OIL PAINTING FAST!

By Angelina Bell
 Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1. What is Oil Painting

Chapter 2. A Beginner's Guide to Oil Painting Materials

Chapter 3. What Painting Equipment Need & How to Choose Them

Chapter 4. A Guide to Stretching your own Canvas

Chapter 5. The Basic Brush Techniques in Oil Painting

Chapter 6. Preserving your Work of Art

Chapter 7. Advanced Oil Painting Techniques and Material

Conclusion
 Introduction
First of all, I would like to thank you for downloading this great book, “OIL
PAINTING: Guided Lessons for Beginners”. Congratulations also since
you are about to become a great artist and this book would be the first step
in your journey towards becoming a great oil painter.
In this book, you will find proven steps and techniques that will guide you
in learning the basic techniques in oil painting. There will also be some
more advanced lessons here in this book and, in no time, you would be able
to create wonderful oil paintings in canvass which you could either display
or even sell to people. This is a nice hobby for people who are looking for
extracurricular activities and also for people who want to earn some extra
money on the side or even become a popular painter.
After finishing this book, you will be more knowledgeable about the
different styles and techniques that you could use in oil painting and which
are used by most professional and legendary painters in the world. This
guide is very complete itself and it was written to be easily understood by
anyone even those who have absolutely no knowledge or experience in the
arts.
You would only need to follow the tips and guidelines here in the book to
start and gradually become a successful artist. Though this art of oil
painting requires a lot of patience and time in practicing and also studying
the methods, it is also very rewarding since the skill that you learn from all
your hard efforts is priceless and would last a lifetime.
Before you start your journey in becoming a great oil painter, I must give
you some advice that would help you go through the different situations that
you would be encountering on the way. You must be open-minded. Being
open-minded allows you to absorb more information that you otherwise
would not if you thought that you knew a lot already. This is important
since everyone has to start from a humble beginning to be able to learn and
master the ar. You must also be persevering. Perseverance is being patient
and dedicated at the same time. You must continue to develop your skills in
painting even though you are having a hard time in practicing. These are
only a few advices to start off and you would find more throughout the
book.
Since you are a beginner in the art of oil painting, it is important for you to
know that the process of growing from a beginner to an advanced level
artist is like a funnel. A funnel in the sense that the first area is rather
narrow and small and the succeeding areas begin to get wider and larger.
Just like a funnel, beginner lessons in oil painting are very narrow and few
but once we move into intermediate and advanced levels, you will begin to
learn new techniques and skills that would be new to you. Also, your mind
will be opened to the different genres in painting that you could practice
and the almost infinite painting colors and techniques you will eventually
understand and master.
Advanced oil painting, of course, is the largest part of the process where an
artist would need to have all the essential skills to be able to create a
painting with his own style and character. Creativity is also developed in the
process and this skill is an essential requirement of being a great artist.
After the funnel of advanced oil painting, an artist will be open to a
limitless development stage where he would work on his own identity, style
and technique. This is the stage where all artists strive to be different and
unique. You can build your own legacy in the world of art at this stage and,
who knows, you might be the next Leonardo Da Vinci in this generation.
Some people would find the last stage of the process very exciting and
challenging, but most people would feel fear since they are afraid of failure
and rejection. In my opinion, I would like to share with you my innermost
thoughts regarding fear. Fear is a big hindrance to your dreams; it is what
blocks you from achieving what you truly want. If you want to be
successful in any career of your choice, you must learn how to overcome
fear and use it, to your benefit, to be able to develop your skills and your
personal character.
Thank you again for downloading this book! I hope that your passion burns
inside you as you read, enjoy and learn from this book.
 Chapter 1. What is Oil Painting?

Oil painting is an ancient art that has been around for centuries. The
greatest artists in history are mostly talented oil painters and wonderful and
famous art has been created through oil painting. Despite the amazing
innovation of oil painting, no one really knows who invented oil painting or
even when it was first created. This has been a mystery that, we, artists have
been curious about since we would want to be grateful to the one who
introduced the art of oil painting to the world since it is such a medium that
inspires artists to pursue their passion and be filled with creativity as they
grow in their artistic existence.
For decades, most artists associate the art and process of oil painting to a
Flemish artist, namely Jan Van Eyck, and also Hubert, his brother. They had
remarkable talent in painting, especially in oil painting that most people
considered them experts in the art of oil painting. Their masterpieces were
legendary at that time with the process of oil painting being used. This
caused people back then to believe than using paint mixtures with oil
instead of egg tempera gave out more vivid and sharper colors.
Jan Van Eyck and Hubert Van Eyck made oil painting more recognize since
they executed the technique with near perfection. This may be why most
people associate oil painting with the Van Eyck brothers. But in reality, the
Van Eyck brothers were merely practitioners of oil painting and not its
inventors. Oil painting is believed to have been existent way before their
generation and at around the 11th century.
Basically, in this method of painting we use oil paint. This is a paint
mixture in which oil has been added in order to create a more vivid, colorful
and also a sharper work of art. Oil painting have been existent who knows
when but the earliest examples of oil paintings that were found and are still
existent have been estimated to come from the 11th century. Through oil
painting there were also other techniques that emerged such as the process
of easel-painting with oil colors. This process revolutionized at around the
15th century where a lot of paintings were created using this technique and it
is known now as a variation of oil painting that creates a more textured
work of art.
So how did oil painting develop exactly? Prior to oil painting there were
many other techniques that painters used in order to create beautiful pieces
of art. Early renaissance painting was effectively transformed to the
technique of oil painting because of the increasing number of painters in
northern Europe and Italy who preferred using oil paint in their paintings.
Just like the Van Eyck brothers, other artists discovered the wonder and use
of oil paint. They started out by trying out different substances as a pigment
binder and they found that oil was very effective as a pigment binder. This
discovery allowed oil painting to open its doors to the world of art and,
thus, many renowned and famous art pieces were born.
The discovery of oil as a pigment binder made artists compare this to the
traditional tempera which is the main technique of panel painting. Oil paint,
unlike its predecessors such as gouache, watercolor and acrylic paint, dries
when it is exposed to oxygen. The other paint mixtures evaporate instead
which makes it lose color and texture. On the other hand, oil paint is known
to slowly transform from liquid form to gel and to a very hard state once
exposed to enough oxidation.
Different types of oil are used in producing oil paint but the most popular
and recognized oil substance is linseed oil. Linseed oil is unlike any other
vegetable oil, it dries through oxidation. Although safflower, poppy seed
and walnut oil also have the same outcome when exposed to oxygen but
choosing linseed oil is merely an artist’s preference. Again, he must use
materials that fit his style of painting alone which makes him master of
what he is going to use in his works of art. Most artists prefer linseed oil
because of its fast-drying process and its more flexible paint film that can
be manipulated easily. A note must be made that different substances
produce different effects and outcomes while also having different degrees
of fast-drying.
If these facts haven’t convinced you of the practicality and the
purposefulness of oil paint, you might be wondering of its other advantages.
Well, the main advantage of using oil paint is because they are flexible and
their colors come out more vivid and deep. Different techniques and styles
can be used to manipulate oil paint because of their flexible nature and
because it is slow to dry artists can edit their work for a longer time. This
allows layering and other blending effects that would not be possible in
non-oil-based paint. The result is a more lively and realistic work of art that
has layers and deep textures to make its viewers feel the painting more
without having to get closer.
It was evident that oil paint has a lot more advantages and also it had the
potential to create more realistic and colorful paintings. By the end of the
15th century, almost all of the artists stopped using tempera and switched to
using the oil painting method instead.
Many great artists were able to utilize oil in their paint while also
combining it with tempera. This hybrid technique was done by great Italian
artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael. But most artists were not
able to adapt this hybrid technique since it was really challenging to mix
two substances at only one paint base and this method often led to
undesirable outcomes.
At the time when Leonardo was creating his masterpiece Mona Lisa, the
use of oil was the standard medium for easel-type art and a few including
Leonardo and Raphael dared to experiment in mixing oil and tempera to
create a unique paint effect. This method was used in Leonardo Da Vinci’s
masterpiece The Last Supper, 1495.
 Chapter 2. A Beginner's Guide to Oil
Painting Materials

Just like in any art, craft or hobby you would need materials and equipment
for you to start with. These start-up materials are essential since it would be
the medium in which you would create something and also it is what you
should master and be familiar with. Devoting your time to study and become
knowledgeable of the different materials needed would be very rewarding in
the future. These also act as the foundation of your knowledge, a good
foundation would give better results and this is why we must always learn
the basics first before anything else and also before the more complex and
advanced techniques.
The basic necessities in oil painting are publicly available and easy to find.
Some artists have different preferences and opinions regarding the ideal
materials to purchase and use. You should always remember that it is still up
to you. You must also be comfortable in what you are going to use to be able
to unleash your creativity and create beautiful pieces of art. But if you truly
want high quality materials to be able to bring out more life and color to
your works of art then you should invest in oil painting materials that have
the best quality in the market; but these don’t usually come cheap and
affordable.
Unlike other guides that jump straight to steps and procedures in oil
painting, we will be working on your foundation and guide you in choosing
the right oil painting materials for you. Please do keep in mind that different
artists have different opinions, and while you can listen to each of their
opinions, you must still choose the one that is most comfortable for you.
Because once you are comfortable with what you are doing you would be
able to think of more creative art since your mind is free of the stress and
thought of discomfort.
Before you could start oil painting, you would need to have oil paint and
also a canvass or any other surface to paint on. You must also consider the
different variations of the materials that you are going to use and also its
quality.
The following are the materials that you would need before starting:
1. Oil Paint
2. Canvass
3. Thinner/Turpentine
4. Gesso
5. Charcoal Pencil
6. Linseed Oil
Oil Paint
Oil paint is a mixture of two substances, a drying oil and dry pigments. An
example of a drying oil is the ever-popular linseed oil which most oil paint
manufacturers use due to the compatibility of the substance to the painting
process. Pigments are in powdered form and contain natural minerals, dyed
minerals and sometimes, even, vegetable substances. Powdered substances,
such as minerals cadmium, titanium and led, become opaque colors when oil
is added to the mixture. Dyed materials or vegetable substances, however,
make the oil paint transparent once it is mixed with a drying oil. Glazing is a
common technique which uses transparent oil paint in creating a unique
effect. Mixing an opaque with a transparent oil paint would result in an
opaque oil paint due to the properties of both substances.
There is an optimal mix of different substances and minerals in order to
achieve a specific color in the vast color palette of the art world. Thus
manufacturing different colors of oil paint is no easy task, and this means
that every brand of oil paint will have slight variances with other brands.
This is the reason why it is important to select the right oil paint for you, for
your painting and for the mood of the painting you are going to create.
Now that you have basic knowledge in oil paint and their variants, you can
now begin shopping and selecting the ideal paint and colors you would need
in creating your own work of art. You must also know what colors would
suit your style. Would you paint dark and cold paintings or how about light
and warm paintings? This depends on your personality type and it is best to
start with your natural self, refrain from mentors or teachers to force you to
adapt their style. You must have your own style so that you would easily
release the passion for painting deep inside your heart and soul.
Aside from picking what type of oil paint to use, you should also select the
right colors that would fit your artistic creativity. The rainbow is an example
of a natural harmony of colors. These colors are divided into visible rays of
light where we could all distinguish one color from another. All the colors
we see with our very own eyes are only mixtures and shades which are
derived from 12 colors.

