| Oil paint is an amazing versatile medium. It | | | | but the results are something truly unique to |
| can be applied in a thick buttery fashion or | | | | any other type of oil painting technique. The |
| thinned down to a watery consistency. This | | | | composition is first painted with an opaque |
| versatility opens the door to a number of | | | | monochrome underpainting, usually in shades |
| different painting techniques.My personal | | | | of gray. After this initial underpainting is |
| preference is to begin my oil paintings by | | | | thoroughly dry, thin layers of transparent |
| first sketching out the composition using | | | | oil glazes are applied. Colors are not mixed |
| acrylic paint or with water-soluble oil | | | | directly but added in separate layers to get |
| paints. The popular approach to oil painting | | | | the desired color.If you are the adventurous |
| is to thin the paint with turpentine to apply | | | | type, put the brushes aside and try a set of |
| your initial layers. Turpentine is quite | | | | painting or palette knives. You can achieve |
| toxic and I prefer not to work with it. | | | | some very interesting results with knives |
| Acrylic or water-soluble oil paints can be | | | | that aren't possible with brushes. The oil |
| thinned down with plain old water and are | | | | paint can be spread on thickly and scraped |
| more pleasant to work with in my opinion.You | | | | off with ease. What I enjoy most about using |
| can also begin your oil painting by first | | | | knives is the tendency to not focus on the |
| drawing out your composition. There are a few | | | | small details. I am forced to paint in a more |
| drawing mediums that work quite nicely with | | | | relaxed fashion that creates an impressionist |
| oil paints. My two favorites are vine | | | | style painting. Get yourself a set of |
| charcoal and water-soluble pencils. I prefer | | | | painting knives and try to complete an entire |
| vine charcoal because it doesn't smudge like | | | | painting with just the knives. It's |
| other charcoals and it can be erased easier. | | | | challenging at first if you are used to |
| Water-soluble pencils are wonderful because | | | | brushes, but it's an enjoyable |
| they can be applied like ordinary pencils and | | | | exercise.Perhaps you would like your painting |
| can be spread around like paint with a damp | | | | to have more body and texture. You could try |
| brush.If you are the impatient type, you may | | | | the impasto painting technique and apply your |
| want to try your hand at the Alla Prima oil | | | | paint in thick heavy strokes, leaving |
| painting technique. The Alla Prima method is | | | | evidence of all those wonderfully artistic |
| when you complete the painting in one sitting | | | | brush strokes. Take a look at a Van Gogh |
| rather than paint in layers and wait for the | | | | painting and you will see this technique in |
| paint to dry. Although I usually prefer to | | | | action.It's really no wonder why oil painting |
| work out my paintings in layers, I | | | | is such a popular choice for painters. There |
| occasionally enjoy this exciting and | | | | is so much to discover in oil painting. You |
| spontaneous approach to oil painting.If you | | | | will never get bored trying out all the |
| are the careful, patient type of painter, you | | | | wonderful tools, mediums and techniques.For |
| may be interested in working with the glazing | | | | more oil painting techniques, including free |
| technique. Glazing has lost popularity these | | | | step-by-step demonstrations from experienced |
| days, partly because of the time needed to | | | | oil painters, head over to today. |
| complete such a painting and it's difficulty, | | | | |