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