White
White is the universal color of purity. White is usually used to highlight, and
it is combined with other colors in order to create lighter shades and lighting
effects. I suggest that you use titanium white since it is a non-yellowing and
opaque color. Some brands also add zinc to the paint mixture in addition to
the titanium white. It is best to get a balance of a titanium and zinc mixed
paint. Since too much titanium would make the paint chalky while too much
zinc would make the paint too transparent. It best not to use Lead White,
Cremnitz White and Flake white since they contain toxic lead.
Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Pale or Cadmium Yellow Light. Opaque.

Yellow-Orange
Cadmium Yellow sometimes called Cadmium Yellow Medium. Opaque.
Orange
Cadmium Orange. Opaque.

Red-Orange
Cadmium Scarlet. Opaque.

Red
Cadmium Red

Sometimes called Cadmium Red Light. Opaque

Red-Violet
Quinacridone Rose. Transparent.

Violet
Dioxazine Violet (Winsor Violet in Winsor Newton paints). Transparent.

Blue-Violet
Mix Dioxazine Violet with Ultramarine Blue when this color is needed.
Blue
Mix French Ultramarine Blue and Thalo Blue. Transparent.

Blue-Green
Thalo Green (also called Winsor Green, Grumbacher Green).
Transparent.

Green
Cadmium Green. Opaque.

Yellow-Green
Cadmium Green Pale. Opaque.

Black

Mars Black. Opaque. Or Ivory Black. Transparent

Canvas
History has proven that canvas is the most used platform where artists paint
their masterpieces. It has been a long tradition to paint on a canvas surface
for oil painting. Even though oil paint is very versatile and can be used on
almost any surface, the canvas provides the best surface and also adds
texture to the finished work of art. A good canvass would need to be
stretched properly with the proper canvas material to emphasize texture and
its flexibility.
There are different canvas surfaces to choose from, and some of these are
canvas-textured paper, canvas on a heavy board, pre-stretched canvas and
also primed canvas in a roll. In all of these options you should always apply
Gesso on the surface before starting your work of art. Gesso will be further
explained later in this book. But I would just like to advise you that it is
preferred that you use a neutral gray tone so that your light paint could be
seen easily.
The first step in preparing your own canvas is to stretch your own canvas.
This may seem like such a hard task to do and would tempt you to purchase
pre-stretched canvases. But as you get used to the art you would find
stretching your own canvases practical and costs a lot less. Additionally, you
would be able to adjust the canvas to your own specifications.
After reading this part of the book, you would find stretching canvases as
easy as pie. This is a necessary skill that every great artist must possess since
the canvass is where he creates, where he designs and where he pours out his
heart. So it is natural that he would have sufficient knowledge in stretching
and preparing a canvas before painting.
Simply follow the guide at the chapter 4, and you would easily learn.
Practice makes perfect though, and you would need to fail a couple of times
to be able to get the hang of the right pressure and the right adjustment in
your canvas. Also be aware of the size and dimensions of your canvas and if
it does suit the work you plan to create.
Thinner/Turpentine

Turpentine, otherwise known as paint thinner, is an important substance to

clean up oil paint. Unlike watercolors and acrylics, you cannot clean up oil
paint by merely using water. Since oil paint is thicker, stiffer and composed
of oil, it is natural that it would be water resistant and hard to remove by
using water. You will need to use turpentine in case you would need to
remove oil paint in your brushes, your skin or elsewhere.

There is also a substitute to Turpentine, which is also an alternative that

reduces possible health problems that the toxic fumes of turpentine may
bring about. This substance is called a Citrus Thinner which is made with
orange peels. It is generally less toxic and has no harmful or foul odor that a
lot of artists find very distracting.

Gesso
Gesso is necessary to ready your canvas for painting since this is a substance
that makes your canvas ideal for oil painting. You can buy this ready made
from art stores. It has a thick white liquid that may be mistaken for white
acrylic paint, but it is a bit thinner than acrylic. When dried, it becomes hard
making your canvas stiff and easy to paint on. It primes the porous surface
of your canvas making a textured surface for oil paint to be applied. Without
this substance the canvas would be weak and hard to paint on. This can also
be applied to practically any surface, not just for canvas, and then you can
use oil paint on the surface which you applied Gesso on. Multiple layers of
Gesso can be used in different substances, making them less porous, which
make oil paint stick and dry up easily.
There are also different types of Gesso other than the traditional white
colored substance. There is black, clear and colored Gesso available in the
market to be able to fulfill your needs. It is also possible to tint your Gesso it
could blend in easily with the color of oil paint you are going to use. Gesso
also has two different grades, or qualities, which are artist grade and student
grade. There is a huge difference between the two when it comes to pigment
and filler ratio. The student grade comes cheaper due to more fillers and the
artist grade comes more expensive since it contains more pigments in the
mix. Student grade Gesso is usually available only in white.
Depending on the brand of Gesso you will purchase, the texture and quality
differ. Some are thicker than most brands, and it depends entirely on the
preference of the painter which type of Gesso he would prefer to use in
preparing his canvas.
You’ll have to experiment with different brands in order to figure out the
ideal Gesso for your painting. You can also purchase Gesso in squeeze
bottles or aerosol sprays, and it is up to you which could be more convenient
and easy to use.
Charcoal Pencil

It is easier to paint if you have already sketched out what you are going to

paint. This would leave you to fill merely out the spaces that you would need

since you already have a sketch. Charcoal is a very good medium for

sketching on your canvas because of its texture and ability to be easily seen

on canvas. Your sketches need not to be perfect since it is only an outline

you would need to understand. You will be painting over your sketch

anyway. Invest in a good charcoal pencil since these provide quality which

would be longer lasting, sharper and more dramatic.

Charcoal pencils are more dramatic, bold and daring than their counterpart

which is the drawing pencil. It is much darker than a pencil and has a rich

color that makes your drawings full of emotion and character. It is versatile

in the sense that you could create drawings and blending with different

techniques and moods. There is a more serious, and realistic feel in

drawings made using charcoal.

Charcoal can come in different types:

A charcoal stick which is soft and deep black.
A softer charcoal is easier to smudge and can get messy when
used improperly.
Pressed charcoal which is formed like a pencil. Less messy and
can be used to draw details.
A willow charcoal that actually comes from a stick. It has a great
texture ideal for drawing, but it is also smudgy at the same time.
Here are some tips on using Charcoal:
Use charcoal the same way as a pencil since it is practically the
same except for texture. Draw and shade anything especially
parts of your painting that would need to be more dramatic.
Charcoal is mainly used by painters to draw a sketch before
painting oil paint on a canvas. Only outlines are required so you
 would have a better and more proportioned painting once you
finish your work of art.
Using charcoal requires a practiced hand but do not get discouraged since
you could practice drawing and shading with charcoal every day. Try
experimenting on the different types of charcoal to learn what would best
suit you. Remember that this is useful in outlining your painting before you
start applying the more permanent oil paint on your canvas.

Another tip is to always make sure that you keep your hands or yourself

from smudging your charcoal sketch on the canvas. Charcoal tends to be

very messy in use, and it can easily spread via your moist hands. So be

careful in what you touch while using charcoal and always be in working

clothes since there is a big chance that charcoal, and oil paint, would

smudge to what you are wearing.

Linseed Oil
This material is optional, but most artists would not paint without it and is

essential for them. You will find it easier to mix colors if there is a little

painter’s medium added, in this case linseed oil. You could pour out a few

tablespoons of linseed oil before painting and merely dab your brush into

the oil before you mix colors. Once you get the hang of adding linseed oil to

your oil paint, you will be mixing colors more professionally and would

cause you to work more efficiently and faster.

 Chapter 3. What Painting Equipment
need & How to Choose Them

Brushes

Brushes are a very important part of your kit since these are the mediums in
which your oil paint flows and is manipulated. Brushes give you control
over the oil paint in your canvas, allowing you to play around with your
will and creativity and paint the most beautiful scenes inside your head.
That is why a good set of brushes is essential; most professional painters
even find it hard to paint on cheap and low quality brushes.
A good brush should be able to retain its shape when it is loaded with oil
paint and come back to its original shape after every use. It should be
durable at the same time efficient. It is very obvious to spot a bad brush
since these type of brushes are usually the cheap kind, and they easily get
destroyed upon use; meaning they do not retain their shape. A good brush
set is an investment for every great artist.
Brushes can also be considered as an extension to the hand of the painter
since when an artist paints with his brush, he becomes one with it, and they
flow harmoniously to create a wonderful masterpiece.
Like there are different types of oil paints, there are also numerous types of
brushes which serve a different purpose. In becoming a great artist, it is
mandatory to know by the heart what brush to use and when to use it. Only
will an artist be considered professional if he has mastered both the oil paint
and the brush.
Basically, there are a few brush characteristics that you have to keep in
mind when choosing the set of brushes for you. These would assist you in
shopping for new brushes so do not forget to do a quick background check
before you purchase your set of brushes.

Type of hair used: There are two different types of hair used in
manufacturing brushes. The first type is brushes that are made of bristle
hairs which come from pigs. Bristle brushes are best to start your painting.
Usually it would be around half inch wide or even larger and a whole
painting can be made by only using a bristle brush. In order to paint some
finer details, you would need to switch to another brush type. Brushes made
from sable hair come from the hair of horses, and this type of brush would
be ideal to paint small and finer details. Usually, sable hair brushes are
about half an inch large or even smaller. A lot of manufacturers make
cheaper alternatives to bristle and sable hair, and these can imitate the
original brushes. They can be made from nylon, horse or mongoose hair.
These brushes come close to the quality of bristle and sable brushes, but
they will never be as good as the original. Be familiar between these two
types of brushes since you would be switching between the two of them in
creating your masterpiece.
Length of the Handle: Brushes differ in the length of its handle depending
on what technique it is made for. Brushes used for watercolor or house
painting are usually shorter to allow more control and a place to rest your
palm while brushes used for oil painting are longer to allow full control
while avoiding hand contact with the canvas. Short handle brushes are
ideally used in a vertical positing with your canvas held horizontally since
liquid paint goes downhill. The short handle will shift the balance toward
the front of the brush for better paint flow. Oil painting brushes, on the
other hand, are used in a horizontal position while the canvas is held
vertically. The long handles allow better control at a horizontal painting
position.

