Rules and techniques for painting with oil paints. How to paint with oil paints: a guide for beginners

Nowadays, many people are trying to diversify their leisure time. To do this, they come up with various activities and hobbies. The most popular of them are handicrafts and painting. The latter is perfect for people who have not found themselves in other types of creativity. If you are one of them, then try oil paintings. For beginners, this business will seem difficult, but by following all the tips and recommendations, you will be able to master it and achieve good results.

Preparing for work

Before mastering a step-by-step master class on oil painting for beginners, you need to correctly select all the tools and materials for the job. The quality and attractiveness of your painting will depend on this.

Choice of colors

You should start preparing for drawing by choosing paints. Thanks to them, you can emphasize individual details of the drawing and give it a complete look. Artists use the following types of paints for their works:

Gouache and watercolor are used for graphics, and oil, acrylic, and tempera are used for painting. For beginners, it is best to use oil paints. They can be easily found in specialized stores and are also easier to work with.

There is no generally accepted technique for painting oil paintings. Each artist selects his own style, which he follows in the process of creating all his paintings. Oil paints can be applied either paste (with undiluted paint) or liquid (with the addition of a solvent). By practicing with different application techniques, you can choose the optimal and most convenient method for you.

Since the 15th century, painters all over the world began to use various oils (walnut, linseed, poppy) as binders. For example, the famous Dutch painter Peter Paul Rubens used oils that were previously thickened and bleached by the sun, as well as resins that made his paint viscous. Thanks to this, they dried very quickly and had good adhesion to the canvas. Among Russian artists (Venetsianov, Rublev, Repin, Bryullov, Korovin), painting varnishes made from various resins were especially popular.

Most types of oils used practically do not change the color of the paint. At the same time, they dry out for a very long time and, when hardened, form a fragile film. Because of this, paintings painted using such paints require additional processing and care.

The best option for beginners would be to use linseed oil as a binder. Paint with its addition dries quite quickly and does not require additional processing. Its only drawback is that when it dries it gives the paint a light brown tint. To get rid of this unwanted change, artificial brighteners are used.

When buying oil paints, first of all pay attention to their expiration date. If it has already been released or is running out, then refuse to purchase or look for more “fresh” materials.

Oil paints are available in a huge number of color options. If you're new to this business, you shouldn't buy them all. It is enough to purchase basic colors and learn how to work with them. Having acquired certain skills, you can always buy paint in the missing shade. Oil paints are produced by many companies, so their prices vary over a very wide range. If you are only taking the first steps in mastering painting, then it is best to abandon expensive options and give preference to simpler and cheaper ones.

Purchasing solvents

The choice of solvent is also very important when preparing for work. The wrong material can ruin your paints and make them unsuitable for painting. Most often used for diluting paints:

Preparing the base

Before starting a master class on oil painting for beginners, you should correctly select and prepare the base on which the paint will be applied. Work can be performed on the following surfaces:

• canvas;
• tree;
• glass;
• cardboard;
• metal;
• paper.

Any of these bases must first be primed. This is necessary so that the paints adhere better to the surface and stick to it. The primer also prevents cracking and shrinkage of the applied paint layer.

Selected and prepared canvases are stretched onto a stretcher (wooden frame) or attached to thick cardboard. An important criterion when choosing a canvas for work is its grain size. If you are going to apply paint impasto, then the best option for you will be a coarse-grained surface, if “finely” - a fine-grained canvas. For beginners, it is best to choose something in between, and then proceed from your preferences.

The finished base can be purchased at any store specializing in the sale of painting supplies. The cheapest option is primed cardboard. It and other types of foundation can not only be purchased in the store, but also ordered online.

Brushes and palette knives

To fully study the oil painting master class, you need to prepare your brushes. They are made from bristles, natural bristles or synthetics. According to their form they are divided into:

1. Flat. These brushes are used by artists to paint with large strokes over large areas of the canvas.
2. Round brushes. They are necessary for drawing small parts of the image.
3. Fan-shaped. These brushes are ideal for creating smooth color transitions.

You can find brushes in any specialty store or department. Their price directly depends on the quality of workmanship and the high cost of the material used. For beginners, the simplest options are suitable. With proper care, they can last you more than one month.

In order to extend their service life, it is necessary to wash them after each use. First, they are washed with any solvent, and then washed with ordinary soap. If the paint on the brush has already dried, then it needs to be placed in a container with turpentine and kept there for several minutes. After this, it is washed with solvent and laundry soap. Clean brushes are dried in a horizontal or vertical position.

