Oil Painting Techniques

Introduction to Oil Painting Techniques

Introduction to Oil Painting Techniques
By Ralph Serpe

Oil paint is an amazing versatile medium. It can be applied in a thick buttery fashion or thinned down to a watery consistency. This versatility opens the door to a number of different painting techniques.

My personal preference is to begin my oil paintings by first sketching out the composition using acrylic paint or with water-soluble oil paints. The popular approach to oil painting is to thin the paint with turpentine to apply your initial layers. Turpentine is quite toxic and I prefer not to work with it. Acrylic or water-soluble oil paints can be thinned down with plain old water and are more pleasant to work with in my opinion.

You can also begin your oil painting by first drawing out your composition. There are a few drawing mediums that work quite nicely with oil paints. My two favorites are vine charcoal and water-soluble pencils. I prefer vine charcoal because it doesn't smudge like other charcoals and it can be erased easier. Water-soluble pencils are wonderful because they can be applied like ordinary pencils and can be spread around like paint with a damp brush.

If you are the impatient type, you may want to try your hand at the Alla Prima oil painting technique. The Alla Prima method is when you complete the painting in one sitting rather than paint in layers and wait for the paint to dry. Although I usually prefer to work out my paintings in layers, I occasionally enjoy this exciting and spontaneous approach to oil painting.

If you are the careful, patient type of painter, you may be interested in working with the glazing technique. Glazing has lost popularity these days, partly because of the time needed to complete such a painting and it's difficulty, but the results are something truly unique to any other type of oil painting technique. The composition is first painted with an opaque monochrome underpainting, usually in shades of gray. After this initial underpainting is thoroughly dry, thin layers of transparent oil glazes are applied. Colors are not mixed directly but added in separate layers to get the desired color.

If you are the adventurous type, put the brushes aside and try a set of painting or palette knives. You can achieve some very interesting results with knives that aren't possible with brushes. The oil paint can be spread on thickly and scraped off with ease. What I enjoy most about using knives is the tendency to not focus on the small details. I am forced to paint in a more relaxed fashion that creates an impressionist style painting. Get yourself a set of painting knives and try to complete an entire painting with just the knives. It's challenging at first if you are used to brushes, but it's an enjoyable exercise.

Perhaps you would like your painting to have more body and texture. You could try the impasto painting technique and apply your paint in thick heavy strokes, leaving evidence of all those wonderfully artistic brush strokes. Take a look at a Van Gogh painting and you will see this technique in action.

It's really no wonder why oil painting is such a popular choice for painters. There is so much to discover in oil painting. You will never get bored trying out all the wonderful tools, mediums and techniques.

For more oil painting techniques, including free step-by-step demonstrations from experienced oil painters, head over to http://www.creativespotlite.com/oil-painting-lessons.htm today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ralph_Serpe
http://EzineArticles.com/?Introduction-to-Oil-Painting-Techniques&id=106978

	Daniel Green Oil Painting New DVD Format: Erin Sale Price: $79.95
	This comprehensive instructional DVD from Daniel Greene guides the artist in a 2-1/2 hour journey into oil portraiture. Follow Greene step-by-step as he paints an oil portrait from start to finish. This extraordinary DVD includes: Valuable tips on how to best organize your materials as well as thorough explanations of canvas, brushes, and other materials used...

Building a Portrait- DVD with Steve Carpenter List Price: $75.00 Sale Price: $49.95

Follow along with Steve Carpenter in this 3 hour 45 minute video as he demonstrates the steps to creating a vibrant portrait using the techniques of the Old Masters. Steve discusses and demonstrates lighting posing the model developing the grisaille (charcoal underpainting) use of transparent washes to establish middle tones building form and personality through the application of opaque paint and finally the details of completing the portrait...

	Richard McKinley- A Studio Session in Oil Painting DVD Sale Price: $79.95
	Richard McKinley has been a professional artist for over 35 years and has been teaching for more than 30 of those years. A member of the Oil Painters of America Richard has written many informative articles and his work is represented nationally by several prominent galleries...

	BOB ROSS JOY OF PAINTING SERIES: 3-HOUR WORKSHOP DVD English List Price: $34.99 Sale Price: $19.52 Average Rating:
	All info you will need to learn how to paint mountains, trees, sky and water, and also how to correct "happy accidents. "

	Thomas the Tank Engine: Thomas and the Treasure List Price: $14.98 Sale Price: $5.73 Average Rating:
	ALL ABOARD! When Salty tells a story about a lost pirate treasure on the Island of Sodor Thomas sets out to discover if it's really true! Meanwhile Dennis a new Diesel engine is playing tricks and Henry tries to prove he is the strongest engine on the Island of Sodor...

	Still Life, by Bill Martin (Tape #1 in Principles of Painting with Bill Martin) [VHS] List Price: $44.00

	Bob Ross DVD Joy of Painting Series 27 Sale Price: $34.99 Average Rating:
	6.5 hours of painting with Bob Ross learning his wet-on-wet technique for oil painting.

	Learn and Master Painting with Gayle Levee, 20 DVDs, 3 Music CDs, Lesson Book, & unlimited access to Support Site from Legacy Learning Sale Price: $189.00 Average Rating:
	Learn & Master Painting is the best home instruction course available to learn to paint with oils and acrylics. Master artist, Gayle Levee, has designed interactive lessons to provide you with a solid, comprehensive foundation for your own artwork...

	Learn and Master Painting with Gayle Levee, 20 DVDs, 3 Music CDs, Lesson Book - Homeschool Edition from Legacy Learning Sale Price: $219.00
	The Learn & Master Painting Home School Edition is a Complete Painting Curriculum Designed for Home Study. It contains 20 DVDs, 3 Music CDs, 100+ Page Lesson Book, 56 Page Teacher's Guide and unlimited access to Student Support Site...