Renowned for its depth of textures and versatility, oil painting has been a cornerstone of artist expression for centuries. From the work of Renaissance masters to contemporary abstract artists, the durability and ability of oil paint make it a loved medium by painters worldwide. Whether you’re just starting oil painting, or looking for some tips and tricks, this guide delves into the fundamental knowledge and practical tips to get you started and further your oil painting skills.
Understanding oil paint
Oil paint’s composition is made of particles of pigment that’s held in drying oil. The oil acts as a binder to hold the pigments together and allow it to be applied smoothly, with the pigments providing the colour. As the paint dries, the oil reacts with oxygen from the air to harden, creating a vibrant and very durable finish.
Characteristics of oil paint
Drying time– Oil paint doesn’t contain any water, so unlike other paints, it doesn’t dry through evaporation, but reacts with oxygen and gradually hardens. This process takes much longer- weeks or even months.
Blending– Because oil paint stays wet for a long time, it can be blended and manipulated on the canvas for a while.
Versatility- You can apply oil paint either thinly, or with a thick impasto technique.
Richness– Oil paints tend to use very intense pigments, so the colours tend to be very deep and vibrant.
Durability- If properly applied and maintained, oil paintings are able to stay in great condition for centuries without much change. Just look at some of the classic paintings that have been around since the 14th or 15th century, the Mona Lisa for example.
Essential tools and materials
Paints – Investing in higher-quality oil paints can greatly affect your artwork. Artist-quality paints have a higher concentration of pigments and longevity than cheaper, student-quality paints.
Other mediums – You can adjust the characteristics of oil paints to suit your artwork! Mediums help change the thickness, drying time and finish of the paint, for example:
Linseed oil extends the drying time as well as increasing the gloss
Turpentine thins the paint to speed up drying time
Liquin is a modern synthetic medium that speeds up the drying time and increases fluidity
Brushes – With oil paints being a thick consistency, stiffer brushes are more suited to moving the heavier pigments. Traditionally, hog hair brushes are used as they have a strong snap and hold their shape well. The hair’s natural texture also helps to create more natural effects. Stiffer synthetic brushes are also great for painting in oil paints and help offer a more precise application. Our blog on which paintbrush is suited to each medium explains different hair types for each paint type.
Flat brushes are the most popular for oil paints as they lay down large amounts of colour for bolder, sweeping strokes
Filbert oil brushes are great for corners and edges. Round brushes are less common in oil painting but are good for finer details and lining. Finally, fan brushes are suited to blending oil paints and creating softer edges
Palette knives
Palette knives are great for moving around heavier-bodied paints and creating textured layers. They can also mix thicker colours on your palette, and as they come in various shapes and sizes, they are great at creating different and unique effects.
Palette
When working with oil paints, you’ll also be using solvents. So, you’ll want a palette that doesn’t react to the chemicals. For oil painting, it’s best to choose glass or wooden palettes. The size is based on the amount of colour that you need to use, and make sure that there is enough space to mix them on the palette.
Surfaces
Popular oil painting surfaces are canvas, wood panels and gesso-primed boards. Each one gives a different texture and absorbency to change the final look of your work.
Techniques and tips
Underpainting
Underpainting is a technique with oil paints where an initial layer of paint, usually monochromatic tones, onto the canvas and helps build the composition and tonal contrasts of the painting. It serves as a preliminary layer that can be built upon, helping to structure your artwork and add depth.
Fat over lean
The fat over lean principle involves laying down thicker layers of oil paint over thinner ones. It ensures that each layer of paint dries properly to reduce the risk of paint cracking. To do this, start with thinner layers mixed with solvents, and slowly add more oil to the paint in the following layers. This video highlights fat over lean usage while painting.
Glazing
Glazing involves applying a thinner, transparent layer of paint on top of a dry layer. Doing this helps highlight depth and luminosity in the artwork as light can pass through and reflect the layers underneath.
Impasto
Impasto is the application of thick paint to create a texture and dimensions within your painting. To do this, use a palette knife or a stiff brush (either synthetic or bristle) to build the paint up.
Blending
As oil paint takes a long time to dry, you can use a soft brush and light pressure to help transition between colours seamlessly.
Common oil paint challenges and solutions
Drying time
The slow drying time of oil paint can be a benefit and a drawback. Make sure you allow plenty of time between painting sessions for the paint to fully dry. Alternatively, you can use faster drying mediums to help speed up the process.
Cleaning brushes
It’s important to properly clean your brushes after using them with oil paints as once they’ve dried, they’ll be completely damaged. Cleaning oil paint out of brushes requires solvents such as mineral spirits. Check out our blog to learn all about properly cleaning your paintbrushes.
Safety and ventilation
Oil painting involves chemicals that can be extremely dangerous if inhaled or ingested. Make sure that there is proper ventilation in your studio.
By understanding oil paint, its characteristics, buying the right quality paint and practicing different techniques, you’ll be able to create a mixture of quality artwork. Whether you’re inspired by more classical styles or abstract works, oil paint allows you to express your vision with deep, vibrant colours. Remember that practice and patience is key when painting with oils, and most importantly, play around and find what works for you!