In the process of learning oil painting for beginners, the following types of brushes are used step by step:

1. Synthetic brush for drawing fine details.
2. Fan-shaped pony hair brush for smooth color transitions.
3. Several flat brushes.

Palette knives are tools that are used for mixing paints and correcting defects. For beginners, the best option would be to buy a diamond-shaped tool for painting and a rounded one for the palette.

Palette and workspace

The palette is designed for mixing paints of different colors. This item can be easily found in any art store or made yourself from a piece of plastic or glass. After each use, the palette must be cleaned. If you don’t want to spend time on this, you can use any cardboard or cut-up juice or milk carton.

To get the most out of drawing, it is important to choose the right place to work. It is best to paint in natural light. If this is not possible, then you must try to illuminate the working surface as best as possible. Make sure that the lamps do not cast glare on your painting and do not interfere with the creative process.

When choosing a room, you should give preference to those that are located as far as possible from the bedroom, playroom of children and animals. The room must be well ventilated, since materials with unpleasant odors are used during work. The room should not be too damp or dusty.

Greetings, dear readers!
In this article we will talk about the basics of working with oil paints. Of course it is the most popular technology in the world. The greatest masters of painting have studied, improved and created with oil paints for centuries.

By the way, do you know when the first oil paints appeared? Most likely you thought about the 14-15th century and... you were wrong. Many people think so. But just recently, scientists did... Open this news too!

Detailing the painting with a thin liner

It is quite logical if you want to start your creativity with oil paints. And if you have never done this before, but really want to start, you should first find out what a beginning artist should have on hand and how to start painting with oil paints.

How to create your own artist kit?

• We buy the necessary paints

My main advice to aspiring artists: buy quality paints immediately, don't try to save money! Cheap paints won't do much good, but they'll cause a lot of headaches. When you constantly practice, you will be able to evaluate the quality of your work, which will directly depend on the quality of the paints.

Absolutely you don't have to buy a big set, since there are always colors left that are never used. To start painting with oil paints, just use a few separate tubes. To develop a skill, a novice artist is recommended to have the following palette:

In general, the paint palette consists of 3 main (primary), from which all other colors (secondary and tertiary) are obtained by mixing. And when you learn to mix them, you will understand how and from what it is obtained. Everything around us consists only of red, blue and yellow... Amazing, isn't it?

• Choosing brushes

Second important advice for new artists: Be careful when buying brushes! Inspect them to ensure that the connection (clamp) between the pile and the handle is as tight as possible. Believe me, it’s not very pleasant when the lint comes out of the brush and you have to constantly remove it from the damp canvas!

From experience I will say that good brushes will last you many years, if they are of high quality and you handled them correctly.

For beginners painting with oil paints, I recommend starting with flat and semicircular flat brushes. It is enough to purchase 4-6 different sizes. Round brushes are also needed to detail objects in the painting.

High-quality brushes often become favorites

Over time, you can add retouching, fan brushes and liners to the collection. In another article-tip you can find out in more detail what brushes come in size, shape and

• Selecting thinners and solvents

To dilute (liquefy) oil paint to the desired consistency, you need special liquid substances: mainly turpentine or refined linseed oil. Also, many artists use “Doubles” and « Tees" - auxiliary means for thinning paint. On the market of foreign manufacturers there are various mediums, which I also use. In principle, these are the same tees in our understanding.

Important things for every artist

Not recommended for dilution, use pure solvents (white spirit, turpentine), because they break the structure of oil paint and “steal” its shine. But you will still need solvent to clean brushes and other tools, as well as paint-stained hands.

• Buying a palette

It is impossible to imagine an artist working on a painting without a palette in his hands! This useful thing performs several functions: paints are placed on it, paints are mixed on it, oil cans (special containers) with oil paint thinners are attached to it.

Therefore, in order to paint with oil paints correctly and create many shades, I recommend acquiring a suitable palette. Wooden or plastic, large or small, square or round... The choice is yours.

• Preparing the canvas

Canvas is most often used as a basis for oil painting.Fortunately, a modern artist can buy a ready-made primed canvas on a stretcher.

Almost every art store sells canvases of different sizes and from different materials: natural (linen, cotton) and synthetics. I recommend natural materials, they are denser and do not sag much over time.

If you want to prepare the canvas yourself, then to do this you need to prepare a stretcher and stretch the fabric very tightly over it. Then you need to prime the fabric to create a canvas. Canvas sagging is common, so After priming, you need to retighten the canvas a little tighter. Read more about how to make a canvas with your own hands

We prepare the canvas ourselves

Note: the best base for canvas is linen. It can be fine-grained, medium-grained and coarse-grained. The stroke on the surface depends on the grain of the canvas. About choosing a canvas

• We purchase an easel

Of course, you can learn to paint with oil paints without an easel by attaching the canvas to any surface. But still, it is much more convenient with an easel: it is installed at the desired angle at eye level and gives a better overview of the painting.

