How to Make Oil Paintings
Painting with oil is enjoyable. Working with the smooth, rich paint is different than using a fast-drying medium such as acrylic. You will need a good-size work area when you work on oil paintings. The paint takes days to dry, so it is important that the area is undisturbed to protect your work. Start with a few basic supplies when you begin oil painting.
Things You'll Need
- Stretched or board canvas
- Oil paint tubes
- Paint brushes
- Brush cleaning solution
- Linseed oil
- Rag
- Palette
- Easel
- Turpentine
- Jar or can
Instructions
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1
Purchase small tubes of oil paint in cadmium red, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium green and aquamarine blue. Add a medium tube of black and a large tube of titanium white. You will need a large square paint brush that is about 1 inch wide along with one that is a half-inch width. Be sure to get a No. 1 round brush, particularly if you intend to do finer details. Add a No. 3 round to your shopping list. If your budget allows, choose a 1-inch wide fan brush, which works well for painting clouds.
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Choose a subject that you want to paint. Set a canvas board or stretched canvas onto a table or stand easel. Be sure to wear clothes that can become stained. It is important to keep brushes and the handles clean. Oil paint can get on anything if it is on your hands and it will stain.
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Squirt small amounts of the colors you choose onto a palette. Place a jar of linseed oil or turpentine close by. You will need this liquid to help thin some of your paint while working. If using linseed oil, pour brush cleaning liquid such as mineral spirits or turpentine in a second container.
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Lightly sketch an outline of your subject on the canvas with a pencil or use the No. 1 round brush dipped in thinned paint.
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Use a flat brush to start to fill in the background of the painting with colors of your choice. It is important to load paint into the tip of the brush. If you need to thin the paint out for a light, thin coat of paint, add a bit of linseed oil to the palette. Drag some paint over into the linseed oil.
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Cover the stark white canvas with a coat of paint if you want to. It can be quite distracting when looking at the white expanse. Some artists prefer filling in the entire canvas before painting with any detail. For example, if you are painting a sunset, you can fill the outer background edges with orange mixed with a touch of black, orange mixed with a bit of yellow and the cadmium orange. The sun can be outlined with yellow and a bit of white dabbed into it on the canvas.
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Look at each item on your canvas as a mixture of colors. For example, a cloud can appear to be wisps of white. Dip the tip of your fan brush into a gray that is tinted with a tiny bit of blue. Swirl puff-like shapes onto the mid-upper portion of the canvas. Clean your brush. Pick up a bit of cadmium yellow mixed with just enough white to lighten it to a creamy yellow. Swirl small puffs on top of the darker-colored cloud portions. Notice that a cloud is forming and it is anything but white.
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Dip the brush into cleaner and wipe paint onto a rag when changing colors. You need a clean brush for each color change.
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Use larger brushes along with flat brushes to fill in the background of buildings, still-life figures and scenery. Load small amounts of paint onto small round brushes for detail work.
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Leave the room for several minutes. Go back in and view your work from at least a 5-foot distance.You will be able to see how well you have done so far. Notice things that can be added or where finer detail may be needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Simply paint over a dried section that does not work for you. Oil paint is forgiving. You can scrape wet paint gently off of the canvas. Shop at a craft store that offers coupons when buying the most expensive paints and brushes.
Do not push down on the brush, which spreads the bristles out and can ruin them. You paint with the tip or end of the brush. Oil painting can be an expensive hobby. Try it out before you invest too heavily. Be aware that some of the materials you are using are dangerous to small children.
