Hi, I'm new to oil painting?

Question

I'd like to learn to actually paint, so I will take a class eventually. Until then, I'd like to try to teach myself portraiture and landscape. Do I paint the background color first, then let the color dry and do that again for the next layers? Or can I paint the whole thing at once?

Answer 1

So you will teach yourself portraiture and landscape painting BEFORE you take a lesson. That's funny.

That's like saying you will get a job playing the violin in an orchestra before you learn to play it.

Regardless of background and foreground paint the dark areas first and work towards the lighter areas. Paint the large areas first and work towards the smaller areas. Learn to see before you try to learn to paint.

Go take those lessons.