Brush shape: Brushes have different shapes for different purposes and
techniques. There are four different shapes with each having its own unique
function and characteristics. It is important to look at the size of the brush
since numbers on the brush usually vary between manufacturers.
Flat brushes have hair arranged in a rectangular manner making its side
narrow. This shape of a brush is the most versatile among all the other
brushes. You can paint different strokes with this brush such as a broad
stroke, a narrow stroke and a triangular stroke. This is also the brush used
primarily for blending.

Filbert brushes look a lot like flat brushes, but its corners are more rounded.
Its stroke is shaped in an oval manner or a half circle manner. You typically
use this brush when you want a smoother edge or a smaller blending than a
flat brush.
Bright brushes are also similar to flat brushes but these brushes have shorter
hair, and the side is narrower than a flat brush. This shape is used when you
want the brush strokes to be visible in your painting. Paint is applied very
thick using this brush, and you can remove as much paint as you can apply
with this brush. Another great thing about the bright brush is that its short
and stiff characteristic allows your hand to control your strokes better in
comparison to the other brush shapes.
Round brushes have small and short hair that is ideal in painting highlights
or fine details. Some people are able to create whole paintings while only
using round brushes, but these brushes are the least versatile among all the
brush shapes. They only allow a few variations in strokes and its size and
shape. Rounds are often sable hair brushes since they are usually used for
smaller and finer detail.

Varnish brushes are thick and long in character and are made with the
purpose of varnishing or re-varnishing your painting. You must always
clean the brush from varnish using turpentine and then washing it with soap
and water.

So these are the basic types of brushes that you would need to start oil
painting. It is important to have one of each type of brush so that you are
more versatile to handle different techniques while painting. You can start
with cheaper brushes just for practice since there are a lot of imitations that
have overall good quality. But if you decide to continue painting seriously
and professionally, you should invest in high quality and branded brushes
that have lifetime warranties. These brushes may be expensive at first, but
the warranty allows you to save a lot of cash in the future. Also, their
quality is unmatched and would deliver the best outcome while you use
your painting skills to create a unique and beautiful work of art.

Newspaper

Newspaper is important to reduce the mess you would create while painting

since oil paint is harder to remove compared to acrylic and watercolor. It is

also useful in cleaning your brushes after you paint but, most great artist

would say, newspaper is also very useful while you are painting. I know it

may sound odd, but I am not playing with you, but in painting you would be

dealing with different colors and different blending. To get the most out of

your color and prevent any unwanted color in the mix, you must clean you

brush every time you would work on a different segment or when you

switch colors.

Believe me, you would be switching colors a lot of times while painting and

you would find newspaper very handy in cleaning your brushes. You don’t

even need turpentine or paint thinner while working; you would just need to

squeeze your brush between the newspaper to get rid of excess oil paint and

prevent other colors from contaminating your blending.

Palette

A palette needs not to be fancy; it should only be functional, non-porous

and able to meet its purpose which is a platform to mix paint in. It should
be big enough for all of your colors to fit with a lot of extra space for
mixing colors. Your palette should be possible to be held in one hand or
placed on a near surface. Most handheld palettes have thumbholes for an
easy grip while painting. Palettes are usually made from wood, but there are
also varieties that are made from safety glass or Plexiglas.

Before you could start using your palette, if it is wooden, in painting, you

would need to coat it with linseed oil. Then after coating it with linseed oil,

it should be wiped dry before its use. This allows better mixing and also an

ideal surface to put your oil paint on. You will see that linseed oil helps

largely in mixing oil paint since it would become more fluid and easier to

mix. After using your palette at the end of the day, it is also ideal to clean

the palette and recoat it with linseed oil and wiping it dry after.

Plexiglas is another good surface for a palette but, in my opinion, a palette

made from safety glass has the best results. In using these two types of

palettes you would need a neutral color backing. A neutral color backing is

essential because mixing colors on a white palette would cause difficulty in

identifying some colors. As an artist, it would be essential that you are

quick to distinguish the colors of your palette to refrain from making

mistakes and wasting your expensive and precious oil paint. Still, these

palettes require cleaning after a day’s work. A glass palette can be easily

cleaned using a razor and scraping off all the paint on the palette.
The top palette made of Plexiglas, the middle one is made of wood, and

the last one is made of safety glass.

This is an example of a hand held palette which is very convenient to use.

In using a hand held palette, oil paint is placed for convenient use and
switching of colors while painting. Pure colors are recommended to be
placed at the edge of the palette to be able to distinguish it from the color
mixes you would be creating. If you plan to mix colors, you will need only
small amounts of pure colors and a palette knife to mix the colors into a
different color or shade. Then you can easily apply this paint mix on your
canvas. Of course a palette knife is an optional tool that is used by more
professional artists to mix colors.

The top picture shows examples of palette knives. These knives come in
different shapes, sizes and purposes.
A palette knife’s main purpose is easily to mix your oil paint which is
composed of different and varying colors. They come in various dimensions
and forms depending on its characteristics, and these various knives also
have unique purposes. If you see it fit, you can start painting with only one
palette knife. After each use, clean palette knives with turpentine or paint
thinner. These tools are used to remove the mess you have created by
spilling excess oil paint on your work area or such mistakes. You should
also clean your knives well after each use for easy use the next time you
will be painting.

Painter’s Easel
A painter’s easel is necessary to be able to paint with oil paint. These easels
are usually made with wood or metal to allow a strong and firm foundation
for your painting. The expensive ones have the best quality and are ideal for
professional artists, but you can start with the cheaper easels so that you
could get used to using it and be able to practice painting with it. Your
easel should be adjustable to a level where it is comfortable to paint. You
may either stand or sit while painting with an easel, and it should be
adjustable to both of your preferred positions. A good easel should be able
to keep your canvas intact and stable while you paint on it.

A cheaper easel is advised for beginners, and you could even use this until
you master the equipment. After using a cheap easel for months, you would
be more comfortable to buy a more expensive one since you already know
how to use a painter’s easel. You should be able to tell know, by
experience, what type of easel would fit you and your painting style. Simple
buy another easel that has a higher quality from an art store.
It takes about three days for oil paint to completely dry and this is very
useful since you could easily work on the painting before it fully dries up,
reconstructing some parts of your painting until it looks a whole lot better.
Using an easel would hold your canvas vertically which allows easy
painting using an oil painting brush. Its main purpose is keeping the canvas
secure and upright for a more comfortable and convenient painting position.
Here are some examples of Easel styles:
A-Frame
Some may call this “Lyre Easels”, this type has a
tripod design for a stable base. This type of easel is
ideal to use in tight rooms and spaces and can be
strategically placed on a corner due to the triangular
design of the base. This is a basic type of easel that
works well when you are using a small canvas but would not be good for
larger ones.

H-Frame

This type of easel is constructed with two to four

vertical posts, and the main wing of an H-frame looks
like an “H”, hence the name. This type of easel has a
rectangular silhouette, and it also have the same shape
for the base. Majority of the models of this type look
like they are tilted forward for the user to be able to paint the top of their
canvas. Some models are more advanced which include several features
that enhance its efficiency and also makes it easier for the users to work
more comfortably and conveniently even when sitting or standing. H-Frame
easels are also compatible with different sizes of canvas. This type of easel
can even hold bigger sizes of canvas as it is heavier and more massive that
A-Frame easel types. The catch is that too much storage and too much
transportation can make this type topple down.
Field & Portable – As the name suggests, this type of easel is very distinct
when it comes to mobility. Easels of this type are
perfect for outdoor painting and transportation. You
can take it to any place you feel like painting. It is
usually made of lightweight wood or aluminum to
make them easier to transport and assemble and
disassemble. The legs that hold up the easel fold up for
easier moving. This type of easel is recommended only
for small canvas use since it is a very light and small, compared to other
kinds, easel. There are a lot of styles of this kind, but the most popular one
is the sketch box or, as it is more popularly known name, the French Easel.
French Easels are like traveling studios as it has a storage box that can hold
supplies like paints, pencils, paper, and canvas.
Single Mast – These easels are great when it comes to
space-saving. This type of easel is designed for
functionality and space saving. They can be
dismantled or folded when not in use, a perfect feature
if you live in a room with limit space available.
Compared to other easel types, this type is cheaper
than most because of the very simple yet innovative
design and thus make them very budget friendly. But if you compare this
type, in general, to the other easel types you might say that this type is more
prone to breaking and damage since it is not that sturdy
Convertible – Some artists call this kind of easel also as a hybrid since
these are ideal for aspiring artists who are used to using a variety of styles
and equipment. If you wish to work with oil or acrylic paints, you just have
to tilt it upright. Moreover, if you want to work with pastel or watercolor
materials, you just have to tilt it back down again to make it horizontally
flat. These multi-purpose easels closely resemble H-
Frame easels. In addition to its flexibility
characteristics, these easels are perfect for wide
spaces, and it is also transferable to where you would
like it to be because of its weight.
Table – This type is ideal if you
want to be in a sitting position
while you paint on a canvas that is not large. Only
smaller canvases are perfect for this type of easel.
When you have this, all you need is a well-built table
top, and you are ready. Majority of newbies enjoy the
ease of painting using this easel since it is very user
based and convenient to use.

Giant – Now this type of easel is used if you are going

to paint on a giant canvas. Unlike other easels, this one
is larger and more equipped to handle the enormous
weight of an enormous canvas. They have the ability
to hold bigger canvas sizes. Some easels of this type
are double-master to give extra support. They also
have additional accommodations such as cranks and
winches for when lifting the canvas while moving. These easels also have
features that are useful to most artists, another benefit of using the Giant
ease
Display – As the name would suggest, this type is more suitable for the
display of your paintings that are already done or even almost done. A
general characteristic of this kind is that it weighs only a few due to its very
basic structure. As a simple structured easel, it is not as stable as its other
 counterparts and would not be ideal for large canvas
painting.

