Basic oil painting instructions?

Question

So, I started oil painting two years ago and have been in love with it since... so much so, that I've been extremely careless in terms of process. Flash forward two years later, I want to produce work of quality that will last rather than just impulse, but I'm confused about the process... Linseed oil vs walnut oil, titanium white vs zinc white (depending on the layer), etc etc... It's so overwhelming! All i've been doing so far is using a Turpenoid thinned down layer for the first layer or so then applying successively thicker layers... which is probably 'wrong.' So can anyone provide step-by-step, basic instructions as to your own oil painting process (starting with the blank, primed canvas all the way to the final 'thickest', 'fattest' layer). What is this linseed oil? I've never used it, not once lol Do i need to use linseed oil or similar? And do you varnish? Can varnish affect the color in a negative way? I buy all my supplies from AC Moore (until i get better, im satisfied with going to a chain art supply store), so any brand names sold at this chain would also be a helpful inclusion. Thanks!!! I really do appreciate the help!!!!

Answer 1

You are so right, remember us, there is a lot to think about but you are not doing anything wrong. I have been painting for 60 years and I do exactly what you described. I use turps at first and build thicker as I go along. I cannot impress upon you too much the importance of getting lessons from a good teacher. He/she must teach you how to SEE rather than how to paint and give you the finer points of the craft.

Tip: Keep using the cheapest materials you can buy. That way you aren't as afraid to experiment and 'waste' supplies. This is very important for your development.

A wise old artist once told me to paint 100 pictures, burn them all, and start again. Only then will you be an artist.

Answer 2

http://www.guidetooilpainting.com/



There are other resources on-line as well. Specifically I use a very thin wash of burnt sienna, thinned with odorless spirits to kill the white of the canvas and lay in the basic lines and shapes. I mix a medium of odorless spirits and linseed oil, 1 part to 3 parts to mix with the paint, usually by keeping the brush "wet" before picking up paint. Linseed oil is essential. I also use "stand oil", which is a very thick linseed oil alone. I seldom make more than 2 layers but the layers are thick and often scrape off a passage that looses freshness and repaint. Varnish the painting after a year with gloss varnish. I have 50 year old paintings that look like they were done last week.

Good luck!

Answer 3

linseed oil is a medium used to make the paint less viscous (almost all artists use it) , walnut oil is used for drying the paintings .

I don't ever use walnut oil , I wait until it dries (it takes about a week or 10 days ) .

use titanium white , both whites are nice as long as the paint is good quality , use what you prefer .

Varnish is a liquid you apply it after the painting dries , it protects the painting ,it does not affect the color in a negative way because you apply it after the painting is completely dried . (after 6 months)

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how to paint :

buy stretched canvas and gesso it once , leave it 2 hours and gesso it again , leave it 24 hours .

then put some paint on your palette mix some linseed oil and a tiny amount of turpentine to it , mix it with a palette knife then paint !

that is all

Answer 4

You can google this and get lots of answers. Last night I was working on an oil painting and googled a number of questions and got lots of answers. Also, there are tons of books with the information that you are requesting. What you are currently doing is not wrong, but learning more about the mediums and challenges and options is the way to become a great painter.

Answer 5

REQUIRED RULES FOR OIL PAINTING

1. Must Paint "Fat Over Lean" Technique To Help Prevent A Cracked And Less Durable Paint Film.

2. Must Paint "Slower Drying Paint Over Faster Drying Paint" To Prevent A Cracked Painting.

3. "Thick Over Thin" - Always apply thicker paint over thinner films.



Read health hazards and safety precautions here, Click on NON WATER BASED PAINTS

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety/sec10.htm



Solvents are used to thin the paint and to clean the paintbrushes. Solvents used in oil painting have some toxic properties. Eco-House Inc. makes natural and safer products to use for oil painting such as paint thinner, turpentine substitute, linseed oil, varnish, damar, drier blend. Check out Eco-House Inc. website for more information. Buy Eco-House products at Blick Art Materials website.



Water miscible/water mixable/water soluble oil paint is similiar to traditional oil paint. The difference is you use water for water mixable oil paint and you use solvents for traditional oil paint. Water mixable oil paint dries faster than traditional oil paint. Try Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color.



Try digital painting on the computer. It is non-messy and it is cheaper to do because you do not have to keep buying art supplies. All you need is digital painting software and a graphics tablet to do it. Look at these digital paintings using ArtRage software:



Landscape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1AT0fO5FVY&feature=related

Digital Painting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frOwEkbVfdk