oil paintings tips for beginners

Top 8 Oil Painting Techniques All Beginners and Professionals Should Know

By Sara Barnes on February 4, 2019\

 
 

Stock Photos from Kuznetcov_Konstantin/Shutterstock
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Oil paint has a long tradition in art history. Many of the world’s greatest creatives have used this material to produce their masterpieces, and its legacy lives on as one of the most popular media today. If you’ve ever thought about painting or are a professional looking to switch up your practice, chances are that oils have crossed your mind.

Acrylic and oil are two of the most well-known types of paints used by contemporary artists. But what is the difference between acrylic vs oil paints? It all comes down to how they are constructed. Oil paints feature pigments that are suspended in oil (typically linseed) while acrylics have their colors bound using acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylics can be thinned with water, but oil paints require more care. To thin the pigment or clean your brushes, you’ll have to use turpentine or mineral spirits.

Don’t let the extra work of maintaining oil paints turn you off to them. There are good reasons why artists continue to use them; the pigments are rich in tone and have a lustrous finish to them. Additionally, oil paints are slow to dry and give you time to change your artwork after you’ve laid down an initial brushstroke.

Excited to learn how to oil paint? Check out the basic supplies and essential oil painting techniques that you need to know.

Stock Photos from Kuznetcov_Konstantin/Shutterstock

Before you begin to paint with oils, here are some of the supplies you’ll want to have on hand. Chances are that you have some of them if you have painted with acrylic or watercolors before. It is, however, best to have a set of tools that are only for oil-based paint—water and oil don’t mix!

A set of oil paints — You’ll want at least a basic set of hues to get you started. We’ve written a guide on what to look for in a set of oil paints, as well the best oil paint sets to buy.

A set of brushes — Look for many types of brushes that are geared towards oil paints. You’ll want different sizes as well as different shapes. Depending on what you’re painting, you’ll want to switch the type of brush you’re using. A flat brush, for instance, is great for creating layers of solid color while the round size allows you to add a lot of fine details to your work.

Paint palette — The stereotypical palette is a curved wooden board with a hole for your thumb. While that is certainly an iconic object, there are much more comfortable options available. Though plastic palettes are the norm; this one is portable, too, for painting on the go.

Palette knife — The best practice for mixing colors is with a palette knife. Using one will allow you to mix even hues and avoid loading your brush with pigment as you try and mix. You can also use a palette knife to apply textural paint, like artist Anastasia Ablogina.

Canvas — If properly primed, you can use paint with oil on a variety of surfaces. Canvas, however, is the go-to for many artists and what we’d recommend if you’re just starting out.

Turpentine or Turpenoid — To clean your brushes and thin pigment, you’ll need a bottle of turpentine or Turpenoid handy. We recommend Turpenoid because it’s odorless, but make sure you’re still working in a studio with good ventilation.

https://mymodernmet.com/oil-painting-techniques/

Shabrina Aulia Aldis

1022191063

S1 Gizi

Fakultas Kesehatan

Univeritas M.H Thamrin

Techniques for painting

7 must-know painting techniques for artists

By Dave Kendall (ImagineFX) May 21, 2019 Art  

Unmissable painting techniques to get you creating your own masterpiece.

 
 
 

You've learnt how to draw a range of subjects, assembled all the necessary tools, set up your own workspace and you're ready to start your artistic journey in paint. But before you do, it's worth knowing some fundamental painting techniques and styles that will to help you along the way. 

Having some knowledge of tone, colour, texture, brushwork, and composition will help you create your own masterpieces with confidence. Here are seven essential painting techniques that will have you painting like a pro in no time.

01. Underpainting

Work paint up from thin to thick, especially when using slow-drying paints

I never work from white when using oils or acrylics. Create an underpainting in burnt umber or a mix of burnt sienna and phthalo blues to establish shadows and values. Acrylics are probably the best medium to use at this stage as they're quick-drying and permanent.