Easel on the left is the traditional studio easel, the best for most use. In the
middle is tripod easel for small paintings or drawings. On the right a
collapsible, portable, paint box/easel designed for working outdoors.
Use a Thinner to Clean Materials
After each use, it is important to wash your brushed and your palette to
prevent the drying up of color pigments as it affects and contaminates the
oil paint you are going to use. Preventing it to happen in turn allows a
cleaner and more pure color palette on your next painting or artwork.
It is necessary to use turpentine or paint thinner in cleaning your brushes
and your palette as oil can be hard to remove by just water and soap. One
type or variation of thinner that is highly recommended for you to use is the
Citrus Thinner which consists dried up peels of oranges.
One of the advantages of Citrus Thinner is that it is unscented compared to
other variants. It is an important characteristic as most people nowadays are
avoiding oil paint due to the odor and toxic exhausts that the other variants
are producing that can have a bad effect on one’s health. As mentioned,
another benefit that Citrus Thinner offers is that with it, you would not be
exposed to harmful substances of the other variants.
The use of thinner can be costly so one should know how to minimize its
use. One way to save thinner is by putting it in a thinner jar, which stored
your excess thinner for the next time use. Thinner jars clean your brushes
thoroughly after previous cleanings. The screen on top of the thinner, in
which you can punch holes, is used for the mentioned purpose. To do this,
just put the brushes on the screen and leave it there to let the residue fall
onto the bottom of the jar. The thinner jar can last for years if you take care
of it. Just always put a lid on it when not in use

When You Need the Paint to Flow More

The liquid that is mixed with the pigment is called a medium. When you
mix oil and pigment, the end product is oil pigment. In this case, extra
medium mixed with the pigment will make it slickly and a bit lucid. Often
times, the consistency of the paint is perfect even right out of the tube.
However, smaller details, which make the painting more pleasant to look at
due to the tiny details present, are easier to paint.

An excellent example of an oil which can be mixed with a pigment is the oil
of linseed where, when mixed with pigments, can help with easing the use
of the paint. A medium of a mixture of half citrus thinner and half linseed
oil is best for almost every situation. I personally like using one- half of a
paint thinner, such as citrus, and also one- half of linseed oil.
Ideal Places to Create your Work of Art
A great place to paint in can be defined as being able to work freely without
worrying about stray paints or splotches on the wall. There should also be a
good lighting and it should also a safe place to keep unfinished works in.
There should be enough space that can provide accommodation for you and
your paintings, finished or not. You should also have room to back up and
appreciate the progress of your work. A well light room is recommended
for painting, you must be able to see clearly and differentiate all the colors
on your color palette just to make sure that you would be using the right
ones.

Lighting for Painting

When judging if the shade of a color is the right one or the one you prefer,
the standard is the Natural North light. If, however, you would be using a
different light such as incandescent some colors would look different. Such
colors like blue would look a bit less intense since this light emits a yellow
orange lighting. A painting done in a yellow-orange light will look a bit on
the blue side when you see it in direct sunlight.
In addition, some lights emit a blue-green tint which would bring some
colors duller, namely: red and orange. Fluorescent lights are an example of
a light which emits this color. Unlike with incandescent light, paintings
done with this type would make it look far from cool, in terms of warmth,
but rather a warmer mood in direct sunlight.

When You Need to Save a Color: It would be better for you, especially
financially, if you learn to keep already mixed colors or pigments for later
use. If you want to save the remaining paint that is in excess, you should
keep it moist and prevent it from becoming useless. It takes at least three
days for oil paint to dry completely up, when exposed to oxygen in the form
of air, from oxidation. This means that it takes oxygen molecules from the
air. When this happens, it cannot be loosened. Below is some methods of
preservation to help you save paint and to prevent paint from having contact
with air and drying up.

The best way to preserve the paint is to put it into an empty paint tube. This
is good if you need a lot of a particular color. It will last this way
indefinitely. Load the paint from the bottom of the tube. Tamp the tube on
the palm of your hand to get out air bubbles and seal the end.
There is also another option for preserving your paint, primarily paint in
small amounts unlike the previous example, and this is through the use of
foil packs. In foil packs, you would be able to keep your paint even for
years without it drying up. In using this material, all you need to do is make
sure that no air will get inside and completely sealing it. Also you can label
the foil pack for future reference.
 Chapter 4. A Guide to Stretching your
own Canvas

Stretching Your Own Canvas: Canvases come in different sizes and

dimensions and you must choose yours wisely since different artworks or
projects require different canvas dimensions. If you need a size that is not
available in the market, you can quickly build them yourself using some
scrap wood that you could find in your backyard. Be resourceful and learn
how to become more capable because a real artist always uses what’s around
him to create great works of art. Any serious artist should treat his canvas as
his vehicle to success. No matter where your canvas comes from or whether
you made it yourself or not, your canvas is an essential part of painting. It
should have a weight of number10 or number12 which would be as heavy as
a pair of denim jeans.

Step 1 Gather Wooden Materials

A canvas has a wooden foundation which we will call a wooden frame in

this book. It is usually rectangular in shape and can be used in either a
portrait or landscape orientation. To be able to stretch the material itself we
will be using the wooden frames as guides and bases. If you plan on making
a small canvas, you can easily do this by using commercially available
stretcher bars. But for a larger canvas you would need to purchase fir
stretchers and cut them and nail them yourself.

Step 2 Create Your Wooden Frame.

The canvas illustrated above is around 24” x 30” in dimensions. The short
bars are around 22 1/2 “and the longer bars overlap them. We put a center
base to be able to support the canvas further while painting. Triangular
plywood is also placed on the corners for additional support.
The canvas you are preparing should be at 6" larger than your stretcher.

Step 3 Stretching and Securing Your Canvas

Using a staple gun or tacks and a hammer, you should stretch the canvas and
stitch it on all four corners. The stretch should be just enough to be able to
hold all the paint that you are going to layer it with. Then it is also stretched
and tacked around the middle base to further support the canvas while you
paint on it later.

After everything is secured, make sure to cut off the excess canvas material
for a neat and professional canvas look. If you have bought a pre-stretched
canvas then you would need canvas pliers to be able to adjust the stretch of
the canvas you have bought to your liking. This is one of the most important
steps in the process since you would not be able to create a work of art with
a weakly supported and stretched canvas.
Step 4 Sealing Your Canvas

Now that you have secured your canvas foundation, you must now seal your
canvas since its material is still porous in nature which would absorb too
much of the paint you would be applying. Most artists traditionally use a
material called Rabbit Skin Glue in order to seal the canvas and prepare it
for oil painting. This glue looks like dry crystals and you should mix this
with one cup of water for every tablespoon. And then this material is cooked
until it becomes a smooth liquid substance. Apply the glue horizontally to
the canvas while it is still hot and the glue will tighten and seal the canvas
closing those porous materials. You should leave your canvas to dry for one
night before you could fully use it in oil painting.

Step 5 Applying Gesso

After leaving your canvas to dry and to seal overnight, you would need to
apply Gesso. Gesso further seals the canvas and also applies a coating which
complements oil paint. Before applying Gesso, you can lightly sand your dry
canvas in order to remove any unwanted textures. Coat your canvas with
Gesso with as many layers as you think is necessary. You may use water and
a brush to thin it out later on anyway.
Gesso is applied for the purpose of sealing the porous material of the canvas.
It is ideal to implement this substance before oil paint is used for maximum
quality and efficiency. This process also increases the lifespan of a painting
because linseed oil can cause an unprimed canvas to slowly but surely
deteriorate, destroying your work of art. Not only is it a perfect sealer for the
canvas and also a complementary substance to the oil paint by providing an
optimal surface to paint on, it also improves the general quality of the colors
painted on the canvas.

Gesso was made from rabbit skin glue and chalk in the past but today it is
made from polymer emulsion and titanium dioxide which has been proven to
increase productivity and quality by more than 50%. Wow. Gesso is also
bright white in color and you need to make it a light neutral color for some
paintings preventing any color conflict. Acrylic paint is an effective toner
and neutralizer that many professional artists use in some of their paintings.
Liquitex Acrylic Gesso is highly recommended for priming your canvas.

Step 6 Begin Painting Your Masterpiece

Congratulations! You have now finished preparing your first canvas by

yourself. It wasn’t that hard wasn’t it? Anyway, you’d get used to that in the
near future. Now that your canvas is ready, you can now start painting your
masterpiece. Make sure to make a mental outline of what you would like to
paint and also consider the colors of oil paint available and if it would
complement your painting. This is your first step in becoming a very
successful oil painter. Continue reading this book and you will learn basic to
advanced painting techniques that would make you paint like a pro in no
time. Always remember to keep an open mind and try and try until you
succeed. Nobody becomes a Leonardo Da Vinci at the first few tries.
 Chapter 5 - The Basic Brush
Techniques in Oil Painting

Design

Today, design can be defined by artists as how he/she mixes elements in

colors, composition, shading and blending in one painting. It can be either
consciously or unconsciously done but most great artists can create beautiful
art pieces unconsciously and with no effort. It can also be defined as how
close the outcome is to what the artist is trying to paint.

Technique
In oil painting alone, there are numerous techniques that an artist can use.
Technique is innovative, traditional and also varying. Technique evolves
through time and development in technology but the old principles and
techniques remained constant and appreciated as an art. Some examples of
techniques used in oil painting are: impasto, glazing, scumbling, masking,
and feathering. This can also mean an artist’s unique and individual style and
character of painting.
Technique, today, is directly linked to the ability of an artist to execute his
creative and imaginative thought and images from his brain. This means that
he is capable of almost, if not completely, copying what he had in mind
beforehand.

Creating a Sketch for Oil Paintings

Your canvas is a large rectangle with basically nothing on it once you finish
stretching it to the proper condition. A real artist knows that to create
beautiful art he must be able to execute the creative imagination he has
inside his mind and failing to do this would result in a great idea under poor
execution. In order to paint what you have in mind, it is important to have a
rough sketch on what you plan to paint on your canvas. Remember that oil
paint is permanent and it would cost you a lot if you waste your expensive
oil paint. Charcoal sketches, on the other hand, can be made on your canvas.
Not a trace will be noticeable once the painting has been finished since the
oil paint can cover up the charcoal sketch easily.
Always remember that when creating a sketch of a figment of your
imagination, it does not need to be in complete details. A very detailed
design will only waste your efforts since oil paint will only be covered by it.
It is recommended to use merely simple shapes, lines and curves in order to
serve as guides for your painting. An audience will only see the oil paint
once it is done and not the charcoal sketch.

As a beginner, you can try creating your charcoal drawing on a piece of

paper first and once you have finalized your design you can then transfer it
to the canvas. Always practice drawing this way and in no time, once you
get the hang of it, you will be able to create drawings directly on the canvas
such as most professional oil painters. When you outline your charcoal guide
directly on a canvas, you should use oil paint that has been mixed with a
paint thinner since it does not need to be separated from other colors.

The ideal material to use when drawing a sketch on your canvas is charcoal.
Charcoal pencils are darker and model as a guide for your painting. Be
cautious not to smudge the charcoal though because it can get a bit messy if
the charcoal gets smudged. In drawing using charcoal, always use a fixative
so that the drawing would still be isolated from the paint that you apply.
Some artists prefer using vine charcoal since it is easier to seal with a
fixative, compared to its other counterpart the charcoal pencil.

