Oil Painting Tips for Beginners

 

Painting with oil is a wonderful medium, which was preferred by old master painters. You can easily manipulate oil paint on canvas due to its slow drying time and versatility.

New York-based artist Jared Ailstock started out with acrylic paints but was quickly frustrated by the extremely fast drying times and the changing in colors as the acrylic paint dries. So he decided to make a transition into oil paints.

In this article, Jared Ailstock provides beginners with some useful oil painting tips and a guide on how to use oil paints to achieve the best results.

 

Pick the Right Materials

First of all, you need to select the right materials for your painting. The right materials will help you achieve better results and help you develop a better eye for oil painting. If you’re just starting out, you might want to start with cheaper canvas before trying your hand at more costly materials. If you’re not sure what kind of canvas you want, check Jared Ailstock’s articles.

There are many different types of canvas out there, and each one has its own purpose. The most common canvas used in oil painting is cotton canvas, but there are also other types, like oilcloth, textured canvas, and even fiberglass. Make sure you know the difference between these materials so you can decide which one would be best for your project. You can also use cardboard, newsprint, or even paper for your painting surface. Although canvas is by far the most common, paper and other materials can also be used. They just depend on how you use it.

 

Work with the Right Tools

When it comes to working with oil paint, you need special tools. You may have heard about brushes that are specifically designed for painting, or you might have seen folks using oil paints without any brushes at all. But either way, you need a specific type of brush for oil painting. There are many different types of brushes you can use for oil painting, but the best ones are synthetic bristle brushes. These brushes are great for painting portraits, but brushes are also available made of animal skin, fiber, and plastic.

 

Cleaning Your Brush

After painting with any medium, it is a good idea to clean your paintbrush. However, did you know that cleaning while painting or between coats is also beneficial? This will protect and ensure the longevity of your bristles as well as add sheen to your painting. You can clean your brushes using a mixing medium or an artist soap. While solvents are effective at cleaning brushes, they can also damage the casing and eat away at the bristles.

 

While you paint, you can keep your solvent and possibly some water in two small cups or containers. When you have dipped your brush in the medium or solvent, wipe it with some paper towels to remove the paint. After mixing it with your water cup, rub it on your artist soap, rinse it off, and then dry it off. Paintbrushes will last longer if you practice this, advises portrait painter Jared Ailstock.

 

Conclusion

No matter how experienced you are or how many paintings you’ve done, at certain points in your painting journey, you’ll probably want to take a break and evaluate your progress. It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed, under pressure, or unsure of yourself at times. When you’re just starting out, you’re probably going to feel like a beginner. This is normal, and how you feel doesn’t mean that you can’t try your best. By following these tips, you’ll be able to paint like a pro in no time!