the luxury of a professional studio, but try and do your best to create a productive environment for painting. Try and find a space in your home that is free from noise and distraction.

Lighting

If at all possible, use a room or space that has plenty of natural sunlight. If natural sunlight is not possible, you will have to use artificial light. There are special lights or bulbs called "Full Spectrum", that are made to emulate natural sunlight. They do a descent job, but nothing compares to natural sunlight.

Organizing Your Palette

It is important to have a clean and organized palette during your painting sessions. This is done by laying your paints out the same way each time you paint. Lay your paint out on the edges of your palette leaving enough empty space in the center for mixing. Be sure to squeeze out a good amount of each of your colors before you start to paint. You will be more productive if you do not have to stop frequently to squeeze out more paint. When you are finished painting, be sure and clean the mixing area of your palette well, but do not fully clean the spots on your palette where you placed your colors. This way, you will be able to tell where to squeeze them out during future painting sessions.

YOUR FIRST PAINTING

So now that you have a general understanding of the supplies you will need as well as how to organize your studio, it's time to starting thinking about your first painting.

Painting Ideas

Coming up with an idea for a painting can be a frustrating task and in order to find your painting "voice", you need to find out what you are passionate about or what things in life influence you. Every artist has an influence, whether it be another artist, a place or thing. For instance, if you love nature and wildlife, spend time outdoors at the places that inspire you. Bring along a sketchpad or digital camera and record the scenes that catch your eye. If you have a particular artist that you admire, spend time studying his or her artwork. Try and reproduce their paintings.