Oil painting is an enjoyable and satisfying means of self-expression. However, it can be a complex task for a novice. Many people do not attempt to do it because they fear it is very difficult for them. The following tips give you basic information to have an initial experience of the activity.
Tip 1: Make a sketch on a sheet of paper and then translate it to painting canvas. In this way you can avoid amendments that can damage the canvas.
Tip 2: Avoid holding your brush very close to the bristles like a pencil. Oil brushes are generally made long so that you can paint at a distance from the canvas. Also, hold the brush in the middle or end of the handle.
Tip 3: Increase the ratio of oil in every subsequent layer of paint, as the layers below soak up oil from the upper layers. The painting cracks if the upper layers dry before the lower layers.
Tip 4: Do not use linseed oil for painting while using white and blue colors. Linseed oil has a tendency to acquire yellowish tint, which is noticeable with light colors. Use only pure oil while painting with light colors.
Tip 5: Paint receding objects with a less intense color to effectively depict distant objects in the paintings. Objects that are near should be more intense.
Tip 6: Before beginning to paint, put a layer of acrylic underpaint on the canvas since acrylic paint dries out quickly. You can then easily apply oil paint over it.
Tip 7: Draw a painting with the right proportions. Learn the method of measurement of size of objects in relation to the surrounding objects. When drawing a person, you can use the head as a unit of measurement. The head is neither the largest nor the smallest part of the body and therefore can easily be compared with other body parts.
Tip 8: Squeeze the oil on a newspaper in case the oil paint has excessive oil content. After the newspaper absorbs the unnecessary oil, put the paints back on the palette for mixing.
Tip 9: In case you want to remove a layer of oil paint from the painting, do it with alcohol. Alcohol is a powerful solvent.
Tip 10: Do not dry out your oil paintings in the dark. This may result in the formation of a thin yellow film of oil on the surface of the painting. This layer can be removed by keeping the painting in daylight.
Tip 11: Use oil to apply transparent layers of the paint. The effect of oil is completely different than that attained by mixing two colors. When the light goes through the transparent layer and gets reflected by the opaque color below, it produces an extraordinary depth and brightness.
Tip 12: Make a habit of maintaining your painting area clean and organized. For this, look for glass jars to store mediums, solvents and used brushes while painting. Also, keep a supply of paper towels and rags at hand.
Lastly, learning oil painting is not an easy undertaking. Things such as color mixing, perspectives and techniques can upset a beginner. However, with time and practice it becomes easier and rewarding.
|