You could also use a pencil when drawing your sketch. You still need to use
a fixative before you use oil colors on the sketch. But you may notice once
you try using a pencil in sketching that, if you press the pencil too hard, the
sharp point of the pencil damages the gesso layer that you have applied
previously. This can be fixed by reapplying a small layer of gesso on the
area to re-cover the harm done. Fixatives may not be necessary after re-
application of gesso.

A life hack in transferring sketches to a canvas is also available. You could

use tracing paper in this process to make it easier. Simply tape the drawing
to your canvas and use carbon paper in order to transfer your sketch easily to
the canvas while keeping your original design measurements.
Congratulations, you have successfully transferred your drawing with no
hassle at all. Remember that you would still need to seal this with a fixative
or gesso before applying oil paint on the transferred sketch.

Basic Brush Techniques in Oil Painting

Now that you have a bit of knowledge about everything you need to know

about oil painting and what you need to start oil painting, you can now begin

learning the basic techniques. Everything starts with the basics and without a

good basic foundation; you would not be able to execute more advanced

techniques well. That is how important basics are and why we should not
skip this step. So ideally, you must learn to master the basic brush techniques

in this guide before moving on to our advanced techniques chapter.

There are four different brush techniques that can give you a great

foundation in oil painting. Since this is a very comprehensive and detailed

guide, we will be discussing each and every technique in detail.

Gradient Blending

The first technique we will discuss is gradient blending. Gradient Blending

is the essence of painting, without it our paintings would look lifeless, fake
and dull. We need to blend different colors and different shades to be able to
imitate real world shadows, highlights and textures. Blending is always seen,
take note on the word “always”, in oil paintings and to become a great artist
you must first learn this process and also take time to practice it and
eventually master blending.
What exactly is gradient blending? It is the transition from one color to
another which makes paintings look more realistic. It is easier to blend with
oil paint since it takes practically days to dry up and you can therefore
continue blending before that time period. Other paint mixtures would dry
up almost instantly, making it harder to blend. Flat brushes are usually used
for gradient blending because it is easier to blend with a wide and flat brush.
Gradient blending is done by having two separate colors in your canvas; as
shown above. You then use your brush to drag back and forth, stroking the
colors until you see a blend or a sort of transition from color to color. This is
simple blending and can be done easily. The hard part is getting used to it
even in small details since most paintings require blending even in the
smallest details.
To further smoothen the gradient blending, you can apply parallel strokes to
make the transition smoother and more gradual, thus imitating realistic
lighting and shadow effects. Try experimenting on blending in different
shapes, sizes and even light sources.
Once you get used to gradient blending, you will be able to create art such as
the one on top. Here you can see the different colors and styles blended into
one painting. Try to distinguish the different colors used in the painting and
try to imitate the artist’s technique in blending. He was able to incorporate
cool and warm colors in one painting which brought an intense feeling and it
looks as if the painting is touching your emotional and artistic side of the
brain.
In this example it is very clear to see the possibilities that gradient blending
can bring to a painting. The beauty and a feeling of reality of the painting
can be largely associated with the process of blending. Feelings are also
present when the proper colors are blended properly with an image that can
touch the heart.
In mastering blending, eventually you would be able to blend colors that
make your painting look real and undistinguishable at a distance. Reality can
be fooled with the proper skill of the artist. An example is shown below
where the artist has achieved near perfection in his blending skill and his
painting looks very real. You might not even believe me that the painting
below is a painting and was not taken from a camera. It takes a lot of skill
and a lot more of practice to attain blending and texturing like the one below.
That is why practice is important, especially in gradient blending. Keep
practicing and we will move to the next basic technique you would need to
learn.

Wet-on-Wet Technique
The second basic brush technique is the Wet-on-Wet technique. This is done
painting a solid one layer of paint which is either clear or colored. This color
will serve as your background as you paint different other colors to create a
work of art. While the paint of your solid color is still wet, you can paint
strokes of different colored paint on top of the solid colored background.

The oil paint is then applied with the use of a paint brush or a knife, only a
small amount of oil paint is required since we would only be dabbing the
brush on the already present layer of paint.

Using the same brush size all throughout, you can space your strokes at will
to be able to imitate blending of a gradient effect. In this brush technique, it
is important to make your paint strokes randomly done and not in an orderly
and purposefully looking fashion. This is to excite the senses of spectators
since they would be seeing an image out of seemingly random paint strokes
over a solid colored background. The best type of brush to use in this
method would be a round bristle brush. Then the unique process in this
technique is that you would leave your painting as is, how it ended after all
those small strokes. You would need not to worry about not blending these
colors to create a more realistic feel since this method incorporates an
uncommon and abstract idea.
The process of painting using the wet-on-wet technique does not require any
firm decision making and planning. This is a rather spontaneous technique
that goes well as it is itself no matter if you make numerous small mistakes.
You would need to be aware of all the materials beforehand to be able to
create a painting with this technique on a flowing manner, without
disruptions. Since oil paint dries slowly, you will have a lot of time for minor
revisions in case your flaws would be so big and noticeable.
As I have said above, a specific plan is not required since a spontaneous wet-
on-wet painting is better. Even though, it can still be a great help to do a
quick sketch of what you would like to draw and it is completely alright if
that sketch would lack a lot of detail since you would need just a guide
before you start.

Additional tips in using the wet-on-wet technique:

Use your sketch to as a guide only but do not copy it exactly
You must loosen up about the direction your painting is going to
go and what it would look like.
Build up layers and gradually your main picture will come into
focus.
It is okay to go back another time in painting your work of art just
to recharge your creative juices.
Use visuals based on your own life experience; those places in
which you have happy memories or even sad memories.
Scumbling

The next technique we are going to introduce to you is Scumbling.

Scumbling is basically applying a layer that is cracked and broken over
another layer. This creates a very classic and vintage look that would make
the painting look physically more realistic and valued. There is a deeper
sense and color variation when we apply this technique to our painting.
Scumbling is ideally done using opaque or transparent colors. But if you are
to compare these two paint mixtures, the opaque paint has greater effect
when you apply a lighter color on the top of a dark colored layer. In looking
at this effect at a distance, you would see the colors blending in and creating
an optical illusion that makes your brain believe it to be blended and
realistically painted.
Using this technique would require you to paint straight into your canvas,
making the bristles splay out, while rotating your brush to create a mottled
effect. This process is then repeated for the whole painting to create a very
unique texture and style to the painting. Keep in mind that you must practice
this technique since it would take some time before you would get used to it.
In my opinion, a flat bristle brush works best in using the scumbling
technique but this all depends upon you. Try experimenting on the right
brush you would find scumbling easiest to do.
You can try using a piece of cloth that is crumpled in using the scumbling
method if you would like an alternative to a brush. It is very similar to
sponge painting made on a wall, most artists would realize. All you have to
keep in mind that you simply have to use your dry brush with a little amount
of paint at a time. You would be saving paint while doing this since you
would only be applying oil paint by small amounts. It is wiser to go through
an area numerous times rather than start out with a lot of paint which can
result in a lot of wasted oil paint.
To start scumbling, simply dip your dry brush into a little oil paint. Using a
piece of cloth, wipe the tip of your brush gently to remove excess paint,
leaving a very thin layer of oil paint on the bristles of your brush. Once you
begin painting, you will notice that the paint you apply is a bit stiff and it
would not spread as easy as before. Throughout the process, you should keep
your brush dry to maintain consistent stroke techniques. If, however, your
paint brush becomes a bit wet, you can use your cloth in drying your brush
from moisture.
Basically, the scumbling technique is like applying the excess paint from a
dried brush into your painting. The effect would result in a very faint area of
color which is the opposite of other methods which results in bright and
vivid colors. The idea is not to fill up the whole canvas but rather work on
specific areas to produce a unique effect with this technique.
The ideal set of brushes to use to scumble is an old set of brushes. Using a
newly-bought brush could lead in destroying its bristles which would
quickly degrade and devalue your newly bought paint brush. You can also
use a cheap paint brush which would easily degrade anyway.
Scumbling using a paint brush that is wet and filled with oil paint will result
in the oil paint mixing and spreading. This removes the ideal scrambler
effect that you would want to produce and instead it would look like a mere
circle of wet oil paint which can easily be achieved through simple circular
strokes.

Mastering this simple technique can create variations in your style of

painting since it has a very unique and fading effect. A lot of great artists
have honed their scumbling techniques and produced a wide variety of
paintings with scumbling as a main technique. All you need is a little
patience and lots and lots of practice. As the saying goes, practice makes
perfect.

Other Basic Techniques to Master

Composition
Composition is an element which is always present in a painting. No matter
what type of painting you are creating, you can cause a person’s eye to move
in ways to convince that person of physical distance and position of all the
things in your painting. If we draw a small object and a larger object near it,
it would appear as if the larger object is the nearer one and the smaller object
is the farther one. This is a very basic element that assists our brain in
functioning well by giving out logical hints as to the reality of the image we
are looking at. In composition, an artist must be aware of how a viewer’s eye
would move and react to the painting.
In the picture above, the road is drawn diagonally which leads our eyes from
the center to the background, following the road. This allows us to mentally
walk down the path in the drawing. This is a simple technique in
emphasizing movement and interaction with viewers.

In the picture above, your eyes would move from one object to another, from
the biggest object in the picture to the smallest one we can see. Our brain
functions in a way that we notice the big pictures first rather than the smaller
ones. If you analyze your eyes’ movements, you would notice that it moves
in a triangular pattern as shown in the drawing.
In this last picture above, there are two circles drawn, one smaller and the
other larger. It would appear to the viewer that the larger one is nearer and
the smaller one is further away from him.

Light and Shadow

Our rational thinking makes us see lighter colors advancing towards and
darker colors moving away from us. This is how our brain functions so that
we could logically figure out what is happening with a picture such as the
one above. The mixture of light and shadow complement each other in
different and a lot of ways.
Light and shadow are complementary to each other in the sense that lighter
colors allow more emphasis on darker colors while darker colors allow more
emphasis on lighter colors. In painting, we must use a mixture of light and
dark colors to make our painting more realistic and easily imagined. If we,
however, use purely light or dark colors, this would flatten your whole
painting and create a very empty image. In the example above, the white ball
appears nearer than the black ball. But truth be told, balls are the same size.
Now that you have knowledge on the basic skills required to start oil
painting, which are mixing colors, painting light and shade, gradient
blending and brushwork dynamics, you can now move on to improve these
basic techniques through constant and consistent practice. You may do this
every day on your free or leisure time. Every minute of practice counts since
it would slowly but surely improve your skill and in no time you would
transition from the beginner stage to the advanced stage.
Through the exercises and techniques that you learned in this book so far,
you have been able to increase your knowledge and skill in oil painting. You
are also more informed and familiar with the different equipment materials
that you would be needing, using and even buying. In a couple of months,
you would then realize your personal style and continue to develop this until
it would be close to perfection. Practice and actual painting will help you
visualize your ideas more easily and more accurately which is a skill that
most great artists possess.
 Chapter 6.Preserving your Work of
Art

A finished work of art would be nothing if it would naturally degrade in a

few months. It is essential to protect and preserve your painting so that it
would last not only years but decades. There is a technique that helps
maintain the quality of your picture for the years to come and this is called
“varnishing”. Varnish is a liquid substance that dries up into a thin and
glossy layer which protects your painting from dirt and dust while also
improving your painting’s final look.
As your varnished painting ages through the years, dust and dirt will still
build upon the varnished layer. In case this happens to your picture, or any
painting for that matter, the varnished layer on your painting can be
removed and you can apply a new coat of varnish.
In using varnish, you should avoid applying this substance if your painting
looks dull. This dullness is due to the oil paint sinking into the surface of
the canvas. The appropriate remedy for this problem is to use an artist’s
painting medium to oil it up.
Artists also varnish their picture to add texture to the painting. This
stabilizes its surface and adds a texture or repairs damaged layers. But it
would take a lot of time for the varnished layer to be removable without
damaging or even destroying the painting.