With an easel it is convenient not only to write, but also to find flaws in the work, and correct them immediately. An easel is a reliable stand for your future painting! They come in different heights and convenience, as well as tabletop mini easels for small canvas sizes.

• We stock up on auxiliary accessories

Have you already thought about where your brushes will go? Where will you wash them? How will you wipe paint off your hands and other utensils? Be sure to stock up on jars in which you will wash your brushes, paper napkins, old newspapers and a few cotton rags.

These important little things should always be at your fingertips, so that you can work calmly and focus your attention on the picture and not on the materials. All this will be indispensable for you in your work to clean your brush or palette knife, or, for example, to remove excess paint from the canvas and wipe your dirty hands.

• Other Important Materials and Accessories

An indispensable tool for working with oil - palette knife! With its help, it is convenient to remove excess paint from the canvas and transfer it to the palette. It also leaves amazingly voluminous strokes! In principle, one palette knife is enough.

But if you decide to learn how to paint well with oil paints and devote a lot of time to this activity, it is better to purchase several of these tools of different shapes and sizes.

Sketchbook – a special box for transporting paints and painting supplies. You will really need it if you decide to go out and paint in oils in nature or plein air, as it is also called (from the French Plain air - outdoors, in the fresh air)

Oilers- small containers with a clip with which they are attached to the palette. There are two types: simple and double.

Another important element is protective varnish. The finished painting is usually varnished 6-8 months after completion of the work. The varnish protects the painting from ultraviolet radiation, moisture and darkening.... Well, there are a number of other reasons why you should varnish a painting. In addition, varnish makes the colors richer and brighter, adding intensity to the paint layer. How to varnish a painting

Howstart painting correctly with oil paints when the artist's kit is assembled?

So, you have collected everything you need and secured the primed canvas. What to do next? Start writing!

I know that Many novice artists have a fear of a white canvas, something can go wrong and everything will be ruined. Don't be afraid, because the main thing is to just start! Here's how to stop being afraid and start painting.

You can start with a simple plot that comes to mind... For example, a mosaic drawing with selected bright colors, which consists of different figures, shapes and symbols. Well, like the ancient Egyptians, remember? Or you can take a finished image and try to copy it onto canvas...

Start drawing - feel the power of color!

Exist . The most common of them are - And . Most of the most famous paintings are painted in them, although there are many other techniques.

For those who are just beginning the path of an artist, the main thing now is to start just to feel the structure of oil paint, how it lays on the canvas, how the paint layer is formed.

By the way, did you know that creative people have Read, maybe you are a naturally creative person, you just didn’t know it!

Here are some more tips:

• Set up a drawing corner in your apartment. There must be enough light to work during the day without additional lighting. It is in the place of the best natural light that we place the easel. If there is not enough natural light, use additional lighting to provide good light on the easel.

• Try to apply oil paints evenly, achieve uniformity on the canvas. If you really want to apply a second coat, take your time; Sometimes you need to give time for the first layer to dry.

• Mix colors! Experiment with shades. Remember that white makes any color lighter, and black makes any color darker, with their help it is easy to achieve the desired shade of shadows and highlights. But don’t get too carried away with black and white, since titanium white, for example, makes some colors cloudy, and black is generally rarely used in classical painting. Although each manufacturer has several black shades on sale. An alternative to black can be dark indigo... it is softer and more delicate in appearance.

“Painting is the most accessible and convenient of the arts” - Johann Goethe, German poet, philosopher and thinker

These little tricks are enough to get you started painting with oil paints. If you like the Art Process and want to delve deeper into it, at a more modern level, I will be happy to share my experience with you

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Ask your questions below in the comments, I usually answer all questions quickly

How to learn to paint with oil paints? Many aspiring artists strive to find the answer to this question. There is an opinion that canvases created using this technique are easy to execute, and the method of work itself is suitable for those who have just begun to get acquainted with painting. However, this attitude towards the paintings and the process itself distinguishes amateurs. Professionals know how difficult it is to create an oil painting.

Experienced masters have been studying the art of painting with oil paints for many years. Difficulties await beginners at every step: the process may seem too complicated to them, and numerous corrections will make those who are accustomed to quickly and easily achieving results nervous. But the opportunities that this wonderful technique opens up are worth the long learning curve. You can create beautiful and delicate sketches, sketches in pastel colors or an expressive and picturesque canvas. The play of colors and the play of glare will make your work a real masterpiece.