• 19 best painting and drawing apps for iPad

Work paint up from thin to thick, especially when using slow-drying paints. It's impossible to work on top of heavy, wet paint. In the same way, work up to highlights, adding the brightest (and usually heavier) paint at the end. Have a roll of kitchen towel to hand to clean brushes and remove any excess paint.

02. Blocking in

Brushes come in a number of shapes and fibre types

Brushes come in a number of shapes and with different fibre types, all of which give very different results. The key is to try all of them as you paint. The most versatile are a synthetic/sable mix – these brushes can be used with most of the different paint types. Brushes come in flat and round types and it pays to have a selection of both. Check out our guide to picking the right brush to learn more.

I work with a range of brushes. For most of the early work I use larger, flatter and broader brushes. A filbert is a good general brush for blocking in form and paint. It has a dual nature, combining aspects of flat and round brushes so it can cover detail as well as larger areas. I tend to use smaller brushes only at the end of the painting process.

03. Building up texture

Have a dry flat brush you can use to blend and create smooth transitions

Have a dry, flat brush that you can use to blend your paint and create smooth transitions. I tend to like lots of texture and like to see brush marks in my own work. Almost anything can be used to add texture to your paint. There are ready made texture media available, but I have seen items such as egg shell and sand used to add interest to a painting.

One tip is to use an old toothbrush to spatter your image with paint. This can be remarkably effective at suggesting noise and grain.

04. Dry brushing

This is a method of applying colour that only partially covers a previously dried layer of paint. Add very little paint to your brush and apply it with very quick, directional strokes.

This method tends to work best when applying light paint over dark areas/dried paint and is useful for depicting rock and grass textures.

05. Sgraffito

Removing paint can be as important as applying it

Removing paint can be as important as applying it. Sgraffito is the term used when you scratch away paint while it's wet to expose the underpainting. It's especially useful when depicting scratches, hair, grasses and the like.

You can use almost any pointed object for this – try rubber shaping tools or the end of a brush.

06. Glazing

Glazing is the process of laying a coat of transparent paint over a dry part of the painting, and it's used for intensifying shadows and modulating colour. A light transparent blue over dry yellow will, of course, create green.

07. Painting with mediums

Mediums can be added to paint to modulate its consistency, drying time and texture

Mediums are fluids that can be added to paint to modulate its consistency, drying time and texture. In the case of acrylics, you get different mediums that make the paint matte or gloss. However, I tend to use the matte medium mainly to seal my paper or board, so paint doesn't soak into it.

This article originally appeared in the ImagineFX special bookazine How to Paint and Draw.

https://www.creativebloq.com/art/painting-techniques-artists-31619638

Shabrina Aulia Aldis

1022191063

S1 Gizi

Fakultas Kesehatan

Univeritas M.H Thamrin

Let's painting!

Painting for Beginners: How to Get Started

By Lisa Marder 

 

Illustration: The Spruce / Lisa Fasol

There seem to be a lot of things to think about when just beginning to paint. What medium? How to begin? Starting with a water-based medium such as acrylic, watercolor, or gouache is easiest. You don't have to deal with toxic solvents, and cleanup is much easier. The main difference between acrylic and watercolor or gouache is that acrylic dries hard and is therefore easy to paint over and work in layers. Watercolor and gouache remain active, meaning that underlying layers of paint can be lifted off or blended when water or a new color is applied.

Here are some suggestions as to what materials to use and how to get started. What you choose depends primarily on your own preferences, or maybe what you already have on hand. 

Acrylic

Acrylic is a very versatile, durable, and forgiving medium. Acrylics can be used thinly, like watercolor, or more thickly, like oil paint. They dry fast and can be painted over easily. They are water-soluble, requiring only water to thin the paint and, along with soap, to clean the brushes. 

There is a wide range of acrylic mediums for different effects. For example, if you want a slower drying time you can add a retarding medium to the paint, for thicker paint, add a gel. 

There are different grades of paint for students or for professional artists.  Professional grade paints contain more pigment, but student grade is fine to start out with and easier on your budget.