Types of Surfaces that can be varnished

Varnish is ideally used with paintings created by mainly oil or acrylic paint.
These color types are thick and separate from the canvas which makes the
varnish substance complement the paint mixture.
Varnish would not work with watercolor and drawings. These would result
in the varnish being absorbed by the paint or the paper which would cause
the picture to discolor or even to become disfigured.

It is important to if it necessary to apply varnish to all your works of art.

Varnish is a substance that finds very useful purpose in the painting
industry, if used correctly, of course. Do not hesitate to double check this
part of the book anytime for reference just in case you forget the guidelines
regarding the use of varnish on paintings.

Type of Varnish to Use for your Painting

Here is a list of different kinds of varnishes you can choose from:

Dammar Varnishes – a very popular choice for a varnish. Most
artists still use this type even though there are newer types of
 varnish.
Gloss Varnishes – This choice give a dazzling and broad effect to
add with the colors in your painting. It is also very glossy and has
a lot of reflection.
Matt Varnishes – This has a matte effect for your painting which
does not have any reflection but the colors on your painting
would look duller and darker.
Winsor & Newton Varnishes – Can be used in paintings used
with oil, alkyd, acrylic or artisan paint. All varnishes under this
category are made of specific color sets.

Varnishes of Winsor & Newton for Different Purposes:

Oil Color Varnishes
Winsor & Newton is very traditional if you want it used as your medium
which most people do. Using distilled turpentine is necessary to remove this
type of varnish since a high solvent would only remove an oil color varnish
by Winsor & Newton.

Professional Gloss Varnishes

The most used varnish in the painting industry. When you use this type of
varnish, expect a very high gloss finish which improves the overall color
and quality of your picture. As time goes by, you would require stronger
solvents to remove this type of varnish.

Professional Matte Varnishes

A very modern type of varnish which can be easily removed anytime
you would like to remove it. Applying this to a painting would give a
 matte finish to it but in turn would cause colors to darken and become
duller.
Note: You can mix Professional Gloss and Professional Matte varnishes
to achieve an ideal glossy or matte effect that would suit your painting
and the colors that you have used. An ideal ratio would be 50:50 which
would give a very optimal glossy and matte finish.

Professional Satin Varnishes

This type of varnish is superior in quality but expensive. It has a UV
resistant ingredient that protects your painting from getting damaged by
the rays of the sun. It can be removed with the use of artists’ white spirit
or distilled turpentine.

Re-touching Varnish
This type of varnish is also UV resistant and has a glossy effect that
enlightens your painting. It is very quick drying and is only used in thin
layers since the varnish itself is very concentrated and powerful.

Some Tips in Applying Varnish

Before applying varnish to your painting, you must wait until

the paint is completely dry for the varnish coat to be able to
protect the painting.
Make sure to wipe your painting off of any dust or dirt before
applying a thin layer of varnish as a coat. This would, in
effect, allow you to preserve the painting at its finest and the
sharpest condition.
Use a brush that is flat and wide to apply the varnish easily
over the whole painting. Make sure to clean it well and use it
solely for the purpose of varnishing.
Apply varnish on a flat surface. Avoid applying varnish on
your painting while it is in a vertical position. This is
important to flatten down the varnish layer on your painting.
Your varnish should also be mixed well before application.
Pour the varnish on a clean saucer and always make sure to
wipe the sides of the dish to avoid any mess the varnish
drippings may cause.
Use three thin coats instead of one thick coat in applying
varnish. Allow each layer to dry up first before applying
another coat of varnish in your painting.
Use strokes that are even in a top to bottom fashion. Also
remove any bubbles that appear on the layer of varnish.
Refrain from going back to areas that you have already
applied a layer of varnish. You can apply a thin layer of
varnish once again, anyway, once the previous layer is
thoroughly dry already.
You can also use a “tent” to protect your painting further. A
shield is a protective plastic film that can shield your painting
further from dust.
It is recommended to avoid sticking anything to the varnished
painting once it is in the process of drying up. The reason is
that it may stick to anything which would destroy the varnish
coat that you have applied. Avoid hanging your paintings in
 bathrooms, kitchens and every other area that would cause a
Quick dirt buildup on the painting

How to Conserve your Paintings Further

Most artists and collectors find paintings treasured and one of their greatest
assets. A regular check and examination on the condition of your painting/s
is an important step to take if you want the painting/s you have to last for
decades or even centuries. Some signs of deterioration may appear and you
could treat most of these by yourself.
Some canvases have its corners split up at the edges. Some canvases would
also look brittle in the perspective of an audience. In these cases, your
painting would need a lining to be able to repair these. If you see tiny holes
on the wood, it may mean that insects have infested the frame and it is
advisable to stretch your canvas on a new piece of wood. Check for any loose keys in your
painting and these should be smoothened out by applying the right tension in your canvas. It is

important that your canvas is stretched well for an even picture. Too much pressure applied in

adjusting tension may destroy your painting and that is why I recommend you to be cautious when
dealing with the problem.

The last step in checking your painting see if the wire cord is frayed and if
the brackets and screws are tight and secure. This is very important since
you would not want the main frame of your painting to collapse one day
suddenly. The hooks should also be able to hold your picture when it is
hung on a wall.

Transferring your Paintings from One Place to Another

In carrying your paintings, if ever you would need to transfer them from
one place to another, avoid holding the painting by the top part of the
wooden frame. You should take more care and certain precautions in
handling your paintings. The outer edges and the bottom part of the frame
are where you should carry your paintings to prevent any damage done to
them.
Exercise extra care in handling older paintings as the frame of these old
paintings would usually be weaker due to degradation. You would not want
to damage your paintings accidentally, risking them by mishandling and
miscarriage. Also, you can repair some broken pieces of the wooden frame
by using generic wood glue to piece them back together and to increase the
overall stability of the old wooden frame. It is also an option to change the
entire wooden frame if necessary but it would be a very hard and risky task.

Wiping off the Dust and Lint

In handling any painting, you must always wash your hands before
touching the painting; this is to protect our painting from any other
microorganism or dust from contaminating your painting. Clean hands
prevent any additional dirt or lint on the canvas which also makes it easier
and more convenient to clean. Always grip two sides of the painting frame
so that you would prevent any loosening in the canvas and its frame.
To clean your paintings just use a soft hair brush or a soft cloth to wipe
away the dust and lint that forms over time. Be careful in cleaning the
exterior, especially the part with painted art, since any loose or flaking paint
has a chance to get pulled off in the process of cleaning. This would then
damage the entire painting and also lower its market value.
Aside from brushing the dust and lint off the front part your paintings, you
could also use a vacuum at the back of the canvas to clean any excess dirt.
If you see any grime or spots on your painting you can use a small amount
of mild dish soap and a wet cloth to clean this up. Remember to test the
soap’s reaction to the paint first before you try on the whole painting. If you
are not experienced in cleaning paintings, you will be safer to hire a trained
restorer to restore your paintings back to their finest quality.

Place your Paintings in Proper and Safe Locations

One of the most important steps in conserving your paintings is eliminating
the risk of its damage due to the location where it is placed. You would
want to avoid various extreme factors that would be able to damage your
paintings such as temperature, humidity, and lighting. The room should at
least revolve in an average room temperature which is an ideal location for
displaying oil paintings. Any extreme temperature increase or decrease
would cause the paintings’ textures and color to change or even crack. An
increase in humidity would cause your canvas to warp. This is the reason
why it is not advisable to display any oil painting in the kitchen or the
restroom.
To avoid damages such as scrapes or even bumps to your paintings, hang
them appropriately and securely using hooks and a hanging wire. These
materials can be easily found and bought in most art supply and hobby
shops around the city. A periodical check would help, indeed, since you
would have knowledge if the painting’s structure is stable. All the nails,
wire, and hooks should be secured to an extent that it would not let the
weight of the picture cause them to break and as a result the painting to fall
from the wall it is displayed on.
Hanging a painting near high risk places such as near a fireplace, near a gas
stove, near the window and etc. would have a great chance that the painting
would get damaged due to heat, fire, smoke, rain, water, sunlight and other
external factors that would directly affect the oil paint on the painting.
A room lacking of moisture and humidity would dry out your paintings and
affect their supporting framework directly. Also, this dryness if paired with
heat would damage the oil paint present on the canvas. This is one main
reason why you should avoid placing oil paintings near a fireplace or any
other source of heat such as your gas stove. You can purchase a hygrometer
to measure a room’s humidity at any hardware store. Ideally, a 45%
humidity level is recommended to protect your paintings further.
Direct UV light is harmful for your paintings no matter if it is an artificial
or a natural source of light. This can cause discoloration and fading of the
paint which you would not want in any case. Try not to point the light
source directly to the oil painting when you display it. This would help in
reducing the negative effects of UV rays.
If you still wish to place your paintings near a window, it is recommended
to apply a glass tint to the window glass to reduce incoming UV rays from
the sun which may damage your paintings. Also use incandescent light
bulbs in the room since florescent and halogen lamp emit UV light similar
to those that come from directly from the sun.
Following these steps would allow you to conserve your paintings and
make them last decades or even centuries. Always remember that proper
maintenance and extensive care are necessary if you want your oil paintings
to last long. Since most oil paintings are worth an enormous amount of
money, it is wise to take care of them so that in the future they would be
easier to liquidate and you could sell them for a higher value after some
years has past. As long as you properly maintain the oil painting’s beauty
and overall quality, you would be able to sell it easily to collectors and
wealthy clients.
It is also ideal to use the standard materials and wooden frame that is
generally used by artists and newbies alike. A frame made of glass would
either smudge or stick to the paint, in turn, destroying the painting you own
which would have sold at a great price after a few years.
The process of conserving your paintings is not really hard and time
consuming. Simply follow the steps and guidelines provided in this guide
and you should be good to go with appropriate knowledge in preserving oil
paintings.
In very moist and humid areas, you can expect mold to grow on your
paintings. Sometimes even small insects start to contaminate the canvas.
These situations are an artist’s nightmare since they can be really damaging
to your paintings. In case one of these happens, isolate your painting from
the other paintings and have a trained specialist to advise you about steps to
undertake to remedy the situation. You should not attempt to remove these
by yourself since you may just make matters worse.
 Chapter 7. Advanced Oil Painting
Techniques and Materials
How do you define a Beautiful Painting?

