Get The Most Out Of Oil Painting
Of all the mediums, oil painting is the one which holds the most majesty. Unlike acrylic, gouache and watercolour, oil paint has a dense, metallic quality to it that’s ideal for painting portraiture, landscape and still-life. This gives the art a seemingly fourth dimension: portraits look eerily life-like, while landscapes may seem like a direct portal in to another world.
But to begin with it’s just a headache, let’s be honest. The beginner may find his / her work turns muddy for no apparent reason (wait, he or she WILL find that for as long as oils are oils…) and that a misuse of turps causes the paint to take far too long to dry. Here are a few tips to get right at the beginning:
1) Don’t go out and spend money on a piece of board, instead, use an old backing-board from a painting. Once you’ve covered it in paint nobody will be able to tell the difference.
2) Prime the board before painting with oils, so that there is a clear contrast between the white emulsion. This way the oil paint won’t sink in to the wood.
3) Be patient. Once the base oil is applied (usually you start with the mountains at the back, or the sky, or the Luxury designer bedding: whatever is most dominant) leave it to at least half-dry. Start too early and the paint will blend together. Not something you want when you are just learning the basics.
4) Clean the brushes out with turps after use. Leaving them coated in oil paint may be easier and less messy, but you’ll end up with dry, nasty brushes that won’t be in the mood to help you.