| Oil Paint has been used by many of the most | | | | mix the colors, so make sure you know if it's dry |
| famous painters. It is a great medium that isn't | | | | or wet and what you are supposed to do with it. |
| hard to use and has many exceptional qualities. | | | | If you are doing more of an abstract colorful |
| Before you begin painting, you need to make sure | | | | painting that doesn't require intricate detail, you |
| you have all the supplies including paint, brushes, | | | | can be less precise, although I would still |
| terpentine or another oil paint solvent, canvas to | | | | recommend starting with a wash. If you are doing |
| paint on, and anything else you might need. | | | | a Pollack style drawing, than, of course, this |
| Begin by very lightly drawing out what you are | | | | probably isn't necessary. What's great about |
| going to paint. This is optional, but if you are doing | | | | abstract is that you can do what you want and |
| a realistic intricate painting, you will probably | | | | you don't have to follow the laws of paints if they |
| benefit from this first task. Make sure it is very | | | | don't suite you. |
| light with pencil so that it doesn't show through | | | | For intricate paintings, I recommend waiting until it |
| the painting. You don't have to be detailed, just | | | | is completely dry or almost dry before starting |
| get the general layout. If you want, you could | | | | the very intricate stuff. Of course, I suggest |
| even do an intricate pencil drawing on another | | | | playing around with it. For example, I wait until a |
| paper first to get the feel for it. | | | | human face is completely dry before I do the |
| Next, you will do a light wash of the lightest colors | | | | intricate detail of the eyes, but not when I do the |
| in all the areas. Use white paint only on the white | | | | detail of the nose because I want to do more |
| spaces. Mix a little paint with more terpentine or | | | | blending with skin. |
| solvent to make it a thin wash. If you use too | | | | The best way to learn how to paint is by trying |
| much paint, it will take forever to dry and you'll | | | | and practicing it on your own. There is no right or |
| never finish it. | | | | wrong way to paint; it is an art. Experiment and |
| Follow with the next darkest layers and work | | | | you will find yourself with your own style before |
| your way through. Continue using thin layers, but | | | | you know it! |
| not as thin as before because it isn't a wash. You | | | | Do you need more oil paint instruction? Go to for |
| can become more and more intricate as you go | | | | more information about oil painting, drawing, art |
| through. What is great about oil is that it doesn't | | | | supplies, and more. Start painting and develop |
| dry quickly, so you have time to work with it. Be | | | | your own artistic style today! |
| careful, though, because you are more likely to | | | | |