In the past, most people and art critics judge pictures with respect to an
individual criteria but, in this modern era, there are no standard criteria in
judging a picture. As the old saying goes “Beauty lies in the eyes of its
beholder.” we begin to realize that different people have different opinions
regarding what is beautiful to them. Some people look for a painting with a
direct message and a clear image while others find paintings that make your
mind work, since the meaning and the image is projected indirectly,
amazingly beautiful. It is not only in the eyes that we appreciate beauty but
also in the heart and the soul where we see what the eye does not see.

In large art galleries and art exhibits there is usually a guideline regarding
the individual criteria in judging the beauty of a work of art. Though we all
have different perspectives, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, most of
these galleries and exhibits want a particular genre or mood in which the
paintings present there should be in line with their theme.

For example, a traditional art exhibit would not want modern and
contemporary paintings since these are out of their context. Though these
large displays may have preferences on paintings, smaller art galleries and
art exhibits tend to accept paintings regardless of the theme, mood and genre
it belongs to. These smaller events also allow local and small time artists to
display their art which would help them further develop their artistic skills
and character.

Looking At Art
Though, as I have discussed, beauty is a variable element which differs in
every individual, there are traditional factors that can be called as guidelines
in judging artwork. These guidelines are called “aesthetics”. In the past,
aesthetics was the firm basis and principles of beauty but, today, beauty is
known as variable and differing.
Aesthetics is a study that deals heavily on the topic of beauty and how a
painting could be considered beautiful according to its laws. There are a lot
of references where you could further read about the principles and basis of
beauty according to the aesthetic point of view. Some books that are good to
read are as follows:
A Painter’s Guide to Design and Composition by Margot
Schulzke
Color by Betty Edwards
Art and Visual Perception by Rudolf Arnheim
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

Getting more Professional Painting Materials

A professional painter has a wide array of oil paint colors which he could
choose from. Along with this large collection of different colored oil paint, a
professional painter also has different brands of each or selected colors.
Through experience, you would learn that in oil painting different colors
have different effects on our brain’s perspective of an image.
Most people may find themselves amazed by simple colors simply because
their brain has a positive reaction to the colors present on the painting. A
good artist would also know that there are a lot of big differences between
oil paint brands and their colors. Some brands have rich colors while others
have bold textures and it is up to a painter to figure out what brand would be
good for his style.
You can even mix and match different colors and different brands. Try
experimenting with different colors and brands of oil paint and eventually
you will have your own personal preference on what you will be using.
Experiment on different color themed paintings, it is easier to know if a
color or brand works well by looking at the outcome of a painting. Some
students purchase paints merely to test them by making works of art. The
best thing about this method is that you won’t have to waste paint since it is
already on your canvas as a finished work.
Though what this guide suggests may be costly and time consuming, you
could always observe your fellow artists’ paintings and merely ask them
what brand of color they are using. In this way, you are able to gather free
information which you could use. Ask for their opinions too regarding what
oil paint colors and brands to use. Some of them would even describe in
detail the main differences between oil paint brands.
But never forget that you get what you paid for. Some paint brands may be
cheap but these means that they contain more fillers than the more expensive
oil paints. Fillers are mixed in a paint substance to save on raw materials
cost and thus to sell the paint at a cheaper price. You should prefer more
expensive paint with no to fewer fillers. This ensures the overall quality of
the paint and the color since you will be getting more pigments for better
colors. Expensive oil paint also has a thicker texture and a more compatible
ability to mix with other paint colors and brands. This is a grand plus for
expensive oil paint which you would have though unnecessary before
reading this guide.
Canvases
Canvases are one, if not only, of the most important materials in painting.
Looking for canvases can be hard but it can also be part of your learning.
Standard, also known as academic or student grade, canvas has a quite
significant position. This means that the canvas has been sized and measured
so that the façade resist oil paints from going through. But if you want more
from your canvas, there are other types of canvas that can suit your needs
but it comes with different prices. Other types offer a more resistant surface
and a more stretchable frame which, sometimes, is what is needed.
Economical canvases are stapled at the edge and will have to be placed in a
frame for finishing. This type of canvas will be perfect for you if you plan to
staple your finished work. Although many artists today prefer not to frame
their works anymore, there are still artists that need their work to be framed
so they can paint the edges as well. This type of canvas will seem to cost
more at the start but will save you money in the future as you will not have
to buy another frame, unless you want to.
Brushes

As an artist, brushes can define you. Sizes and shapes of brushes are an
extension of your hand and over the time you will come to have your own
favorites. There is a wide variety of brushes on the market ranging from
inexpensive to costly ones. There are two things to think about when
purchasing a brush; the first one is, what will you use it for specifically? And
secondly, how will it stand up repeated use? Keep in mind that a more
expensive brush will last longer. For oil painting, students are encouraged to
experiment with hog bristle, synthetic hair brushes until finally choosing a
brush you feel the most comfortable with.

Thinners and Mediums

Oil paint thinners such as turpentine, turpenoid and paint mediums like
linseed oil and dammar varnishes will alter the body of your paint as well as
the façade of the finished painting as they help change the texture and flow
of the paint.
There are products that you should use with caution like turpentine,
unrefined linseed oil and other thinners. These products may work well with
house paints but are often not of good quality and can cause artwork to turn
yellow, crack, and/or change in the future. Turpenoid is somewhat odorless
which makes it preferred by most students.
Bear in mind that these products are important for the eminence of your
artwork so choose the ones that are of artists’ quality as they can affect the
color and permanence of your work.

Your signature style

There are many layers and obstacles that fulfill your whole painting
experience. Some of these are finding your expressive statement and finding
out how you prefer to develop it, your materials and learning which ones you
are most comfortable in, and the incessant responsibility of updating and
improving your way of working and your style to keep accustomed to your
creative journey.
There are a lot of everyday things that affect your mood and emotions that
shape your ideas and shift your expression techniques. As an artist, you need
to spend time on research, creative thinking and development to create the
best artwork you can. It is important for artists to keep the essence of their
work lively.
Below are some suggestions to further polish your skills and test your artistic
methods. A self-testing method will help you perceive what and how you are
doing with your work. This step is vital because as you get more attached
and occupied with your work and your signature style, you also need an
overview to perceive it on a different light. For this purpose, it is good to
have contact with an instructor or a gallery.
However, if you are not comfortable with showing your work to other people
or if you do not want outside input, you must check your work from time to
time in light of self-check exercises to be used to your own work.
Below are some self-check exercises to help you see your work from a
different perspective.

Self-check 1.1 – Self Portrait

This requires three canvases and canvas boards. Set up a mirror that is at a
standstill and experiment with different positions of your face. How will you
pencil in your face and yourself? What kind of mood will convey with your
face and later sketch? What kind of environment do you see yourself in?
First, draw and outline your portrait with a pencil so it can be erasable until
your final touch. It would be your draft which you can correct later on. After
that, you can then use a brush and paint diluted with turpentine to fill in the
shape of the face, hair, and background. You are encouraged to use a more
energetic color palette and a smaller brush if you want to define line and
certain areas. Work quickly and do not spend too much time on a detail so
you will not lose your momentum and the whole idea. You can touch up the
details later on.

Self-check 1.2 – Self Portrait

Start your second self-portrait. Again, start with the draft and this time, when
you paint it, use a different color palette. Experiment and learn to have fun
with your work. Try changing the mood, emotions, and environment of the
painting. Try different ways of expressing emotions through your painting
and get out of your comfort zone. Learn to use your heart and feelings
instead of your mind.
Self-check 1.3 – Self Portrait
As instructed earlier, after the drawing, which you have done with pencil,
block in the colors with thinned washes. You can use any color you prefer
but decide what color palette you want to use. There is vibrant, subdued, and
there is also the combination of both. After doing the washes, slowly
upsurge the colors, including the shadows and the highlights. Include a more
subtle color for shadows and highlights.
Work on the details like hair strands, eyebrows, reflections in eyes and
various shading and color for the face. Look closely; look for details you
might have missed or ones that you would like to enhance. Details can
define your whole artwork so do not cut corners on this procedure. Take all
the time you need on this one.
Now put all the three paintings you have done beside each other and
compare them. Which do you like best? Why do you think it is better than
the other two? How do they relate? Do the paintings have one characteristic
that you would like to include in your next artwork? By looking at the
paintings, you can already see your signature style emerging.
You might enjoy painting but not painting self-portraits. It is alright, just
keep in mind that it is important that you enjoy what you are doing. It is one
in committing to a specific style. Just continue your work until you find the
one that suits you best.
The following are examples of three portrait studies.

Painting Study One – Washes of vibrant color

Painting Study Two – Use of subdued color palette, emphasis on dark and
light contrasts

Painting Study Three – Use of cool color palette and working in more
detail and attention to light and shadow gradation
Setting and focusing on a direction
At this point of your progress, a piece of constructive criticism from your
instructor or mentor will be a lot of help for your work and your overview. It
would be better if students interacted with their instructors and/or mentors to
help them refine their signature style. An outside opinion would not hurt and
it would help you ease on to your work by receiving a fresh outlook.
It is vital for you to keep your goal in mind for and use it to guide you in
your development, although creativity can be affected when an artist
presumes works to be done in the future. This usually occurs when artists let
art sales and the market dictate their works for the sake of the money they
might earn. You can still keep working, and be successful, in the way you
want, regardless of the changes in the society and the environment.
However, this would be hard to prevent when an artist finds a more
successful and profitable circle where the artist would not have any other
choice but to repeat the same subject, and style and methods over his or her
future works. The society is usually looking for the same or similar product
and style as they want to make sure of the quality and they want works
which they already know the value of. It is disappointing to see many artists
in today’s society not fully-developing their creative capabilities and stay
continually focused on the monetary benefits of their work.
Each new part of your current artwork can cause a little adjustment in
direction and can give you an original realizations that will alter your whole
approach to your work. You can think of this as the work coming to life and
is communicating with you. It is a natural occurrence, just go with the flow
and be spontaneous. This will determine your output and can help you
discover and refine your signature style.
Five Different Abstract Painting Studies

Art paintings have been exponentially diversifying through the years. There
are different styles and genre in painting and advanced techniques which
show how important art and oil painting is to our culture and social lives. In
the 1880’s, there were a lot of art movements that consisted of creative and
imaginative artists that blossomed one or two painting techniques. Since the
variety of art forms and techniques used in oil paintings is currently a lot,
everyone can adapt to each of them or even create one on his own. Today,
painting styles can range from abstract painting where spectators need to
use their mind and imagination to create an image in their mind and photo-
realism where the spectators see the paintings as almost close to reality.
A good practice to finely hone your style and oil painting techniques is to
offer free painting jobs to people. This would free up your mind and allow
you to concentrate on the materials you are using and also the style that you
wish to master. At any rate, you would easily increase this skill since you
will be doing repetitive practices every single day. You can also charge a
small fee but charging too high would cause a lot of people to look for other
available oil painters in the vicinity with a cheaper and a fair price.
Regardless of the price, always keep in mind that you are not painting for
yourself but rather for someone else. It should be your goal to satisfy that
person and make sure that your painting delivers a unique ambience in the
room the painting is going to be placed.