Many fans of fine art try to paint in oils, but not everyone can master the method, which requires painstaking work and takes a lot of time from the young artist. But if you decide to start classes, be patient and be prepared for annoying mistakes. Remember: all the great masters went through the path of corrections and improvements, but none of them left their craft because of the difficulties that arose.

What should you do first? Buy paints. Choosing them is not an easy task for a beginner.

• It is believed that it is best to purchase a set of tubes;
• Don't be afraid that you won't have enough colors: take only those shades that you need to work on the painting;
• White and yellow paints run out very quickly: buy them in large tubes;
• Take 2-3 samples: this way you will provide yourself with the necessary supply of material for drawing.

Which products to choose

Many artists believe that premium quality paints work best on canvas for professionals. They are much more expensive than other samples presented in specialized stores, and are distinguished by bright colors and good consistency.

Getting started: what paints you need to purchase:

• whitewash;
• yellow;
• blue;
• natural umber;
• golden ocher;
• red dark or light cadmium;
• green;
• ultramarine;
• Neapolitan or Indian yellow

Brushes are essential tools for painting. How not to get lost in the existing variety of materials?

• many choose artificial samples: such products are durable and cope well with the effects of cleaning solvents and paint texture;
• Natural hair brushes are not suitable for oil painting and should be used for other techniques.

You also need to buy varnishes and special oil, which makes the paint more liquid and makes applying it to the canvas comfortable and easy. The base for the work should not absorb much moisture. Most often, products from the following materials are chosen for this painting technique:

• cotton;
• burlap (great for sketching);
• polyester.

Inspect the canvas carefully before purchasing it. Do not take a relief sample if threads stick out from it, or knots and bumps appear on the surface.

The materials have been purchased and you can safely get to work. How to start painting correctly with oil paints on paper and canvas? Should you mix different tones and use custom bases? Recommendations from professionals will help you believe in yourself and get closer to the skills of famous artists. Don't forget about daily training, and your paintings will become a unique work of art.

The first stage in the work of any painter: setting up the composition and drawing the contours of the depicted objects. Charcoal is best for applying the first touches to the canvas. The lines drawn by it can be easily erased with a rag. However, the sketch must be fixed: outlined with a pencil or graphite, covered with paint mixed with turpentine.

Write, don't paint. Do not choose the simple route of covering the canvas with one tone. Learn to mix paints and create subtle highlights. Remember about paired shades, the combination of which creates a new color.

• red + yellow = orange;
• red + blue = purple;
• blue + yellow = green;
• magenta + blue = dark and rich shade.

Don't be afraid to mix all the colors to see what the result will be. Aim for earthy and muted tones: these are the colors you'll need to create landscapes. Make shades lighter using white.

Draw by placing color spots on the canvas and working through them, comparing colors. Start with light areas. Establish relationships between muted and bright shades. Study the changing colors in nature. Without constant observation of the world around you, you will not notice subtle transitions and constant changes in the gamut that will need to be transferred to the picture.

Work "raw". When correcting mistakes, cover the area of ​​the canvas with a new layer of paint. If cracks appear on the canvas, and the color fades and fades, cover the damaged areas with oil, remembering to remove the excess with sheet paper.

How to paint on hardboard with oil paints

Many artists choose non-standard bases for painting. One of the original materials is hardboard. It is a mixture of wood fibers and glue. Canvas made from such a hard board is especially heavy and durable.

Oil paints are ideal for painting on a similar basis. Before you start work, prepare the hardboard

• sand it with sandpaper to make it smooth;
• coat the surface with oil varnish;
• put several layers of water-based paint on the corrugated side;
• dry the canvas and prime it with white.

How to paint with acrylic and oil paints at the same time

One of the common painting techniques is the use of acrylic and oil paints, which are applied to the canvas in a certain sequence.

Oil is applied over acrylic. This base easily replaces the primer and protects the drawing well from damage. To create an expressive relief, you can add sand or small sawdust to the paint.

Oil painting is one of the most popular fine art techniques. It was actively used in the past, but it is no less relevant now. Painting done with oil paints looks elegant and noble. However, learning to paint in oils is not an easy task, although it brings a lot of fun.

Oil painting - differences from other types of painting

Among the main differences between oil painting and other types of painting, it is necessary to indicate the following points:

Almost all modern paints consist of dry pigment and liquid, but oil paints also contain oil, usually linseed. Due to this, the paint dries slowly, but if it dries, it is very difficult to wipe it off

Oil paints are thick and come in tubes. From these, paints are squeezed onto a palette and mixed with each other to find new shades. If they harden, they are diluted with oil or solvent.