Read:

•  "Painting with Acrylic for the Beginner" 

Watercolor

Watercolor is also a good place to start if you are new to painting and perhaps less of an investment.  Buy a set of watercolor pans, or some tubes of color to get started. You can choose whether or not to use white with watercolor. Traditionally the white of the watercolor paper serves as the lightest light in your composition when you use transparent watercolor and you work from light to dark.

Read: 

• "Watercolor Painting Tips for Beginners"

Gouache

Gouache paint is an opaque watercolor and allows you to work from dark to light on a light surface as you would with acrylic paint. You can also mix Chinese White with watercolors to make the colors opaque. 

You can buy both transparent and opaque watercolors with​:

•  Grumbacher Transparent Watercolor Set, 24 Colors & Brush
• Grumbacher Opaque Watercolor Set, 24 Colors & Brush

Read:

• "Gouache for Beginners" by David Halliwell of the Westhoughton Art Group
• "Painting in Gouache," an informative article by gouache artist, Ralph Parker

Colors

Acrylic: Start with just a few colors in order to learn how to paint values and get the feel of the paint before adding the complexity of color. Begin with a monochrome painting of Mars or Ivory Black, Titanium White, and one other color. 

Alternatively, start with a limited palette of Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, and Titanium White. This gives you warm and cool tones while also allowing you to create a full range of values.

You could also buy a starter set which generally includes a limited palette of the three primary colors plus  Titanium White, green, and an earth color such as Yellow Ochre. From a few colors, you can make an endless array of hues.  You can add to this basic color palette in time as you progress and want to try different colors. 

Watercolor or Gouache: As with acrylic, start with a limited palette. Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, and white (whether Chinese White or the white of the paper) will give you the ability to focus on capturing the values in your composition. Once you conquer that you can expand your color palette. 

• Read "10 Limited Color Palettes" for some ideas as to how to get started with some basic color palettes.

Painting Surface

One of the nice things about acrylics is that you can paint on many different surfaces. Primed canvas panels are great because they are already primed, they are rigid and therefore easy to rest on an easel or your lap if need be, they are light-weight, and not too expensive. For an acid-free archival board try Ampersand Claybord. Other inexpensive options are paper on a board or pad, cardboard, wood, or masonite. And of course, there is always the traditional stretched canvas. The paint goes on more smoothly if you also prime these with gesso first, but it is not necessary with acrylic. 

For watercolor or gouache, there are different weights and textures of watercolor paper. Buy individual sheets or get a pad, or block, which is easy to carry around. You can also try Ampersand Claybord or Watercolor Board.

• Read "How to Choose a Watercolor Paper" to help you determine which watercolor paper to select.

Brushes

Brushes come in different sizes and shapes. Brushes are sized by number but vary by manufacturer. Buy a brush with synthetic bristles about an inch wide. Often this is a #12. Then choose two smaller sizes. You could also buy a less expensive starter pack to see what sizes and shapes of brushes you like. Ultimately, though, money spent on good brushes is well worth it since they tend to keep their shape better and not to shed as you're using them, leaving unwanted hairs in your painting. 

Generally, you want to start out with your bigger brushes and save your smaller brushes for detail. 

Brushes for watercolor are softer for a more fluid paint. Try a starter set to experiment with different brushes. A good #8 round red sable watercolor brush is very useful. Otherwise, buy the best synthetic brushes you can afford. A #4 round for detail, a flat 2" brush for washes, and an angled flat should get you off to a good start.

Other Materials

You just need a few more things: containers for water (i.e., large yogurt containers), rags, and paper towel for wiping and drying your brushes, a spray bottle to keep your acrylic paints from drying out, paper plates or disposable palette paper on which to lay out and mix your colors, a plastic palette knife to mix acrylic colors, tape or bulldog clips to secure your paper to a board, and an easel or table for support. 

You're ready to start painting!

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-begin-painting-2578716

Shabrina Aulia Aldis

1022191063

S1 Gizi

Fakultas Kesehatan

Univeritas M.H Thamrin