Painting Exercise
Okay now that you are ready to paint a work of art for a specific someone,
you must now conceptualize and prepare your painting materials. Put colors
in your palette since you would need most colors that would fit the theme of
your painting. It is easier to conceptualize by tearing off five pages from
your sketch book. This will serve as your guides in concept generation and
you would be able to see easily whether what you have in mind is beautiful,
unique and attention grabbing.
Each paper should be roughly 6” x 6” in dimensions and this would be your
standard size for your conceptualization sketches. Do not think much of
what you are doing or of what you are painting. Let your ideas flow from
the artistic side of your brain, through your blood and into the paper. If you
always work like this, you will be able to free your imagination and
creativity which is stuck inside the gates of being close-minded and dull.
Keep adding details and unique ideas to your sketches, in this way you
would end up with having five differing and unique concepts. You would
then need to choose the best sketch and idea you were able to survive and,
once you have chosen one, treat this particular sketch as the backbone of
your masterpiece.

Abstract One
Once you have spent a generous amount of time in conceptualizing in
sketch book paper, you can now move on to conceptualizing in canvas. This
will require a small canvas for you to work on. You have to apply what you
have learned at the previous activity and simply let your thought and ideas
flow out of your mind and into the canvas. Once you are finished, set the
canvas aside and observe your finished piece of art. Now this painting
should show your personality and overall character. They once said that you
can see an artists’ emotion and hardships through his paintings.

Abstract Two
Start another painting study using a new canvas. Repeat what you have
done last time and continue painting until you are fully contented. After
your second experiment is done, set it aside next to your first painting.
Observe the paintings and compare the both of them with regard to the
style, colors and mood.
Do you see a pattern developing? You may see a repetition of colors, blends
and brushworks that would make them look similar but not quite. In theory,
if you were to continue this study about five times then you would easily
see a definite pattern present in all of them. This pattern is your style, your
character, your soul as an artist and the trait that would differentiate you
from all the other artists in the world.
Once you have recognized your own painting style, try to develop this and
create a unique character in your paintings. People would not like to see the
same style present in all the paintings and that is why it is that important to
have your own unique style when painting. Eventually, you will realize the
strengths and weaknesses of your own style and you could improve it more
through constant practice.

Notes from the Author about Abstract Painting

The essence of abstract painting is learning how to release yourself from
control and not the other way around. Unlike other styles of painting,
abstract painting should come in instinctively and not purposefully. The
exercises above are very useful in learning how to release yourself from
control and freeing your mind to produce artwork that comes straight from
the heart. As you get deeper in your practice sessions, you will soon realize
your true capabilities, creativity, imagination and skills in painting. Most of
the artists, regardless of experience and number of years in the profession,
have the artistic part of their brain untapped and undiscovered.
All of these may not make any sense right now but the important thing is
that as you learn more things about yourself and your hobby, you will
eventually realize the truth in what I am saying. Art should not be made
fully on purpose, especially in the case of abstract painting; there must be a
major contribution from your heart and soul as an artist.
Abstract painting is a style that lets you paint what’s inside your
subconscious, the colors, the waves, the blends and all. Our subconscious
mind is very powerful after all and a lot of images could be made from the
seemingly random patterns that we create.

Personal Artistic Growth

As you begin to develop your artistic and creative skills, sharing insights
and ideas with other great artists is a good idea to develop your skills
further. This is a mutually benefiting activity where you both benefit from
each other’s knowledge and experience. Every artist has a unique and
different experiences and skills which could be shared with his fellow
artists.
Another way to further develop your artistic skills is to be fully aware of
different innovation, discoveries and events in the art industry. This way,
you would have more knowledge coming from national and international
art experts. The information that you obtain from merely being updated
with the latest news is practical knowledge applicable to the art that you
create.
A lot of mediums are available to you where you can get the most recent
guides, tips and trends in the world of arts, these include: national and
domestic art galleries, art magazines, online articles, online forums and art
TV channels. What you learn through these channels is very useful to your
life as an artist. Look at these as opportunities to increase your knowledge
of every aspect of your professional hobby.
There is a significant advantage to artists that interact with their fellow
artists and are updated with the latest news in the art industry. That is why it
is important to be open minded and accept the opinions and perspectives of
different people because your own opinions are merely limited.

Thoughts about Permanence and Creative Mediums

Years back, permanence was a very important criteria and factor in oil
painting. Artists before created their own oil paint mixtures and inspected
the quality of their oil paint for quality standard checks. In this art age
today, permanence is being less and less significant as it used to be.
Different commercial paint and painting materials are readily available in
the market without current artists working hard to create their own materials
and equipment. Different qualities and features are available in the market,
you may have already figured out, and all these are long lasting and have
passable to high quality.
Contemporary paintings can be either permanent or non-permanent. For
example, performance is as stable as its production capacity. A lot of artists
today work in very temporal mediums such as the four elements, namely:
earth, wind, water and fire which will all be affected by life’s ever constant
element, change.
In reality, majority of the artists in this generation are unaware of the rules
and guidelines of the past regarding the topics of how a painting should
look like and how long it should last. Contemporary artists are usually
involved in multi-platforms and multi-media in expressing their creative
minds. When we look at it closely, there are still a lot of creative mediums
that do not belong to any category and are either underdeveloped or
uncommon. As time goes by, artists continue to innovate on more ways on
how to express their creativity and deliver beautiful art to the whole world.
In line with this, even the criteria for beauty in works of art are also affected
since more and more people are being open minded and unique in what they
would want to see and what they consider, themselves, beautiful.

Now that you could paint, what should you paint now?

A lot of people that I personally know, who have of course entered the field
of oil painting, have already mastered the basic techniques in oil painting
and are doing quite well in advanced oil painting. I find it a problem, on
their part though, that they are having a hard time looking and thinking of
what to paint next.
They seem to have invested more of their time to technique and they have
forgotten that they would also need to improve their creativity skills and the
ability to execute the creative and imaginary ideas in your mind. Ironically,
most of these people pay an enormous amount of cash for oil painting
lessons yet they lack the creativity to use the skill which they were
successful to obtain.
There are a lot of types of painting to choose from such as still life,
landscape, portrait and abstract and it is up to you what you would use in
your next painting. Believe me, a lot of people become discouraged to
continue their dream since they lack the creativity that is needed to become
a great artist.
One reason why some people would still lack creativity is due to trying out
every aspect related to oil painting and loving each and every one of them.
Therefore, the opportunity cost of being a jack of all trades is that they are
merely average in all factors but they actually never mastered any of them.
So in other words they could do a lot but could not compete with these
aspects since he did no focus on improving one aspect merely.
Knowing what to paint about is based on experience and your ability to
organize your thoughts. You can paint anything you have seen in the past if
you have been traveling or you have some memorable experiences in your
life which are emotional and heart-touching. You can also get ideas with the
places you have visited in your life. But it should be something that
interests you so you could visualize and paint it successfully.
So the next time you wonder what to paint next, just keep recalling your
past experiences to get ideas. You could also paint present situations and
still images, which is easier to paint accurately compared to painting solely
from memory. Remember to paint from the heart because if you do
everything will flow naturally and beautifully. Try to take a look at
everything around you and appreciate the beauty of every small thing in
your surroundings.
 Conclusion

Now that you have finished reading this book, I would like to wish you
good luck in your future as an artist. Oil painting is just one of the great
mediums you would use to express your creativity and share it with the
world. It is also the most popular medium where artists are able to freely
express and manipulate the colors and mood of their painting.
This guide is composed of everything you would need to learn and all the
basic knowledge essential to becoming a great artist. What you lack right
now are only practice, experience and commitment. I give you my word
that once you put these three aspects and apply it in your journey to being a
great artist; you will successfully get there amidst all the hard work,
obstacles and long hours of practice. Do not stop striving for your dream,
for me, myself, was also a dreamer once. You can become a great artist if
you choose to be and I know you have the right choice in mind.
Art is beautiful and I will always love the art that is present in our modern
era as well as the art that has been existent ever since which has brought
significant changes and development to the craft. I still idolize a lot of
painters that are globally recognized for their masterpieces. Their legacy
will continue for generations and generations, for decades and centuries or
even for millenniums.
Always remember to paint with your heart and soul and not merely with
your mind. Allow the thoughts and creative ideas to flow out of your hands
as you paint on your canvas. A true artist creates art without much thought
and effort and through practice and self-recognition you would be able to
know your own character, your own style and your own purpose.
If ever you decide to paint full time, you would need to be able to sell your
paintings for a living. This is where art galleries and exhibits come in
because you would be able to attract a lot of rich people who are willing to
buy beautiful paintings at a good price. The market for oil paintings has
great potential and would be very rewarding. Since paintings do not have
any exact copy, making it instantly a rarity, prices would shoot up especially
if you’re painting was auctioned. I know a lot of artists who are able to
support themselves and live very comfortably through selling their
paintings.
I hope that, in all my efforts, I have inspired you as other artists and
mentors have and continue to inspire me to this very day. Do not forget to
share your knowledge with other people who have a dream of being a great
artist one day. We must spread this success and inspiration because the
world needs more artists to be able to express different messages through
different means and levels of creativity.
I hope that my book has been very helpful to you. I have shared all my
knowledge regarding oil painting and it is up to you to use them to develop
your creative and artistic skills. When the day comes when you would be
successful through the lessons that you learned from this book, I will be a
proud teacher and author since I was able to mentor and help an individual
reach his dream.
Once again, thank you for downloading this book and congratulations since
you are now starting your journey in becoming a great artist. What you
would need now is the strength and perseverance to improve your skill.
Always remember to keep living and experiencing things, this is an
excellent way to get new ideas on what to paint since you are more exposed
to the real beauty of our world. I wish you good luck in your journey and I
hope that one day I would be able to meet you when you are already a
professional artist.