In oil painting you can paint for a long time. First, one layer is applied, then the design dries for three days, and then new colors can be applied on top.

It takes three to six months for the drawing to dry completely. Then a protective layer of dammar varnish is applied to the image.

Oil painting for beginners - preparation for work

Oil painting begins with careful preparation for work. It consists of the following steps:

• Choice of colors. Even when painting with oils for beginners, it is not recommended to buy very cheap paints. It is better to give preference to a product at an average price. In terms of color, it is recommended to choose white, yellow, red, blue and black. In various combinations you can already get other colors from them.
• Buying brushes. Paint brushes should be simple, but of high quality. Let them be flat, round and bristly in varying thicknesses. Soft brushes are not suitable for oil paints.
• Preparing other tools. Painting with oil is unthinkable without a palette knife (a thin spatula for mixing and removing paint), a palette, canvas, rags, a jar for cleaning brushes, solvent or linseed oil. It will also gradually be possible to purchase an easel, tool box, protective film and an apron.
• Organization of the workplace. The easel must be placed in a well-lit and always well-ventilated place. The floor will need to be covered with something, as it can easily be damaged by drops of paint. The height of the easel should be adjusted according to the height of the artist, and depending on whether he will stand or sit while working.

Oil painting lessons - basic step-by-step technique

If you imagine oil painting lessons in the form of a basic step-by-step technique, you will get the following algorithm of actions:

• Sketch. First, it is recommended to make a sketch of the future painting with a simple pencil on canvas. It should include building a composition and drawing small details. You also need to think about how to fill the background near the main subject of the drawing. Then, based on the sketch, you will apply paint. However, you can skip the sketch if you plan to draw something abstract.
• Colors. First, just sort your future painting into parts in your head - what colors it consists of, and how you can get them (by mixing what colors). Then start “producing” those colors on your palette. Work with shades and brightness of colors, trying to achieve the desired result. At the same time, remember that mixing several paints to re-create exactly the same color that you made initially is almost impossible. That is, paints need to be mixed with reserve so that not only today, but even tomorrow and the day after tomorrow you have something to paint.
• Drawing. When working with oil paints, you need to paint according to the “thick on thin” principle. We are talking about using thin, thinned paints first, and then applying thick paints on top of them. Also, begin to master oil vivacity by practicing on simple forms first, and gradually move on to more complex subjects. Let each layer of paint dry well (three days!), and only then move on to the next layer. While the paint is still wet, you can correct the drawing.
• Varnishing. After the painting is completely finished, it is necessary to dry it thoroughly. Depending on the number of layers, it may take three months or more to dry completely. It should dry in a dry, well-ventilated area. Then, to protect the paint from fading and deterioration, the painting can be varnished. And once the varnish dries, the image can be hung in some prominent place.

The Aquamarine painting school invites you to classes in mastering the art of oil painting. We conduct classes both individually and in groups. Our experienced teachers will teach you how to paint with oil paints correctly: enjoy the process and be satisfied with the result.

You will need

• - oil paints of different colors;
• - brushes with natural bristles (bristle and core brushes);
• - canvas;
• - primer;
• - fine sandpaper;
• - easel;
• - palette;
• - drying oil;
• - palette knife;
• - solvent;
• - turpentine;
• - varnish;
• - textile;
• -cup.

Instructions

Buy high-quality oil paints, brushes and other necessary supplies for painting in a specialized store or department. Pay special attention to paints and brushes - these are the main tools of an artist. Good brushes retain their original shape after each stroke, bad brushes practically do not bend and do not return to their original shape when dipped in oil paint.

Stretch the canvas onto a stretcher. For painting with oil paints, thick cotton or linen canvas is used. It must be primed before work. Apply the first coat of primer horizontally. Smooth the surface with sandpaper and, to get rid of small cracks, apply a second, vertical, layer of primer.

Place the canvas on the easel. Pour some turpentine into a cup to cleanse while brushing. After the primer has dried, this will take about an hour. Sketch the painting.

Wipe the palette with linseed oil and wipe dry. Then squeeze oil paints onto it. The palette can be held in your hand or placed nearby while working.

Mix drying oil with dark oil paints that you will use for the base of the painting. Using a palette knife, add a little solvent into the mixture. This will give the paints fluidity and they will lie more evenly on the canvas.

When working on a painting, apply oil paint in gentle strokes. If your work is large, then paint with bristle brushes. Use calico brushes to paint individual areas with fine detailing.

Correct mistakes and inaccuracies in the painting by wiping off the paint with a palette knife and using a piece of cloth soaked in turpentine. Then sand the area and moisten it with just one drop of linseed oil.