Table of Contents
Oil painting is probably the supreme discipline of painting. It allows the combination of different painting techniques and is characterized by a special splendor of colour. If you want to paint with oil paints, you need to be patient because oil paints dry much slower than othersart painting paints.
1. The correct preparation for oil painting
As is often the case, good preparation is also crucial when painting with oil paint. Sufficient space, plenty of light (but not direct sunlight) and good ventilation characterize the perfect place for oil paintings. The artist's necessary materials should be at hand. Cover the surface well and wear insensitive clothing.
2. Basic range of oil paints
For the beginning, a small palette of oil paint is sufficient, which can be gradually expanded as needed. You can Mix many other shades yourself from these basic colours. Since white is very often used to lighten paint, it is advisable to immediately purchase a larger tube of white colour when purchasing oil paint.
Tip: Don't buy cheap oil paint. High quality oil paints are not only easier to work with, but also provide higher and longer lasting colour brilliance and clarity.
3. Painting with oil paint
It is important to know that oil paint is a very rewarding material, because applied oil paint can be modified and corrected for a long time due to its long drying time. However, it is advisable to first paint the planned image as a rough sketch, for example with charcoal. Additionally, basic considerations about the lighting conditions in the photo are as important as movements and perspective.
4. Techniques of oil painting
When painting with oil paint, the colours can be applied undiluted directly from the tube to the canvas. Further possibilities are created by the use ofdyes and additives. By adding paint thinners, the painter has more influence on the consistency, gloss level and drying times of the oil paints.
When painting in layers and painting with glaze, the oil paints are applied in several steps: sometimes with thin, glazing, sometimes with thicker, opaque layers of paint.
5. After oil painting
After painting with oil paint, it is important to clean the brushes carefully, because dried oil paint ruins brushes. The best way to do this is to use brush cleaner, the cleaned painting toolsthen rinse well under warm water and allow to air dry.
Oil paintings are rarely finished after one painting session. Therefore, it is advisable to cover mixed paints with plastic wrap or store them in small jars for the next work session. It is almost impossible to mix the same colour twice.
It can take several months for an oil painting to completely dry. Only after complete drying can the oil painting be covered with a final varnish, for example in the form of a spray can, to protect the painting against dirt and other harmful influences.
