How to Paint with Oil Paint

Oil painting is one of the oldest forms of art. Used most notably in Renaissance times, it is still practiced by many artists. As with most forms of art, oil painting is perhaps best learned by following simple instructions and constant practice rather than spending time and money on classes.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paints
• Brushes
• Palette
• Oil medium
• Turpentine

1. Assemble your palette. Place your paints in an order where you can find the right color when you need it. Use the same order every time to avoid confusion.

2. Stretch the canvas. Staple one side to stretcher bars, stretch it over and staple it to the other sides with staples an inch apart. Fold the corners over and staple them to the back of the bar.

3. Understand color theory and the color wheel. Know about hues (different shades of the same color), analogous colors (side-by-side on the color wheel) and complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel).

4. Start with a grisaille underpainting, an outline of black and white hues. This makes it easier to add color at the right levels, creating the three-dimensional image you want.

5. Learn total command of your brush. Know how much paint is on the brush, control how much comes off from a brushstroke and use the right stroke for the right intention.

6. Use thicker paint on top of the thinner, or impasto over glaze, especially where the painting's center of interest lies. This breaks the surface of the canvas and gives the painting more life.

7. Dry paintings in the light. This can take anywhere from twelve hours to seven days.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use the highest quality products, especially paints and brushes. Any extra cost will be worth the result showing on your work.